Good morning!
The last few days (since last Wed), we’ve been lucky enough to have another visitor, my Mother-in-law (aka Cookie). Sadly she had to return home yesterday so we are once again a house of 3 (well 6 if you count the 4-legged sort).
Instead of a weekend recap, I’ve got a baby-related post for you….
When I became pregnant, I knew that I wanted to (try to) breastfeed. Not only did the doctors and class instructors highly recommend it – no, they pretty much said it was the only way to go – but it was also something I wanted to experience as a new mom. Regarding the doctor-comment above, Zach and I did feel like those who wanted to go the formula route could feel ‘less than’ or chastised, which we did not like. It’s a personal decision to breastfeed or not, and no new parent should feel pressured one way or the other.
Anyway, I intended to breastfeed for at least 3 months (until I went back to work) with 4 months being a nice goal and 6 months being a very lofty goal. I am at 3.5 months and still breastfeeding to some degree (anywhere from 3-4 times a day/night). As you may recall we began supplementing with formula in week 5, which was anywhere from 2-6 oz per day. When I returned to work that amount drastically increased since I never was able to pump enough for a large freezer reserve. On average, the bean gets about 12 oz of formula a day since my return to work – sometimes more, sometimes less. I breastfeed when I can, namely in the mornings, at night before he goes to sleep, and again if he wakes in the middle of the night.
But I’m ready to stop.
And there are three honest reasons behind that:
- Bean is A-OK on formula – he likes it, has no issues taking a bottle, and seems to be thriving
- Pumping at work is a huge pain. I have to account for the time I’m not working and that means more time away from bean. No thanks. Besides, I can only get about 3 oz a session which isn’t even enough for one of his feedings
- I want my body back. Yes this is selfish to some extent, but it’s also honest.
Now I’ll clarify: If for some reason Sawyer could not stomach formula or wasn’t taking bottles very well, I would be doing everything under the sun to keep my breast milk supply healthy and long-lasting. Since that is not the case, I feel that nearly 4 months of breast milk is a good decision for me and the bean.
I’ve gone to several websites seeking information how to best wean and many say the same thing: space out feedings/pumping more and more each day to week and feed less each time. So that’s what I’ve been doing. Now when I pump (1x/day), I only ‘let down’ – I don’t actually pump to emptiness. Same for feedings. I start Sawyer off and then finish with formula. It seems to be working quite well. And while some engorgement and knots have occurred, nothing has been overly painful. I can go about 8 hours in between at this point. My desire is to migrate to formula completely by May 1st.
And if it’s not evident that my baby is thriving, he is now 14 lbs 6 oz as of last Friday! His 4 month appointment is the first week of May and we’ll get the full report then.
If you’re a mom that breastfed, what drove your decision to stop? And when? Any tips?
I’m not a Mom (yet) but it was really interesting to read this! I have found just from hearing friends and reading articles that there is such a negative reaction to Mom’s now when they stop breastfeeding. I think it’s such a personal decision (and sometimes even medical) and unfair to judge people on.
I also didn’t realize that breastfeeding keeps some weight on. I had always heard it helped drop weight!
Yes there are some reasons I didn’t list as well, but play into the medical aspect.
And some women DO lose weight while breastfeeding. Others, like me, store fat so that I can feed another little human
As someone who is totally clueless to all this baby stuff, I was thrown off by your comment about wanting your body back by stopping breastfeeding. I always heard new moms saying that breast feeding was the fastest way to do that? What’s the real deal with that?
Yeah right? That’s what I thought too, but the truth is not every women will lose weight while they breastfeed. Some women will store the weight until they stop. I appear to be in that category
I don’t like how judgey some people are about breastfeeding. I think everyone should be entitled to make the decision that is best for them. I think it’s great that you’re doing what is right for you and for Sawyer.
Thanks Leah! People have opinions on everything and I find it even more interesting those that have strong opinions that haven’t gone through motherhood or haven’t done any research. How does that work?
I formula feed my son, and I do feel judged when I’m shaking up a bottle in public. But honestly they don’t know anything about me or my son, heck he could have been adopted for all they know! It saddens me how judgmental other moms seem to be on that subject.
So true! You are doing what’s right for your son.
I don’t blame you for wanting to wean the bean and I don’t think it is selfish whatsoever. I’ve noticed my body is just starting to lose weight while I breastfeed, especially when I pump in the morning, but it could be because of my workouts. Every body is differnt and responds differently to breastfeeding. Another bonus of weaning the bean, vino! You wont have to wait to feed him or carefully plan out when you can have a glass. That I do not love about breastfeeding, but I’m managing! I think whatever decision you make is the 100% best decision for your bean! Don’t let other’s judge you.
Thank you for your support Kjirsten! I’d love to do it forever, but it has become quite the chore since going back to work.
And yes, vino at anytime is never a bad thing..heheh
I’m so glad you are doing what’s best for you and Sawyer, Shanna! Even though I still EBF, I know I’m lucky and breast isn’t best in every situation. Good luck, girl <3
And you as well Jen!
I think it’s one of those situations where you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I nursed my first child until she was 9 months, when I found out I was pregnant again (hard stop to nursing = enormous engorged breasts, not awesome!), and then my second until 14 months. I got ALL kinds of dirty looks and commentary about it. We did it for so long because my first daughter developed very severe food allergies, and some of the medical evidence had shown a link between formula feeding and food allergies — we didn’t want to take any chances with the second after watching the first have an anaphylactic reaction on her first birthday. So I think you should just do whatever is right for you and tell everyone else where they can go
That’s really interesting about the formula link and food allergies! And if there was a way for you to prevent it, all the better for you and your little one! I think if I had a more abundant supply I would be apt to go longer, but that hasn’t been the case since day 1. Thanks for your support!
Thanks for being honest about bf’ing and weening off. I have a 5 week old and plan to do this 3-4 months and don’t really know what it’s like to stop. I totally understand wanting your body back. Me too!
Aww congrats on your newborn!
Utlize the websites out there..there are several at-home remedies to sooth engorgement. I haven’t had to use them, but it’s nice to know the options.
I nursed my 1st for 6mo & my 2nd for about 2 weeks, they are now 9 & 4, happy & healthy. I tried to do it longer with my 2nd but he developed juandice from my breastmilk & the longer I nursed the more heel pokes & Dr visits for him. I felt no pressure from the Docs either way. It’s up to you to choose whats best for you & for Sawyer!!! Just remember, it’s nobody elses business if you nurse or not, for how long or why!!
Those heel pokes were the worst!
My immediate doctors have not judged either, thank goodness. But right now there is a lot of societal pressure to keep breastfeeding!
Weaning is the best thing everrrr. It’s so amazing to get your regular, sexy, non-leaky boobs back!!!
Hahahaha, love this
BAHAHA! I can’t even begin to imagine-but that comment is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever read on a blog.
I also feel the pressure S. Lately when I introduce Tate to women, the first thing they ask me is “are you breast feeding”. I usually answer without much fuss, but why is it any of their business? I’ve been lucky to have a good supply of milk so far, but I may end up supplementing when he heads off to day care. I think you’re doing what’s best for you and the bean, and any outside opinions are just that.
That’s crazy! Why is it okay to ask someone if they are breastfeeding…unless of course, they are a fellow new mom. Sheesh!
I’m a resident training to be a pediatric endocrinologist and just wanted to give 2 cents about why it seems pediatricians and others are so pushy breastfeeding. I enjoy lurking around you blog and reading it, but just wanted to give a bit of information so that readers can better understand where we as clinicians are coming from.
Breastfeeding REALLY decreases a kids risk of lots of short term and long term problems. It’s not just the act of breastfeeding. There are lots of unique cytokines, proteins, and all other sorts of molecules that essentially influence what type of DNA baby is expressing. Here is a quick list:
Short term:
-less SIDS
-less allergies
-less asthma
-less infections
-earlier milestone achievement
long term:
-much less likely to become obese (this is my area of focus and babies who breastfed are “programmed” correctly and are less likely to store fat inappropriately.
-higher IQ (you make think that there may be a counfounder as studies show moms who breastfeed also have higher levels of educational achievement, BUT the studies controlled for this and babies are still smarter)
-less likely to develop leukemia, lymphoma, colon cancer, breast cancer
-less likely to develop diabetes (I and II), arthritis, celiac disase (very important nowdays), and a bunch other autoimmune diseases
Soo, it does stink for moms who hold onto a bit of extra weight. Mom weighing a bit more is not forever (though frustrating!), however things like IQ, cancer, inability to regulate weight for the baby are forever.
I understand pumping at work is tough (I pumped during orthopedic surgery) but it is doable and so worth it. You’ve probably already troubleshooted, but here is a really helpful site.
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/pumping_decrease/
Best of luck to you, and just wanted to back up the pediatricians a bit
Thanks for sharing all the additional information! Definitely good to know all of the reasons to breastfeed in the first place. I can appreciate them all and they were a large reason why I wanted to BF. I am already losing quite a bit of my supply but would like to continue to BF even if 1x per day for some time
Glad to see this comment! I’m in medical school and I know that there are medical reasons for women to use formula and that shouldn’t be the ‘mom’s fault’ , however, there are medical reasons TO breastfeed (not because people ‘think it’s right) but just as Dr Mom has said, because of several well-researched benefits for the baby. BF is really what your baby is meant to eat, if it’s possible, and that comes with the whole baby ordeal…but it doesn’t last forever and what you can give your baby in this time will really benefit them for a lifetime. Good Luck!
I’m a big believer in doing what works best for you and Sawyer! I can only imagine how frustrating pumping everyday would be, too. I think it’s wonderful you’ve gotten 3.5 months of breast milk in him, too
Thanks Brittany — if I were a SAHM I’d definitely try to go longer, but this is what I think will work for us
I nursed my first son until he was 20 months (he self weaned) and my second is still nursing and he is 12 months. I am able to stay at home with them but I can’t imagine if I had to pump. I hate pumping! I would just start reducing them as you mentioned above.
You may want to considered nursing in the morning, evening and during the night and just cutting out the pumping. My 12 month old nursing 3-4 time a day but I can go without nursing him for 8+ hours with no problems. When I weaned my oldest I was really excited to get my body back but then about a week after he was done I really missed nursing.
I also stored onto fat while nursing but now that I’m only nursing a few times a day it’s really easy for me to lose weight. With my first son I got 10 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight without even trying; I felt like I was eating extra just so I didn’t get too skinny!
Eat more just to not get too skinny? Ahhh that sounds like my dream
Yes pumping is such the pain. I love the bond I have with Sawyer nursing and pumping is so not the same.
It would be great to keep up my night and middle-of-the-night feedings..we shall see!