I hear you on pumping Southern. Been doing it exclusively for 7 months and a few weeks, and it sucks. I will keep it up, because it is best for my little Peanut, but I hate my pump, and do not look forward to being attached to it at all. Being able to breastfeed is so much better.

When I was working and BF, pumping was an issue, b/c in my position, I often had back-to-back-to-back meetings. By the time I would get to pump, I would get easily 12-14 ounces. Work would *say* they were supportive, but if I needed to delay a meeting by 10 minutes to pump, it was obvious they were not supportive.

I have started a countdown- 4 months and some odd weeks to go. I am determined to make it to the one year mark. Because it is good for her (only one URI to date- yeah!), but also b/c I remember how discouraging everyone was re: pumping to get a supply started, maintaining the supply, etc.

I also think there is a small part of me that has a delusion that once Peanut has her cleft repaired, that she will BF. Ha! I know, it will never happen- she screams and has no interest at all. But maybe that deluded dream is what is keeping me pumping.

Oh yeah, this is why I have an issue with the AAP's recommendation for exclusive breast feeding to six months. This is truly not attainable for most working mothers (ie. most mothers). I think the AAP breastfeeding subcommittee's heads are in the cloud on this one!. Although maybe it is important to espouse what is in the best interest of the infant in the hopes of changing society down the line...who knows what their motivation was on that one. But as a working mother myself, I honestly felt that it was a lot to expect.

If it is in the best interest of the infant, why shouldn't they recommend it? I think the recommendation may persuade some women to stick it out, and some employers to provide time and space for pumping. Sure, there are situations where it will not be possible, but why not encourage breastfeeding for those cases where it is?

I agree. I think the AAP's recommendations hold a lot of sway and have been used as evidence to guide employers' and policymakers' decisions (thank goodness).

I do think that women especially use it to judge other women--it's a recommendation, not an expectation!

ASunshine-I definitely agree about the judgement. I often felt it when my little ones had a bottle in public, like I had to point out-hey, it is expressed breastmilk they are drinking in that bottle!!!

I totally hear all of you about the pumping. I loathe pumping. I always say I love breastfeeding b/c I get to bond with the baby, and it satisfies the most basic nurturing urges in me in terms of feeding my family (OK, I am Italian and Puerto Rican-two cultures that show the love through food!!)BUT, I do not breastfeed to have a relationship with my double electric breast pump!!!

Puerto Rican and Italian? I bet eating at your house is YUMMY!

I think the AAP recommendation causes more guilt for working mothers than change in employers' and policy makers' decisions!

Southern-yeah, we have some interesting holiday dinners when the whole family is together

I can say I have felt the guilt for supplementing before six months. But it is funny- being in the medical setting 'officially' this time around, I have felt more guilt than with my other three kids- so is the guilt more so specifically because I am surrounding with evidence-based practices and people who have those guidelines fresh in their minds? I have to say with my former coworkers, no one ever gave an opinion or made me feel as if they were trying to educate me on the finer points of breast vs. bottle.

That being said, I think it is important for the recommendations to be out there, as if that was not a recommendation, employers would simply not make the effort at all. (Some do, some don't) I really don't think that our building would have a 'special' lounge in it for staff/students if those recommendations were not out there.

The other thing is--and maybe this is just my region/experience--most of the pediatricians I've worked with are very quick to suggest formula. The baby loses a couple ounces, the mom expresses frustration, high bilirubin, mom is on a medication-->formula seems to be the first answer rather than the last answer. My kids' pediatrician (at least he's honest) said, "Don't ask me, I don't do that stuff" when I had breastfeeding troubles. (But he did send me to the lactation consultants.) I even heard one pediatrician say he wouldn't allow his WIC patients to get pumps because he knew they'd just sell them. >:(

Honestly, if the guidelines weren't there, I'm afraid that medical advice for women (outside of academics and a few other pockets) would become "formula formula formula."

I sure hope this isn't the case everywhere....