Ending pumping? Need validation!

[nitaghei]

So, as you guys know, I started pumping way earlier than I expected -and it's now been over 14 months since I started. So, it's only been once a day for the last almost 3 months, but I'm sick, sick, sick of pumping and I want to stop. But I also feel really guilty about it. DS takes one bottle a day (I go to nurse him mid-morning), which is now almost entirely cow's milk with only a little bit of EBM. DS has had no adverse reaction, and finishes the bottle happily.

Could someone please tell me it's okay to give DS one bottle of cow's milk? And it's okay to stop pumping?

(I plan to transition him to a sippy for the milk, but right now he'll only drink water from a sippy or a regular cup.)

TIA

Nita
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[momma_boo]

Nita,

Go for it. I don't think there is anything wrong with ceasing the pumping and giving him a full bottle of cow milk.

Think of it this way, you obviously don't like pumping. If stopping will make it easier for you, do it. A happier mommy = happy Neel!

[bluej]

It's okay to give Neel cow's milk in a bottle, in a sippy cup, in a regular cup! And it's okay to stop pumping! You lasted an amazingly long time IMO! You should be feeling great about how long you managed to pump, not guilty for wanting to stop.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

I know just how you feel. If I hold your hand now will you hold mine when I make this decision sometime soon? :)

It sounds like Neel is ready to help you hang up the pump. He's doing his part, drinking that one bottle of cow's milk. And you get to nurse him in the morning, that is a bonus.

Enjoy your pump-free days, mama, you've earned it. :)

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[KGoes]

I confess that I cannot wait until I am where you are. I completely understand where you are coming from - I have a love/hate relationship with my own pump. Enjoy the freedom!

Kelley
DD born 7/03

[Jacksonvol]

I am in awe of your commitment to this! I can only hope I last as long. I am just trying for 7 months and dare I dream, a year. I say let those horns go!

Lisa

[nitaghei]

Thanks everyone! And Karen, you can count on me!

Pumping has become such a habit that even though I am ready to end it, it's a little scary to let go. KWIM?

To think last January I was pumping 9 times a day - and thought I'd quit at 3 months because it was just soooooo hard. And I probably would have if you guys hadn't encouraged me to go see that one last LC! And of course, my wonderful mother, who stayed up with us for 3 nights to help Neel latch correctly when we put away the bottles for those 3 days and instituted BF'g boot-camp!

Nita
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[Momof3Labs]

Let the pump go, Nita!! Neel is still getting breastmilk, so he's still getting your antibodies. I honestly don't see any benefit of giving him a little more breastmilk (at this age) in a mostly cow's milk bottle when he does fine with cow's milk, especially if he is still nursing now and then.

I stopped pumping at work after a year, and it felt SOOOO good!! I still love nursing Colin and don't plan to stop (we're down to 2x a day) anytime soon, but might not have lasted this long if I still had to be connected to the pump.

Let it go and be proud of what you have given Neel!!

[nitaghei]

Well - actually, Neel still nurses 3-4 times a day, excluding the pumping session, so he's still getting plenty of breastmilk. But for some reason, it's been hard to actually stop pumping, even though I'm sick of it. Which is why I needed external validation to stop pumping. :) And it's much cheaper to come to you guys than it is to go to a therapist, or call my mom! ;) :P

Nita
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[TraciG]

That's excellent that u pumped that long !!!!!!! I've been pumping ( and barely getting anything ) for a little over 1 month & feel like it's been forever, u should be proud of yourself !!!

[nitaghei]

Oh, Traci, hang in there!! You've had so many stressors that I didn't, that I'm impressed you're still trying. I do hope things get better for you soon. The first couple of months were so hard for me - even with a tremendous support network - and I almost gave up. Just keep the goal manageable, and take it one day at a time. Good luck, and do let me know if you want support.

Nita
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[calebsmama03]

I am right there with you both on this issue! Caleb is now 1 and I'm finding that since we were out of town for his bday and I didn't pump at all for 5 days I am getting a LOT less when I pump and it is stressing me out majorly. I've had to pump early AM in addition to 3 times at work to get enough for him since about 7 months, but I always got between 16-18oz at work. These days I've been getting 8-10! It's so frustrating. We haven't started cows milk yet. I think he got some at the sitter's house and had a red rash on his bum the next day that has not gone away for over 2 weeks. It's odd though, because he eats tons of cheese and yogurt without issue. Anyway, I'm tiring of the pumping sessions but am in no way ready to give up BFing. He still nurses 5-6 times per day and I don't want to lose my supply all together. I need to start introducing either cow's milk (seeing the doc tomorrow about the rash, so we'll see) or soy milk but have no idea how. It's also bitter sweet in that as much as I HATE pumping I've always loved that I could provide everything he needed to drink all these months. I'm still not sure what to do. I think for now I'll continue to pump but not freak out when I don't get what I need for his bottles. Then perhaps soon I'll go down to just once per day at work to ensure that supply remains OK. I don't know....
Lynne
Mommy to Caleb 3/3/03

[LucyG]

Nita,

I stopped pumping at work a few weeks ago, and it was SO weird! I actually had several "false starts," where I planned to stop pumping, and then just couldn't do it! I carried the pump with me to work for a week after I stopped, just in case I needed to pump. But, I can safely saw now that I am glad I stopped, and DD is no worse for it. Go for it!

[sntm]

nita, i actually thought you had stopped a month or two ago! didn't you post about leaving the pump at home?

i'm still a few months from where you are, but i'm going through similar questions about cutting back from 3 to 2 times a day. as much as they are tossing at daycare, i could easily cover what he is currently taking with 2 pumpings but i can't seem to let that third one go. paranoid that he will suddenly want more (not that that would be a problem since I have almost 300 oz frozen!) just silly, i guess.

maybe start slow? pump every other day?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03

[nitaghei]

Shannon,

I returned the Lactina in December when I went down to pumping once a day. I've been using the Isis since then. Couldn't stop because I have NO stash whatsoever. And it took this long for Neel to start drinking cow's milk.

But I stopped pumping as of yesterday. WOO HOO! It feels great!!

If Jack's cutting down, it might be time to cut back on pumping. I think Neel dropped to one bottle around 9-10 month mark - but I kept pumping twice a day for several weeks after that. So I do understand how hard it is to let go. But your supply is established at this point, and you could always go back to pumping 3 times if you find yourself dipping into your stash too frequently. Just a thought.

Nita
mom to Neel, January 2003
dog mom to a cocker and a PWD

[Momof3Labs]

Lynne, the red bum could be because Caleb is lactose intolerant - that sounds like what Colin had. Other dairy doesn't bother Colin, but even a few ounces of cow's milk does. We use whole milk Lactaid now, and he's fine!

Also, it is VERY normal to get a lot less when pumping at this stage!

[calebsmama03]

Thanks Lori! The doc didn't mention this possibility. She suggested starting out with soy milk and trying cows milk again in a month. She actually would prefer that he get breastmilk and no other milk as long as we can! Nice to hear from a ped, but depressing at the same time due to my decreased output. :( I think I'll make one last-ditch effort to increase the pumping output with some extra nursing and fenugreek this weekend and if that doesn't work we'll "supplement" with soy for now.
Lynne
Mommy to Caleb 3/3/03