CP: How long did you/do you plan to BF?

samm1983

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[Poll]

MrsAtch

The goal is a year. WHO recommends 2 but I don't know if I can handle pumping at work for that long.

jen-dale

I went 5 months with DD. I had supply issues and couldn't keep up. I'm hoping to go more like 9 this time but it will ultimately depend on work and also supply.

VeilSdeGTO

My goal is until the end of Aug once school starts again. DD will be 10 months then. Let's see how pumping at work goes when I start in Jan. Might end sooner.  =

Junebug060609

SS: I plan to BF up to a year, just depends if he'll keep taking it.  We'll be TTC again sometime after 3 months, I've heard the taste of the milk changes if I get KU again and he may reject it.  Not sure how true that is though...

samm1983

I had originally planned to BF until I went back to work (3 months) and then switch to FF, but I am having second thoughts.  I didn't (and sort of still don't) see pumping as an option when I return to work.  I teach and literally don't think there would be time at all in my work day....I have a packed schedule.  I have just been thinking about it and trying to figure out a way to continue longer.

epona3

I kind of had "incremental goals" for myself with BF. First, it was just to do it at all, then it was 3 mo. When everything was going well at 3 mo., I wanted to make it to 6 mo.

At 6 mo, I had a pretty big freezer stash, and stopped pumping. I figured as soon as that ran out, we'd switch to WCM, but still BF when I was with her. The freezer stash lasted until 1 year, and we continued nursing until 15 mo. By then, she was down to just nursing halfheartedly before bed, and then she just stopped wanting to nurse at all. It was a little sad, but I'm pretty proud we made it as long as we did.

I pray things go as well if we decide to have another. We were really lucky with DD!

Jessicaanne_1@yahoo.com

My goal is at least to 1 year. We are nearing 9 months. I would love to make it to two years but I wont feel guilty if I throw in the towel at 1 year. I guess I will just see how I feel after that.

VeilSdeGTO

samm1983:

I had originally planned to BF until I went back to work (3 months) and then switch to FF, but I am having second thoughts.  I didn't (and sort of still don't) see pumping as an option when I return to work.  I teach and literally don't think there would be time at all in my work day....I have a packed schedule.  I have just been thinking about it and trying to figure out a way to continue longer.

This!! Plus, we're on a block 6-day rotating schedule so everyday is different.

Jessicaanne_1@yahoo.com

VeilSdeGTO:

samm1983:

I had originally planned to BF until I went back to work (3 months) and then switch to FF, but I am having second thoughts.  I didn't (and sort of still don't) see pumping as an option when I return to work.  I teach and literally don't think there would be time at all in my work day....I have a packed schedule.  I have just been thinking about it and trying to figure out a way to continue longer.

This!! Plus, we're on a block 6-day rotating schedule so everyday is different.

I would like to add if I had to pump I don't think I could make it to a year. I am always amazed by the moms who do it.

ksulli

My hope has always been 6 mos, but I went back to work at 4 mos and pumping is going shockingly well supply-wise. Dd will be 5 mos on Friday and I have ~600 oz frozen. I think I'll slowly back off pumping since I hate it, but keep the morning, bedtime & overnight nursing, which I think works out well with introducing solids.

Ernie52408

Originally I planned to BF for at least a year, but we struggled so much that I just set myself small goals.

I made it to 6.5 months before my supply completely tanked and DS was so frustrated that he started completely refusing to BF. He's a big boy with a huge appetite and I just couldn't keep up with him.I had hoped to make it another couple months on my freezer stash, but I discovered I have a lipase issue and my whole stash was bad.

I really wish I could have made it a year, but I'm trying to not be too disappointed. 

D&D4Ever7

My goal is to mostly breastfeed for 9 months and do combination of bf and ff until DS is 1 year old.  Hopefully pumping wont decrease my supply.

pepomntpat

MrsAtch:

The goal is a year. WHO recommends 2 but I don't know if I can handle pumping at work for that long.

Just an FYI BFing isn't all or nothing. I never did well with pumping and now nothing comes out at all. DD gets cow's milk when I can't be with her and has since 10 months.

I plan to BF until DD and I are both ready to stop. 

pepomntpat

Jessicaanne_1@yahoo.com:

VeilSdeGTO:

samm1983:

I had originally planned to BF until I went back to work (3 months) and then switch to FF, but I am having second thoughts.  I didn't (and sort of still don't) see pumping as an option when I return to work.  I teach and literally don't think there would be time at all in my work day....I have a packed schedule.  I have just been thinking about it and trying to figure out a way to continue longer.

This!! Plus, we're on a block 6-day rotating schedule so everyday is different.

I would like to add if I had to pump I don't think I could make it to a year. I am always amazed by the moms who do it.

I also agree with this! But, still adding BFing isn't all or nothing. If you don't want to pump, you can FF during the day and nurse when you are with LO. The body is amazingly adaptable! 

vflipo

I wanted to BF for at least a year. I made it to 4 months and had major supply issues.

TinaL99

I was able to BF Stella for 10 months.  I had to start supplementing 1 bottle of formula/day around 7 months and when I got pg my supply fully tanked. 

Amanda78

My plan is to finally stop pumping this week and see how long I can go. I totally recommend d setting small goals. Mine were to BF at all, 9 weeks, 3 mos, 6 mos, year. It's been hard, but so worth it. There are a lot of working/pumping mamas here if we can help with that

iggy.d

My plan was 1 year, but bf has not gone well for us despite my best efforts. My supply just isn't there. 

I believe some breast milk is still beneficial so I'm keeping at it, able to give him 4-5 oz daily. I'll do this as long as I can. My goal is the 3 months I'm home, and will try to keep pumping at work to get us to 6.  

damabo80

The plan is to go back to the re when she's a year. But, I can't go back until I wean. So one year. I have the luxury of being a sahm. I think my answer would change if I was not sah.

erinlovesdavid

I voted SS because my goal is to at least make it through cold & flu season, then after that I will be happy to make it to a year, but only if it is still working for both of us.

itsmegin

My goal is 2 years unless she weans herself sooner. I will WAH otherwise I couldn't imagine doing it that long, pumping takes serious dedication! Now that it no longer hurts I find BFing convenient, and I like the extra calories! It's hard in that she eats so frequently and it's always me who feeds her, but I'd hate to have to sterilize bottles and worry about bringing them and mixing formula, though the idea that someone else could feed her is appealing!

hopingwaiting

I BF/pumped at work for 13 mos, then nursed in am/eve until very recently when LO decided he was done.  It was sad.  My advice is to set small obtainable goals and see how it goes a you reach each one.  It gets easier and easier over time.

magdalina.h

He was EBF until 7 months i stopped nursing at 13w and have been pumping. Now he gets 2 oz of formula mixed with 4 oz boob juice. I plan to keep pumping until he's a year to get passed cold and flu season 

Ehoff33

I had no goal with Lillian except to try. I had great support from my midwives and a mom group and actually BF her until 26 months. She never even had a bottle. But I was home with her. Also I never put stress on myself about it. Then when Brady came I figured I was already a pro and it would be easy to make it to a year. But boy was I wrong. He was great at nursing but my supply just couldn't keep up. Plus I had to pump because had to go back to work this time, which I think made it a lot different. I made it to 8 months with Brady. I was pretty bummed, but I realized every baby is different and our bodies change and I did what I could.

Clerk9

My goal is to make it to a year, but my stash could not be suckier.  Even though I pump at least once a day (& twice on most), I only get ~1-2 oz per session.  Thankfully, I only work weekends & am able to get much more when I pump on a work day (come home with 8-9 oz on average).  But DD is getting more demanding, & she burned through all but 9 oz of my stash this weekend.  She also has been getting fussy at the boob & I fear I'm starting to tank on her.    Really hoping that starting to add in some solids soon will help to keep the BFing going longer because I really don't want to supplement with formula unless I absolutely have to.

(Sorry for the long answer.  Guess I needed to vent.  This has been on my mind a lot lately!)