A place for all advice and discussion about weaning.
This has come up a bit in other threads, but I thought it would be useful on a move forward basis if we had a place to put our collective knowledge and/or concerns on the topic.
So, whether weaning from breast or pump...this is the place to share issues and/or knowledge!
Re: A Wee Bit O' Weaning
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
Will definitely watch out for the hormone fluctuations @Lilygrace48 (that is a good heads up).
We also had such a great day today...freedom from the pump meant two long uninterrupted naps with the LO snuggled right in my chest. It feels like I am getting so many hours back in the day to focus on him. Heaven!
I did the Sudafed today and I swear that it is really helping bring the production level down. Have on my tightest sports bra and hoping that I can manage overnight (when my production is highest) without too much discomfort. Biggest complaint so far is itching! When the girls get full they itch like crazy...
I also forgot to mention I had by husband take a picture of me last night wearing a low cut top. I will probably never have boobs like this again...
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
I am a week tomorrow of going cold turkey due to complete utter pain I experienced last week on what was decided to be my last day of pumping. Wish I would've known about the potential depression. Then maybe I would not have thought I was totally fruit loops when I cried at every feeding the next day. I also had the added stress of a growth spurt and leap all while Hubs was gone. So yeah, hot mess here!
The boobs are 75% back to feeling normal. Which helps me regain a little sanity. I was having a really hard time watching the rest of the family carry on while I'm attached to a pump or nursing. I felt like my body was no longer mine and I wasn't a person, just a body serving a purpose. No Bueno! That's better now. But I was very jealous of the women I saw nursing today while at the zoo. Oh well, I tried, got assistance when I needed it, adjusted when things didn't work one way, tried another way, then another. So I didn't go down without a fight.
Eta - Holy crap - I didn't mean for that to be so long!!
Glad to know about the depression... will be keeping an eye on that! Definitely having lots of mixed feelings. Relief to not be attached to the pump and guilt for not trying harder to pump/bf for LO. Feels like I'm failing a bit since I'm quitting out of selfish reasons mostly (can't handle the stress of LO always screaming whenever I'm pumping. It always happens and I just can't do the hold between the boobs thing. Also sick of engorgement pain when I choose not to pump every 2 hours which I refuse to do.)
Anyways good luck to all you ladies! I'll let yall know how the sudafed does.
Eta: dh bought me cabbage last night. It really seems to be helping!!
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
@kaysa2 If I could get away with two pumping sessions a day I would totally stick with EPing....
Here is the weird discovery of the day. My right boob is feeling pretty good and is returning to its pre-pregnancy size, but the left is still tight and large. So now I am lopsided. Had no idea that one of "the girls" would empty before the other...
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
@purtz a Did you decide which way to proceed. Seriously, the resources out there aren't great, but I found this site helpful:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Wow, this is more uncomfortable than I thought it would be!
How long does everyone expect the weaning process to take?
Plan to try cabbage next since the sudafed doesn't seem to be making any difference. My poor back is really starting to complain about all the extra boob weight.
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
I'm about ten hours between pumps now. I'm taking this fast weaning success as proof that the pumping gods want me to stop.
The pumping gods also spoke to me this morning. Towards the end of my morning pump the bottle fell off the piece that connects it to the pump. Three ounces of breastmilk splattered all over me. Had to change clothes while the baby screamed for attention. When the pumping gods speak they speak loudly!