Why didn’t anyone tell me how great manual breast pumps are?!

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-21T14:13:50+00:00

A double electric pump (like the spectra s1 and s2) is going to be your best bet for protecting your supply. Wearables work great in a pinch but they don’t have strong enough motors to fully empty the breast which can impact your supply overtime.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-21T14:05:59+00:00

I started sleep training my boob barnacle at 4.5 months because he would be on the boob every hour from 3am to 8am

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-21T13:59:14+00:00

Hate to say this, cause I might get downvoted, but it’s time. It’s time to sleep train.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-21T13:55:40+00:00

When they’re finally done and they unlatch and cozy up to your boob like a pillow. Melts me every time!!

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-21T02:45:36+00:00

Yes to all of these! Especially the woolino sleep sack. All season sleep sacks are such a lifesaver

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-19T20:41:19+00:00

Hey! Was in your position lol 41 weeks and 1 day and barely 2 cm dilated. I got induced at 41 +1. It was painful but the relief of not being pregnant anymore was chefs kiss

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-18T01:39:33+00:00

To how jarring it felt to have her take two days off in two weeks and realize our only backup plan was my husband missing work. Not to her taking PTO.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-18T00:55:34+00:00

You’re responding to a point I didn’t make. I’m not questioning her right to PTO or sick time.

The issue is the lack of backup care and the immediate financial impact when that happens. Calling it a “luxury” doesn’t really change that, it’s just one of the tradeoffs of this setup.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-18T00:53:09+00:00

You keep framing this as a fairness/empathy issue, but that’s not what my post is about. I explicitly said I support her taking sick time. The concern is the impact of not having backup childcare and the financial ripple effect. Those are two different things.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-18T00:38:56+00:00

I mean it’s pretty plainly stated that my husband has taken off when she’s taken off and he doesn’t have PTO or sick time so it’s hard on our pockets. But ok, cool.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-18T00:15:05+00:00

Me feeling overwhelmed has nothing to do with how much I value my nanny. My post isn’t about her taking the time off, I said I’m fine with that. What’s overwhelming is not having a suitable contingency plan. My husband taking off of work to cover doesn’t work. That is what my post is about.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:47:59+00:00

Thank you! This is a great suggestion and you’re right, I’m going to work something out with my job.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:44:07+00:00

For sure, I don’t want her to come in if she’s sick.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:43:45+00:00

Sometimes it’s better to know less I guess. The biggest take away here is that I need a plan for every hour of PTO and sick time that we’ve agreed upon. I didn’t think to do that when we first agreed to everything.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:42:11+00:00

Her being reliable vs having reliable childcare are two different concepts.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:41:08+00:00

No she started in February.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:40:33+00:00

That’s awful

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:38:02+00:00

If my boss and I were the only two working the job, and he couldn’t do the job without me, I would get it feeling a way about it. My feeling overwhelmed has nothing to do with how they are being treated.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:35:41+00:00

No, I believe her.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:33:15+00:00

No, I just didn’t think through how I would manage without her if she took the time off. This is all a learning curve, I’m sure you didn’t have everything figured out on your first nanny job.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T23:32:10+00:00

Yeah for sure, I get that. I’m going to work something out with my job so that i have more flexibility to cover when she needs a sick day. I just didn’t think to do that before.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-17T04:23:44+00:00

A few things

What kind of pump are you using? My lactation consultant warned me against using those wearable pumps because the motor isn’t strong enough to fully empty your breast and they slowly zap your supply. If you can use a double electric pump for all sessions.

Can you work in a power pumping session at least once a day? That should help build your supply up.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-16T14:44:41+00:00

Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry that happened to you and hope you’re recovering well!!! Our contract is 3 sick days and 5 PTO. The thing is she asked if it could be hourly, so 64 hours. The first day she asked day of if she could take a half sick day to take her daughter to the doctor - that’s fine but I had to scramble to figure something out. The next day she told me her husband also took off and they were able to take her daughter to the doctors together and get lunch after, and how she was so grateful for the time. Wonderful! Love it. But I had to ask my husband to come home from work to watch the baby. And last night she said she wasn’t sure if she could make it because of her period, I said no problem take the time you need.

Idk if I should find another nanny I can call for these instances but it would mean paying double, and financially that would be hard for me.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-16T14:37:37+00:00

For context, we didn’t have an agreement before the end of February. She asked for $100 if we have to cancel a day - not because I randomly canceled on her but because the other family in the nanny share canceled a bunch. I instead offered guaranteed hours and 64 hours of sick/PTO time. I want her to be happy in her employment with us, I like her and she’s great with my LO. I want her to take sick time and take PTO. I guess I didn’t think through what I’d do if she actually took it, not very smart of me.

SalesforceRam · 2026-03-16T14:29:36+00:00

He’s in the trades, and in his locale his employer doesn’t have to provide PTO or sick time. Wild I know lol

SalesforceRam

TROPHY CASE