Sick of pumping, now what? formula?

Palestrina · Apr 13th, 2012, 16:37 PM

I work part time and pump every morning for my LO. It's really hard work and I'm sick and tired of it. Also the milk is never enough, we're always on the verge of running out or having just enough and I'm exhausted and over it. I think I've decided to use formula for the hours I'm out working, which is usually 2-3 times a week for a few hours at a time. Has anyone done this successfully and still continued to BF past a year?

OriginalDoll · Apr 13th, 2012, 18:03 PM

I can't help but am in the same situation as you.
I am pumping all the time and it never seems enough for LO. Specially when she hits her growth spurts. I am debating on whether or not to give breast and formula to feed her, as I can't keep up.
i also am sick and tired of pumping.

DollPosse · Apr 13th, 2012, 19:43 PM

I haven't been in this situation but a good friend of mine still nurses and formula feeds her 14 month old son. She fed her son they way since he was a newborn and it has really worked well for her.

Jaylynne · Apr 13th, 2012, 20:33 PM

Have you tried marathon pumps? You basically keep pumping after no more drips come out for at least five minutes and do it for a whole day. It sucks but it does help increase for me. I also pump after he breastfeeds as he usually falls asleep before I'm fully empty. I hate pumping too but it's gotten easier now that I have a ac adapter for the car so I can just pump and drive lol. I usually do that on longer car rides so I'm not chained to the damn thing at home.

cheese lover · Apr 13th, 2012, 23:28 PM

Another thing to try to increase pumping output is pumping in the evenings after LO goes to bed.
If you really want to go to formula, I know several moms at LO's center that give formula during the day and nurse at night. They've been doing this since about 8-9 months old.

patch2006uk · Apr 14th, 2012, 03:25 AM

In your situation, I'd try to stick with pumping until LO turned 1, then swap to cow's milk. I wouldn't want to introduce formula to a 10 month old, it just seems unnecessary given you're so close to just being able to give cow's milk as is.

That being said, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to continue BFing if you do stop expressing and introduce formula. Your supply will just adjust down to whatever LO wants minus the expressing.

Palestrina · Apr 14th, 2012, 06:27 AM

I am not morally opposed to formula, but I don't want to switch full out to formula, I want to continue breast feeding. I'm not away from LO that much that I'd be afraid that he would forget about BF and prefer formula but it does worry me a bit because I want to reach the year mark of BF for sure. So it sounds like people combi-feed later on down the line with success?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaylynne

Have you tried marathon pumps? You basically keep pumping after no more drips come out for at least five minutes and do it for a whole day. It sucks but it does help increase for me. I also pump after he breastfeeds as he usually falls asleep before I'm fully empty. I hate pumping too but it's gotten easier now that I have a ac adapter for the car so I can just pump and drive lol. I usually do that on longer car rides so I'm not chained to the damn thing at home.

Thanks for the suggestion, but pumping more is not compatible with "I hate pumping" lol.

jenn2282 · Apr 14th, 2012, 06:42 AM

i combo feed right now as my supply isn't up yet (baby is 6 days old) it's not a bad thing to have to do. i do get you on the pumping thing lol i pump a total of 2 -2 1/2 hours a day.

booda · Apr 14th, 2012, 06:58 AM

Know the feeling

Ive been back at work for 4 weeks, full time........I spend my lunch break pumping trying to get enough milk out for the next day, im eating bottles of fenugreek like their going out of fashion and im just fucking DONE with it :'( I dont want to use formula but even if i did, I couldnt as LO has CMPI - so along with pumping in still on a very restricted diet (im veggie too, so without dairy it's almost a vegan diet im stuck on) and we've tried Neocate with him - he just projectile vomits it back up again :/ and it stinks.

Sorry that probably doesnt help matters :L just to let you know i understand your frustration.......

shinona · Apr 14th, 2012, 16:32 PM

I went back to work when as was 8 months and I just never got on with pumping. So ds got formula during the days I was at work and bf when I was off and in the mornings and evenings. He NEVER preferred formula! My body just adjusted to the new routine and we kept going til a year.

Apr 13th, 2012, 16:37 PM	#1
Palestrina Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,662	Sick of pumping, now what? formula? I work part time and pump every morning for my LO. It's really hard work and I'm sick and tired of it. Also the milk is never enough, we're always on the verge of running out or having just enough and I'm exhausted and over it. I think I've decided to use formula for the hours I'm out working, which is usually 2-3 times a week for a few hours at a time. Has anyone done this successfully and still continued to BF past a year?

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Apr 13th, 2012, 18:03 PM	#2
OriginalDoll Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 899	I can't help but am in the same situation as you. I am pumping all the time and it never seems enough for LO. Specially when she hits her growth spurts. I am debating on whether or not to give breast and formula to feed her, as I can't keep up. i also am sick and tired of pumping.

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 19:43 PM	#3
DollPosse Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,891	I haven't been in this situation but a good friend of mine still nurses and formula feeds her 14 month old son. She fed her son they way since he was a newborn and it has really worked well for her.

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 20:33 PM	#4
Jaylynne Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA Posts: 3,738	Have you tried marathon pumps? You basically keep pumping after no more drips come out for at least five minutes and do it for a whole day. It sucks but it does help increase for me. I also pump after he breastfeeds as he usually falls asleep before I'm fully empty. I hate pumping too but it's gotten easier now that I have a ac adapter for the car so I can just pump and drive lol. I usually do that on longer car rides so I'm not chained to the damn thing at home.

Status: Offline

Apr 13th, 2012, 23:28 PM	#5
cheese lover Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Iowa, US Posts: 2,049	Another thing to try to increase pumping output is pumping in the evenings after LO goes to bed. If you really want to go to formula, I know several moms at LO's center that give formula during the day and nurse at night. They've been doing this since about 8-9 months old.

Status: Offline

Apr 14th, 2012, 03:25 AM	#6
patch2006uk Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Mids, UK Posts: 5,227	In your situation, I'd try to stick with pumping until LO turned 1, then swap to cow's milk. I wouldn't want to introduce formula to a 10 month old, it just seems unnecessary given you're so close to just being able to give cow's milk as is. That being said, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to continue BFing if you do stop expressing and introduce formula. Your supply will just adjust down to whatever LO wants minus the expressing.

Status: Online

Apr 14th, 2012, 06:42 AM	#8
jenn2282 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: canada Posts: 1,259	i combo feed right now as my supply isn't up yet (baby is 6 days old) it's not a bad thing to have to do. i do get you on the pumping thing lol i pump a total of 2 -2 1/2 hours a day.

Status: Offline

Apr 14th, 2012, 06:58 AM	#9
booda Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Not here. Posts: 1,444	Know the feeling Ive been back at work for 4 weeks, full time........I spend my lunch break pumping trying to get enough milk out for the next day, im eating bottles of fenugreek like their going out of fashion and im just fucking DONE with it :'( I dont want to use formula but even if i did, I couldnt as LO has CMPI - so along with pumping in still on a very restricted diet (im veggie too, so without dairy it's almost a vegan diet im stuck on) and we've tried Neocate with him - he just projectile vomits it back up again :/ and it stinks. Sorry that probably doesnt help matters :L just to let you know i understand your frustration.......

Status: Offline

Apr 14th, 2012, 16:32 PM	#10
shinona Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ayrshire Posts: 1,587	I went back to work when as was 8 months and I just never got on with pumping. So ds got formula during the days I was at work and bf when I was off and in the mornings and evenings. He NEVER preferred formula! My body just adjusted to the new routine and we kept going til a year.

Status: Offline

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