decided to stop pumping

kimarino13

I am done.  Or at least going to start weaning tonight.

I seriously can't even find 15 minutes to pump during the day without having to listen to my babies cry while I pump.  I want to go pick them up or soothe them but I am attached to tubing and flanges.  Plus I am lucky to get 16 oz a day total.

I am done.

I am pumping right now and Lily is screaming her head off.  This just isn't worth it anymore.  And now here goes Sophia with the screaming.  Ugh.

Pumping while taking care of twins is hard work.  I wish they would have been able to latch and BF.  Sigh.

My hat is off to those of you who EP'd long term.  Seriously.  I gave it my best shot, though.

HisLobster

You have to do what's best for you and your family.

srh08.05.06

I agree with pp.  You have to do what's best and don't feel guilty about it at all!  My plan is to try to EP but I'm already preparing myself for the possibility it might not work out and I have no problem formula feeding.  I was formula fed and think I turned out ok

keg

You did a great job!  Trying to BF/EP/anything with twins is such a different ballgame than singletons and we know that. :-)  Enjoy not pumping and enjoy your girls!! 

wndrwmn1998

I get it, Kim, believe me. I felt the exact same way. You did a fantastic job pumping as long as you did, but you know when it's time to call it a day. Great job!

Leigh71

I'm with you!.  I have a way to go in my pregnancy, but I am planning on EP.  To be honest, working in the nicu, I saw so many moms stress out about BF.  I don't want to stress.  And, the babies who had a hard time latching, they were fussy and hungry.  (I'm am not trying to offend any EBF moms....more power to them)  And to watch the babies cry because they were not supplemented was hard.  I think BF is super, but when the babies were losing weight, and crying, then I think it's only best to do what's best for the little ones.

Good job for pumping for your LOs. 

jenn2929

Kim you did a great job going as long as you did.  It's so hard trying to BF or pump for twins (Nate never latched and Samantha has a horrible suck, so she never got much).  I was stressing out about trying to get them to BF to the point of making myself sick, and like you finding the time to pump was almost impossible.  So I cut it down to four pumps a day instead of eight.  I still only get about 12-14 oz.a day (was getting less when I pumped more often- who knows).  Anyway you did great and should be proud of yourself for going as far as you did.

awalton3

I'm right there with you.  It's just too much.  So now how do you go about stopping?  Just a gradual decrease in pumping??  I never asked that question.  But I'm in the same boat.  My LO's couldn't BF so I decided to EP but that has been tough and I'm only getting about 16-18oz a day.  So I totally know what you're going through.  Every day I find a new reason to quit and I think I'm done.  Good luck and enjoy your baby girls now without being attached to that damn pump!

kimarino13

awalton3:

I'm right there with you.  It's just too much.  So now how do you go about stopping?  Just a gradual decrease in pumping??  I never asked that question.  But I'm in the same boat.  My LO's couldn't BF so I decided to EP but that has been tough and I'm only getting about 16-18oz a day.  So I totally know what you're going through.  Every day I find a new reason to quit and I think I'm done.  Good luck and enjoy your baby girls now without being attached to that damn pump!

I have gotten myself down to where I can pump 4 times a day and not be painfully engorged.  Before this, I was painfully engorged every HOUR.  No kidding.  I was getting like 50 oz a day before.  It hurt so bad and it was such a PITA having to pump every 2 hours to avoid plugged ducts.  But even at 4 pumps a day, it's too much.  It never fails that they scream when I start pumping, no matter the time.  So I am just going to cut down to 3 sessions this week, 2 the following, etc.  

Thanks for the encouragement, ladies.  It means a lot. 

Nikki1007

You did great Kim. I literally have panic attacks when i think about bfing/pumping.  As long as your babies are fed and everyone is happy including mom is all that matters.

macchiatto

Yeah I honestly don't know how people manage to pump and take care of twins, too. Once I gave up on actual nursing (also major latch issues) my supply dwindled fairly fast b/c too often I was missing pumping sessions b/c I didn't get a chance to pump. It was so stressful and frustrating! Good job doing it for this long Kim!

VCMCG

Good for you for deciding what is best for you and your girls.  Pumping/nursing is such a personal decision, that all that matters is that you are comfortable with your decision.  What's funny is that my first DS got maybe two days of BM, my DD got maybe one month of BM, and my twins got four months of BM (all pumped).  So, What worked for one pregnancy/child may not always work for another.  And my ultimate decision in stopping pumping was my happiness-if I was miserable, then I knew it was not right for my LO's.  Great job on getting this far!

k&b51907

You tried and that's important.  I started to decrease my pumping as soon as the boys came home from the nicu.  There really was no way for me to keep up with it.  It's all good

akaMrsL

I am in the same boat...decided to stop as of this week.  I could have posted the exact same thing.  So nice to know I am not alone.  I have cut down to 3 sessions.  I love the freedom of not be tied to a pump every 3 hours.  Bring on the margaritas ;-) 

kelliwill

I just stopped this week as well.  I was down to one pumping session a day and my girls were only getting one bottle of BF per day, if that.  I, like you had no time in my day to pump and my supply was just not cutting it.  I don't know how people do it either.  For me, it came down to, hold my children and take care of my house/etc. or pump and pumping lost out.  Part of me feels so guilty about it, but I try not to let it get to me, you do what you can and that's it.  You gave it your best shot, and that is all you can do!  We are great moms!

dec13th

You made it longer than me!  Good work Mama!!

I always wished that mine had latched, too.

You did a great job!!

Carmela752

I'm also to the point where I'd like to stop. I was hoping to make it through RSV season, but I'm not sure it's going to happen. I'm just so tired that pumping seems like such a hard thing to do. I don't even make that much milk...about 16-20 oz/day, and that's after taking Reglan to try to increase my supply. We also had no luck trying to BF.

LMK8605

I know it seems depressing to hang up the pump, but I am sure you will enjoy the extra time with your beautiful little girls!

iona76

I could have written this post. I stopped just this week. Thanks to you and to everyone else here for making me feel like I'm not alone on this!

For me, the notion of pumping every two hours when my babies ate every three was causing mental anguish and much hysteria. And yeah, always with the screaming the minute I sat down and hooked myself up. It's a mental health issue for me...and as soon as my guilt wears off (posts like this help!), I think I'll be a lot happier.

BTW, my husband and I were both formula fed!

Temp159135562506975

you will be much happier not having to do it! I pumped for 2 mo with Griffin... and only 4w with the twins- and that last week I was weaning off of it so i was totally done by 4w - I just didn't have the time or energy with twins (plus toddler) to EP.  I have been a much happier camper since!

 

eileenm21

i didn't BF at all, so I am a big proponent of doing what is best for you and your family.  My DH always says when I do something - " did you do your best?"  and I think you can clearly say that you did, so don't be hard on yourself.  as an aside, my pedi said that he thought FF my twins was a wise and sane decision, which I remind myself daily when I wonder if I should have BF

DenverGrl

I don't blame you one bit.  I hated pumping.  It took so much time out of my day.  I wish I had stopped after one month.  I barely made it to four.  Once I stopped it was like a huge weight was lifted and I had more time to take care of them and myself.

janjag

it'll be ok... just fine.  your babies will eat.  you will feel just a bit more sane.... maybe more than a bit. 

i still feel conflicted about my experience early on... had a patchwork of people to cover me through the weekdays while i pumped often.  bfing was hit and miss with both babies.  just could not handle listening to them cry while i pumped.  it was a mess.  i had the nicu doc's voice in my head telling me i HAD to bf, and it took me a long time to let go. 

Nerwak

Nikki1007:

You did great Kim. I literally have panic attacks when i think about bfing/pumping.  As long as your babies are fed and everyone is happy including mom is all that matters.

THIS. I am so anxious about the whole feeding thing... Good for you for figuring out what's best for you and your family.

DEP

That's fine...you've done a great job......they will be fine on formula, you'll see.  YOu have given them a great gift already.