Community› The Bump Message Boards› Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
New Discussion

Love breastfeeding but hate pumping

Mmk724Mmk724 member
in Breastfeeding
I'm away from 6.5 month old DS from about 7:30 am to 5 pm. I currently pump about 1x per day during that period and get about 8 oz or so depending on how much time I have to pump. I suppliment with formula and send a total of about 12 oz to daycare. I breastfeed before I take him, 2 x before bed and 1 to 2x overnight.

My question is... Has anyone just breastfed in the morning/after work/at night and used formula during the day with no pumping? Is this even possible? It would mean no emptying for about 10 hours in a row. Anyone have experience with this?
Report Reply to Post

Re: Love breastfeeding but hate pumping

  • mommatotwo2mommatotwo2 member
    At 6.5 months, it's extremely likely that your supply will suffer if you drop daytime pumping.  Even at almost 9 months, dropping from 3 pumps to 2 pumps caused a pretty drastic reduction in supply for me.  You should actually be pumping 3 times in 10 hours, 2 at very, very minimum.  Pumping does suck, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a mom that likes it, but it was worth it to me!
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • surpriseadditionsurpriseaddition member
    Maybe if you pumped twice it would be better? That way it wouldn't take as long at each session, and I would think it would be less uncomfortable because you would be less engorged. You can just throw the pump parts in a plastic bag and refrigerate, and they wouldn't need to be cleaned between the two sessions. You can get to where you are only nursing morning/night, but at only 6 1/2 months, you risk your supply drying up all together over time.


    **DD1 - 7/9/98**

    **DS - 11/9/00**

    **DD2 - 4/30/13**

    Report Reply
  • Mmk724Mmk724 member
    Thanks for the info. The issue is time. I work an extremely fast paced job and I'm already compromised with time due to having to leave at a certain time to pick DS up from daycare. I share an office so I have to use a different space to pump so I don't have what I need in that room to complete my work. I was actually pumping 2x per day but I had difficulty fitting it in so I dropped it to 1 time. I guess I will have to make a decision on whether to continue or not.
    Report Reply
  • mommatotwo2mommatotwo2 member
    I understand, it's a struggle a lot of us have.  I shared an office part time with someone my first 8 months, and worked in a cubical the last 4 months, so I was always scrambling to find a spot, and sometimes that spot was my car.  I also gave up my lunch break pretty much daily for a year straight, and broke that hour into two 30 minute pumps. I ate lunch at my desk while I worked.  It's doable, but can be challenging.
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • surpriseadditionsurpriseaddition member
    If you feel you can't continue pumping at work, you can go down to the mornings/evenings/overnight but know that your supply will most likely take a big hit. It won't be an overnight thing, but your supply would probably gradually decrease over time. I have nursed just 3 times a day like your suggesting, but when my LO was over a year. When he weaned cold turkey one day due to illness, I really didn't get engorged at all so I know my supply was pretty low because of it. You just may need to up the amount of formula quite a bit, but can still enjoy the comfort and closeness of continuing to BF.


    **DD1 - 7/9/98**

    **DS - 11/9/00**

    **DD2 - 4/30/13**

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"