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Every EP Mom Has a Story

Exclusively Pumping: It's Not Easy

By Jessica SanchezPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Pumping Tree

"Waah, waah," your eyes fill with tears as you hear your baby cry for the first time. The moment you have been waiting for has finally arrived. Your bundle of joy so small and fragile as they place him in your arms. For just a second, time stands still as your child looks at you and your heart fills with such love and an overwhelming feeling to provide and protect that child for as long as you shall live. You are tired, but at that time, in that place none of that matters to you. Time passes, your child is hungry, "Waah" he shouts again and again, you, eager to provide food for your child quickly try to latch him onto your breast. "Waah, waah, waah" he cries in frustration refusing to latch. "I must just be doing it wrong," you think to yourself, you try again, "WAAAH, WAAAH." You feel defeated, emotional, frustrated, and begin to prepare a bottle. You're thinking that the only important thing is to have your child fed.

You begin to think about all the articles, the testimonials and the stories your mother and grandmother have told you about breastfeeding. The benefits that it could possibly provide for your child because a mothers milk can't be compared to any other product in the world. Formula comes close but it is no exact replica to a mother's milk. It is not personalized for your child and his needs. Again, you start to feel emotional and frustrated at the fact that your child has refused you. You spend your time and efforts reading online about techniques and positions to help your child to latch, you go to lactation consultants just to find that all your efforts are not working. You've had your mind set on breastfeeding since your child was still in the womb, but this unforeseen event has trumped your hopes and self-esteem as a mother. You feel negligent, like you aren't doing what is best for your child, and finally you have to make a choice to either stop trying or look for an alternative.

Personally, I decided to find an alternative. I had joined an online forum of women whose children had rejected breastfeeding to see if I could find answers and support between those who were also going through the same situation. Finally, a mother suggested that she had given up trying to latch her child and was going to try being an EP mother. "EP?" I thought. I quickly looked up the term online and found thousands of testimonials of mothers that are in the same situation. "Must be easier than breastfeeding," I said to myself determined to exclusively pump for the 12 months for my newborn. I was wrong.

Exclusively Pumping is the biggest sacrifice that I have made for my child thus far. I have spent over $300 on equipment, more than 500 hours of my time, I've had cracked, sore, and bleeding nipples, mastitis, clogged milk ducts, lost sleep, plus spent hours reading articles, testimonials, and product reviews. Exclusively pumping is very difficult, having to hook yourself up to a machine with out being able to move from the same spot, having to pump in your car or job, 7 times a day, 30 minuets each time, that's already 3.5 hours a day, 24.5 hours a week, and since I've been pumping for 6 months, that's 588 hours of my time. Lost sleep, pain, bleeding, and an empty pocket all for the benefit of my child.

Exclusively pumping mothers wouldn't put this much time an effort into such an exhausting ritual if they did not want what is best for their child. Having to care for a new life, change diapers, wash bottles, and everything else that comes along with child care and motherhood. Mothers who are already sleep deprived still wake up in the middle of the night to pump and feed their child. That is love.

You will feel frustrated, tired sleepy, and you WILL want to give up. Yet the moment you see your child smile and you hear the doctor say that they are healthy and well fed, that will make it all worth it. When you see your child enjoy a freshly pumped bottle and that your child drinks it with such joy and happiness, that will make it all worth it.

Exclusively pumping mothers are a special kind of super moms. They work so hard to do what is best for their babies. They find strength in the development of their child and the smiles that brighten the days. They are just as loving, just as caring, just as hard working as any of the other moms.

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About the Creator

Jessica Sanchez

Currently trying to juggle a job, motherhood and my responsibility as a mother

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