Quiting Pumping 10 months

vsalt31

I've been pumping for the last 10 months. I started at 6x/day and have been gradually eliminating sessions. Most recently, I cut out my midday pump, so currently, I'm only pumping 2x am pm. Once I did that, I've been noticing a decrease so much that I'm only getting about 4oz total 8oz/day.
I'm wondering if I should bother to continue. I pump for about 1520 min I'm exhausted from it. But, I do also feel that quitting mid flu season is silly bc I can provide even a bit of my immunities, I should.
I know they one one has the magic answer, but how did you decide when it's time to quit? And how did you deal with any guilt?
Thanks for listening!

thishappyhouse

I think only you know when you are ready to be done. You sound conflicted by your post, so I'd suggest continuing until you feel good about stopping. It such an emotional thing for many moms.

I considered stopping many times but in the end wasn't really emotionally ready to be done for several months after that first time I seriously considered stopping. For me I found a happy place at pumping 2x a day and nursing twice a day.

Whatever choice you make is going to be the best one for you and your baby. You have done and amazing job.

vsalt31

thishappyhouse:

I think only you know when you are ready to be done. You sound conflicted by your post, so I'd suggest continuing until you feel good about stopping. It such an emotional thing for many moms. I considered stopping many times but in the end wasn't really emotionally ready to be done for several months after that first time I seriously considered stopping. For me I found a happy place at pumping 2x a day and nursing twice a day. Whatever choice you make is going to be the best one for you and your baby. You have done and amazing job.

Thank you.  I am quite conflicted.  I never thought I would be emotional about it.  I think if I could nurse, I would keep going (but he never caught on). 

katie4253

I quit at 8 months for the reasons you described. I was only getting 5 oz with 2 pumps.   I just couldn't justify everything it took to pump that little and wasn't willing to increase my pumps to boost my supply. The first few days were hard and I was sad and felt guilty for quitting. But, that went away and I just felt relieved. 

MBB41707

For me the decision was very emotional and I did feel guilt. But like everything else, it gets easier with the passing of time. And it helped to know/remember that some of the feelings were just hormonal. Like other people said, I would keep going until you feel more strongly that you are ready to quit. Also like other people said, your baby will be fine with formula.

DrRx

Props to you for pumping this long! I stopped at 3 months, about a week after we brought her home from the NICU. She had to be on 1/3 to 1/2 of her feelings as the Neosure anyway, and I had such a large stash, I just decided to stop.  It was at the point that I just hated looking at the pump, and I just decided that it was the right time for me to stop.  I was so fortunate to have produced so much that we didn't finish the breastmilk until Labor Day weekend! I looked at it as an opportunity to spend more time with my daughter (and myself), so I didn't really feel any guilt.  I had read somewhere (not sure--maybe Dr, Sears?) that breast feeding should continue as long as both parties are happy to do it.  If one wants to stop (child or mother) then that means that it is the right time to stop.