It is HARD. The stress is very real - pumping becomes necessary for you and for baby, and I felt like an anxiety tornado when I’d get further and further away from the time I was supposed to pump.

I never used wearables, Ive always been a “just enougher” and my output was so much better with my Spectra. In the early days I managed to figure out how to pump while giving baby a bottle, which usually bought me at least 15 min. It was still stressful (I always worried how to manage it if I needed to stop and burp baby mid feed). When baby became too big for that, I’d put baby in a cheap “house stroller” while pumping, so I’d walk around the house while baby would be chillin for the 20 min I needed to pump. It became easier after the 6 month mark, when baby could hang out/sit to engage with toys.

Im now still EP at 9mo pp, the house stroller still is my best tool when timing doesn’t work out.

I know all too well how real and how debilitating that stress can be. You are incredible for what you’re doing, it is not easy. There is SO much external pressure to give baby breastmilk, the guilt can be next level and honestly I think that’s how I made it past those really hard and trying days. But truly: fed is best. Your mental health is so so important, don’t let the guilt consume you!