BTDT extended BFers - when did you stop pumping?

hollandmama

I plan on BF LO at least 2 years or until he self-weans, now he is almost 10 months, I am pumping twice at work. I was wondering if I could stop pumping when he reaches 1 year but then I am afraid that my supply will drop so much that we will have to stop BF.

What was your experience? When did you stop pumping? How long did you BF?

TIA!

TheBorg7of9

I had a large freezer stash. I weaned off pumping between 10-11 months. I continued nursing in the morning and evening and weekends until 15 months. I think my supply dwindled at that time because I got pregnant. But we were both ready to stop so I didn't push it.

CLLDLL

My son was MPI (milk protein intolerant) until around 13-14 months.  So my situation is a bit unique since having enough BM was pretty important for us.  I pumped 3x a day up until 1 year.  Then I pumped 2x a day.  I was still getting within an ounce or two of what I got pumping 3x a day.  So in hindsight I wish I'd dropped to 2x around 10 or 11 months just for my sanity. I didn't notice any drop in supply during the times I nursed LO, and we did a BF'ing support group where we did weighed feedings every 2 weeks so I know he was still getting his usual 4-5oz from a session.

At 14 months I went down to pumping 1x a day.  Shortly after that I got my first PP AF.  I did notice a daytime supply dip after that.  I started having to supplement his DC milk with 4-6 oz of coconut milk and on weekends I'll offer a bit of milk with lunch rather than just relying on nursing.

I slowly dropped that last pumping session between 15-16 months.  I still nusre LO as often as he wants on the weekends, which is usually 3-4 times a day and we nurse 3x a day during the week.  He's definitely getting milk from me & seems happy and content.  He's almost 19 months now.

vvvvvfee

i pumped until my DS was about 14 months. for the last few months, i was down to 1 pump per day in the middle of the day. i had some milk in the freezer, so for a while i was sending WCM with some breast milk, and when i ran out i just sent 1 cup of WCM with his lunch/snacks. DS is now 20 months and he still breastfeeds 3-5 times a day at home.

as PPs have said, you should be fine, supply-wise. many people stop pumping at work at 12 months. i would try to cut back to 1 pumping session a day a few weeks before you want to stop. some people gradually decrease the length of the last pumping session before stopping, but i went pretty much cold turkey. i had one day where i was a little engorged and pumped for a few minutes, but by the next day i was fine. it is such a relief to stop juggling all those pump parts!

hollandmama

Thanks ladies! I think I will follow your advice and decrease pumping sessions gradually it's so nice to hear that your LOs are still getting milk after so many months!!

MrsBigTime

I stopped pumping at about 13 months, but still nursed throughout the day/night as LO wanted. 

I noticed around a year that she naturally stopped nursing as frequently or as long and it really helped me wean off of pumping so often at work. At my peak I was pumping 5 times a day, and then started dropping by a session every few weeks. Just after LO turned a year, my schedule changed and I worked a lot of 8 hours shifts (vs. 12) and I was able to not pump during those days and just do it once on my long days. Now, I nurse LO at 5:30 am before I leave, and then again at 8 pm when I get home and I do ok. 

I don't have an abundance of milk, but it's enough to satisfy and comfort my busy toddler and that's good enough for me. 

There's been a few times when I've been tempted to pump now and see how much milk I actually have, but the thought of dragging out that blasted pump just can't really be bared!!

linzeek44

I stopped pumping at 18m. I didn't really start pumping until 13 months though, as that's when I went back to work. 

He still nurses morning, 5pm, and nighttime (just like he did while I was pumping), and he nurses on demand on the weekends (usually morning, 11ish, 2 or so, 5 ish, 7:30)- sometimes more.