Parenting after a Loss

For those who breastfed but aren't anymore ??

I'm just curious as to how long you bf for and why did you stop? So far bf'ing is going great for us but I am going back to work at the end of August (I'm a teacher). I am planning on pumping but I am not sure how that is going to work out since I don't get that much free time during the school day. I would like Taylor to get bm for as long as possible but I also don't want to feel guilty if I stop bf'ing. TIA

Re: For those who breastfed but aren't anymore ??

  • Well.. I am still EBF.. but since I've been back to work (and don't have ANY time to pump at work) my supply has taken a big hit.. I am considering introducing formula soon, possibly soon after she turns 3 months (in just over a week). I am hoping to keep up nursing while I am home as long as possible, and maybe supplementing with formula.
    Melissa & Jeff 5-27-06
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    Eve Amelia- Born 2/24/09. 6lb 9.9oz
    Natalie Ruth - Born 6/13/11 7lb 6.6oz
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  • I'm going to stop after J5's 6 month appt next week.  I just feel like my body can't support two people anymore.  I had HG while I was pregnant and then went right into breastfeeding and it just feels like I never have been able to get to a healthy place.  Whenever he has a growth spurt I feel like I've gotten the crap beat out of me.  Tired all the time, achy, can't get enough to eat or drink.  It's like my body gives everything to him and I get what's leftover, which isn't much.  That's why I'm stopping.  I don't feel guilty.  I gave him a great start and kept at it as long as I could.  It's more important for him to have a healthy mom.
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  • We made it to 7 months, but I had a HORRIBLE supply and was basically pumping 3 ounces a day at that point. We had to supplement from the beginning. If my supply had been better, I'd have liked to have BF for a year.
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  • I EBF Sophia for her first 3 months and then we started adding formula in over a few weeks until she was totally FF.  My reason was that I was sick of being tied down with BF and being back at work, it was really hard to find time to pump. 

    She is doing great being FF for the past 6 months!

  • We tried supplementing with formula for the first time day before yesterday.  I'm lucky enough to have an office at work where I can pump, but my supply is not keeping up with his demand, and I'm having to pump after feedings in the morning and night too, and like crazy on weekends, and am still falling behind.  And it's hard to get some pumping sessions in, especially the 4:00 one since I have a lot of meetings in the afternoon and then have to book it for the train which leaves at 4:59 exactly.  The pressure of trying to get enough milk for his bottles was taking its toll.  If he didn't have so many tummy issues early on I think I would have supplemented before now.  Some people can give formula during the day and still breastfeed in morning and evening, I think that might be a nice compromise.  You just have to hope your supply stays up.  We're not sure how well Kiran did on the formula so we've deferred it for another few days while we sort out his sleep and start him on solids, and then we may try a different brand.
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  • I EBFed until DD was 3 months.  We began to supplement w/ formula at 3 months.  At 4 months, I quit BFing entirely. 

    I stopped because it simply wasn't feasible to pump at my job.  On Mondays, I am in court all day long and don't even have time for a lunch break.  At the end of the day, I would be so painfully engorged!  Throughout the rest of the week, I could pump in my office but I had a new job and felt awkward putting a little sign up on my door to warn people that I was pumping!  Every day when I got home from work, I would have to immediately pump to relieve the engorgement.  I wanted to play with DD after a long day at work and I felt chained to the pump!  Every night I would have to slave away to make sure I pumped enough for the following day. 

    I loved BFing...but I couldn't do it the way I wanted to.  I felt guilty for about a month after I quit.  But I was also so very happy.  I didn't feel chained to the pump and formula was so much more convenient for me.

    Oh!  I also had to quit BFing because I had a substantial stash built up in my freezer but then Hurricane Gustav hit and we were without power for a week.  My entire freezer stash went bad and I had no backup for the days that I didn't produce enough milk. 

  • cmbrowncmbrown member
    I am BF, but also FF.  We introduced formula early on, bc I had a csection and was put to sleep.  So they gave her formula in the nursery.  We also had to supplement a little, bc of jaundice and weight loss.  So we basically always have given both.  I came back to work last week.  So DH is at home with her and basically gives her formula most of the day.  I usually leave 1-2 bottles of BM, and try to go home for lunch and BF.  But honestly, DD is a very lazy eater.  She falls asleep a lot... I have to wear a nipple shield, bc she never has latched correctly and she always knocks it off.  I have also started pumping at night, when I get home and just giving her pumped BM.  I cannot spend my whole evening feeding, bc she is lazy.  Lol.  I BF throughout the night, we are co-sleeping right now.  I am very torn whether to quit BF all together or not.  I just feel stuck.  But I want to keep doing it.  We'll see how much longer.  I originally wanted to keep BFing, at least part-time until she is 6 months... but we'll see.
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  • I EBF up until this week.  DD wasn't gaining weight (only 3 ounces from 6-7 months) and my supply was shrinking.  I am a teacher and found that pumping at work was isolating but not unbearable.  When I went back to work in January, I pumped before school, recess, and lunch (I teach 2nd grade).  Around the middle of March I dropped the before school session because I was tired of stressing about ounces.  I would also get up around 3 am to pump before DD woke up in the morning so all in all pumping was beginning to wear me down.  Part of me feels guilty that I didn't try to keep BF morning or nights but I know that I would be constantly worrying about her intake so FF seems best right now.  I loved BF and am glad I did it, but FF has been nice to involve DH more in her morning and nightly routines.

  • Well I was never able to BF, but I EPed for 7.5 months.  I weaned to 2 pumps per day + freezer stash from 6 months on, so that I could get my cycle back to TTC again.  I quit completely at 7.5 months because we were in the hospital for 3 days, and pumping in a double pediatric room sucks!
    imageimageimageimageimage 9/07 m/c baby boy @ 18wks, 4/09 m/c @ 4.5wks
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