I'm afraid of saggy deflated boobs post-weaning because that's what I already had before being pregnant. Can't imagine them being more saggy/deflated!
Sad fact? I preferred the saggy deflated boobs after weaning. I'm a sports bra wearing woman and miss them every day I'm pumping/nursing (they're just not practical enough).
I feel overwhelmed and scared at the thought of weaning, what led to the decision to wean for those of you that have? Did you switch to formula or are you on enough solids and cow's milk or water?
We've been doing both formula and bm since about 2 weeks because my supply has never been enough and with bottles all day at daycare, she was getting more and more impatient with my slow-flow low-supply tits. My goal was 6 months which I've more than met, and we're flying to the east coasr for my dad's 60th in a few weeks so I decided to finish weaning ahead of that trip. It's not fun for either of us anymore (let's be honest, it was never really a great experience for me), so I'm just relieved to be done. I've been wearing real bras and it's amazing.
Jealous! None of my pregnancy bras or pregnancy bras fit. I need to go bra shopping. Again. No one told me how many bras I would buy on this journey.
Other than the hormones, I got a bunch of clogged ducts but nothing too terrible. The hormones are no joke though, I was sad for about two weeks.
I was only AA to start with and only hit A while pregnant amd breastfeeding, so I am thinking this won't be an issue since there is nothing there to sag. I've already shrunk most of the way back to my barely AA.
H is getting concerned about me being a downer lately - So I read him your comment to reassure him that it's normal, and he just said "2 weeks??" Sorry, babe, it's out of my control!
@lajoliedreamer For real, I was not prepared. Plus it's kind of sad anyway- hormones or not. There's something so intimate and fulfilling about breastfeeding that is impossible to explain to a man that disappears when you've weaned. I cried a lot and even still feel sad about it sometimes. I can't even explain why, it's hard to put into words.
@MrsMaryK2016 I'm worried about the sad aspect! I think we'll try for a year, but every time I think of stopping (during the oh my gosh why am I still doing this times of bfing) I get sad! I'm looking forward to being done with worrying about my supply and pumping and all that, but there's so much else that goes into it that I know I'll miss. Getting emotional over here just thinking about it.
my desire to keep bf is kinda masochist i think, but i feel the same way as @desoky01 , i cannot imagine weaning just yet. my boobs are already sagging and i dont want to look at the mirror . i do not want to think how they will look like after weaning
I have such mixed emotions about when to wean. My supply has been okay but we've had a slew of latch issues plus her dairy allergy. I MISS cheese and dairy in general so bad. Also, i have a cold right now and I'd like to be able to take medication again. (Mom's should be exempt from all illnesses)
There's just something so sweet about that little hand resting on my chest (when she isn't pinching or smacking). I'm shooting for a year ideally.
@jsmai that little hand is the BEST! Were also aiming for a year ish. Most likely will wean just before a year so I don't have to worry about pumping when I go back to work. Though maybe I'll keep morning and night feeds for a while. They are the best anyway.
Im also in the saggy-nobrasfit club. I was already a DD (a very full DD) and now only bra I can wear is my one breast feeding bra... probably should have bought 2...
I agree with you ladies. I loathe pumping to my core... but I've cut back on that so I only do it once a day. Our pedi wants us to fatten up baby boy so part of me just feels like being done nursing and going straight to formula but I can't. I'm not emotionally ready. We do a combo now of formula and nursing.
I was a very reluctant BFer and I've mostly kept it up bc it calms him best MOTN but I agree that I would be sad seeing that little face half asleep and stroking his head at 3am knowing that comfort got him back to sleep.
Now if he would go back to regularly sleeping all night without wake ups I'd probably be ok stopping
I'm already in the saggy boob club . I plan to go a year as long as I'm able too but definitely couldn't see going beyond that. I'm just hoping S grows out of her dairy allergy so she won't have any issues with cows milk.
I too am really over pumping and nursing. Lo rejects me so much during the day now that I end up pumping even when I'm home, and then he's up at night bc he's still hungry from not eating enough during the day. I'd like to drop to pumping in the morning and during lunch and then nursing before bed, but is that possible? For those who combo feed, when do you do formula and when do you nurse?
Well another day on the BF worry train. I thought with being home with S for 4 straight days and EBF that today would be a great pumping day. But nope, I was wrong. It's a crap pumping day. I literally just got only 2 oz after pumping for 30 mins. Hopefully drinking tons of water between now and my next pump will help.
Well another day on the BF worry train. I thought with being home with S for 4 straight days and EBF that today would be a great pumping day. But nope, I was wrong. It's a crap pumping day. I literally just got only 2 oz after pumping for 30 mins. Hopefully drinking tons of water between now and my next pump will help.
That happens to me all the time. Mondays are the worst pumping day. I think LO is just so much more efficient that the pump can't keep up.
I've decided that tonight is my last night bfing. She's always distracted and gets mad that I'm so slow, there's no reason to keep going. I'm hoping it's not a fight so I can try to cherish the last time!
I've decided that tonight is my last night bfing. She's always distracted and gets mad that I'm so slow, there's no reason to keep going. I'm hoping it's not a fight so I can try to cherish the last time!
I hope so too! Im glad you'll remember it, the only regret I have of weaning was not paying attention to the last time.
In my job I do some HR policy research and was asked to look into lactation rules so I thought I would share.
Employers are only required to allow lactation space/time for 1 year after the birth of the child. If you choose to pump beyond that they aren't required to give you space/breaks. Breaks are uncompensated unless the employer normally provides paid breaks, then this break would also be compensated although it should count toward your regular paid break time (meaning you pump during that time).
These rules really only apply to non-exempt workers.
SAHMs how do you handle pumping? I've been out of work since April and I've barely pumped since I've been home because I haven't had much reason to. Lately we have had some stuff going on where I've needed to leave V with others and I feel like pumping is a major inconvenience. I have a decent freezer stash so I'm not worried about not having enough but it's nice to have fresh milk for him as well. I'm also not responding to the pump as well as when I was working (probably stress related). Should I just rely on my freezer stash and not worth about it? I think I'm over thinking this which isn't helping either.
@tigerfish227 I personally would use my freezer stash. I wouldnt want that to go to waste. When I was home during Mat leave, I pumped right after her first feeding since you normally have more of a supply during that time.
In my job I do some HR policy research and was asked to look into lactation rules so I thought I would share.
Employers are only required to allow lactation space/time for 1 year after the birth of the child. If you choose to pump beyond that they aren't required to give you space/breaks. Breaks are uncompensated unless the employer normally provides paid breaks, then this break would also be compensated although it should count toward your regular paid break time (meaning you pump during that time).
These rules really only apply to non-exempt workers.
State law could provide more robust coverage
Is this nationally or just in Indiana? Because I am not provided a space to pump; it's the Wild West here.
@tigerfish227 I personally would use my freezer stash. I wouldnt want that to go to waste. When I was home during Mat leave, I pumped right after her first feeding since you normally have more of a supply during that time.
@SandNStarsNJ what I provided is national - it is the Fair Labor Standards Act that was amended by the Affordable Care Act. The caveat, and where I think it would not apply to you, is it is technically only for those covered under Section 7 of the FLSA which largely deals with exempt/nonexempt professions. Teachers are exempt under Section 7 so this law technically doesn't apply to you. Which is BS
It doesn't apply to me, or likely most of us, but fortunately a lot of companies still comply.
I'm thinking about weaning DD and switching to formula. I BFed for 15 months last time so this is a surprise, but I feel like my supply isn't keeping up, she gets so impatient and frustrated when my letdown is slow, and every nursing session during the day seems to be a battle. The only time she ever nurses well is in the MOTN and she's been waking more frequently to eat because I think she's not getting enough during the day. During our last session, she was so frustrated and my breasts felt totally empty; she ended up just taking a nap without nursing, so I decided to pump while she was asleep and I only got 2 oz . I don't really feel emotionally ready to be done, but it's just become such a frustration, I think I might be glad to be done. When she does have bottles during the day it's such a more peaceful experience.
I'm sorry @mrsmoose5! I hear you. My supply isn't great and our pedi told us to supplement because he wasn't gaining enough weight. I've been giving some formula and trying to give more solids but he wont eat much. I'm not ready to give up nursing entirely. I still like nursing him during the day.. but like you, think it will be ending soon. I hope you end up being okay with whatever you decide!
@mrsmoose5 my LO is also a fussy eater during the day, i usually do not know why. ours is not a supply issue , she doesnot want to eat sometimes even though my breast is full. i can totally understand your feelings. maybe if you start supplementing, your LO would not br too hungry and enjoy nursing to sleep or when she wakes up? and you can keep BFing for a little longer until you both are ready to wean.
Is anyone noticing yet that LO is drinking less BM now that they are eating solids? I can no longer get more than 14 oz pumping while at work and wonder if that is what she is getting from me on the weekends. I leave 16 oz during the week and she drinks it all so maybe it's just my body not cooperating.
@Ladybug2821 I was just wondering about that. My supply has definitely decreased and she seems to be taking less bottles at daycare. How much solids are you giving your LO?
@rhodamorgenstern For the most part, she gets 3 meals a day which is a whole Gerber 2nd foods puree and some meat if I have any. Sometimes she also gets one of those wafer cookies. I think H might slack on some days. I had to think about it though, and he did recently mention one day she didn't want to finish her bottles. I might prepare 15 oz of bottles and just leave an extra ounce to see how that goes. I'm just so tired of the stress of pumping enough especially if she doesn't really need that amount anymore.
I feel so unsure about how much solid food A should be getting. She gets 2 pouches a day, plus her breast milk/formula bottles (usually about 20 oz) and two nursing sessions a day. I'm so scared about giving her things other than purees, although last night, I gave her a bit of my beef to chew.
I've given S pieces of chicken, ground beef, and pork and have had no issues. I think she could probably eat more than what I'm giving her because she loves to eat. My pedi did say that by 6 months, she should be getting 3 meals.
I just gave E chicken for the first time last night (breast cut into small pieces, marinated with paprika, salt, pepper, and EVOO then skillet cooked). She loved it. Gummed it until it broke down - definitely extra saliva production which went all down her chin. If a piece was a bit big, she would push some out of her mouth and process what she could. It's amazing how much she's capable of with no teeth!
Re: All Things Breastfeeding
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
H is getting concerned about me being a downer lately - So I read him your comment to reassure him that it's normal, and he just said "2 weeks??" Sorry, babe, it's out of my control!
There's just something so sweet about that little hand resting on my chest (when she isn't pinching or smacking). I'm shooting for a year ideally.
Were also aiming for a year ish. Most likely will wean just before a year so I don't have to worry about pumping when I go back to work. Though maybe I'll keep morning and night feeds for a while. They are the best anyway.
Im also in the saggy-nobrasfit club.
I was already a DD (a very full DD) and now only bra I can wear is my one breast feeding bra... probably should have bought 2...
Now if he would go back to regularly sleeping all night without wake ups I'd probably be ok stopping
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
Employers are only required to allow lactation space/time for 1 year after the birth of the child. If you choose to pump beyond that they aren't required to give you space/breaks. Breaks are uncompensated unless the employer normally provides paid breaks, then this break would also be compensated although it should count toward your regular paid break time (meaning you pump during that time).
These rules really only apply to non-exempt workers.
State law could provide more robust coverage
Exactly this.
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
It doesn't apply to me, or likely most of us, but fortunately a lot of companies still comply.