Weaning during the day?

simplestlife

My son is turning 1 year old in a week (yikes!), and I go back to work from summer break in a month. I'm a teacher and I was able to successfully pump and work thanks to my supportive principal, but by law she doesn't have to provide me with a time and a place anymore... Which is why I'm thinking about weaning for the daytime feedings between 7am and 3:30pm only.

Does anyone know if this even possible? Can I only nurse early morning, late afternoon, and evening, or will my milk dry up completely?

Myaflowers

I stopped pumping at work after 1 year and still nurse like usual whenever I'm home. On weekdays, I nurse in the morning, when I get home, and before bed. I might nurse a couple of extra times on the weekend depending on whether we are at home and DD asks to nurse. I don't know how my supply is, but DD doesn't seem to mind if my supply has decreased. I think you should be fine! 

opheliainwaders

Just chiming in to echo PPs that this is working fine for us. Just make sure you drop daytime nursings over the next few weeks so you don't get plugged ducts and such.

RDK24

I'm in a similar boat so it's great to hear these experiences.

If you don't mind a mini-hijack of your thread, I'd love to know from PP/BTDT moms: what changes in your body when you start nursing only AM and PM instead of nursing/pumping all day long? Do your breasts get smaller? Appetite decrease? Just curious!

HouseOfStark

RDK24 said:

I'm in a similar boat so it's great to hear these experiences.

If you don't mind a mini-hijack of your thread, I'd love to know from PP/BTDT moms: what changes in your body when you start nursing only AM and PM instead of nursing/pumping all day long? Do your breasts get smaller? Appetite decrease? Just curious!

I just stopped pumping a week ago for my 14 month old and haven't noticed too many changes.  My breasts still own their own zip code and my appetite seems the same.  It's so nice not to pump anymore and DS nurses morning, when I get home from work and nighttime.

vvvvvfee

yes, as PPs have said, you can absolutely nurse just mornings and evenings while working-- and it is totally awesome!

i stopped pumping at 14 months. DS is 23 months now and still nursing 3-5 times a day. he nurses in the morning before work, when i get home from work, and at bedtime. on weekends he usually nurses another 1-2 times during the day. i haven't had any issues with engorgement and i have always let DS nurse on demand while at home. i have had the occasional blocked duct, but they were due to other issues (like sleeping on my stomach and attempting to wear underwire bras again- bad ideas).

i'm definitely less ravenous/thirsty now that DS nurses less. my breasts are smaller. within the last 6 months or so, they seem less noticeably full at the end of the day. from about 14-18 months they were quite full at the end of the workday, now i can tell there's milk in there, but my supply has definitely decreased-- which is totally normal and expected as DS has been eating more and more solids.

opheliainwaders

I've had pretty much the same experience as @vvvvvfee‌ - but also wanted to add...night sweats! When I first dropped all those sessions, I was drenched again at night. It was like being a few weeks PP all over again. But it did pass pretty quickly.

Myaflowers

RDK24 said:

I'm in a similar boat so it's great to hear these experiences.

If you don't mind a mini-hijack of your thread, I'd love to know from PP/BTDT moms: what changes in your body when you start nursing only AM and PM instead of nursing/pumping all day long? Do your breasts get smaller? Appetite decrease? Just curious!

Breasts are smaller but not as small as pre pregnancy. My appetite has definitely decreased, and I've lost 13 lbs so far. I'm losing about 1 lb per week, and have about 5 more to go! I couldn't lose any weight with BF after the first 2 months PP.

Edited for spelling.

p2k2c4bk2p2

I am also a teacher. I stopped pumping when my first baby was about 14 months. I continued to nurse him in the evenings and on weekends and we are still going strong at 2.5 years old!

simplestlife

I apologize for posting and disappearing. I don't come on the bump often, and forgot to check back until now.

But... Wow. Can I just say how awesome you all are? I posted this same question on a Facebook breastfeeding group I'm a part of and got nowhere near this much amazing feedback.

Thank you ladies!!! I've been stressing about the potential end of our BFing relationship if I cut back, and it makes me incredibly happy to hear that other mamas have done it successfully!

So THANK YOU again!!!