Suggestions Needed, Weaning?

What options have you considered for working from home? I quit my "job" 3 years ago and have a business that I work from home with my 6 month old. Now, I coach other women how to do the same. If you or others want to explore options like this, call me at home.
A.
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It might not be as different as you think!
I pumped for my daughter during work hours since I worked far from home and she nursed until she weaned at 3.5 yrs.

Basically, I would get up in the morning and pump before she woke up (or if she nursed first, I would nurse her on one side and pump the other.) I would nurse her after I pumped, since it's easier for a baby to get your milk to let down than a pump. She was never fussy and I never felt like I didn't have "enough" for her in the morning after pumping (but that was my "fullest" time of day too.

She would drink milk from the previous day and I would pump at work at least once. I usually pumped for just about my entire lunch break. I would pump with an electric pump in my car while I ate lunch brought from home. I would also pump on the weekends whenever I got a chance (after she was in bed, after a nursing session if I still felt some fullness, etc.)

I think, by this point, if you're only cutting out one nursing/pumping session each day, you aren't going to do much (if any) damage to your supply. It sounds like, though, that you have a schedule going at this point, which might be a problem for your body to adjust to. For example, if you don't pump OR nurse at 3, you are probably still going to be full because your body is used to having to provide some supply for 3!

Think creatively about how you can make it work to pump more often at work. Smokers get smoke breaks, remember!! If you're uncomfortable, leaky, and full of milk you are going to have problems. If the company is being a pain about it, go to HR. They are required by law to give you a certain amount of breaks. Even a 10-15 minute pumping session here and there is better than none!

Hang in there! (Oh and by the way, my daughter didnt sleep through the night until she was 4. :)

M.

Hi,

I understand that the job change was not of your choice, but is this new company the reason you can not bf the baby as previously done.

J.

Is there any way to pump twice? I know what you are going through. Your body will slowly adjust to the change. I work on a day to day basis, so sometimes I nurse all day, and other days, I go for 8 hrs before I see her again. Just keeping it in his life for as much as you can will be the best for him and you (it will make you feel better while your gone). It won't mess him up and you may get more milk at your one pumping session and he'll just drink that during the day like he had been nursed by you.

Take care,
H.

Be careful! I think milk supply is a fragile thing. I went back to work and could only pump once during the day but continued to nurse in the morning and evening. However, my supply has started to decrease and I've had to supplement with formula I am having such a hard time with it. I miss nursing and pumping, but I just don't have the milk. Whatever decision you make be sure it's what you want for the long haul.

You should be able to pump on your lunch break. I believe that your employer has to provide you time and a place to pump. I weaned my daughter by taking away one feeding at a time. It worked well for us. If you want to continue to bf, talk to your employer.

PS My daughter still doesn't sleep all night. So, you're not alone!

Is there a reason you can't just pump during your lunch break when you would normally go and feed him? Either way, you don't need to wean him. Nursing is not an all or nothing thing! If you want to drop your pumping altogether I suggest pumping for a specific amount of time rather than going for "all the milk" (this is what I did when my son was 13 months old and I decided I would be done pumping at work for him). Pump for 10 minutes each day 1 week. Then cut it back to 5-6 minutes the next week. Then you should be able to stop the following week.

The caveat is that if you let him nurse all day on the weekends this will really mess with your milk supply. I would go for a "don't ask don't refuse" policy on weekends. You should be able to scale back so that you're nursing him mornings, after work, and before bed, and maybe an extra session during the day on the weekends. If you do it gradually there's no reason that you need to wean him any time soon - your milk supply will just scale back.

I was able to do this with my son - I still nurse him in the mornings and after work at age 17 months. Good luck!

It stinks that you have to do that. I was never able to feed my son at lunch due to the fact that I had a very short lunch and I was still able to nurse him until he was 29 months. I stopped pumping at 14 months cause less that 2 ounces just wasn't worth the effort for me. Could you not pump on your lunch break? I usually did. I just always brought my lunch (sandwich and such or a microwaved meal) and would eat while I pumped. I would think maybe pumping on your morning break and at lunch would probably be enough to keep up your supply so that you can still nurse him at home as long as you like. I know I was really worried when I stopped pumping at work that there wouldn't be enough for him to nurse at home, but my body had been doing it for so long at that point that it was fine. You really start slowing starting the weaning process the moment they start eating solid food. But, milk should be their primary food until they are a year. Our process was so gradual here though that there was no fuss or being upset...it worked beautifully. One day he just said he didn't want milk before bed, and that was the end. Good luck and I hope it works out for you!

Hi T.- If I were you I would pump a day ahead and send the previous days milk. You don't have to wean if youi don't want to just because there is a schedule change. Your son will be happy and healthy if you are!
Good Luck!
B.