How pumping helped form a team with my partner

Every other week we ask a Real Mom if they would like the NurtureGoods experience. These moms use a breast pump from NurtureGoods in order to describe and share their experiences. In this way, we hope to raise awareness of the NurtureGoods experience and help you make a choice. This week it's mom Louise's turn. Will you read along?

Louise's NurtureGoods experience (Instagram @louiselutkes).

How pumping helped form a team with my partner

To breastfeed or not to breastfeed? 
During pregnancy, I doubted for a long time if I wanted to breastfeed. I myself grew up on formula and never received a drop of breast milk. The same goes for my boyfriend. After reading a lot and talking to (new) mothers in my area, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to go for it because of reducing the chances of my daughter Maeve developing allergies. After all, I myself have many allergies and sensitive skin with eczema, so I know better than anyone how difficult it can be in everyday life to have this. I breastfed Maeve when I had just given birth but soon found out that this was not for me. It was very painful. Maeve didn't latch on well resulting in fissures. After delivery we had to stay in the hospital for 24 hours for observation and the nurses there helped me start breastfeeding. Because it was very busy on the ward, they obviously didn't have my full attention, so I mainly had to experience it myself. How spicy I found live breastfeeding! It is mentally and physically very intensive in my opinion. It takes a lot of time and energy. You are still recovering from giving birth, you lack sleep, parenthood is completely new and you still have to find your way in everything. But I did have a good milk production, which I bet many mothers would envy and I wanted to give Maeve my breast milk.

For that reason, after much discussion with my friend and the maternity care provider, I chose to start pumping full-time. At first, I felt very guilty and sad towards Maeve because so many other mothers managed to breastfeed live. So why didn't I succeed? But once I started pumping, this annoying feeling disappeared like snow in the sun. For about a month I breastfed through the bottle and it went really well! Also very nice and convenient that my boyfriend could give the bottle. This way we could alternate feeding times. He felt much more involved as a parent this way and together we really felt like a team!

Pumping 
With much love and also much joy, I pumped full-time for a month. The NurtureGoods Dual Efficient breast pump Smart 3.0 helped me a lot in this process! Not only at home, but also when I went out for the day, the pump was in my diaper bag. Eventually I also bought the handy feeding bra in which I could hang the bottles. That way I could just change Maeve's diaper at home, do little housework and watch a movie on the couch. This just goes to show how much women can manage at the same time! I look back very positively on my maternity period and the period after. Breastfeeding didn't go the way I initially thought it would, but I'm so glad I was able to see it through by pumping. Huge thanks NurtureGoods for the fine pump, I really recommend this pump to every mother. After a month I stopped pumping full-time, but that had nothing to do with the pump but unfortunately I had to due to medical reasons.  

The flask 
The NurtureGoods Dual Efficient breast pump Smart 3.0 made pumping not painful for me and it went very smoothly. In addition, the pump not only has a beautiful design, it is also very easy to use. I didn't need my friend to help me install the device, bonus! The display also speaks for itself and the keys light up in the dark, which is a big plus when watching TV at night, for example. What I quickly noticed was that the battery lasts a long time. You don't have to panic when you don't have the charger with you. This is quite a difference from two other pumping devices I have tried from friends of mine. This pump gave me peace of mind and that is just what you need in an already fun and at the same time stressful period. 

Conclusion: the value for money of this pump is super. I would like every mother to have this good experience of pumping as I had it, hence I recommend this fine pump to every mother.  

Much love, Louise
Want to know more about Louise? Then follow her on Instagram @louiselutkes