Stop pumping | ExpatWoman.com
 

Stop pumping

341
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 11:09

Long story short I have been pumping/breastfeeding my son for almost 8 months, he gets around 25-50% formula. My supply was never enough, I get around 70-80 ml together at each pumping session. For health and other reasons I want to stop pumping, I just want to breastfeeding him in the evening, overnight and morning, also on the weekends when I am home (since I work), if the supply dries up, I am ok with it (ok, kind of).
I pump once at 8 am and then 11 am (at work), then 5 pm, and 10 pm after my baby breastfeeds to empty the breast and complete his bottle for the next day.
We are going on holidays in 3 weeks, and I wont be able to pump during the day, actually I don’t want to pump once I am there unless necessary.
I was thinking of reducing my pumping at work to just one session or can I continue my usual pumping and then suddenly stop before the trip as my milk supply is not great?.

341
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 May 2012 - 05:36
I with that too, I need to pump 3 times to get one bottle, another reason to stop pumping too much effort and time for almost no milk.
2782
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 22:50
by the way well done for pumping for so long! I would have had to do the same to get one bottle as I never could get much via pump although from the breast itself was fine, was always so envious of those mums who could fill a whole bottle from just one session, I even knew one mum who exclusively pumped and only had to pump once a day for a days worth of bottles!
341
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 22:00
thanks, I wish I could BF him during holidays but I dont know if I can or if he wants, he likes to BF lying on the bed only!.
2782
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 14:28
I would drop one pumping session per week, to let your body adjust slowly. Alternatively you could simply BF him during the times you would normally pump while on holiday (I'm assuming he is coming with you) and then slowly drop the pumping once you return.
298
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 14:09
I might not be the best person for this because I stopped feeding fairly early. I did have trouble stopping though. Found that even though I didn't have a lot when I pumped, it still leaked like h3ll if I didn't. The advice my LC gave me was to drop one feed/pump a week. I did that. And it didn't always take a week to regulate but sometimes it did leak for a few days straight. I never tried cold turkey because its supposed to be painful if you get blocked ducts infections etc. So I'd say pick the one where you have the least yield (if that applies) and drop that. Then drop another the next week and you should be good to go before your holidays. If you do have pain (and I did) the OB said to take a warm shower and hand express a little only for comfort. And take an ibuprofen for the pain/inflammation (it works out of system in 6 hours so should be fine for next feed anyway if you're comfortable with that). Hope that helps some.
 
 

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