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Breastfeeding Break: Dumping the Pump

Always looking for bewb.
After lugging the breast pump kit on our road trip and not using it, I asked myself why am I still doing this? Most days I only pump once a day so that V is given a bottle at night.

In the beginning, I was doing it so that He could be involved in the bedtime routine. 

I later got it in my head that she wasn't getting a nice full tummy before bed as she "snacks" (short and frequent nursing sessions) throughout the day thereby leading to frequent waking at night. Doesn't it always come back to sleep? I'm obsessed with it.

Now I've just come to accept the sleep is bananas and her all day nursing is bananas.

So I've bid adieu to the milking machine. If I'm not around He gives her formula. Two nights ago she had formula before bedtime and slept from 7pm to 4:30am. Amen! Last night she got bewb and woke up twice. I may just start giving her formula before bed for the next 4 weeks.

I've been cashing in the formula checks I've received and haven't had to spend more than .50. I have enough to last until her 1st birthday. She has a pediatrician visit the the day after her birthday and I will be discussing non-dairy milk alternatives.

In blogland, I come across so many moms who love the breastfeeding relationship and look at it as a bonding experience. This has never been the case for me. I do it for the health benefits, it's free, and super convenient to just whip out a bewb instead of dealing with bottles. Helping me shed the baby weight in a couple weeks was a nice perk too!

I'm ready to be done with breastfeeding completely but I still want it to be her decision.   She's not showing any signs of weaning though. Oh well, it feels good to have a little bit of bewb freedom.

Do you have a love/hate relationship with breastfeeding? The pump? Did you dump the pump before you ended your breastfeeding relationship? Supplement with formula? Did you notice any supply changes?
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Comments

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said…
I am not a breastfeeding expert as I was unable to breastfeed and have been serving up formula since our baby was hours old. That said, I definitely notice a difference in sleep between formula fed and breastfed babies. Formula-fed babies sleep better. Just my observation of lots of friends and their experiences. If you're still breastfeeding during the day, might not be a bad idea to supplement with formula before bedtime - wouldn't it be great to consistently get consecutive hours of sleep??? =)
August 2, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Tricia Hersey said…
the doc told me that it only takes 45 mins for breastmilk to fully digest and hours for formula to fully digest in stomach. that is why they are always looking for more breastmilk cuz it digests quickly right thru them. i also did it for health and nutritional benefits so once he was eating yummy, healthy table food we were both over the breast. i found other ways to bond and comfort him. i honestly wanted my body back after a year of nursing. i understand. you are in tune more than me on the mama blogs, etc. what is the concept behind weaning in regards to letting it be the babies decision?
August 2, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Baby Shopaholic said…
I was an exclusive pumper. Really didn't have a choice cuz I went back to work. I pumped for 6 months then one day I just had enough. I had about a 2 month stash when I stopped. I feel like a prisoner so I had to stop, if I wanted to be a good mom to peyton I had to let it go. She had no problems with formula.

I am no expert but I tried Almond milk for a little bit but I don't cook and I was afraid she would not get the good fat she needs so I went to Organic whole milk. No problems there either.
August 2, 2011 at 3:20 PM
Ellen Stewart (aka Ellie/El/e/Mrs. Seaman) said…
Let's see, I nursed Mac for the health reasons, financial reasons, and convenience reasons. But since I worked full-time and missed him so much, the bonding was nice too. I used to pump at work, keep the milk chilled and bring it home. When he was about 11 months, I started drying up.

I can't recall if I ever gave him formula, but I have heard that it sticks to their ribs (so to speak) for much longer than breast milk. Doing this at night is a good plan--give it a go and tell us how well rested you are in a week or so!
August 2, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Mimi said…
My son got formula at 8 months. Lil Mama never had it. We are currently weaning and she is 15 months. I decided to let her self wean and although I thought it would never happen it has. From time to time she will try to nurse but I think the milk dried up. I have been giving her almond milk. I add olive oil when I cook and give her avocado to help with the good fat intake. I am happy to be able to say I did it for a year. I don't get people who are obsessed with it. Its good for baby, yes. But to the point that they try to make themselves superior for having done it...#icant
August 3, 2011 at 12:42 AM
Mama Violet said…
@Nilsa consecutive hours of sleep? Yes please!

@Tricia I want to do baby led weaning because I believe that's when I'll know she know longer needs it. Not just for food but the comfort too. I also don't want to hear the crying. : )

@Baby shopaholic pumping is such a hassle. I can't imagine doing it all the time. Whoa.

@Ellen formula belly didn't work last night. Hope tonight is better.

@Mimi thanks for sharing. She's going to need some good fat as she isn't sold yet on the food thing. Most of the time, a few bites and she is over it.
August 3, 2011 at 8:53 PM
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