Stopped Giving Breastmilk, now what?

[Dukechick]

Hi ladies

I got some great advice from you guys about my DH not liking the idea of me stopping pumping, and doing all formula instead of 50% of both like I was.... well, our son helped us make it final! He won't take my milk anymore! That makes it easier for me to stop pumping.

ANYWAY....... NOW WHAT? I'm assuming I just pump less and less until I dry up? Is that what I'm supposed to do??

Thanks!

 

[weebubbles]

Hi, I am in the exact position and my baby is a day younger then your LO.
I am stopping as my milk is drying up and it takes 2 days to get enough for one bottle.
My HV had told me a while ago to pump less each day until it drys up completely.
I think my milk is drying up because I have been expressing less often throughout the day. Before I would manage 6 times a day but it the past week my son hasn't been well and I haven't had the time.
So my advice is to reduce the amount of times you pump and it should dry up eventually.

 

[Lucy_lu_84]

Yeah just pump less each day ... don't jsut stop as that will be painful.

I'm also stopping BM, as little doesn't feed to great with me now. BUt as I'm still feeding I'm just gradually introducing an extra bottle

 

[Vici]

I just stopped after 6 weeks exclusive pumping and I had no pain, engorgement or anything. Don't know if I was just lucky or not. I'd slowly ease off, until you stop

 

[cheeselover]

Me too! Just stopping now after pumping for 4 months- my second breast pump just broke plus got a couple of long haul trips coming up and thinking about do a couple of casual days of work here and there...it just feels like the 'right time' for us.
Funny thing is she is now back on the boob a couple of times a day which I am very happy to continue with as long as she will do it. She won't always do it though and there are a few 'conditions' ie. I have ff feed her for a bit first to take the edge, she has to be laying on a certain pillow, I need nipple shields, no noise etc. or otherwise she cries and thrashes about.
Dukechick my husband is the same and we have had numreous 'words' about it. If he says 'but breast is best one more time' I will scream. The other night he was saying things like 'that looks like good engagement' and ' oh she has latched on well'. When I told him I really didn't need a cheering squad on the sofa he was a bit hurt.
By the time we are completely done it will be around the 5 month mark and I think I have done very well through PND, an international move and flat nipples thank you very much...arghhhhh men!!!

 

[dali]

i didnt bf to start with so obviously my milk didnt build up as much as im sure yours has. but when it did come in on day 3 i had the engourgement / pain/ sweats and shivers etc.. for 1 day then it subsided , dont know if it would happen this easily though if you ahve already been bfing.

i agree maybe the best route is to pump less gradually to let your milk drop in quantity by itself...

just wanted to say i am glad your baby made your mind up for you so that OH cant make you feel bad about this anymore ( sorry that he wont take your milk anymore - i didnt mean that to sound insensitive , i apologise if it came across that way )
al the best