pumping question- if you still BF

Re: pumping question- if you still BF

• honkytonk_kid member

  October 2011

  I pump twice at work and get between 9 and 14oz total. I worry about it sometimes because that doesn't seem like much (I work 12 hour shifts) but LO almost never takes more than 2 bottles while I'm gone. Once in a while H will give him one after he picks him up at daycare and before I get home, but LO doesn't really like bottles and apparently would prefer to wait for me. I only started working again when LO was 8.5 months and eating a pretty good amount of solids though, so I don't have anything to compare it to.

  How long is your work day? How many days a week? How often do you pump? How many bottles/oz does LO take while you're gone?

  The main thing about stopping pumping during the day is that it could cause your supply to drop to the point that it affects your ability to BF when you're NOT at work. On the other hand, some moms BF just at night/weekends and have no problems. If you have enough of a stash to make it to a year (or however long you want to continue BFing) and wouldn't be heartbroken if you stopped BFing, I'd say down with the pump! Lol. Pumping is a huge PITA.
  

  
  
  
  

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• freeatlast2014 member

  October 2011

  I'm SAHM so LO seldom gets bottles...but recently I've had to give a bunch and I noticed he is now taking 3 oz, 4 tops where in the past he would take a 5 oz bottle. He is now getting 3 solid meals per day so I would attribute his decrease in BM to that. I pump once a night after he goes to bed so I have bottles available for family to give or so that I can go out and what I pump is directly affected by my water intake for that day. For example, I drank like crap yesterday and pumped a total of 1.5 oz. On a good day, if I drink a ton (100+ ounces) I will pump 3 or 4 oz.

  I agree with Honkytonk - if you can put away the pump go for it! I have a very small freezer stash so I can't do that just yet but I know the end is near and that makes me a happy camper (although, I will miss our nursing sessions). My goal is to make it to a year. 

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• mishu917 member

  October 2011

  I stopped pumping during the day a month ago because I was only getting 5-8 oz during 3 pumping sessions. We nurse at home but all of my frozen stash is now depleted and she has to drink formula. She also loves food, so no complaints really here. Maybe your body is just adjusting to a growing LO? Don't feel bad about quitting, because by the time you actually stop nursing, your LO will probably be one year anyway.
  

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• cougarlicious

  October 2011

  My supply has also dipped ever since my son started eating solids. I travel a lot and it's such a pain for me to keep pumping but I'm afraid my overall supply will go down if I stop during the day. If you have a large enough stash to stop though, I woul totally do it!

  

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• anmeie

  October 2011

  My supply dropped dramatically when she started solids, but I'm okay with that, I have a huge freezer supply.  I know what you mean about feeling bad for slowing own, but you've done a great job!!!!!!  I let her nurse in the morning.  I send two 6oz bottles a day to daycare with her (she usually only eats half of each because she also gets solids at daycare).  She eat a solid supper and then nurses right after supper and for bedtime.  I used to pump in the morning, noon, and at night.  Now, since my supply has dropped I sometimes don't pump at noon anymore, if work is busy or we are traveling, it's something I can skip if I choose since I only get about 6 oz total anymore.  I will pump in the morning if I'm feeling full (sometimes mine still wakes up at night and wants to nurse), but again, sometimes I don't.  And if she didn't nurse much at night, I may pump.  I'm okay with my supply going down, it makes my schedule more flexible, and lets be honest, pumping on a set schedule takes work some day, and when I do wean I don't think it will be as hard as it is a slower transition.  Overall slowing down my supply has helped make my schedule more flexible.  I use my freezer stash to supplement since my supply doesn't always cover her needs everyday.

  

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• sweetmej member

  October 2011

  Thank you for asking this question, I have been wondering the same thing!

  I work 8-5 everyday, and pump twice during that time. When I first went back 3-days per week, I was able to pump ~12 oz per day (total), and that was barely enough to sustain my LO. Since he's begun eating a lot of solids, my supply has steadily dropped to where I'm able to pump a maximum of 6 oz. The good thing is that LO typically only drinks a total of 5 oz when he's in daycare, so I'm meeting his needs. He does tend to nurse three times at night though, so I think he's reverse cycling.

  My only issue with how little I produce is that I've been unable to build up a freezer stash. I am going away for 3 days and will be away from my nursling for the first overnight ever, and I'm worried about how things will work out for my husband to be with him full-time when he clearly wants his mama. I did get some donated breast milk for him to have while I'm gone, so I feel good about that.

  I will stop pumping at one year mainly because it is time-consuming and a big interruption for my day. My LO eats anything, so I don't think the transition will be too difficult, but I'm sure I'll have the usually mothers' guilt over it. 

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• Paviku

  November 2011

  I work every day from 7-5 and my little one hates the bottle. I pumped for awhile and got LOADS of milk. However, he would only drink a tiny bit of it each day. About a month ago, I just stopped pumping. It's worked out fine for us. He eats loads of solids during the day and nurses in the evening and morning. It's so nice to be free of my pump!
  

  

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