I Really Do Think It's Masochism. Well, Kinda.

Once upon a time, an EP was some kind of record (yeah, it's true, I don't know exactly what kind, but I bet I owned one when I was a kid). Now it stands for "exclusively pumping".  As in pumping breast milk, exclusively. Apparently there are women who believe devoutly in breast milk, but who don't want to breastfeed. And Time or Newsweek recently wrote an article about it (you can Google it if you don't believe me, because, frankly, the article wasn't so good as to make me actually want to link to it).

I am appalled.

Now, I've discussed breastfeeding before. I breastfed Ironflower for 10 months with an occasional bottle of formula and plenty of pumped milk, Lovebug for 15 months with an occasional bottle of pumped milk and ChunkyMonkey for 13 months with 20 bottles of formula. It was easy, cheap and good for the children, of course.

I went to back to teaching after having Ironflower and for 7 weeks after having Lovebug. So I am familiar with pumping. And I just wonder if these women are completely insane  or masochists or what. Because pumping has got to be one of the lousiest parts of new motherhood. Seriously.

You cram your boobs into these uncomfortable shells which suck on your nipples with the force and finesse of a drunk, horny 15 year old. And since you've got to manage to keep them in place your range of movement is extremely limited. Then you've also got to focus on thinking about your baby so that you can actually produce half the milk you produce when you actually nurse. I couldn't even watch TV while doing it. So boring. Oh, and then you've got to sterilize everything over and over and over. I have never, ever, ever, met a woman who didn't hate pumping.

Who in their right mind would choose to do that ALL THE TIME?

Sure, if your baby's (Goddess forbid) in the NICU. Or maybe you have massively deformed nipples. But why else?

One woman said it took less time. Right. Because what new mother wants LESS time to physically bond with her baby?

Another woman said it let her know how much milk her baby was getting. Clearly she missed breastfeeding 101, which lets you know that that fear is retarded and that it's fine that breastfed babies are skinnier. I also blame pediatricians for this. I have met so few who are truly supportive of breastfeeding.

The reporter noted (but didn't quote, I don't think) that some women are worried about breastfeeding in public. To them I say stop hanging out at Tea Party conventions and start therapy for your shame issues. Also, buy a cute wrap.

Look, I don't care if you breastfeed (though I think you should at least try it for a month) or bottle feed or combine the two, but if you exclusively pump? I am totally judging you. It's like you're choosing to torture yourself without any reward. Ugh.