As I mentioned here, nursing didn't really work out for us. It just wasn't in the cards. So, for the past 8 weeks, I have spent at least 4 hours per day hooked up to a milking machine to provide breast milk for Molly and Jack. I am pumping 8 times per day for 30 minutes each time. Trust me- all this suction is NOT natural, and it does a number on your nipples. They crack and blister, and generally look nothing like the ones you remember from your pre-pumping days. It's really gross and it hurts. I spent a stupid amount of money on tubes of lanolin, prescription creams, and different sized flanges in an attempt to lessen the pain of pumping, which brings me to the point of this post. I have found a fabulous product that actually works, and that I wish I'd had from day one.
Pumpin Pals flanges are freaking amazing. They look a little wonky- kind of like Shrek's ears, right? But trust me. These ripply pieces of plastic have single-handedly saved my pumping sanity. The angle of the flanges lets me relax and sit back a bit, which isn't possible with the Medela flanges I was using. Even better? Three days after the switch, the cracks that plagued me for 8 weeks were completely healed and my nipples weren't killing me. I could hold Molly and Jack without wanting to scream! I debated the purchase for several weeks, because I couldn't justify spending even more money trying to make my milk-gathering mission less painful. My only regret now is that I didn't buy them sooner. Combined with my Simple Wishes Hands-Free Pumping Bra, I'm in pumping nirvana Woot woot!!
Thanks for posting About this! I must get some to be prepared. Glad to hear all is well and extra well now!!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you and your nipples are relaxed and pain free. Cracked nipples are ridiculously painful. You know a lot of people are allergic to Lanolin, so watch that.
ReplyDeleteHugs to those cuties,
Meredith
I'm glad you have found some relief!
ReplyDeleteHmm. I'm seriously considering giving these a try. At this point, after nearly 5 months of pumping 3-4 hours a day, my boobs seem pretty used to the whole thing and kind of resigned to their treatment. I'm lucky that my nipples never really cracked although they sometimes are quite painful. I think if I'd gotten some smaller flanges at the beginning I'd have been in better shape. By the time I got them, it was too late as my nipples were already somewhat mangled and the new flanges made things worse instead of better. These look like they might help, though.
ReplyDelete(This kind of makes it sound like I'm constantly in pain -- not really, just sometimes more uncomfortable than I'd like. In reality, it hasn't been that bad or I would have given up a while ago.)