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Just curious - how long did you breastfeed? (after the first 3 months)
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Anonymous
| BF for 7 months total. Returned to work part-time after 4 months of BF exclusively. Pumped 2X a day at work from 4 through 7 months, and began solids at 6 months. Do what works for you... |
Anonymous
| BF for 6 months total. Supplemented on and off from about 4 months. Went back to work at 5 months and just couldn't keep up, esp. because I had bought a crappy pump. Would have liked to have gone longer but baby didn't care AT ALL, so no real regrets. My own rest became a big factor as I was working and the two hours I was spending pumping were two hours I needed back. (Also, it wasn't as if I was getting enough in those two hours to supply baby in my absence -- not even close...) Anyway, next time (if there is one) I'll get a better pump and pay more attention to keeping my supply up to baby's demand. |
Anonymous
| 17:41 here again. I forgot to say to the op, if your are waiting for "natural weaning" you may be in my shoes, I really think mine would of bf thru college. Must be some good tasting milk. I waited forever and there was never a time that either wanted to stop nursing, so I finally had enough and stopped it. You have done a great job, 6 months is great. Good luck weaning. |
Anonymous
| pumping as I read this postings. This is really getting old.. |
Anonymous
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DD 2 (and a little) years
DS 19 months I struggled to wean my DD, it was especially hard because I was still nursing her brother. I then had to wean DS because of health reasons. I nursed for a total of 32 consecutive months. While I am a big believer in nursing, and think that any breast milk is better than none, I don't judge people on their decisions. It would have been so much easier to mix up a batch of bottles for the day, and not be the one solely responsible for sustaining the life of a child. Being a mom is difficult enough, we need to do what we can, and we can only do so much, especially when we are working moms. OP, I think you are doing really well. If you wish to wean at this point, go for it. |
Anonymous
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I BF DD for 23 months.
Whenever you do decide to wean, don't go cold turkey. Cut one feeding every 4 days minimum - a week is better. This is easier on your baby and will minimize engorgement. A friend of mine didn't read the BF book I lent her and quit pumping cold turkey. She was in PAIN. You've done a great job! |
Anonymous
I think it depends on age of child. At 6 months you may get some pain but I did cold turkey on my 2 1/2 yr old, no pain. he was eating so much food at the time, I don't thnk it was that much milk left. Just a point of view. |
Anonymous
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Okay- I'l be on the low end here but I am not alone- (chirp in other people!)
First child- through nightmare pumping, ages of breastfeeding consultants including la leche- made it 4 months with barely a mind.. washing pumps etc.. second- complete different kid- was drinking 30 ounces per day within a week- my supply was piddly- took 4 days for the milk to come in- gave formula- pumped- but my pum;ing with a toddler and a newborn- not so easy to do though i tried- i didn;t last two months.. |
Anonymous
Chirping here 
With both of my children I stopped BFing when I went back to work (babies were 3 months old). With my first I tried pumping when I returned to work but I couldn’t seem to figure out how to work and pump in my environment (young, hard working consulting firm). After that, didn't even try to pump at work with the second. |
Anonymous
Sigh- thank you |
Anonymous
| 9 mos exclusively, then continued with AM/PM feedings but supplemented with formula until 12 mos. Only started supplementing because I had a miscarriage and I think because of the stress my supply dropped. I have to say though, if I had realized how much better life would be when I stopped pumping, I think I would have supplemented earlier! |
Anonymous
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I breastfed all three for at least a year and pumped because I worked FT. But I didn't travel for, and I think that makes a huge difference. I knew women with good supplies who could leave bottles and who would pump and dump when they were gone for more than a day or two, just to keep the supply up, but I hated pumping, and I don't know if I could have managed that.
More power to ya if you can. |
Anonymous
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Our son is 10 months, and I'm still breastfeeding when we're together, pumping 2x a day and getting a piddly amount, and supplementing with formula. I'd always planned to bf for a year, but figured I'd phase out the pumping sooner. Our ped expressed a hope that I would "get him through the winter" with bf'ing, i.e., provide antibodies during the time when he'd be more likely to get colds and whatnot (he's in daycare). So I've kept up the pumping partly to keep up my supply, and at this point, I feel like "what's two more months?" though I hate the pumping most days. Now I feel like I'd like to keep up the bf'ing at least morning and evening, after he turns 1, but like a few of the PPs, I'd like to get my body back for a while before we try for #2. (I'm 42, so I don't have a huge window.)
OP, do what works for you. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| BF exclusively until 6 months, stopped pumping at 1 years old, still nursing a 2.5 y.o. Just once a day. It's great when you don't have to pump. |
Anonymous
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Chirping here on the low end -- DD had trouble latching and staying on the boob, so feedings were taking over an hour each time -- went to pumping exclusively and giving her BM from a bottle at about 3 weeks. Pumped and give BM exclusively for 3 months (all the while suffering from PPD as well). Felt a HUGE weight lifted when I weaned and went to formula.
Hoping to get PG with #2 soon and hoping the BFing works better next time
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