BTDT: "I'll stop pumping at 1 year" advice!

ludali

So I've been saying that when DD turns 1, I'll stop pumping...but want to keep feeding her morning/night until weaned.  Easy statement - but how does one do that?  During the day when I would've been pumping - I hand express or pump until comfortable?  And soon enough, my daytime supply will regulate?  Coming from a person who has had supply issues, its hard to believe I'll get to a time/place when I no longer need to stress...

Or I'm thinking I slowly drop a pump?  I don't know how to do this?  I'm not opposed to pumping some during the day if I'm still producing and mix with cow's milk or give in a sippy on its own... 

I would start cutting out a pump (I still do it 4 times during the work day due to low supply) sooner, but I have a work trip at the end of the month and currently have enough in my freezer stash to last her those days.  I know I won't make it all up, but hopefully 75% of it.

How do we do this ladies??  TIA!

carrotcake06

I am seriously counting down the days. I only pump at work 2x and I'll go down to 1x for maybe a week and then stop altogether. At least that's what I did last time.

I had about 2 weeks of overlap, iirc. The big wasn't moving up daycare rooms until 13 mo and they didn't do bottles in his new room. So around 12.5mo, I started offering WCM in a sippy at home and it took him a couple weeks to get the hang of it (he wasn't a fan of the bottle to begin with). We continued to send BM bottles to dc and I continued to pump.

When he switched rooms, I stopped pumping at work over the course of a week or so. He stopped getting bottles and just had a sippy of WCM as needed. We contined nursing morning and night just like we had been doing during the week.

On the weekends, we really only nursed in my bed so I just avoided bringing him there for a couple weeks during the day and he didn't care at all. It was easy.

The plan is the same for the twins. They'll be one in just over 3 weeks!!!

girlmama83

I would like to do the same as you (nurse only morning/night and no more pumping). I discussed it with H's pedi at her 9mo appt and she said your supply regulates.

NikkiD522

I nursed morning and night for the last month or so without pumping. It's amazing how quickly your body regulates. Mind you, I had supply issues.. But I was able to cut out a pump session each week without any issue. I know it's cliche, but it really does come naturally.. I stressed over it a lot and now looking back, I wish I would have relaxed a bit. Good luck!!! The body is the easy part.. It's the emotions that comes with weaning that was tough!! I'm sure you'll be fine! :-)

ludali

Thanks for this info ladies...very helpful!!!

@NikkiD522 Oh I hear ya - I cry now just thinking about stopping.  :-(

ludali

carrotcake06 said:

The plan is the same for the twins. They'll be one in just over 3 weeks!!!

WOO WOO WOO WOOOOOO!  So hard to believe!!!