EPers and BFers... past & present

kbugcmommy

Please tell me if you are EPing or BFing and what your goals are and why? I am EPing and keep having to set mini goals for myself so I don't quit. My first goal was 6 weeks, then 4 months, and now I'm thinking I can make it 6 months. I have about a month and a half worth of freezer stash... is it worth it to continue? TIA

katiecouture

Im going to 6 months. That was my first goal and i am super proud to have made it this far! Not many women my age can say they continued! I am stopping at 6 months because i have to do my final internship and i will be gone from 7 am-4 pm.

I think it is a personal decision. If you are okay with stopping then go for it! I personally know that i am going to feel a bit of anxiety when i stop. I also am going to miss it, but what can you do?

AliKay+

My goal at first was 6 months, but I almost didn't make it that long.  We had some feeding problems that required some oral therapy on DSs part, and my supply tanked because of it so we supplemented a little.  I tried to build it back up with pumping sessions after nursing, and pumping 2x after he went to sleep...alot of work! 

Now DS is taking 6oz and I barely make 4 so we continue to supplement and I try to continue to keep my supply up.  I'm exhausted with all the pumping, sometimes I want to throw the damn thing across the room, I hate being plugged in all the time (Next baby I'm getting the handsfree Medela Freestyle).

My goal is right around the corner and I get sad when I think of quitting, so maybe I'll keep going a little bit longer.  I am SAHM and part-time WAHM so it's easier for me to continue than if I were in an office.  

Brady1*

My first goal was 3 months, my next goal is 6 months. I have a little over 3 months freezer stash already so I hope she can get BM for at least a year or longer. It's a lot of work but it's worth it and it doesn't hurt that it helps take off the pounds. 

mlkbride03

I EP, and my goal is 6 months.  I go back to work when she is about 7 months. I cannot/will not continue to pump then. I need all of the sanity that I can get when I go back to work, and pumping is very draining.  My goal has always  been 6 months, and I know I can get her to 6 months, and then I have a few weeks of freezer stash.

summersoff17

My little guy is just over 4 months and I am in the process of quitting now.  I never pumped enough for a freezer stash and he's been 50/50 BM and formula since birth almost.  My goal was to make it until the school year was over, I'm proud that I continued to pump when I went back to work- but now I just want DS and I to enjoy summer!

 

sarag0116

I EBF.  I nurse and pump during the work week and nurse exclusively on the weekends.  I plan to continue until DD is 1.  Even though nursing and pumping are both time consuming, I don't mind it.  I love the idea of giving DD the best nutrition possible and I really love nursing her.  Let's not forget about the fact that I'm a huge cheap as$ and don't want to ever pay for formula! 

Jenniferk08

My first goal was to BF but that didn't work. We've been EP for almost 5 months.  I decided that I would pump until I go back to work in August.  After that I'll see what happens.  I have a small stash in my freezer and we're going to buy a stand alone freezer so I can stash even more. 

My ultimate goal is to make it to Mj's 1st b-day.  If I can't then I will not beat myself up since I have made it already 5 months. 

StephDK

C has pretty much refused the breast for a week...which I am really sad about. I am not emotionally ready to stop BF. I only nursed him lik once a day after he got to about 12 weeks and I have supplemented from the beginning. I will continue to pump until 6 months at least and then take it one month at time...ultimately I'd like to make it to a year. We supplement with alimentum and c only like the rtf, plus I. Cheap so I will go as long as I can.

Shanin8

Still EBFing here.  I really don't have a plan on when to quit.  Probably at least a year, but we will see where it takes us.

MamaToK

I've been EPing.  I definitely know what you mean about small goals, it's hard!  Whatever you decide to do is just fine.  You've done a great job!!

vflipo

My next mini goal is 6 months. I'd love to EP for a year, but my supply is slowly dying. DD is on about 60% formula. But, I keep telling myself, some is better than none.

TofuMama7

I EBF and pump a little so I have a stash for when I'm out and DH needs to feed him. My plan is to go until DS is one year old (although I am afraid for when he gets teeth!). My reasons are the same as what other people have mentioned, nutrition, bonding, and it's free!

I was lucky enough to be able to quit my job and become a SAHM which makes it easier, if I were returning to work and was going to have to pump I might adjust my goal. Do whatever works best for you and your family, you've got your LO off to a great start!

flypink

My goal is to BF at least up to 12 months but hopefully 18 months. It's absolutely worth it to continue! Keep it up momma!

thatsmary

EBF except I was pumping for the 6 weeks I was back at work. I am on summer break/unemployment now and at least through August. My first goal when I was pregnant was to just try and see how it goes. Now I want to continue. DD can't handle dairy or soy and I've had to change my diet, but I still want to continue at least until she's 1 and I see no reason I will stop then. I will have to pump if (please!) I get a job when school starts in the fall, but I didn't mind pumping.

It's up to you whether or not it's worth it, but for me it's definitely worth it! I gave my baby formula for 2 days and she smelled horrible. I'm sure you get used to it, but it isn't worth feeding her corn syrup to me since I have no (current) issues BF.

kbugcmommy

Thanks for all the wonderful responses ladies! There are times when I just want my body to be mine again, but they are few and far between because I love giving my LO breastmilk. I also am cheap and don't want to pay for formula either... we'll see what I end up doing. I am glad to hear a lot of the emotions and reasons I have are shared with other ladies on the board. It definitely makes me feel better and like I am doing the right thing for now. Once again, thanks!

Jenniferk08

AliKay+:

  I'm exhausted with all the pumping, sometimes I want to throw the damn thing across the room, I hate being plugged in all the time (Next baby I'm getting the handsfree Medela Freestyle).

Have you tried the medela halter? I bought one to use with my PISA and it's made a big difference.

navyandviolet

Mine is more of a reverse goal.  I hope to BF over a year, but I also hope to wean by next may.  So by summer I can wear cute strapy tanks, over my cute strapy bras.  I let DD wean herself and we didn't end until almost 18 months, so I hope to encourage DS a little more.  I also finally lost the rest of the baby wieght after I weaned DD so I am looking foward to that as well. Less than a year to go!

misskassielynn

I EBF and want to  nurse until at least one and would like to allow him to self wean. I may be returning to work this school year and I am so worried about preserving our nursing relationship. Also lets face it, at this point I am wicked lazy and I am not looking forward to pumping and I am afraid my supply will tank. DS has a milk protien allergy so whole milk at 1 will probably not be an option, so unless I wanna buy the expensive stuff, it seems like pumping will have to be in the equation.

IntheSpring10

I feel ya.  I love giving BM to my LO and I'm also cheap and prefer to use the free stuff.  But, man would I love to escape the pump!  I am EPing and I've made my short term goals of 6 weeks and then 4 months.  My next goal is 6 months.  For awhile I was going to go for 1 year but instead of imposing that hefty pumping goal on myself, I'm looking to do 6 months and then evaluate on a month by month basis after that.  Eping is a lot of work so I completely understand. 

GracieMaeLovey

I EBF and my goal when DS was born was to get to three months.  Once three months came, my goal was/is six months.  If we make it to six months, I'll push til nine and so on up to one year.  I have ZERO freezer stash.  It's super stressful, but I make it work.  Keep it up- you're doing good work!

LadybugPicnic2011

My next mini-goal is 6 months. Ultimatly I want to make one year, so I dont have to pay for formula and after that allow her to self wean. 

nae87

I EBF and my daughter will be 5 months next Tuesday.  I never really made a definite goal but I hoped I would make it to 6 months.  So far we're doing great and I have no plans of stopping.  I don't have a a great freezer stash so if I stop BF then we're pretty much done.  As long as she's doing well and I'm still doing well with it we'll continue until about a year :-)

christyp80

Same as many of you, my goal is 6 months, but will likely extend it.  Right now Auds has never had formula, but I have been struggling to pump enough for her to eat at daycare, and I keep thawing my freezer stash.  While I'm at work for 8 hours, she eats 20 ounces.  There is no freakin way I can pump 20 ounces in 8 hours.  So I have been trying to get another pumping in either in the morning or the evening, or both.  I'm so tired of being stressed out about producing enough.  I may start supplementing with formula during the day just to reduce some of the pressure I'm feeling.

We EBF mornings, nights, and weekends, and I love that, and she much prefers the breast over a bottle.  So, I could see that continuing until she self-weans.

magdalina.h

my first goal was 4w then 6w and then 6m. Now I'm thinking about stopping at a year. I'm primarily just EP and it's so much better than fighting with him to BF

LTF525

Current goal is 6 months. Once I get there I will re-assess. Ideally I would like to get to 1 year, but wouldn't be opposed to doing some supplimenting during the day and then just EBF when I am home. I am getting sick of the pumping while I am at work.

Lucky_Dragonfly

I only made it to 10wks with DS because of returning to work and having no place to pump. With DD my goal was to go to 6mos. and have a freezer stash going at the same time, but I got tired of having to pump so often. I actually started the weaning process the first of the month since I overproduced on the milk (made at least 2times what I needed). Now I bottle feed DD 4oz of BM from my stash and then I let her nurse the remaining 1oz to continue the depletion of my BM. The end of the month I will start adding in a small amount of formula to the bottles so that DD will be able to have BM until she is about 7-8mos old.

FYI- I started pumping and storing when DD was 3days old.

Jacqui105

I pump at work and EBF whenever not at work. My first goal was to make it 4wks-sleep deprivation and supply issues made hate bfing at first. Then it was to make it to 8 weeks. Now I love nursing and I am planning on going until she is a year old and hoping at the end she'll self wean. Whether you stop or continue, either is perfectly fine, decide what is right for you! I have to say I am in awe of anyone that EPs. It's a bit of a pain to me and I can't imagine having to do it ALL the time!