Giving up...on pumping

oceanangel0502 · April 2014

So since DS was born 6 weeks ago I've been pumping and bottle feeding bm during day and giving formula at night, I was doing really well pumping plenty at each session, but now he's eating 5 ounces every three hours and this past week I'm lucky if I pump enough for one feeding at each session. Btwn not keeping up with how much he needs and him being awake more and wanting my attention more I just feel like I can't continue pumping. But now I am so disappointed and frustrated. I feel like a bad mom for wanting to give up and just formula feed, but I don't know what else to do. This post doesn't really have a point, just needed to vent some. Thanks for listening

lnvane00 · April 2014

I did this exact same thing! Pumping was so stressful. But you have lasted a good amount of time. Dont feel bad. Thanks to all the girls on here for so much support I got through the transition of pumping to formula. I still dont like giving my son formula and I still feel guilty every time I am making his bottle. But he is getting fed and I am not miserable because I have to pump. So you arent alone. Do what you feel you have to do and we will support you.

CruiseGirl28 · April 2014

I know what you mean. I'm pumping and supplementing. In the beginning, she was getting all breast milk, but it's becoming more and more formula. I'm home alone all day, and it seems that every time I sit down to pump, she needs me. The past 2 days I have spilled milk on the couch and coffee table.

I would suggest not to make an all or nothing decision. I am only pumping twice a day. In the morning (when I am alone and it's hard) and in the evening when DH is home. Some days she may only get 1 breast milk bottle and some days it's more. I figure any amount of breast milk is great for her (and saving money).

And don't feel bad about formula. My 5 month old nephew was exclusively fed formula since birth, and he is thriving! He's a big boy!

Khope87 · April 2014

I am also pumping, but only feeding breast milk. It is SO HARD!!!! It's hard because you are tied to the house (or at least I feel that way!) as it's hardly acceptable to whip a pump out in public, whereas with breast feeding this is so much more possible! It's hard to fit in time to pump! Like you, as LO is awake more, it feels like you have to pick what to do with your time - EITHER: express, feed LO, play with LO, shower, go the loo, do washing..... You can never have time for all these things! I often don't go the loo for ages, or have to wait for my husband to come home in order to squeeze in all my jobs, showering and nipping the loo when he gets home.

Basically, it's hard - more than twice as time consuming as breast feeding alone, and probably twice as time consuming as formula feeding. Six weeks worth of breast milk has given your LO such an amazing start! Switching to formula is not giving up - it means that you are adapting to LO's needs perfectly - they now need you more in the day than just making milk! Your baby will do great on formula

My aim was to keep expressing till six months.... Well, I am now at 5 and a half weeks and it's hard.... I'm desperately counting down till we can stop! 20more weeks...... Haha!

jenni812 · April 2014

I'm doing this EXACTLY right now (LO is 8 weeks - stuck on mobile so I'm sure I have a very out of date ticker). I was giving 2 4 oz formula bottles at night, but between the time and the low supply and heading back to work soon... I have just reached my breaking point.

The main issue is that she almost NEVER spit up before. Now that she's down to 1-2 breast milk bottles a day and the rest formula, she has started spitting up tons. It's so strange - nothing else has changed. I hate to switch formula brands because she was doing so well on it and has no other issues (gas, constipation, etc.)

I had a pretty low supply so dropping pumping sessions has not been very difficult at all. About a week in and I'm down to pumping twice a day and am hoping to be totally done by next week.

oceanangel0502 · April 2014

Thank you everyone got your input. I am glad there are others going through this too that understand how I feel. It makes me feel less alone. I might try to only pump a couple times a day and keep decreasing from there. How much weaning should I do btwn bm and formula?

rockopera · April 2014

I'm staring down the same decision. Not ready to quit yet, but it is so hard. I'm only pumping 8-10 oz a day, and he's eating 25-30. I'm still reeling from not being successful at BFing, and I don't think I'm ready to give this up too. I think that it would be easier to pump when I go back to work...but that's not for another 6 weeks! I don't know if I can make it that long.

I know that logically, there is nothing wrong with going all FF. But the whole thing is so emotional for me.

Khope87 · April 2014

rockopera said:
I'm staring down the same decision. Not ready to quit yet, but it is so hard. I'm only pumping 8-10 oz a day, and he's eating 25-30. I'm still reeling from not being successful at BFing, and I don't think I'm ready to give this up too. I think that it would be easier to pump when I go back to work...but that's not for another 6 weeks! I don't know if I can make it that long.

I know that logically, there is nothing wrong with going all FF. But the whole thing is so emotional for me.

I feel very similar to this! I am devastated breast feeding didn't work out as I have the time off to do it exclusively and was really looking forward to it! I guess it might be something for number two.... I can't see me being able to express whilst having this one and a new baby so it best work out next time!!

oceanangel0502 · April 2014

@rockopera‌ I completely know the feeling. I cried tonight talking about it with DH. I know DS will be fine with ff but I feel so guilty stopping pumping. It's so frustrating

Wriggley1123 · April 2014

Breastfeeding was very difficult for me and so wAs pumping. I switched to formula, and the stress it saved me was worth it. Baby and myself are happier and that's what matters. I can enjoy my time with her and not always have to be pumping. Whatever decision you make will be good.

clo1982 · April 2014

I am in the process of weaning off the pump and am (very uncomfortably) down to 3x per day. I'm honestly not even sure of the right word to describe how I feel about stopping. My plan was to be done by 6 weeks and here I am at 7 weeks still going. I don't know if it is because this is the last time I will be able to feed a baby my milk or if it's guilt that I'm making enough for a few bottles per day, so why stop. But I'm having a much harder time with this decision than I did last time with dd. Ds does great on formula too, so no issues there. I think that little guy would eat a pizza with no issues if I offered it to him! I have to be done by the time I go back to work and I am putting off the inevitable. It's like I hate pumping...but now it's more manageable with only doing it once when both kids are up (and even then sometimes dd is sleeping for my afternoon session)...so I feel 'off' about stopping even though I need to before work starts in a few weeks. Sorry for the rambling post. I can't even make sense of my own thoughts let alone put them in writing!!

pattipants · April 2014

I can empathize! DS is 9 weeks today, and I've been exclusively pumping basically since he was born. It has been incredibly difficult (and often horrible and stressful) to pump so often, particularly as DS is a bit fussy and wants to be held all the time. I know I'll have to switch to some formula when I go back to work in a few weeks, as I won't be able to keep up my rigorous pumping schedule. At DS's 2-month appt yesterday, our ped told us we should start to introduce formula into his bottles by doing half formula and half bm, so DS can get used to the formula before he starts daycare in a couple of weeks. We started doing it yesterday, and I thought it would be hard for me emotionally, but it's really not. In fact, it made me realize how much I really HATE pumping now. I am so damn sick of it. But like PP said, I'm worried that I'll feel guilty tapering off my pumping, as my production is quite good. I'm torn between feeling like I should do what I can to give DS as much bm as possible, and feeling just miserable and depressed because I'm constantly hooked to a breast pump.

Raebabe1008 · April 2014

I'm so glad to read this bc this has been my struggle all week. My LO will be 10 weeks on Tuesday and I've made the decision to completely stop pumping and strictly give her formula. I barely have been making anything since day one ( maybe an ounce every 3 hours) and I've been really trying so hard with it but my supply just isn't increasing. I've noticed how guilty I feel to even put LO down for 15 mins to pump bc she gets so fussy and cries. Plus, she has reflux and extreme stomach issues that no matter what I eat it affects her belly anyway. So we started her on Alimentum and are praying that she finally has some relief with that. Sometimes the guilt that I still can at least give her something is overwhelming, but I have to also take care of me too. My mental health is what was suffering and how can I be a good mom and take care of her if I can't even take care of me.

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