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Aww I'm so sorry. You have been through a lot but you have hung in there!

I think it sounds like you just need to find your rhythm being back at work. You'll get on a schedule and know where you can flex and not flex. I'm sure right now you are worried about mastitis again so pumping at night was a good choice. But in a few weeks you'll regulate and it hopefully wont be an issue.

Are you doing everything you can while pumping at work? You have to play with things to figure out what works for you. For example, some people say it helps to relax and look at pictures or videos of their kids. For me, it helped if I focused on pumping and the milk and massaging to help.

Great job!

That is rough--so sorry!

I didn't go through all of that, but I did have a rough patch where I was feeling over it. I gave myself a deadline that if I still felt bad in X amount of weeks, I would quit. Just giving myself the space to throw in the towel made me feel better. It also seems like even one day can make a big difference!

Yikes you are really going through the wringer. You have my hugs and sympathy. Hang in there! Three months was the toughest time for my nursing/pumping journey but we got through it and things are wonderful now. It's so hard to figure out the balance of supply, engorgement, pumping, and nursing. You will get there though, just remember everything changes from week to week so nothing must be endured forever.

I'm so sorry! I had a horrible cracked bloody nipple, hurry APNO from your DR, it is a miracle!
Hang in there!!!!

@MamaCate: It sounds like an extra third pump may just be what your body needs. But also, I would try to also pump to that 20 minute mark if you can (especially if you are distracted and doing emails and such).

Pumping also was a relief in the sense it was less damaging on the nipples. I was also told you can use lansolin before pumping if the friction is too much.

@MamaCate: I could have written this same update! I had a stomach bug that caused me to have to use my entire freezer stash the week before I went back to work full time. And then had mastitis! I think my supply is slowly working back up but I have zero stash and am barely pumping enough at work and bedtime pump for the next day. Best wishes to get through this rough patch!

@MamaCate: I'm just pumping around the clock! Eating lactation cookies, I rented a hospital grade pump, lots of water, etc. I had to send some formula to daycare today which was a relief in some ways. LO will be with me tomorrow - Tuesday so I'm hoping to catch up some then. I'm also about to change jobs that will allow me to be home more so I'm hoping that if we can just get through the next 4 weeks or so we will get back in a groove. If I knew full time daycare was our long term situation I would be more panicked!

@MamaCate: girl. it gets better. wait til your boobs actually deflate. kidding!!!! it is a constant job, ON TOP of parenting. you will think about it from every angle, and rethink your findings again the next day. you WILL figure out what works best for you and baby.