When did you quit pumping?

volgirl123 · November 2010

As I write this I am pumping again... Just like I do 5 times a day. I am thinking of giving it up soon but haven't decided. I don't want to quit and then be sorry. Any advice?I am currently pumping about 48 ozs every day so I still have to supplement. I have a small freezer stash but it won't last long if I stop. When did you stop and why? Were you happy with how it went?

Temp159135562506975 · November 2010

I EP'd DS1 for 2 months. I EP'd the twins for 4 weeks... i couldn't take it - after 2w i got mastitis b/c i wasn't pumping often enough... with 2 babies + toddler i just didn't have the time- but i told myself i'd suck it up and do it until 4w when DH went back to work... that's what i did. Life was so much better once I stopped pumping.

txdaisygal · November 2010

I don't have an answer...i'm interested to hear what others have to say. I'm kinda dealing with the same thing right now. I set mini goals...first halloween, then thanksgiving, then Christmas. Right now I think I'm going to go until their 6 month birthday and then reevaluate. It's so hard when I'm home with them on the weekends if DH isn't home. The weekdays aren't bad - I pump once when I wake up, then right before I go to work, twice at work, and once or twice when I get home. We're supplementing 2 bottles a day with formula. They never really BFed, so I've pretty much been EPing since they were born and in the hospital for 2 weeks. I want to give them as much BM as I can for as long as possible, but pumping is hard and I am ready to have those 3 or so hours a day back!

daisybride78 · November 2010

My first goal was to make it to 3 months, and then 6 months. Around 5 months, I cut back to only pumping 3 times/day. I started to VERY slowly wean at 7 months and was completely done by the time they were 8 months. I supplemented with formula though. In the beginning they would get breast milk during the day and formula at night, and then once they started sttn, they got formula right before bed and breast milk for the rest of the day. GL! You can do it! Do you have a hands free pumping bra? That made such a big difference!

lnle · November 2010

I'm looking at stopping at the end of December. my pump rental will be up for expiration/renewal then and the babies will be 9 months old. It's been way too hard the last couple of months to find the time/opportunity to pump. I've been gradually decreasing the frequency and length of my pumping sessions. Abby and Lucas still bf as often as they want, so I'm hoping they'll keep nursing after I stop pumping.

jamie217 · November 2010

I nursed, pumped and supplemented for 2 wks and wasn't making enough, so nursing was going on for over an hour and then I'd still have to supplement, so I by the time we finished a feeding it was almost time for another. Then I only pumped for 2 wks because felt I lost time with the girls or they'd start crying and I would have to stop.

Kimmy08 · November 2010

I pump every 3 hours for 30 minutes, with my last session at midnight. I have EPed since the girls were born and hopefully will continue until they are 11 months. I am thinking I will have about a month's supply built up by then (or at least close).

My biggest concern was that I wanted to get them past RSV and flu season. I probably wouldn't be so adament on breastmilk, but with them being two months early, it is a big reason why I am still going strong!

MoMandA · November 2010

I EPed for my boys. One of the BFed, but mostly for cuddles, not for sustenance. I kept it up for 14 months and quit when I got pregnant. I did have to pump five times a day and it was really time consuming, especially when I returned to work.

Two things that really helped me were getting a car adapter and pumping in the car. And learning how to type while pumping. It was easier for me to pump one side at a time. It took longer but I could do something with the free hand while pumping. Also, when double pumping I had more troubles with not draining my breast. With the free hand I could massage out any hard spots.

GL.

E&RMommy · November 2010

My babies are 17 weeks old, and I am still going strong. I am pumping at least six times a day (if work schedule allows for it). I try to pump more on the weekends. I still only make 24-28 oz / day so it's 50% momma juice / 50% enfamil. I will keep it up as long as I can.

It's a tough decision. I think you'll know when you're done. Just remember that any breastmilk is great and you're doing a wonderful job.

kimarino13 · November 2010

I gave up at 7 weeks. My supply had tanked due to plugged ducts and I was only pumping 16 oz a day, over 8 pumping sessions.

joliemariée · November 2010

4months old, almost to the day. I had been pumping 5-6xa day, & BFing my DS 1 -2xday (after the first 2-3 weeks where I was BFing both exclusively).

It was a very hard decision, and lots of mommy guilt about it. I slowly started cutting back time/sessions at about 3mths old, per my Dr. suggestion when he saw how exhausted I was at my checkup.

When it was all said and done, I was a much happier & less stressed mommy!

Good luck.

LightBlue · November 2010

I started very slowly weaning around 6 months (I was very ill and it effected my supply) and stopped pumping at 8 months. I was lucky to have a great supply and didn't have to supplement until I started cutting back at 6 months. I'm so happy I was able to give my babies the best start with being able to provide breast milk for them but it was a major pain and took so much time! Since I stopped and still every very night I can go to bed when I'm tired with out having to pump, I feel appreciative!

benkari · November 2010

I only made it until 7 weeks. It was too hard and I wasn't getting enough for one bottle a day for each of them so I gave up. I wish I had kept going but the babies are all healthy so I guess formula didn't hurt them any.

marker56 · November 2010

My girls were born at 34w5d and never got the hang of breastfeeding. My goal was 2 weeks, but made it to 6 weeks - pumping 30 minutes 8x/day. I knew I wouldn't have time to pump when I got back to work but either way, by the time we made it to 6 weeks, I was so frustrated and tired and felt I was missing so much time with the girls, that I was happy to move on to formula. Finished completely pumping by 8-9 weeks. I am so proud of what I accomplished, and have no regrets with what we were able to give our girls.

angiek · November 2010

I just quite this past week - my boys are a week shy of 5 months old. I EBF for the first two months and have been EPing ever since than but I just never made enough and had to supplement from the start of EPing at 2 months and the amount needed to supplement slowly increased for me.

You have to listen to your own body and figure out what's right for you & your family. I loved that I was able to give my boys BM for as long as I did but I can say that I am much happier and less stressed now that I have stopped pumping but I know that's not the case for everyone!

Good luck!!

tSquared1987 · November 2010

I lasted 3 1/2 weeks and i'm SOOOO much happier now. I felt guilty at first, but that quickly passed after i got a good nights sleep Wink

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