Day 10 Date: 5/24/22
The stigma behind mental illness is already so strong that it prevents people from finding help. I suffer from mental illness, I have CPTSD, and it's from a very traumatic childhood and various events in my life.
Day 9 Date: 5/23/22
The biggest issue is figuring out a schedule that fits and sticking to it. I have wanted to have Frances latch, but she is not interested. Every time I try, it only upsets her, and she becomes agitated. I have given her what I pumped in a bottle, and she takes it with no issues.
Day 8 Date: 5/22/22
Today was exhausting. I learned that you need the breastmilk to stay around your nipple while pumping so that it doesn't chafe your nipples horribly. Walking around with your breast pump isn't beneficial because pumping and standing will drain the breastmilk into the bottle.
Day 7 Date: 5/21/22
Still, no formula to be found, and now my in-laws are worried, but I think we will figure this out. I could get her .5 oz, but my baby needs more than that. We may need to change her type of formula, but I am trying to stay with the same brand. I dread the moody child I will have to deal with if we change the formula.
Day 6 Date: 5/20/22
Today was a crazy day trying to get my schedule settled with my family. My husband informed me that he isn't a fan of the pumping schedule but doesn't want me to stop. My flow looks like it's increasing, but I need to start measuring it.
Day 5 Date: 5/19/22
Time management was my issue today; I have to adjust my schedule to limit the number of hours I go without pumping. My brain is also a little unclear at times, but I feel that is sleep deprivation. I have to figure out a schedule that works for my family and me.
Day 4 Date: 5/18/22
Today I finally filled the small syringe they give you in the hospital in one pumping session. My goal for today was to find a better pumping bra because the one I have is small and pinches me. The pinching I can ignore, but my breast doesn't like to be treated poorly hence the demanding pumping schedule.
Day 3 Date: 5/17/22
Researching power pumping and adding one session at night to my routine. My research took hours, and I had to pressure my husband to watch the girls. I still tried and have Frances latch a couple of times and do skin-to-skin contact.
Day 2 Date: 5/16/22
I almost lost it today because I thought I wasn’t going to be able to do this. I was able to pump seven times and that was exhausting. I had to do a lot of breathing and resting so that I wouldn’t be short tempered with my baby.
Day 1 Date: 5/15/22
I feel anxiety over starting to pump again because of the formula shortage. I don’t want my baby to go without a formula or deal with us having to be short-tempered because we are tired.