Mooooooooo

Pumping sucks. There's not much more to say than that. Obviously it has to be done since I don't want to stop breastfeeding...but I could do without it.

At home it's no big deal. In fact, after Vera started sleeping through the night, I would pump 11 ounces off ONE BOOB in the morning! Craziness.

At work, it really sucks. Since I am never engorged, I forget I need to pump so I sometimes go 6 hours without...which thereby decreases my milk supply.
I guess I'm not excited to take half hour "breaks" to sit in a cold room half naked hooked up to a milk machine that makes my nipples reach a freakishly long size while holding the suction cups up to my boobs so I don't even get to relax to enjoy my "break," (but I DO get to listen to a very soothing pumping noise...which makes me want to throw it against the wall) and scalding my fingers while attempting to clean my equipment with the boiling water spicket. And...I GET to do this twice a day...lucky me. I just let my surgeon know I need to go, "moo" for half hour and I'll find him when I get back. Their reactions (since they're all male) to that kind of comment is amusing every time. :)

Seriously though, I can't even imagine what it would be like to have a crappy pump. I donated my right kidney for my Medela pump so I don't know any difference, but I've seen cheaper ones, or manual ones...huh? Is that even possible? I suppose it is since I've seen farmers do that to cows...how AWFUL! I already think it's worse than child labor at stealing modesty...I can't imagine what someone feels like to hand pump...yikes. And it would take FOREVER! I am the most inpatient person when it comes to pumping...why can't I just open the flood gates and the milk produced just pour out? Why? I even pump quickly...when I'm full, about an ounce a minute.

Moral of story: pumping sucks. ...but I guess it's for a good cause. :)
Duration estimated? I would like to make it a year if possible to avoid having to use formula at all, and I really enjoy breastfeeding- it's so easy, cheap, and convenient!