Milk Maiden Update #4

Okay, let’s see…

We are 1 1/2 months into this lactation journey and 17 days since my last update. Things are progressing well enough. I don’t really have anything or anyone to compare it all to but if there is a track, I think we’re on it. Last time I posted, I was making enough milk to get through the flange and down into the bottle. One of my favorite noises these past couple of weeks has been listening to the constant trickle of milk splashing into the bottle during the first 2-3 minutes of pumping before it tapers off.

Last time, I said I think I needed to move up to bigger flanges. I was wrong. The bigger ones weren’t uncomfortable, I just used the size guide, measured my nipples and it turned out, I did need the small ones. I mean, not small. They send a size 24 and size 28 along with the breast pump. Any bigger or smaller, and you have to purchase your own. I needed the size 24. Anyway! I may have originally thought I needed bigger flanges so pumping wouldn’t be so painful. It turns out, I just needed time to get past the pain of what felt like suctioning my nipples off, regardless of flange size. Moving on…

Things I’m excited about:

First and foremost, Brian can actually express milk when he drinks from me!! This is exciting for him as I always feel the rise in his pants when I straddle him and put my tits in his mouth. He is actually receiving and tasting my milk!! He says it tastes great. Yay!! Prior to this revolution, I was constantly trying to shove my nipples in his face for what felt like no reason. He compared it to someone handing you an empty cup and expecting you to be thrilled that there would be a beverage in it someday. So I definitely took a step back and didn’t shove my tits in his face again until I was sure that I could at least drop a hint of flavor on his tongue.

Also, I’m able to hand express quite a bit of milk once I’m done pumping or once he’s done drinking. This has resulted in me squirting myself in the face a time or two.. or three. I also hand express it into his mouth once he’s done, so he’s had his fair share of catching some milk to the face as well.

2 weeks ago, what started as a drip at the bottom of the bottle turned into more than a drip. In a 12 hour collection period, I was able to gather up a total of an ounce when I collected milk from both bottles into one.

The issue with this was that neither of us is going to drink milk that’s been sitting out, collecting dust for 12 hours. So today, I got a new bottle brush, pumping bra (easier to insert and remove the flanges), and milk storage bags. Now I am able to do a deep cleaning between pumping sessions, or at least sessions where I plan on collecting and storing my milk. At this time, since I’m not producing a ton, those times would be my first morning collection and my power pumping collection. Other than that, I’ll do a quick rinse just to keep things fresh enough until they get scrubbed.

I tested out the collection bags with my first power pumping session this morning. It was my second pumping of the day but still.. an hour of pumping has to result in more than a couple of droplets, right? In the picture below, the collection bag says two ounces but it’s one of those bags that expands at the bottom so it can sit upright (no idea how to explain what I’m trying to say), so it’s actually probably just half an ounce, if that much. But hey… slow and steady blah blah blah.

With these new collection bags, I felt it was time to start actually building up a collection. I was able to smuggle my Power Hour bag into the freezer this morning. Brian is worried about the kids finding it, but they’d have to actively decide to do something besides open the freezer, claim there’s no food in the house, and close it. I’m pretty positive it’s hidden.

Today is also Friday. Fun Friday. So I decided to have a drink. After my drink, I noticed my 2 hours were coming to an end as my tits were feeling a bit swollen and achy. I pumped, I hand expressed, I added the two bags of milk together, and I properly labeled it. Vodka! I went back and relabeled it for accuracy. Vodka and Red Bull.

With that, and idea was born. Hear me out. We have our regular milk and our vodka and Red Bull milk, so I must add to this collection. I’m thinking I should eat a bunch of citrus fruit one day, then asparagus and green, leafy veggies another day, [insert your suggestions in the comments box, please] another day, etc. Then one of our episodes has to be a taste test, right? Right?! It only makes sense!!

So those are all of the things I’m excited about. As far as my supplements, I’ve started taking the milk thistle and the Mother’s Milk tea with fennel and fenugreek. I’ll keep an eye out for any changes. I’m still waiting on the domperidone to be delivered as well. And yesterday, I scheduled a telephone appointment with the OB/GYN clinic so I can see about getting on birth control. I told the pre-screening tech that this was strictly for lactation purposes, so I need low estrogen and high progesterone.

He didn’t seem shocked, shook, or anything else when I told him my plan. He was probably relieved because he has my medical records, which clearly state that I no longer have a uterus. It was probably a big relief to realize I wasn’t trying to get a prescription and give/sell it to someone else. So, my appointment is on Monday and I’m super excited.

I think that’s all I have to add for this update. I’ll list my supplements below. The pumping schedule hasn’t really changed other than the fact that I’m waking up at 2 and 4 in the morning less often.

• Liquid Gold
• Sunflower Lecithin
• Spirulina tablets
• Shatavari tablets
• Dairy Dutchess supplements
• Milk Thistle
• Mother’s Milk tea

Last thing before I go: Pumping makes my nipple stick out like jumbo pencil erasers and I’m NOT complaining!!