Nursing/pumping Question.....

Hi J.,
I currently have a 14month old that I am still breastfeeding.. I never planned on nursing this long, but I still am... I was sooo done with pumping though, so I stopped at 1 year. I never pumped much milk anyway. Since then I decided that if my milk supply goes down and she decides she dosn't like it, its ok.. I am at the point where part of me is ready to stop nursing her, and another part of me does love it and is ok to keep going.. So for the past two months I gradually cut out some feedings, and now we are down to morning, bedtime and naps when she is not at daycare. Some mornings I skip, if we dont' have alot of time, or if we can get right down to breakfast. She drinks whole milk and water during the day. I don't know how much she is actually getting when I nurse, but at this point I think its more for comfort anyway.
I have to say I am soo much happier now that I am not pumping. It does take a lot of time and effort!
Do what you feel is right, and if you want to cut down on pummping, go ahead and it will work out!...
Good luck!

Hi J.,

I nursed my last baby for 17 months. Although I am at home with her, in the end she only nursed at night and first thing in the morning. I didn't pump during the day, but let my body naturally wean down to two or three feedings a day. You will produce enough milk for the times that you do feed your daughter. I would stop pumping, give her whatever kind of milk or even water during the day, and go from there, letting her wean when she is ready. Your body may take a couple of days to adjust since you've been pumping, but I'm sure it won't be too bad for you, and of course your productivity at work can go up too! I had to pump for two of my babies while I worked full time and I remember how time consuming it can be. Bet you'll be glad to have that over with, but still have the treasured nursing time with your baby. I think that nursing after the first year is a wonderful time.

D.
35 year old mother of 5 with one more on the way

Hi!

If you stop pumping, your supply will go down, but not as drastic as you may think. At some point though, you will feel extremely full. You may have to express some milk to relieve yourself so it doesn't get painful. Just just squeezing some out should do fine. Just remember to drink alot of fluids, especially just before you begin to nurse and your flow will continue with no problem. I must say, you are brave, I have 5 children and once the teeth began to so did the biting. I nursed them all until 1 year. Take care and God Bless!

A.

Dear J.,

First, I want to compliment you on your commitment to breastfeeding. What you're doing is huge, especially considering your full-time working single mom status! I am a full-time working married mom, also breastfeeding beyond the first year. I agree that even the night wakings (only occasionally for us) are ok because we get to spend time together. And that's why I'm continuing to nurse; I think in a way especially for working moms, it really helps you reconnect at the end of the day. Although I have a partner, I have a commute and a job that demands more than 40 hours a week, and the time consumed from pumping -- including all the things you mentioned about cleaning the parts -- is something that I am slowly starting to cut back on now that I have introduced cow's milk. I recently cut back from pumping 3 times to 2 times a day (morning and afternoon). From what I understand, the baby extracts milk much more efficiently than a pump does, so while your overall supply will decrease, I think your daughter will be getting enough. Remember also that she's getting solid foods as well now, so it's not as important for her to get as much breastmilk as when she was an infant. Are you familiar with the website www.kellymom.com? It is run by a lactation consultant Also, for cleaning the pump parts, have you tried the Medela microwave sterilizing bags? You rinse the parts, put them in the bag with a little water and microwave for a minute and half. Medela also makes wipes for when you don't have access to water. I know that what I'm about to say is agains the "official" advice, but other moms told me that you probably don't need to thoroughly wash or sterilize the pump parts after every use, so I started just rinsing in warm water after one or two uses per day, but sterilizing in the microwave bag at least once a day. Hasn't been a problem. It's your own milk and it has antibacterial qualities, etc.
Also, I had supply issues and worked with a lactation consultant who recommended pumping 3 times a day, not 4. So, you can probably safely cut back to 4 times and still have sufficient supply for when your daughter nurses. I would cut out the night pumping since that is least prodcutive time. Sometimes I would pump at night just to get a little extra, but it never seemed worth the effort so now I don't bother. Also, from speaking to my pediatrician and lactation consultant several months ago, after we started solids, they seemed to feel that some kind of stimulation (baby or pump) 3 to 5 times per day was sufficient. You're well beyond that, so you could probably cut back to 2 times per day and be ok. You just have to do it gradually, i.e., cut one pumping for at least 4 days before cutting another. Best of luck to you! G.

Just elimating a pumping session here then another later should only slow it down a little, not drastically compromise your supply. Slow weaning/reducing pumping is a start, in my experience. My son is 17 mo and we only nurse at bedtime and first thing in the morning now. The weaning process actually started at ~13 mo. I took it slow so my supply wouldn't diminish too quickly. I feel the same way, I wanted to nurse for up to a year, but decided "we" weren't ready to let go yet. I'm surprised we've gotten this far! He pretty much cut out the afternoon one himself, so I don't feel like I forced him. Sometimes lately he doesn't want to nurse in the morning either, which kinda sucks b/c it's my favorite time to snuggle in bed with him. (Sigh) more weaning around the corner, I suppose. Btw, I would also tell daycare to stop throwing out so much milk. If she only drinks 4 or 5 oz then I would leave them 1 bottle and save the rest in the fridge/freezer, then when you do want to wean 1 nursing session, you can still feel good about giving her breastmilk besides cow's milk. Good luck to you both, your daughter is so lucky. Happy new year!

First you rock!! I echo pretty much what everyone else has said. I think as long as you nurse her on demand when you're together, your supply should be fine.

I've nursed all 3 of my girls past a year till they self weaned and my 3rd dd (18months)is actually nursing as I type this, lol!

I didn't have to pump with my last two because I'm a SAHM but with my first I pumped when I was in college and I noticed that she didn't drink much of the breastmilk I sent with her to daycare. Like another mom said, she wanted it fresh from the source. So I stopped sending much milk with her till I stopped altogether and it never affected my supply.
Best wishes to you and your little sweetie pie!

Your body should adjust to the new demand/schedule, and it probably already is- this is why you aren't able to pump a lot in the evening, because its also a time when she nurses. I nursed till 21/22 months and in the end was just morning and evening with no pumping and my supply accommodated our nursing schedule. Of course he was eating a lot of other stuff at that age- as she grows older, some of the nutrition will be replaced with foods and other drinks, but the nursing is so important!! Good for you, keep it up!

I nursed my son until just after he turned 2. When he was 7 months old, he stopped taking breast milk during the day when he was at daycare--he and his buddy the same age both quit at the same time. But he would eat, drink water from a cup, but only wanted breast milk fresh from the source. So I stopped pumping at work and didn't have any problems with milk supply at all. My body just adjusted to his new schedule.

And for what it's worth, I had to spend 2 nights in the hospital when he was 11 months old (appendix) and pumped a little just before surgery, but couldn't pump again until the following morning becuase of pain issues trying to sit up in a good position. At that point I was completely engorged (but no pain because of all the pain meds!) and pumped 9 or 10 oz from each breast, so I knew then that making milk wasn't an issue at all.

I am still bf'ing my 15-mth-old, but only twice a day. Are you sure she really needs all that breastmilk? My daughter naturally weaned herself of the day feedings, so I just kept the morning and night feeds so she can get some health benefits (e.g., immunity) from the breastmilk and we can keep that bond for a while longer. But I stopped pumping when she turned 1. I was SO thrilled to stop pumping... I don't know how you're still managing.

J.: Good for you for sticking with nursing beyond a year!! Your body will make what your daughter needs .... if you stop pumping for the daytime and supplement with 'other milk' but continue to nurse when home, that's what your body will make. My son self-weaned before a year during the day, but continued to nurse morning & evening for about 6 more months. Just keep in mind, initially your breasts will be very tender the times that you aren't nursing/pumping ... but that will pass.

Good luck & Happy 2009 for you & your daughter :)

Hi J.,

First of all, it saddens me to think that the employees at your child's daycare are throwing your breast milk away after it sits out. I had remembered my lactation consultant telling me that it can be left out for an extended period of time with no ill effects at all, so I did some googling on it. I found a post written by a woman on this very subject that I thought you'd find very enlightening...

"Now, I have to say that for the better part of the 8+ years I have been pumping and breast feeding my four kids, I have never left it out this long, but the most definitive research performed says you can leave fresh breast milk at room temperature for 10 HOURS!

Breast milk has anti-bacterial qualities which inhibit bacterial growth in the milk, even at room temperature. In fact, the bigger issue is not from the milk itself, but rather from other contaminants that affect the milk collection process, such as germs on mom’s hands and skin, the bottle, cap, etc.

Here are a couple of really interesting references for the 10-hour figure. There was a landmark study done in 1987 by researchers named Barger and Bull that compared milk in clean but not sterile containers left for 10-hours at room temperature and 10 hours in the refrigerator. The study found no statistically different bacteria levels! Just amazing! Here are some articles in order of preference.....

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html
http://members.tripod.com/~bmsg/storageconcerns.htm
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug98p109.html
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bbreastfeed/0,,3x9q,00...

I myself, never left milk out longer than probably four hours or so. There were a few times when at work I realized I forgot the ice packs and it stayed warm the whole day. There were no ill effects on junior! All of this may have had more to do with my germ paranoia than actual science.

When my youngest was in the NICU and I was hospitalized after his birth I was pumping. I couldn’t get out of bed to deliver his milk to the NICU, and the poor nurses were often too busy to cart it down there for me. So I often worried about it "spoiling". Once when the neonatologist visited me to discuss my son I asked him about the milk at room temperature. I didn’t believe him at the time, but he said expressed breast milk was fine for up to 12 hours, and in fact has been used over the course of history in medicine to treat the wounds of patients who were injured in emergency situations when no other form of treatment was available. Again, just AMAZING!"

(B. speaking again.) In regards to your milk supply, you shouldn't worry that you won't have enough for your regular morning and nighttime feedings as long as you continue to nurse your daughter at those times consistently each day. I'm now nursing my twin 22-month-old toddlers only 1-2 times per day and have plenty of milk because of my consistency.

I'd recommend rice milk over cow's milk anyday, for what it's worth. After reading the book entitled "Don't Drink Your Milk" a few years back the choice was clear.

Enjoy your breastfeeding experience and good luck with the pumping. What a wonderful gift for your baby!! Your resolve for continuing to pump and breastfeed your daughter is to be commended. However, don't feel badly if you decide to give up the pumping completely and continuing to breastfeed her when the two of you are together. (Although if you tell them not to throw your breastmilk away, you may be able to continue to pump for longer. Tell them about the research and that just because breastmilk separates quickly when left out and it may look "bad" doesn't mean it is!)

Please let me know if you have any other issues. I'd be glad to help as much as I can. Your local La Leche League leaders would also be able to give you a lot of helpful advice free of charge.

All the best,
B.

Hi J.!

I nursed my son until he was 2 1/2, primarily at night and through the night. I found that after he was about 18 months old, I no longer needed to pump - my body just recognized when he was nursing and produced enough. If you are consistent about the times, your body should adapt. It was great not to have to pump!

Hi J.,
I had the same concern, but my milk didn't decrease when he was nursing; after a few days my body adjusted and produced less milk when i wasn't pumping at work (i went from pumping twice to pumping once) and more milk when i was nursing. the human body is amazing. it'll take a few days to adjust, but you'll be fine.

J.,
Decreasing your pumping will affect your supply. That being said, if you move your pumping to a time when she is sleeping, you may be able to keep up your supply a little bit better.

You don't 'have to' introduce her to cow's milk - you can keep breastfeeding her. (ie: what would you do if she was allergic?) goat's milk is the next best thing to breast milk - it's a bit pricier than regular milk, but on a par with organic milk.

If you find she is not getting enough while you are nursing, try drinking water and waiting 15 minutes (arbitrary number here, it might be 1 minute or 5 minutes for you) to nurse again.

http://breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml

This is a great resource, so is kellymom.com

I wish you good luck, and let me know how things go. :) My output is such that I don't really produce anything when I pump. 16 months and still going, hopefully longer.

Like you, I said I would try nursing. Had anyone told me what to expect, I might have thought twice. I made it past bad latch and other issues (non-supportive family), and we are moving right along, although haven't had clear sailing yet.

Congratulations on nursing!
M.

Hi J.,

Good for you! Nothing can replace that special time. I nursed my youngest until she was 2, and I don't think you'll have any problem with supply if you drop the pumping. Your body will make exactly enough at the right times of the day for her. For the second year, my little one basically nursed in the morning and the evening and that was it. For the last couple months, it was only at night. Your body will do what you need it to do. Just make sure you drop the pumps one by one over time, not all at once and that you keep her nursing times fairly consistent while you do that.

Good luck!

J.,

Kudos to you on nursing for such an extended period!! I pumped till my son was about 17 months old or so. By that point, I was down to pumping 2 times per day. After that, I cut out nursing completely. I still have a good enough supply to nurse my 20-month-old son on demand, night and day, whenever we are together. I can't guarantee the same for you, but most moms I've met have had the same experience. If you start eliminating pumping sessions gradually, you should be alright.

Hey, congratulations on doing a great job with nursing your little one that takes commitment to say the least. I nursed my 3 till they were 18, 12 and 17 months all self weaned so I know how hard you are working. I think you will not loose any milk that your baby is using and the times she is using it. Your body drops the feedings you no longer need so since much of that later pumping is being dumped at day care you are all right to stop it. Start with that and see how much is being used at school then stop the other day time one - make for less stress in your day too. Whatever you do remember your baby and your body are the best guide. Keep up the work and all the best!

I think it's wonderful that you're still breast-feeding, as it creates a bond that is impossible to have otherwise. Unfortunately, after breast-feeding until just over two, I'm finding that my daughter is definitely not a self weaner. The positive aspect is that now I am able to actually reason with her, so we are slowly moving towards only 'cuddling' morning and evening.

I found that when pumping, I was never able to get very much milk, but it never seemed to be a problem for her to get enough milk, even after I went back to work. Breasts are amazing things, and I honestly think that even without pumping during the day you will be just fine with your supply. Especially since at this point she eats other food. Give yourself a break and quit pumping, but also give yourself a pat on the back and keep breast-feeding. May the force be with you.

It looks like you got some great answers from these wonderful Moms and I echo their words. I just wanted to say; Congratulations on your wee one!!! God bless her and God bless you! Continue to enjoy this very special time in life. My sons are grown and I miss those precious baby days. They go by way too fast, so enjoy every minute of it. I know you do. Children are such a blessing.
D. N. xo

My daughter breastfed until about 2 1/2(which was just a few months ago). I actually stopped pumping before she turned 1 and there was always the right amount of milk available when she needed it. And yes right up until the end she was still getting up in the night to feed. I think your supply will be just fine if you cut out some pumpings. I also steam sterilized my pumping equipment in the microwave, medela makes special microwave bags for that purpose, it took off a few minutes of cleaning time for me. Good Luck!

Hi J.,

It sounds like you are putting in quite a bit of work for your little girl - kudos to you! Since your daughter is 15 months old, you shouldn't have to continue pumping so often during the day. She should start to drink cow or rice milk while she's at daycare to supplement what breast milk you provide to her. She needs the additional vitamins and calories to keep up with her growing body! As far as you maintaining your milk supply when you do nurse - your body is an amazing machine. It will produce milk when you need the milk. If you keep up with your nursing schedule, you will have enough to provide to your daughter. And as you drop feedings/pumping sessions, your body will compensate and not produce milk during those times. Plus your daughter doesn't need as much breast milk because she's eating other foods throughout the day (I have to assume she is, of course, since you don't mention it). Think of her nursing as a little snack and bonding time with you. =)

Happy New Year!

Hi J.. I breastfed my daughter until her 2nd bday- (self weaned), and I am breastfeeding my one year old still. I stopped pumping for him about a month ago.

Now, in my experience the milk supply has been fine.
I even find that on my days off, (I work MWF 8-2) my son has no problem nursing any time during the day and seems satisfied with the amount he's getting :)
I think that if you gradually cut out sessions, and he continues to nurse at other semi-predictable times you should be OK. Remember, you're a 'supply and demand' milk factory, so your supply should stay when there's a demand for it.

And can I say how nice it is to be free of pumping! I would breastfeed forever if I could, but pumping ---ughhh.

I still nurse at night too, and did so with my daughter, and I never experienced a milk shortage - actually I probably found myself nursing more at night than during the day at some points!
Just my experience. Obviously we're all different, but hope my experience helps.

You may want to check with La Leche League or a lactation consultant though if you're worried.

good luck!

I didn't breastfeed as long as you did (lucky mama!), but I did spend quite a while just nursing in the morning and at night without pumping during the day. I never had an issue with supply during those times. And actually, my body just seemed to know exactly what to do to meet my son's needs! Even after my son completely self-weaned, I still had milk in there for almost two months. It was cool, because every once in a while he would come back for a sip. So trust your boobies. They'll know what to do! :)

You should be fine. I stopped pumping at 15 months and started cow milk at daycare. We are still breast feeding morning, night and throughout the night at 21 monthes. Also on demand over the weekend! I do notice that I have less milk on weekends but he just likes the comfort of it. You may notice some sorness by monday morning if you try to nurse on demand over the weekend. I call my some an addict!! He just loves to nurse and always has!! I to hope that he weans himself! Good luck!