Help me make a hard decision (clicky poll) Weaning

butterfly62682

Okay. So I EP. I pump 4 times a day and get about 45 - 50 ozs. Avery doesn't eat anywhere near this. I do help support another BF baby for when he is at daycare because his mom can't pump enough.

I have really been thinking about dropping a pump soon. I am so scared that I am going to loose my supply if I mess with it. I believe one of the main reason I have been so successful at the EPing thing is because I have stuck to a schedule the whole time. I have never "missed" a pump or pumped less than 4 times a day. And I don't deviate from times more than an hour or two.

My plan is to drop a pump at 11 months, 12 months, 13 months, & 14 months. I am so ready to be done. I thought I would continue until 18 months but I AM DONE! So here is my questions:

 

[Poll]

emilys629

Sweet fancy Moses... that's allotta milk! Dropping a pump will not eff with your supply that much. Your body will adjust! 

butterfly62682

emilys629:

Sweet fancy Moses... that's allotta milk! Dropping a pump will not eff with your supply that much. Your body will adjust! 

I donate about 300 - 350 ozs every month to another mom (mentioned in PP). I have been really blessed with a great supply and have enjoyed getting to help others out. 

RobinSparkles81

it may lower your supply but clearly you are already producing MORE than enough so I wouldn't worry about that AT ALL!!!  It won't just suddenly drop down to zero :P

emilys629

butterfly62682:

emilys629:

Sweet fancy Moses... that's allotta milk! Dropping a pump will not eff with your supply that much. Your body will adjust! 

I donate about 300 - 350 ozs every month to another mom (mentioned in PP). I have been really blessed with a great supply and have enjoyed getting to help others out. 

 

I think that's really fantastic! When you produce that much, do you think it's helped you drop weight? I wonder if there's a difference between someone who pumps just enough vs. someone who pumps enough for two in terms of calories burned. 

butterfly62682

jenny_jeff:

it may lower your supply but clearly you are already producing MORE than enough so I wouldn't worry about that AT ALL!!!  It won't just suddenly drop down to zero :P

As logical as this seems, it is my worst fear. I don't want to have to buy any formula because I messed up my supply by dropping a pump. HA! It would make life so much easier if I could drop my 6 pm pump though! And as scared as I am to do it. I probably will over the next couple of weeks.

butterfly62682

emilys629:

butterfly62682:

emilys629:

Sweet fancy Moses... that's allotta milk! Dropping a pump will not eff with your supply that much. Your body will adjust! 

I donate about 300 - 350 ozs every month to another mom (mentioned in PP). I have been really blessed with a great supply and have enjoyed getting to help others out. 

 

I think that's really fantastic! When you produce that much, do you think it's helped you drop weight? I wonder if there's a difference between someone who pumps just enough vs. someone who pumps enough for two in terms of calories burned. 

I have lost a total of 47 lbs since having Avery. The 22lbs on during my pregnancy and 25 more!  I am hoping to get down another 15 - 20. 

dannie2011

SS- What do you plan on doing with the other baby you help?

If dropping one pump will mess your ability to help the other baby what are you going to do then? I would think if the other baby/mom is ready to switch go for it.

JavaVino910

Instead of just dropping one completely cold turkey, I would suggest spacing out your pumping sessions until you get down to 3. I think a gradual process would help protect your supply even more, since I know you are worried about it.

Edit- you are probably planning on doing that anyways, I just thought I would throw it out there in case you hadn't thought about it!

DaisyJanie

Your supply definitely won't drop to zero. I pump for work, but always have needed a little extra so I pumped at 9 pm before I went to bed. I got 2-4 ounces during that session. I dropped that about 2 weeks ago, and my supply is fine, I get no less during my other sessions.

butterfly62682

JavaVino910:

Instead of just dropping one completely cold turkey, I would suggest spacing out your pumping sessions until you get down to 3. I think a gradual process would help protect your supply even more, since I know you are worried about it.

What do you mean space it out?

butterfly62682

dannie2011:

SS- What do you plan on doing with the other baby you help?

If dropping one pump will mess your ability to help the other baby what are you going to do then? I would think if the other baby/mom is ready to switch go for it.

 I have given her my word to provide until 12 months. I will be able to fulfill this promise by what I will pump over the next month.

kimbo1216

I voted #1.  I dropped a session around 5/6 months.  My nipples were in so much pain I just couldn't take it anymore.  Going down to 3 saved my sanity.  I lost about 8-10 ounces a day.  Then A and I got sick.  I lost another 5-8 ounces and have never regained it (though I haven't really taken any extra steps to re-gain it). 

I'm so sick of pumping also and am trying to decide when to go down myself.  I think dropping one session at 11 months will give you plenty to make it to 1 year ebm.  Whatever you get after that is bonus, imo.  However, this is coming from someone who has not donated all of her milk and still has over 1000 ounces in the freezer.

JavaVino910

butterfly62682:

JavaVino910:

Instead of just dropping one completely cold turkey, I would suggest spacing out your pumping sessions until you get down to 3. I think a gradual process would help protect your supply even more, since I know you are worried about it.

What do you mean space it out?

Here is a good article from KellyMom. I was thinking about number 3 when I suggested spacing it out. Really, it's whatever works for you!

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/weaning-from-pump/

butterfly62682

kimbo1216:

I voted #1.  I dropped a session around 5/6 months.  My nipples were in so much pain I just couldn't take it anymore.  Going down to 3 saved my sanity.  I lost about 8-10 ounces a day.  Then A and I got sick.  I lost another 5-8 ounces and have never regained it (though I haven't really taken any extra steps to re-gain it). 

I'm so sick of pumping also and am trying to decide when to go down myself.  I think dropping one session at 11 months will give you plenty to make it to 1 year ebm.  Whatever you get after that is bonus, imo.  However, this is coming from someone who has not donated all of her milk and still has over 1000 ounces in the freezer.

My goal to begin with was 6 months. I knew that if I could make it 6 months then I could make a year. As long as I provide her BM until I year, I have done my part.  I think after a year I plan on saving anything frozen for Avery so I can still give it past 14 months when I stop.

butterfly62682

JavaVino910:

butterfly62682:

JavaVino910:

Instead of just dropping one completely cold turkey, I would suggest spacing out your pumping sessions until you get down to 3. I think a gradual process would help protect your supply even more, since I know you are worried about it.

What do you mean space it out?

Here is a good article from KellyMom. I was thinking about number 3 when I suggested spacing it out. Really, it's whatever works for you!

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/weaning-from-pump/

Great link! Thanks

RClaffee

I don't really have an opinion. This is something that is totally up to you. I just wanted to say how awesome you are for donating your surplus!

butterfly62682

RLH315:

I don't really have an opinion. This is something that is totally up to you. I just wanted to say how awesome you are for donating your surplus!

Thank you.

cmread

I don't know if it's the same, but I was thinking about when my son dropped feedings overnight as he was growing.  From what I could tell, it never affected my supply (but I don't know for sure because I was EBF at the time).  It just adjusted to what he was doing.  Maybe it would be the same for pumping.

imoverit

butterfly62682:

emilys629:

Sweet fancy Moses... that's allotta milk! Dropping a pump will not eff with your supply that much. Your body will adjust! 

I donate about 300 - 350 ozs every month to another mom (mentioned in PP). I have been really blessed with a great supply and have enjoyed getting to help others out. 

I that u do this!!! 

butterfly62682

cmread:

I don't know if it's the same, but I was thinking about when my son dropped feedings overnight as he was growing.  From what I could tell, it never affected my supply (but I don't know for sure because I was EBF at the time).  It just adjusted to what he was doing.  Maybe it would be the same for pumping.

You make a good point. It just freaks me out. I finally got comfortable with doing it constantly and now it's time to start weaning.