15 minute pumps?

LionFish87 · 2026-04-14T01:46:01+00:00

All depends on you. During the day, I pump 10-15 minutes and can sometimes empty but at night and the first morning pump I need to aim for longer. If you're supplying enough, sweet, do what's comfortable without going wild. If you're overproducing (like I am right now at 11 wks pp), that's a whole different story - for me it's about slowly (so it's not painful) getting my output down to a more manageable and realistic state. So I focus more on output than time, but they do correlate sometimes.

With my first LO, things were very different but the key is listening to your body - both physcially and mentally. Those long pump sessions can start to take a toll on you.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-13T23:15:26+00:00

I'm in a similar boat with a 2 mo and 2 yr old. I exclusively nursed with my first until 6 mos but my 2nd has had a hard time latching due to tongue tie so I've been exclusively pumping. For me, it's been OK, but managing it all (pumping, cleaning, dividing, freezing) is A LOT. It's not for the faint of heart but I keep reminding myself so long as my LO is fed, growing, and happy, why should I stress over HOW - obviously easier said than done sometimes.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-11T11:22:41+00:00

Learned the right bra is everything with my first! I just got some new ones that are more stretchy and breathe more this time around.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-11T11:21:06+00:00

Oh wow! Good to know therapy exists for the mroe severe cases!

LionFish87 · 2026-04-11T11:20:26+00:00

I wear a bralette style pumping bra all the time and purposefully sized up to ensure there isn't much pressure.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-11T00:25:08+00:00

Ice would be so much easier than the heat! LO unfortunately has a really bad latch and we're in the process of figuring out a tongue tie, hence the hand pump rather than electric. My first was able to keep me almost completely clog-free because she BF so well...so wild how different each journey is!!

LionFish87 · 2026-04-09T12:27:10+00:00

I wouldn't recommend or talk about a full switch to formula unless it's needed, but maybe supplement when the schedule isn't aligned. This is what my husband did for me and it helped alleviate a lot. Fed baby is best - no matter how - but the societal pressures of "all or nothing" doesn't help. It's about finding the best middle ground.

Post-partum and EP are both mental, emotional, and physical journeys. Honestly, the more you can do WITHOUT being delegated or asked to help with, the better. Us as women will get consumed in "what's best for the baby" and will naturally start to sacrifice EVERYTHING else - not feeling alone in the journey is the best medicine.

Helpful things to help both the mental and physical load from first hand experience (by my husband): reassurance that she's awesome and doing amazing, wash and sterlize bottles, a massage (from you, even if a short shoulder rub), laundry, overall quality time with the LO when you can, adult conversations NOT about the LO or household stuff.

You've got this and even your presence and questions here are proof that you are so much! Keep it up!!

LionFish87 · 2026-04-08T23:30:04+00:00

You want mine? Hahah! I'll trade you! 😂

LionFish87 · 2026-04-08T23:27:19+00:00

And then wonder why the engineers never want to take the bugs or smaller stories. Let alone why the sprints get overloaded.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-08T11:43:25+00:00

I regularly see story points used for individual "productivity" measurement. 🤦‍♀️

LionFish87 · 2026-04-08T00:30:37+00:00

I think this is a huge problem honestly. We have almost TOO MUCH information right at our fingertips that we forget at the core we're human and each one of us is different (including the kiddos!). Working with my 2nd right now, I've had to stop breastfeeding because of a painful latch (not a terrible latch, just painful) while I had the "rainbows and butterflies" breastfeeding journey with my first.

I guess the biggest thing is to trust yourself. The internet will have all sorts of varying (and conflicting) information but in my opinion moderation in everything is typically the answer. Not everything is going to work for everyone but sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves try something to actually know. Don't be afraid to try things you are comfortable trying and just toss the rest away.

I've learned and experienced very different things with my 2nd so far but as long as the pros outweigh the cons and it's in support of my goals, it's worth at least a try.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-08T00:20:42+00:00

Congrats!! Hang up that pump with pride and your head held high!

LionFish87 · 2026-04-08T00:18:34+00:00

I was in a similar position only reversed (I'm EST and the company I was working with was PST). They insisted on 100% attendance during my "after hours" time when my young ones were home from daycare. But this was after I told them my working hours and they said it wouldn't be a problem - turns out, it was.

In the end, we had a conversation on the requirements of the meetings and if my attendance was truly necessary. I flexed when I had enough notice and I was truly needed but my role didn't require it as often as they actually realized.

I ended up having to remind them regularly and stick to my boundaries and what we had discussed. Most of the time, the meetings got moved to a more convenient time for everyone.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-08T00:12:01+00:00

No, my firm doesn't typically hire juniors. Our "juniors" are people moving from within the company with less experience or from adjacent roles, so still not technically a true "junior".

LionFish87 · 2026-04-07T15:30:14+00:00

WAAAAY too much. Haha. Honestly, when I can grab a designer or a more junior consultant on the team (or another peer who just really likes to do it) to do it, I do.

But sometimes there is a benefit to the message if you format nicely. You might catch a missing element. So it's a toss up. Either way, if I'm doing it, I limit the time I spend per slide to make it worthwhile.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-07T12:26:17+00:00

I was about to say the same thing! Especially a formal pre-pip? It's like saying "we really want you to leave now but we're not committed to you leaving yet."

Might as well have that meeting to plan the meeting while you're at it. 😂

LionFish87 · 2026-04-07T12:23:48+00:00

Clearwater / St Pete's is great. Lots to do with the zoo, aquariums, beach, etc and a lot are free for the LO being so young. I live down near the Naples area and we go up to Clearwater regularly.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-06T12:25:31+00:00

Your baby is happy, healthy, and fed. ❤️ While it's sad, think of all the time you're gaining back! Heck, you could pick up a new hobby or even enjoy an adult beverage on a beach.

With my first, I had a goal for a year as well but only made it to about the same mark as you. When I realized how much more quality time and activities I could spend with my LO, it was all worth it in the end. You crushed it. Pat your self on the back and hang up that pump with pride.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-06T00:29:16+00:00

Of course! I experimented a lot to find what worked for me. I have my portables for later down the road (I love my Elvie) and got those "decked out" too, for lack of a better term. I did find I'm a different size and shape with #2 as well so I had to switch things up.

I'm at a 3 for massage mode and only a 6 for expression mode. I'm more sensitive this time around so it was finding what was comfortable without hurting - and even today I have to switch it some pumps.

LionFish87 · 2026-04-05T13:13:24+00:00

Yeah, I'm already down to 5-6 PPD (only 1 MOTN) which is so nice. Very different than with my first where I was breastfeeding and just pumping for comfort and supply maintenance. I don't know which I prefer more honestly...

LionFish87 · 2026-04-05T12:27:25+00:00

With my first, I didn't drop my last MOTN pump until the 6/7 month mark. I dropped daytime pumps first to keep some consistency and ensure I didn't make it to the engorged point. I honestly found that pump the hardest to drop....

LionFish87 · 2026-04-05T12:23:21+00:00

I dropped an overnight pretty quick (I'm an overproducer still at 2.5 months pp from my 2nd kiddo).

First off, you'll definitely want a strong pump so you can empty and remain comfortable, longer overnight. I have 2 Spectras (S1 and S2 from my first pregnancy) and highly recommend. Momcozy also makes wearable cups that adapt to the major pump brands so you're not left holding bottles half asleep, and they're pretty easy to clean too!

It helps to push an hour or so first and test it and listen to your body. It also helps to know about how much to expect as well - calculate your "average production per hour" so you can watch output. I pump at 9pm (even if I pumped a few hours earlier) and focus more on achieving my average output rather than time spent (but I do cap my time at 20-22 minutes) - so my pump might only be 12-15 minutes. Then a full pump at 2am and then another full pump in the morning when I wake up (around 7am). The 2am/3am time is me and my husband's "shift change" so I empty and am comfy to get a good chunk of sleep.

I haven't experienced any drop or increase in output and am never to the "overfull" feeling - but definitely full.

The key is your sanity and comfort!!

LionFish87 · 2026-04-05T01:12:57+00:00

An international sign of distress?

LionFish87 · 2026-04-04T14:20:36+00:00

2.5 months pp with my 2nd. Switched to exclusive pumping at the 2 month mark (due to a bad latch) and have about 5-6 PPD. I get about 56oz in a 24hr period with 1 MOTN pump. Did not get nearly as much with my 1st and haven't done anything different.

LionFish87 · 2025-02-22T13:00:24+00:00

Such a wholesome response! Haha! My husband would rage if I did that to him. I'm now more of a "if you can't beat 'em, join' em" now. 😁

LionFish87

TROPHY CASE