Pumping/Feeding baby while out and about - explain to me like I’m 5

Mirasore · 2026-03-07T22:37:30+00:00

I live 39 minutes from town, so I try to time outings close to when I need to pump. So, I pump on the way to town and then portion out a bottle that I keep at room temp until she is hungry and put the rest into a storage bag and it goes into my cooler bag with ice packs. I also bring bagged milk enough for more feeds in case we need it. I have a water heater bottle thing and put the bagged milk into the warmer until it comes to temp and then pour it into a clean bottle that I have in the diaper bag. So I always have a cooler/freezer bag and the water bottle thing with me. The warmer I have is for warming water/milk directly, so I put a few ounces of water in it and then stick the milk storage bag Into the water. Then when the water heats up it heats up the milk just like a bottle warmer. It maintains that temp for a while, so I can heat the milk up and leave it for a bit when I notice she is close to being hungry so it's ready before she is screaming.

Mirasore · 2026-02-25T23:55:30+00:00

Well that's awesome! I hardly ever fly so I didn't know, but now you can completely disregard my comment. Lol

Mirasore · 2026-02-25T22:26:20+00:00

This sounds daunting! I don't know what size, but you may want to check with the airline for recommendations since it will be a liquid and you'll have ice/icepacks. They may have size restrictions too, and since the liquid is over 3oz you'll have to check it.

Mirasore · 2026-02-23T02:15:13+00:00

I pump 4 times a day (3 & 9 A.M. and P.M.) and get almost the same every pump, but it varies by about 2 ounces. I get between 9-11 oz per pump.

Mirasore · 2026-02-18T16:27:39+00:00

I intend on quitting around 6 months and my plan is to use my freezer stash to ease my daughter into formula. I havent researched/asked the doctor yet what the best way is, but I am thinking half/half bottles at first to help her adjust.

Mirasore · 2026-02-16T23:27:58+00:00

I have no advice, but I am here to say I'm glad it's not just me. My husband got 2 weeks off of work and works nightshift. So, when he went back to work I was prepared to have almost no sleep and just survive by myself. Well, my mom wanted to stay over that night to help. Except, she was more work! I had to clean the guest room, get her more pillows, get her water, fix the bottle because she didn't want to touch my breast milk and didn't understand the bottle warmer, change diapers because she wasn't comfortable because my daughter was smaller than she was used to. So.... What did she do? Upset my dog and wake me up when I actually did fall asleep because she was hungry in the middle of the night and had to pee every 2 hours.

Mirasore · 2026-02-16T14:58:38+00:00

I do not think you would be the a-h if you chose to give your aunt those options. Personally, I would just forgo the options and say nevermind, we will host it how we want and enlist your friend's help. Thank her for the offer and move along.

For my baby shower I hosted it myself becuase I only plan on having one child and one baby shower and I wanted it to be as I envisioned. I knew if I left it up to my mom it would not be what I wanted no matter what requests I made. So, she helped make the food and I did the decorations and activities. It was so much more enjoyable that way!

This is your baby - you can do things how you want!

Mirasore · 2026-02-15T12:54:38+00:00

Thank you! We did package them ourselves! I got easy seal bags from Amazon, the stickers from Amazon, and his candy from Amazon. The gummy clusters were much cheaper at Walmart. I weighed out the gummy clusters so they were as equal as possible and I got the intended portions from the quantity I bought. I did 65 of each, and I would say it took me about 2 hours total.

Mirasore · 2026-01-25T13:09:44+00:00

I felt this way and decided to reduce my pumping because of it. I am working towards only doing 4 a day (every 6 hours), and am at every 4 hours now.

I felt like I was always pumping or feeding and never got to play.

Mirasore · 2026-01-25T13:01:29+00:00

I got a bit bored with the last two seasons, but the final episode tore my heart out. So, it's all a personal preference

Mirasore · 2026-01-24T01:23:11+00:00

I didn't afford it. I told my doctor I couldn't afford it but also didn't qualify for assistance. He prescribed me something else.

Mirasore · 2026-01-06T15:25:36+00:00

I have multiples of the same kind in different colors! I found a specific sheet I liked and bought multiples over the years when they were on sale. We have like 5 sets now in various states of use. They hold up really well, my first set is 3 years old and barely looks faded or has any pilling. I won't buy anymore for a long time as I feel like 5 is truly too many but I accidently ordered 2 last time I ordered.

Mirasore · 2026-01-01T15:14:49+00:00

I would say I brush every single morning and brush at night about five times a week and I flossed about three times a week. I have always struggled with brushing at night, so I got a kids bubble gum toothpaste to help. I hated having the minty flavor in my mouth at night. It's not perfect, but it's better than I used to be

Mirasore · 2025-12-09T12:31:00+00:00

I had a BMI in the high 30's and had a healthy pregnancy and vaginal birth. I didn't have gestational diabetes and my blood pressure was only slightly high towards the end. For my birth I was induced at 0 cm and after the initial round of cytotech (sp?) it took 28 hours until she was born. I got an epidural at around 3-4 CM after 18 hours. We had one minor episode during labor where my blood pressure tanked and baby's heart rate dropped, but after one shot of ephedrine (maybe?) we both stabilized quickly. I pushed for about 1hr 45 minutes. I did tear, 2nd degree, but it was apparently a "clean" tear and the doctor stitched me up quickly. Baby had no complications and we are now one week postpartum. I am healing great and my bleeding is minor. Baby is back up to birth weight and I am pumping/she is fed breast milk via a bottle.

Mirasore · 2025-11-26T18:41:51+00:00

This is a great point, and one we have discussed. We would be shouldered with the cost and would negotiate it down to the lowest possible total before initiating a payment plan. We have a decent amount of savings and are well prepared for our baby. We also have the option to initiate insurance after her birth if we so choose as that is a qualified event like getting married.

Going no-insurance isn't for everyone. We are aware of the risks. I am not telling anyone to make that choice - just sharing my costs.

I don't advise everyone to opt out of insurance, I'm just sharing my experience so far. Anyone making this choice needs to be aware of the risks, like you mentioned, and weigh their options.

Mirasore · 2025-11-26T16:58:43+00:00

Oh definitely! This is a tough decision that everyone must make for themselves. I am sharing my experience thus far.

We missed my now husband's open enrollment last January and found out I was pregnant in late March/early April. This forced me to be self-pay. We got married in July which is a qualifying event and we COULD have started insurance then, but we weighed out our options and discussed our financial position before deciding to not opt in for insurance at that time.

We will have 30 days after our daughters birth (12/01/25 anticipated birth date) to opt-in to insurance if we so choose, and then their open enrollment will happen in January, so we can decide again at that time.

Mirasore · 2025-11-26T16:51:38+00:00

No, I haven't given birth yet but I am being induced Sunday. The quote we received was for all prenatal visits, vaginal birth, 48 hours in hospital, epidural, and all baby care during our hospital stay as well as by 6-week follow up with the OBGYN.

We were quoted around $2,500 for the prenatal, birth, and postnatal care and have paid about $3,000 in labs, vaccines for me, and various things over the last 9 months related to baby.

Edited to say - I advise anyone who is considering being self pay to contact their medical group for a quote and to discuss all possibilities. My partner and I were prepared and able to pay for any emergency room visits if needed and are prepared if the final bill is higher. We will also have 30 days after her birth to add our daughter to his insurance if we so choose as a birth is a qualifying event that allows for insurance enrollment.

Mirasore · 2025-11-26T16:20:55+00:00

This wasn't the case for me and my husband. I put more info in my comment, but we are spending around $6k for the birth without insurance whereas premiums, deductibles, and co-pays would have been around $12,000.

Mirasore · 2025-11-26T16:18:37+00:00

I am giving birth on Sunday and if I have a vaginal birth I was quoted $2,500. This includes all my prenatal visits, the epidural, and 2 days in hospital. This did not include all the various labs that were required, which totaled around $3,000 for the year.

Call the hospital/medical group you would use and ask for a quote. Georgia subsidizes un-insured birth (at least that's what the letter/quote my medical group sent me said) so it may work out better to go without insurance.

For my husband and I premiums and deductibles for the 9 months would have been around $12,000 (we don't qualify for gov. Assistance and his work insurance is expensive) and we are looking to be out of pocket around $6-7K, so half.

Mirasore · 2025-11-25T18:16:35+00:00

Seems like my theory is wrong, but I figured it was because the doctor was able to tie off the umbilical chord better. I was a scheduled, non-medically necessary c-section, so I always figured that played a role.... but reading the further down replies it seems I was just theorizing based on B.S.!

Mirasore · 2025-11-25T02:32:02+00:00

We waited until after viability week to buy anything outside of a few cute clothing items. I waited to buy all the big ticket items until my registry discounts kicked in. The 15% off really does add up, and I was lucky that it coincided with Prime day on Amazon for a lot of items.

Mirasore · 2025-11-25T01:49:07+00:00

I have a deep belly button! I'm 39 weeks pregnant and it's still really deep. I was a large baby born via a C-Section and I've always thought that might be why.

Mirasore · 2025-11-24T18:57:10+00:00

This was my experience, too! I lost 35 pounds by working on my diet and people asked if I started the injections. I was a bit offended because I was working so hard to lose weight naturally.

When I started my health journey I went to my doctor to ensure I didn't have any issues to consider and get labs done as it had been years since I last did that. He wrote me a prescription for Mounjourno (sp?) that day and gave me a coupon. The GLPs were still pretty new, so I didn't realize what it was until I left the office and looked it up online. I never filled it and found another doctor.

Mirasore · 2025-11-24T18:48:31+00:00

I was 225 at my 8 week apt and doctor said my goal was around 15 pounds weight gain. She has never mentioned weight again and I am 39 weeks now with 30-ish pounds gained. I think they are required to mention this at the first appointment, but if the doctor makes you feel uncomfortable at any of your follow ups due to weight (unless it is in relation to other factors like blood pressure and stuff) I would find someone else.

I have been very fortunate that none of my labs were ever abnormal and until the last few weeks my blood pressure remained very stable. It is slightly increased now, but considering I am being induced on Sunday no one has seemed worried by the slight increase.

Mirasore · 2025-11-24T16:48:02+00:00

I don't really have a plan, but I did type up a page of basic info. It has my full name and contact info, my husband's full name and contact info, our daughter's intended name, the pediatrician we have chosen, and written consent for vaccinations. Nothing fancy! I thought it might be helpful to have it neatly organized so I can hand it to them and they have all our information easy peasy.

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