EPers how long did you pump or do you plan to pump?

SBBBE · November 2012

How long did you pump or do you plan to pump? I have been pumping for 5 months now. I have about 1 months worth if milk in the freezer. I plan to pump at least to 6 months but my goal after that is 8 months.

I am really struggling about when to stop because I am so sick of it but feel like it is the one good thing my body has done for my LOs. My DH is thankfully very supportive in whatever decision I make.

katie4253 · November 2012

8 months. I was really torn about stopping but my supply was really bad and I was hardly pumping anymore. I also had a huge stash. I just didn't have the will to add pumps back in to bump up my supply.

I'm glad I pumped so long, but I am also really glad I quit when I did. It was becoming a mental health issue. He got frozen bm until just after 1 year.

vsalt31 · November 2012

I can't tell you how many times I've thought about quitting, but in the long run, i'm glad that I've been sticking to it. When DS was born, I pumped about 6-7x/day. Now, I'm down to only 3 times & that has made a huge difference. DS is now taking about 2 bottles of formula, but I'm OK with that as all the rest is BM. I have about 2.5 months until 1 year, so that's my new goal.

SBBBE · November 2012

katie4253:
8 months. I was really torn about stopping but my supply was really bad and I was hardly pumping anymore. I also had a huge stash. I just didn't have the will to add pumps back in to bump up my supply.

I'm glad I pumped so long, but I am also really glad I quit when I did. It was becoming a mental health issue. He got frozen bm until just after 1 year.

. That is my ultimate goal. Frozen breastmilk until a year. Just not sure I can make it with two mouths to feed.

SBBBE · November 2012

vsalt31:
I can't tell you how many times I've thought about quitting, but in the long run, i'm glad that I've been sticking to it.nbsp; When DS was born, I pumped about 67x/day.nbsp; Now, I'm down to only 3 times amp; that has made a huge difference.nbsp; DS is now taking about 2 bottles of formula, but I'm OK with that as all the rest is BM.nbsp; I have about 2.5 months until 1 year, so that's my new goal.

I am at 6 x/day now and think I might just try pumping less at some point. The dr still wants them to have two bottles of enfacare each day and I am ok if I have to up it later on.

punky917 · November 2012

I pumped for about 4-5 months after DS was born. The only reason I stopped was because we had already bought a chest freezer that was filled with breast milk alone with the hopes that DS would be ok with taking it. I was told that frozen breast milk would be good for a year so we kept it the whole time. He never was because of acid reflux and only took Enfamil AR until 18 months (15 adjusted). Everything else made him throw up.

I do agree that pumping was daunting task for me, especially with the fact that DS wasn't even drinking it. I can't even imagine pumping for twins! Glad to hear that your DH is going to be supportive no matter what decision you make,

DrRx · November 2012

I pumped the entire time that Adalyn was in the NICU and for about 1 week after she came home, so about 3 months. I was very fortunate in how much BM I was able to produce that I had multiple freezers full of frozen BM. She had to take Neosure for the increased calories also, so that made the stash last longer. We FINALLY finished all the frozen BM over Labor Day weekend.

I decided to stop because we had SOOO much and because I was just over and done with it. My goal was for her to get BM at least through 6 months and she was able to get that and more. I think that no matter what you decide will be the right decision. GL with whatever you decide! Smile

Bluebird2318 · November 2012

I've been doing it for about 4.5 months now (LO is 2 months adjusted), and my first goal at this point is just to make it to 6 months actual, with the next goal being 6 months adjusted... It's so hard with LO being home. I used to think it was hard getting the 8 a day, and would usually end up with 7, or 6 on a bad day. Now I'm satisfied with myself if I can manage 5 times a day. Some days it has been as bad as 3 times, and my supply has suffered for it (it hasn't exactly gone down, but it had been on a steady rise up until then, and now it has stayed the same for about a month). She's eating so much that I've had to supplement with formula every once and a while, but I'm trying to make a serious effort to get back to that 8 times a day, and only resort to formula if I "run dry" for a particular feed and she's still hungry. I need to pick up some Fenugreek.

sallypilot · November 2012

I pumped for 14 months ( 12 months actual) and then fed him what I had in the freezer so that lasted about another 2 months. It was a huge commitment for me, but he was my first and a singleton. If I would have had other kids, i seriously doubt it would have lasted that long. Also, I did end up taking Motillium starting at about 9 months to boost my supply.

theboki · November 2012

I also take motilium. It makes a huge difference for me!

SBBBE · November 2012

Thanks ladies for sharing. I got some needed encouragement that I can do this a little longer but it was also nice to hear that not everyone pumped for a year.

I wouldn't have made it past the first two months if it wasn't for the help of my DH, mom and MIL. While my DH continues to help me I am sure he will be thrilled to stop washing pumps parts, bottles and getting me parts in he middle of the might when I forget them when the day comes.

iristony · November 2012

I made it to 9 months! It was a miracle because I hated it and still am shocked. When I went back to office (I worked from home for a while) at 5 months my supply tanked and by 6 months I had to begin supplementing with formula. By 8.5 months he was getting more formula than BM so I decided to wean.

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