When’s ok to stop pumping?

Question

My son was born July 4th - I’ve been breastfeeding/ pumping since then, as well as supplementing with formula. At 3 1/2 months in starting to get sick of pumping breastmilk - but I’m feeling guilty if I stop ... Any words of wisdom to help with this decision would be much appreciated!

Answer

It is always ok to stop. Never feel guilty. By now you have given your baby an amazing start. I chose to stop at 5.5 weeks as it was making me extremely miserable and I was not able to be the best mommy I could be for him. Stopping had an extremely liberating effect on me and I gained so much time to teach him things, play with him, dance etc. My son takes formula just fine and gains weight and length at normal speeds. Stopping was the best thing I have done for the both of us. I felt guilty at first, thinking I had to do it, feeling pressured by the world around me. But now I realise I was the only one putting pressure on myself. My son never even so much as flinched at getting different milk. You do you mommy. Happy mommy, happy baby!

Answer

Thanks for all your replies and reassuring words of support! 💕

Answer

It’s okay to stop whenever you don’t want to do it anymore!! Happy momma = happier baby
Honestly, if it wasn’t helping me lose weight I’d probably be stopping soon too 😂.  I guess my goal is 6 months to make it thru winter and give him all the antibodies I possibly can.  I made it to 8 months with my first.

Answer

I am thinking the same.. i only pump now twice a day and she is on mostly formula. She had a tongue tie that made nursing hard, so i never got w full suppy. I was trying to induce my production, but it just is not working  and is too stressful. She is 12 weeks Monday, and if it keeps dropping...i am just going to stop. Fed is best.. even my lactation consultant didn't try to pressure me to keep trying.

Answer

You do you hun! (I say that nicely, please don't take it rudely) but nobody can give you an ok to stop, as long as your baby is fed you are doing a good job! If it's taking a toll on you mentally I'd say start to wean the boob milk and slowly transition to full formula so bub doesn't get an upset tummy :) no shame in formula feeding!

Answer

My baby was born July 4 as well. I was doing about 90% breast milk but switched exclusively to formula at about 2.5 months. I did not enjoy breastfeeding or pumping. It messed with me emotionally and was so time consuming. The idea of pumping at work stressed me out. My babe also went through a heavy spit up phase of both breast milk and formula. At his 2 month appt his weight gain had leveled off so doctor recommended spit up formula and that was all the excuse I needed to switch over 100%. His weight is so much better and I’m so much happier and less stressed. I still get annoyed and feel a bit guilty when people express their opinions on the matter, but it’s been the right choice for us.

Answer

My LO was born July 5 & I’m exclusively pumping. I’m beginning to get tired of pumping as well & have thought about when to stop. I’m giving myself until December 1 to continue to pump and then whatever I have stored is what I have & then I’ll transition to formula. By that age, he’ll be beginning food so I figured that’s a good time 🤷🏼‍♀️ but I’d agree with all the ladies & say you stop when you need to stop. I know when I first started pumping I hated it! Always having to leave to go pump & my boobs felt huge and heavy. But that feeling went away when I switched pumps but I’m beginning to get that feeling again.