Weaning from the Pump

You are doing a wonderful job and it sounds like you are doing everything right! (nursing on demand, cutting back slowly, etc) I pumped at work until my son was 14 months old. I cut back to once a day around a year and then cut it out completely at 14 months. My son still nurses before bed and before naps when I am with him and some mornings (3 times a day tops). I still have a supply and he is 21 months now. Just take it slow and follow your body's cues. If you get engorged at all, just pump enough to release the pressure. Good luck and congrats on doing so well!!

I just read all the responses to your initial post. I'm SO happy that you raised this because it helps me a great deal. My one year old is eating more solids and nursing a bit less. I need to attend a conference at the end of May, and want don't want to cold-turkery wean in a hurry. Thanks so much! I'm going to keep reading for insight. Yeah for us for enjoying nursing; it's not always easy, but so rewarding.

I am going through the same problem (kind of). I was planning on asking a La Leche leader. I am pumping close to nothing right now so I don't think I am producing much anyways. My third son will be 19 months in a few weeks so I am really ready to be done pumping at work! I don't mind the morning and evening time with my son but it is really not worth my time to pump anymore. I am just afraid I won't have anything the times I do nurse. You sound like your son is nursing often so I don't think you would have any problem cutting back to one for a with and then altogether.
Good luck!
J.

My daughter will be one on the 15th and I have worked my way down with pumping at work I went form 3 times a day to 2 then 1, I think these next two weeks I am going to stop all together. You should be fine, your body will adjust.

I have also started my daughter on sippy cups, occasionally at home she will get her milk in a sippy instead of a bottle so when she does turn 1 we can get rid of bottles completely!!!!!!!

Hope this helps

N.,

I think you will be more comfortable if you wean yourself from the pumping rather than just stopping altogether. Also, don't worry about your milk drying up. I nursed my son until he was 2, but only pumped until he was about 6 months old (complications with work schedule) and found my milk supply adjusted to his nursing schedule without any problem. You'll be able to nurse as long as you and your son want to. You will find, however, that he will adjust how often he nurses based on what other foods (i.e. solids) he begins eating. By the time I weaned my son (for my medical reasons) he was only nursing at night anyway. Just enjoy this time of his life, it ends all too soon anyway! There is nothing else quite like that quiet time you have with your child when you are nursing. Once they stop, they start having their own interests. And although they still need their mommy, it just isn't the same.

C. P.

Dropping one pumping session shouldn't be a problem at all. My son stopped nursing at 4 months, so I pumped exclusively until January (He'll be a year in April). I'm still lactating a month later (not much, mind you, but it's still there.) Your body should adjust without any problems.

I think your doing great and yes I would cut back to pumping once a day before dropping it completely. You would be pretty sore by the end of the day if you went from pumping twice while at work to not pumping at all. I would definelty cut back first.

My first child stopped nursing in one day. It is much less painfull to do it slowly. My 2nd child let me wean her over time. I kept making milk as long as I nursed my daughters.
V.

Kudos to you for still nursing and planning on nursing for longer!! Both my kids were extended breastfeeders as well :) I would suggest weaning from the pump by decreasing one feeding, like you were planning, simply to alleviate any pain on your part with having too much milk if you go from pumping twice a day to not pumping at all. Once you stop pumping during the day, you won't have any problem still nursing in the morning/evening/night or on the weekend. Many toddlers, as they get older, naturally decrease their daytime feedings because they are so busy. Moms of these babies can still nurse mornings and nights with no problem. Your supply will adjust so that you still make enough milk to nurse as many times as you want to per day. If that means not nursing or pumping during the day (or only occasionally, like on the weekends) and nursing in the mornings and evenings, that's what your body will make happen. Many older toddlers eventually even reduce to one nursing a day (like to go to bed) and these moms can continue to nurse only one nursing a day for as long as they want. Your body is amazing the way it can balance it all out!

N., you can also try decreasing the amount of time you pump to decrease your supply during the day so that you are not pumping until you are empty. You may want to try this with the second pumping before dropping that pumping altogether. This may help avoid painful breasts and mastitis.

WOW!!! Good for you! You could stop pumping any time if you have that much back supply. You shouldn't have much trouble continuing to nurse morning and night, your body is just cool that way:) It will keep up as you need it. You may be uncomfortable if you drop all pumping at once so I think dropping a session at a time will help. When my son night weaned, it took about a week for me to not wake up with huge, hard boobies, so I expect you will experience the same. Make sure you have some extra nursing pads for your bra in case you leak and all should go well.
Enjoy your extended nursing, I think it's much more fun than those early months!

It sounds like a great plan!! I think you've got it figured out!!! Dropping one session at a time is obviously much easier on your body and you'll have less risk for getting clogged ducts and overly full leaky breasts.

It's a bittersweet moment so good luck to you!!

Good for you N.!

Your plan to go to one pumping a day, then eventually none sounds like a great plan. My daughter is 15 months and when I work she eats whatever food my mom gives her, but when I'm home she nurses whenever she pleases. (I don't pump at work.)

It's a great way to reconnect after we've been apart. So even after you stop pumping at work you can still enjoy nursing when you are together. You might want to take your pump along just in case though. There have been a couple of times that I've had a let down at work, usually about 15 minutes before I get off or something. A little pressure will stop it, but pumping might be nice if you are uncomfortable.

Enjoy that for as long as you can, there are countless benefits to nursing a toddler!

wow girl! you are doing great! I am jealous. Once I went back to work, I just couldn't keep up. What I did was just eliminate a feeding/pumping a week. It made it very easy. I had a friend that quit cold turkey and she was miserable.

If you read any books about breastfeeding it gives you great tips. I read baby 411, it is a great reference book to reflect on when you have questions.

Good Luck

I think that your idea is a good one. I nursed my first daughter until she was two. And, at about a year, I stopped pumping and just fed her when I wasn't at work. We also nursed more on the weekends, which I didn't mind, and which seemed to keep my supply going. Good luck!