Exclusive pumpers - when/how did you stop?

[margarita1979]

Hello!

I've been exclusively pumping for DS for 5 months. My initial goal was to reach 6 months and then switch to formula and the stockpile of BM in the freezer. But now that 6 months is approaching, I'm beginning to feel guilty about wanting to stop.

I asked DH last night "should I stop pumping?" and before I could even get the whole question out he said "YES!" I pump 4 times a day - 9 am, 2 pm, 7 pm and 4 am. I adjust the 9 am and 2 pm based on DS' nap time. DH usually takes care of DS during the 7 pm session. And if DS starts crying during the 4 am session, DH needs to get up and feed him. This is likely why DH wants me to stop. He also said that I'm exhausted and he feels like I spend the whole day attached to the pump. I'd like to keep pumping, but if I could somehow drop the 4 am session without greatly affecting my supply, that would be ideal. Not quite sure how to do that, though. I should mention that I'm taking domperidone 3 times a day to keep my supply up.

When did you stop pumping? And how? Did you drop one session every week/few weeks? Did you reduce the length of each session? My breasts get sore if I miss a session by more than an hour, so not quite sure how to stop.

Advice please! Thanks for reading.

 

[re10]

I used to EP until 3 months then I gradually dropped to 2 pumps a day until 6/7 months when I stopped. What I did was gradually move 2 pumps closer together until you can just merge them so if you want to drop the 4am one you could gradually move that one later. I dropped about a pump a week from 6 to 2. If you're worried about being sore you could maybe do the 7pm one later too, before you go to bed so you don't have to pump overnight? I wouldn't reduce the time you pump unless you want to stop. It probably will make your supply drop a little if you drop one but everyone is different so you never know. When I dropped to 2 (I did 10am and 10pm) my supply dropped for a month, then stayed the same for a month, then dropped again enough that I decided to quit.

I found life so much more bearable after I went down to 2 a day, although I felt guilty too. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[maisie78]

I'm in the process of quitting now. I totally get your feelings of guilt, I kept putting it off thinking just one more week but I was getting cranky and fed up of having to revolve mine and Gabriella's lives around when I next needed to pump. It's taken about a month of slowly extending the times between pumps so that I could start dropping them. I am now down to around once every other day, and then just to relieve pressure as I get a bit lumpy. Gabriella is doing just fine on formula now, though we tried a couple before she decided what she liked and she is still getting bm from the freezer stash. And I am enjoying my freedom from the pump xx

 

[Jaylynne]

I stopped at 7 months after his tongue tie was fixed. He was suddenly ravenous! At 40+ oz a day and I couldn't keep up. It seemed the more I tried the less came out from stress. Omg, after the guilty feelings subsided I felt so liberated! I was pumping every two hours during the day to try to increase production. LO gained four pounds in one month after his tongue tie was fixed so formula was a godsend.

 

[stephie_corin]

There is a really good blog I read called Healthy Tipping Point and she did a very detailed blog post on stopping exclusively pumping recently, I'm on my iPhone so I may not be able to get the link but ill try for you. Also, any reason for those pumping times? Could you not pump first thing in the morning and right before bed - that would be 7 or 8 hours between pumps and at the moment you are doing 9 hours so it wouldn't affect your supply.

 

[stephie_corin]

Here you go:

https://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2013/02/stopping-exclusively-pumping-part-i.html
https://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2013/03/stopping-exclusively-pumping-part-ii.html

 

[margarita1979]

Thank you for sharing your stories with me.

My pumping schedule has evolved over the last 5 months. Initially I was pumping every 3 to 4 hours, but didn't set times for it. So when I was not pumping I would constantly be thinking about when I needed to pump next. By setting times that worked with LO's nap schedule (mostly - today is not one of those days), I could stop thinking about pumping ALL the time. The 4 AM pump gives me a good stretch of uninterrupted sleep (4 to 5 hours straight most days, unless LO wakes up) following the 7 PM pump. When my sleep suffers, my supply suffers, so getting that sleep in is important. I'm currently pumping between 35 and 40 oz a day.

LO is not quite ready for solids, so I feel like I may continue pumping for a while longer until he's ready and we can start weaning. My last pumping session, whenever that may be, will be bittersweet I'm sure.

Stephie, thank you for posting the links to that blog. It was a good read!

Jaylynne, I love your profile picture.

 

[WantsALittle1]

I tried to stop but couldn't. I'm just not emotionally ready yet, even though I *hate* (and I mean hate) pumping. It's a tie to my daughter that I cannot explain, and I need it. It's so weird! Still pumping after 8 months, though supplementing with formula now!

 

[Monalissa]

I tried to stop but couldn't. I'm just not emotionally ready yet, even though I *hate* (and I mean hate) pumping. It's a tie to my daughter that I cannot explain, and I need it. It's so weird! Still pumping after 8 months, though supplementing with formula now!

I know exactly what you mean. I've been pumping for almost 3 months since my daughter started to refuse BF when I returned to work. Pumping has been the only way to maintain the connection to the nursing relationship I adored with my DD. That said, I have been weaning off pumping and domperidone for my low supply, and should be coming to an end in the next week. To the OP, I had no trouble getting down to two pumps a day but I also have low supply. In order to drop another pump I'm going to have to stop draining my breasts each time, so will start not fully emptying them soon.

 

[margarita1979]

I tried to stop but couldn't. I'm just not emotionally ready yet, even though I *hate* (and I mean hate) pumping. It's a tie to my daughter that I cannot explain, and I need it. It's so weird! Still pumping after 8 months, though supplementing with formula now!

I completely understand. Way to go on sticking with it for 8 months!!! How often are you pumping a day and how much? How much longer do you think you'll pump?

Which formula are you using?

 

[margarita1979]

I tried to stop but couldn't. I'm just not emotionally ready yet, even though I *hate* (and I mean hate) pumping. It's a tie to my daughter that I cannot explain, and I need it. It's so weird! Still pumping after 8 months, though supplementing with formula now!

I know exactly what you mean. I've been pumping for almost 3 months since my daughter started to refuse BF when I returned to work. Pumping has been the only way to maintain the connection to the nursing relationship I adored with my DD. That said, I have been weaning off pumping and domperidone for my low supply, and should be coming to an end in the next week. To the OP, I had no trouble getting down to two pumps a day but I also have low supply. In order to drop another pump I'm going to have to stop draining my breasts each time, so will start not fully emptying them soon.

How often are you taking domperidone now? What did you do to reduce the number of pump sessions per day?

 

[WantsALittle1]

Monalissa: Breastfeeding is such a deeply personal, magical, and sweet thing. It really is hard to have to let it go, in any form (pumping or nursing)... So much sympathy!

Margarita: thank you!! I pump 5x, and I get 4 oz each time, if I really do some heavy massage. I'll pump until I get pregnant or hit the one-year mark, whichever comes first! We use Earth's Best Organic formula and we love it, and so does DD. She has hated other formulas!!!

 

[stephie_corin]

I wonder if you could rejig the times you pump so it's easier, and if you have a drop in supply you could try combi feeding? I've also had success with a power pump where you pump twice ten minutes apart. I wonder if you could drop down to just three times a day (morning, night and midday with a power pump)... It might help you still keep giving some breast milk. I'm not an exclusive pumper so I can only imagine how hard it must be. Good luck! X

 

[stephie_corin]

I meant to say power pump in the morning when your supply is at its highest x

 

[Monalissa]

I tried to stop but couldn't. I'm just not emotionally ready yet, even though I *hate* (and I mean hate) pumping. It's a tie to my daughter that I cannot explain, and I need it. It's so weird! Still pumping after 8 months, though supplementing with formula now!

I know exactly what you mean. I've been pumping for almost 3 months since my daughter started to refuse BF when I returned to work. Pumping has been the only way to maintain the connection to the nursing relationship I adored with my DD. That said, I have been weaning off pumping and domperidone for my low supply, and should be coming to an end in the next week. To the OP, I had no trouble getting down to two pumps a day but I also have low supply. In order to drop another pump I'm going to have to stop draining my breasts each time, so will start not fully emptying them soon.

How often are you taking domperidone now? What did you do to reduce the number of pump sessions per day?

I'm taking 50 mgs a day, down from 120 mgs. One tablet at night and 4 in the afternoon. I was pumping 5x a day - 6:30 am, 9:30 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm and around 8:00 pm. I dropped the 9:30 pump first, then 12:30, then 8:00 pm. Now I pump at 6:30 am and around 4:30 pm. I was having trouble dropping the 4:30 pump because then I would wake up in extreme pain from engorgement and leaking all over. Someone suggested not emptying my breasts which is what I'm going to start doing, although I am down to pumping 6 oz in the morning from 7-10 ounces.

 

[margarita1979]

I wonder if you could rejig the times you pump so it's easier, and if you have a drop in supply you could try combi feeding? I've also had success with a power pump where you pump twice ten minutes apart. I wonder if you could drop down to just three times a day (morning, night and midday with a power pump)... It might help you still keep giving some breast milk. I'm not an exclusive pumper so I can only imagine how hard it must be. Good luck! X

When DS is going through a growth spurt and I just can't keep up, we'll feed him some formula. I'm happy to say that it's been over a month since we've had to give him formula, though I suspect we may need to soon as we approach the 6 month growth spurt. I may give the power pump a try - anything to get rid of the 4 AM pump. Thanks!