From Pain to Confidence: One Working Mom’s Pumping Journey

I often hear moms say, “Oh, I just pump.”

And I always think: please take the “just” out of that sentence.

Because pumping is no small thing. It’s actually a superpower.

Take this recent client story for example:

When I first met this mom, she had a clear goal: she wanted to make enough milk to keep breastfeeding her baby until her first birthday, and she wanted to feel better while doing it.

She was a working mom pumping three times a day while breastfeeding on nights and weekends. Her output was dropping, sometimes less than an ounce per session, while daycare was steadily increasing bottle volumes.

Supplementing with formula had become the norm, and she was starting to wonder if her body could keep up.

But she still had hope. So she reached out.

In our first session, we made a few small but crucial adjustments: switching to a smaller flange size (one that actually fit), coaching her to increase suction levels without pain, and introducing a mini power pumping routine. Almost immediately, her output jumped. And for the first time in a long time, she felt no pain while pumping.

By our next check-in, she had reduced to two pumps per day and was getting around 12 oz, enough to send two bottles of breastmilk and just one formula to daycare. She said: “I’m exactly where I wanted to be, with more breastmilk than formula.”

From there, we shifted focus to the next season: preparing to wean.

We talked about how to read baby’s cues, how to decide which feed to drop next, and how to navigate the emotional side of letting go. We covered clogged ducts, pump output patterns, and even comfort strategies for those fussy evening cluster feeds.

By the end of our work together, she was ready. Her goals had been met. In TWO visits! And she had the tools, and confidence, to move forward on her terms.

Because sometimes, it’s not just about milk. It’s about you feeling good in your body, your routine, and your choices.

Need support with pumping? Whether you're struggling with output, stuck in a painful routine, or navigating the emotions of weaning—I’d love to help. Click here to schedule a pumping consult. Let’s get you feeling good in your feeding plan again.