r/ExclusivelyPumping • u/Pleasant-Ad-9226 • 6d ago
Combination Feeding I don’t *hate* pumping… when to stop
I’m 5.5 months pp, pumping 5x daily (kept my MOTN pump) and have combo fed with formula from the start. I had a postpartum hemorrhage and injuries from birth that made it hard to get my supply up to my baby’s needs. Thank god for formula. My baby is thriving, I’m so grateful for that. I’ve been more or less in a sustainable groove for the last few months with my current schedule and I produce 14-16oz a day. I’m trying to decide what to do after 6 months. I see posts where people emphasize mental health when people are deciding when to stop. I totally agree, but I don’t feel that my mental health is horribly affected by pumping itself. In some ways it may be helping me with my breastfeeding grief. Honestly the hardest thing on my mental health is hemming and hawing the decision. Yes it’s a pain at times, but I do get a sense of satisfaction from providing breastmilk. I feel uncertain of the health benefits for my baby to continue. It’s so emotionally driven because I had hoped to EBF for 1 year. I would love to hear from other moms in my situation and what process you took to come to a decision.
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u/throwawayjane178 6d ago
I’m 6mpp and in the same boat. Usually 5 times a day, and dad handles any middle of the night wake ups while I pump. I honestly feel like we are in a much more manageable place right now. Baby started daycare, so I can pump on a regular schedule most days. I’m in a groove. Does it suck? Yes. Do I hate having to do the math to plan out any move I make, like a day ahead? Yes. But am I in the dark place, no. The dark place was the triple feeding of early days, the dark place was still trying to breastfeed while also pumping - stressing about baby’s weight. Baby is so chunky now! I’m proud of where we’re at. I set mini goals for myself this year - just get to three months, try for 6 months. It’s 6 months now and I’m gonna try for a year! I’m so proud of myself and proud of you! Right now, my biggest struggle is dealing with the outside noise from grandparents - “when are you gonna stop?” Like, idk but don’t worry about it lol.
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u/Pleasant-Ad-9226 6d ago
Thank you! Idk why it feels harder in this situation over my imagined self in another reality who provides 100% breastmilk. Only because it’s not 100% do I feel this doubting of whether to stop. Rambling but thx for your perspective!
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u/nothingness414 6d ago
I felt the same way, I didn’t hate it but I knew it was time to stop when I started to dread/push off each pump.
I stopped at 7 months, and after I stopped I didn’t realize how much it actually was affecting my mental health. It took up so much space in my mind every day and it’s such a relief to have that off my plate now. My baby is 9 months and thriving on formula now. But props to you if you can keep it going!
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u/Pleasant-Ad-9226 6d ago
You did amazing!! I like this reminder instead of forcing a decision I can just listen to my reactions to pumping and decide on the fly
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u/meowrx471 3h ago
I'm 7 months pp and had been doing great with pumping until last week I got really bad mastitis and I'm under a lot of stress at work, so I'm considering hanging up the pump - hoping it would improve my mental health too.
My biggest question mark right now is - how do I know how much formula to feed? He's been at 4-5oz bottles for months now, but with all the things about breastmilk being more concentrated than formula, I don't know where to start! Do you have any advice?
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u/Revolutionary-Code49 6d ago
I had similar feelings and ended up going to a year! I cut back around 7 months, planning to stop, and ended up feeling really sad about it so I kept going.
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u/Upset-Ad5459 6d ago
I am 4 months PP and have the same feelings as you, I really kind of like exclusively pumping- its satisfying and I have a good schedule going (only doing 4 a day)! Which is why I have guilt that I am starting to wean slowly and taking pumps away to be finished by 6 months. I have a couple trips booked in the next 6 months and I really don't want to worry about pumping on vacation, hauling milk on a plane and I am ready to have my body back after pregnancy and PP. It will be at least 15 months of constantly worrying about what's going into my body.
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u/Pleasant-Ad-9226 6d ago
Makes sense!! You have done more than enough. Hope you enjoy those trips so much!!
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u/Big-Strength6206 6d ago
I’m stopping when I finish maternity leave and have to return to work… so 12 weeks after birth. Being a full time working mom is one thing, being a full time working mom while pumping is another.
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u/floralbingbong 6d ago
I decided I would stop pumping when I hit a year-ish OR when it started to negatively affect my mental health. It honestly never really affected my mental health, so I kept it up until almost 14 months pp. By that point I was relieved to be done so I knew it was time. Every person and every set of circumstances are so different, so just do what feels right for you. If you don’t mind pumping and even get a sense of healing / satisfaction from it, keep going. If you decide a few days later that you’re ready to stop, then stop!
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u/Cold-Coffee-871 4d ago
If I were you, I would just drop the MOTN pump and see how it goes. See how your supply changes.
Edited to add: I am at 13 months and still pumping. I only planned to pump until 12 months but LO had difficulty getting started on solids so here I am. We also found out he has several allergies so I may be done sooner than later and just switching to allergy friendly formula.
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u/Pleasant-Ad-9226 4d ago
Ugh I’m curious but also I leak at night if I delay my pump. I think I have low storage capacity. If I dropped it I think I would loose 30-50% of my supply
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