How long did you breastfeed?

almostjones · December 2010

DD will be 4 months on Monday. About a month ago, when she hit the 3 month growth spurt, she was needing more during the day than I was able to pump. Her need has increased and my supply has decreased since going back to work, so she gets about half breast milk, half formula during the day when I'm at work. When I'm at home with her, we're fine...I guess because I nurse on demand at home.

Supplementing with formula really REALLY bothered me until I read a post on here that reminded me that breast feeding doesn't have to be all or nothing. Someone pointed out the obvious - formula doesn't un-do the benefits of breast milk. This has stuck with me.

[**Edit** it wasn't the formula itself that bothered me. It was that I wasn't able to keep up, and I felt like I was doing all I could - drinking plenty of water, relaxing, eating enough, pumping as much as I could at work (3x/day), etc.]

My goal is 6 months and has been since day 1. I would love to go longer and as long as I at least maintain this level of supply and things keep going well for us, I'll happily breast feed/pump for up to a year.

If my supply continues to dwindle and it stops feeling like the best thing for us, then I'll be fine to stop & give her formula full time.

rayskit10 · December 2010

DS#1- 19 mos

DS#2- 13 mos. He completely self weaned or I would have gone longer.

If you want to make another post, maybe some of us who have had luck or who have overcome issues can help work you through your supply issues? There are some moms on here who were really able to come back from the brink. If you want to, I bet you can make it happen. The stress of thinking your not making enough can make your supply tank itself. We would be more than happy to help- if that is what you want!

CindyandScott · December 2010

#1 - 13/14 months

#2 - 12 months

sad5781 · December 2010

I stopped nursing at 10 weeks but have been exclusively pumping since. C is 8 months tomorrow and I'm down to 1 pump a day and using frozen milk. This weekend we started introducing formula mixed with the fresh BM and he'll probably be on all formula by the end of the year when the freezer is empty.

I could have continued on longer but I was just so tired of pumping. I made it much longer than I ever anticipated so I'm happy with that. I'm so ready to pack the pump away.

cori514 · December 2010

Cajun_gal:
jen5/03:
17 mo with DD. Quit to do fertility treatments. Still goiing strong at 13mo with DS, I think I,ll encourage him to wean at 24mo.
cori514:
kat.in.the.hat:

Cori - have you seen a lactation consultant Why do you think your supply is drying up

I didn't make it past six weeks with Marion. Eliza is 12 weeks tomorrow and its going great. I'm open to BFing her to around 24 months, but we'll just have to see how that goes

I have seen a LC and it's just a matter of me not producing much milk. My milk never came in after S was born, we had to work really hard to get what I have now. I have never had leakage, engorgement, or even an increase in breast size. Fenugreek seemed to really help but after 3 miserable weeks for my DD, I had to quit taking it because it was causing her really bad gas pains (and it gave me stomach aches). Really the only reason I think I am drying up is becuase DD is starving after I feed her and I have had to supplement more and more....

She is nursing, therefore your milk came in. Engorgement, change of breast size etc are common side effects of bf but are not required. But It sounds like she's having a growth spurt. And by supplementing more and more you are hurting your supply. If you really want to try to build it up then when she seems hungry bf her. Even if it is only 5 min since she stopped bfing.

That's not always true. I had a great nurser, but he was losing weight instead of gaining. I would have starved him if I didn't supplement. Some people just don't produce enough milk. I hope that growth spurt is what's going on for you though, Cori.

She was losing weight too, which is why I started supplementing. Once she started gaining, I had almost weaned her off of formula. She did go through a growth spurt that required me to supplement again. I would put her back on the breast 5 min after I fed her, but she wouldnt have it. I also tried pumping between sessions and I would get 1oz all day...I did that for a week and it never changed. I go back to work in 3 weeks and am really scared that pumping all day will not go well.

somethingchangd · December 2010

DS is almost 19 months and we're still going. I'm hopeful he'll self-wean before 2. We'll see...

lilycat · December 2010

First kid, 6 months feeding, 3 months pumping. (9 mos. total)

Second, still nursing at 14 mos, although only at night and in morning, now. I stopped pumping at around 8 mos.

I guess that is something to remember; it isn't all exclusive, necessarily, like it is in the beginning. The whole thing changes when you nurse for a longer time, work, etc.