If you follow me on Instagram you know that I’m supposed to be weaning. I’d planned to complete my journey and publish this as my final blog post wrapping up all the details in celebration of World Breast Pumping Day. Well… not everything goes according to plan.
As I was retrieving some data for this post, I signed into the wrong milk bank portal. When I was initially researching paid banks back in November 2024, I’d also signed up with NI-Q but they weren’t actively accepting applications. I checked in a few times over the first few months and then forgot about it. Till now. And as I logged in, a big pop up came across the screen stating: “Open for Donations!” Well, okay! Why not? So I applied. If I got in, cool. If I didn’t, I’m okay to end my pumping journey.
Now that I’ve been in the throes of motherhood for a whole year, I’ve been thinking back to what I’m glad I had on my registry, what I had to race to buy after the fact, and what I wish I would have never added to my registry in the first place. There is so much out there that you don’t even really need. Third time’s the charm on this blog post topic and I think I’ve got it right this time. If I knew then what I know now, this is exactly what my registry would have looked like from the start.
As Parker turned ONE yesterday, today marks one year of my exclusively pumping journey. And quite a journey it has been. 8 pumps. 2 extra freezers. 2 milk banks.
And to think I wanted to quit in the first couple of days when it was such a struggle just to fill up the tiny syringes the NICU nurses would give me.
Based on the data: I have completed 2417pumping sessions, totaling ~1,184 hours(that’s almost 50 days) and producing 27589 ounces of milk. According to ChatGPT, that equates to 551,780calories burned and can be estimated to be worth $110,000. My personal record is pumping 38 ounces in one session.
Before we dive into World Breastfeeding Week—as well as National Breastfeeding Month—let’s start with two important reminders:
First: Whatever feeding journey you’ve chosen for your family is valid, and it is enough. Whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, using formula, or some combination of all three—you’re doing what’s best for your baby. And that makes you a good mom.
Second:Pumping is breastfeeding. There’s been a lot of chatter on social media lately questioning whether exclusive pumping “counts” since it’s not straight from the source. Let’s be clear: it absolutely does.
Based on the data: (as of yesterday), I have completed 2110 pumping sessions, totaling 1,034 hours(that’s 43 full days) and producing ~23,894 ounces of milk. According to ChatGPT, that equates to 477,871calories burned and can be estimated to be worth $28,672.
So far, we have donated 9,145 ounces of our stash to the Mother’s Milk Bank of SC to help fellow NICU babies just like Parker. This has helped feed 370 NICU babies.
We have also given 1000 ounces via private donation and we’ve been paid $5,665 donating 6,071 ounces to Tiny Treasures.
More recently, every single day I’ve wanted to quit. I could just stockpile the rest of my stash to get Parker through her first birthday. But then I think of every mom who wanted to breastfeed and couldn’t. I think of every NICU baby that we are helping with our donations. And I think about how great it has been to bring some financial support to my family after losing my identity to being a stay at home mom. Plus it doesn’t hurt that I feel feel comfortable in my body for the first time in a long time. So I’m going to keep trucking along until the tap runs dry.
Now that I’ve been in the throes of motherhood, I’ve been thinking back to what I wish I would’ve put on my registry in the beginning, and what I wish I wouldn’t have wasted my time on (or what I wish people didn’t waste their money on that wasn’t on the registry), along with items I’ve found super helpful with Parker’s development and play. Check out my initial must haves post HERE and see the revisited/refreshed version below.
Danielle D. Mercer 