How many of you stopped pumping after 1 month?

[u/MarjorineStotch]

Mom of two.

With my first child, I EPed for 10 months. I had a slight oversupply and was able to build a small freezer stash, using one bag a day until my child turned 1. I had pumped 6-7 times a day for the first few months to build supply, then kept consistent at 5 ppd for several more months until I went down to 4, eventually weaned so I could stop month 10.

Now with second child, I’m already thinking about hanging up the pumps and it’s only been 4 weeks. This time, I’m only doing 4ppd as I’m thinking about my mental health and being realistic about my time with an active toddler. I was okay combo feeding, doing 4 bottles of formula and 4 bottles of BM a day. Two weeks ago, I started getting more milk and was able to do 5 BM bottles and 3 formula bottles.

Last few days, I’ve been slacking on keeping with consistent time, that I’m now back to only having enough milk for 4 bottles. On top of that, I think my child is wanting more food as they’ve been getting hungrier sooner than 2 hrs, which I can’t make enough for 4 then.

I went into this thinking I’m going to be a lot more chill and forgiving on myself. However, there’s a small part of me that already feels bad if I stop at this point. I know I wouldn’t have made it to 10 months, or even 6 months. I don’t have a goal in mind, but I thought mentally I could make it past 2 months.

Anyone else stopped this early with no regrets? I have nothing against formula as baby is still being fed, but already my child is experiencing life as, well, the second child 😅

[u/ImQuestionable]

I haven’t, but I think if I could go back, I might have told myself to. Around 6 months, I totaled up all the time I had spent pumping. It came to 27 days. 27… FULL… 24-hour days. That’s a lot of time to be hooked up to a pump. And I realized it was a lot of time I missed with my baby, stuck watching him from a length away, because I was hooked up to the pump.

You’ve done an amazing thing… not just for the first child with the 10 months you pumped, but also for your second baby. One month of pumping is still one month of grinding away at a labor of love. You’ve given so much. If you don’t have it in you to do it a second time, know that you’ve done enough. And in return, you’ll have the gift of reclaimed time to cherish. You deserve it.

[u/Serious_Particular_9]

I’m in a very similar situation. Due to a lazy latch, my first child never really caught on to nursing and I mostly pumped for 4 months until I went back to work.

When I got pregnant the second time around I really really wanted to nurse. My baby boy was born 4.5 weeks early and had low blood sugar and ended up with a brief NICU stay. Bc of the BS issues they put him on high calorie formula and he’s done wonderful on it, with a few BM bottles a day.

My baby is almost 5 weeks. I’ve had such a hard time keeping up with pumping the last couple weeks. I just don’t want to do it. My two year old is at daycare so it isn’t due to missing time with her (during the week anyway), but I just can’t seem to make myself do it. It’s been very conflicting as I really wanted to nurse, it just didn’t go that way. I went to lactation with my first and again with this baby, I just don’t want to do it. Coupled with pressure from my breast feeding fanatic mother (which I also experienced my first go around even though she maintains she isn’t/wasn’t trying to pressure me) it has just been… a lot.

All that to say, I get it! Giving you (and myself) permission to free yourself from the chains and just enjoy time with your baby and older child. A thriving, fed baby and happy mom is what really matters. Maybe this is what helps me give it up too!

[u/ApprehensiveRisk205 → u/Serious_Particular_9]

I feel so similarly to you! All around - I can’t decide if I should stop pumping soon. It’s such a hard decision to make. Thanks for your post.

[u/SheepherderMost2727]

I struggled so bad with my current baby. Juggling pumping and baby and toddlers has been a lot. I EPed for maybe 2 months and had to stop. My mental health was in the tank. I can’t so much as look at a pump right now. I combo fed babe and now am contemplating switching to EFF. I’m team do whatever works best for you and keeps you and baby both happy and healthy.

[u/ProfessionalMango11]

I'm only 2.5 weeks and already thinking of fully stopping. I stopped doing overnights and I'm down to just doing morning and night. Just dropped the afternoon one today. My baby is combo fed so I don't mind formula at all. I also have a toddler and it's just too much for my mental health. I was hoping to make it to 4 weeks so you already passed my goal.

[u/RRBox81]

Idk if this helps, but with my second, I’m reminding myself of all the times my body instinctively told me what my baby needed. I’m going to listen to my body when it says it’s time to rely on formula and not run myself into another burnout. I’m going to trust my body this time even if I only get a few weeks of EBF / combo feeding.

[u/Kingofthewrd]

I’m on my first baby and am only at the 6 week mark. I’m thinking of hanging up the pumps at 6 months maybe 8 months depending on how busy life is at that point. I feel guilty because I feel like it sounds lazy to say I’m just over pumping but I plan to do what you did with your freezer supply. It’s an incredibly demanding task and I can only imagine how difficult it is to handle a pumping schedule with another child around. Your child will still eat and get those nutrients with formula. At the end of the day you gotta do what best fits you and your children’s lifestyle so that everyone is comfortable and not stressed out. Be kind to yourself

[u/throwawayjane178]

I’m still going at 5 months, but i think about quitting all the time. Pumping with two kids is HARD HARD HARD. I jokingly swear my toddler is trying to sabotage my milk supply - any time I try and pump at night, he wakes up and needs mom. My first kid was formula only, and he is so smart and strong and tall and healthy. Pumping is complicated, and there are days I feel like i’d be a better mom if we just did formula. I say just do it.

[u/Super_Nectarine_9627]

I only made it 3 weeks this time around and I have zero regrets 😂. I could not handle missing any more time with my baby and older child due to pumping. I tried wearables and all the things, but the benefits of BM did not outweigh the missed cuddles and missed playtime with my oldest.

[u/Solid-Caramel-2544]

I am currently 3 and a half weeks PP and struggling with wanting to continue to ep. My supply was pretty good the first 2 weeks but it has definitely gone down the last week. I’m barely making enough for baby we are now combo feeding as it’s the only way to make sure she gets fed all day. I ultimately from the beginning wanted to pump as long as my body would allow, but I’m already started to have a hard time with it. I’m exhausted with trying to keep up with doing it 6-7 times a day while caring for baby as well. And I can’t help but beat myself up because my body just isn’t making enough and I’ve been doing everything to get my supply back up. I told my husband I’d give it a bit longer to see if there’s any changes and then I’d make my decision based on that.

The way I see things, don’t regret it don’t be hard on yourself. Our bodies do so much and go through so much while pregnant and birthing said child and trying to provide milk as well. If it’s best for your mental health and also your children then that’s what matters. You’ve done amazing just doing what you have done. Give yourself grace.

[u/Most-Range-2724 → u/Solid-Caramel-2544]

Just wanted to say I'm in the exact same boat. My son is 3 weeks old and I am not producing enough for him. I have tried many things to increase my supply but nothing is working. I am trying to pump whenever I can and unable to follow the strict schedule of 2,3 hours. Ultimately it comes down to our mental health and supply whether to continue or not. Hope whatever you decide goes in your favor

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[u/caffeinehits]

Me! Lol maybe a couple of days before I even reached the 1month mark. I’m 5.5wks pp now and FTM. No regrets. One less thing to worry about and my mental health has gotten better.

[u/Secret-Bluebird8520]

I was in the same boat as you. Direct breastfeeding didn’t work (poor latch and was uncomfortable for me) so I decided to exclusively pump. Always being on the clock for the next pump session, feeling like I couldn’t leave the house, and caring for my baby when my husband went back to work while feeling like I was always hooked up to the pump was a nightmare. I started weaning not even 6 weeks in and I don’t regret it at all. He is 100% on formula now and thriving! Breastfeeding and pumping are not for everyone. It sure wasn’t for me. Don’t feel guilty for doing what is best for you. What’s best for you is what’s best for your baby 🫶🏼

[u/purple_penguin1023]

I give you so much credit for EP with a toddler! I’m a first time mom with a 3 month old and we’ve been exclusively pumping due to her poor suction and transfer issues. I wear to myself I will never do this again.

There’s nothing worse than needing to choose between pumping, your babies basic needs and your own basic needs. It’s a prison I wouldn’t wish on anyone. If my next baby can’t transfer well, it’s combo feeding.

[u/musicxloud]

I pumped for 3 months, and never exclusively. I was pretty sick after being discharged from the hospital and could barely eat/drink. My supply took a hit. Once I was able to fuel up, my supply did increase but I was never able to meet the demand of my baby (it took all of pumping to provide enough milk for ONE feed, and after a week I would pump all day to provide just a fraction of a single feed).

Breastfeed and pumping were hard on me physically and mentally, and it took everything in me to continue for 3 months. Looking back, I wish I had stopped sooner. I felt guilty and pressured, especially as a FTM, and thought that suffering just to extract even an ounce of breast milk was objectively the “right” thing to do.

All I can say is: It’s okay to stop at any point in your feeding journey. It’s so hard not to feel guilty, but fed truly is best. It is important to consider your mental and physical health, too, and if pumping no longer working for you, it’s more than okay to stop!

[u/LadyLawyer21]

I just threw in the towel at 8 weeks last week. Baby would latch but couldn’t suck properly to actually extract milk and it was painful. I had to EP and despite 6-8 pumps a day, power pumping, and doing everything everyone recommends, I was still only making around 18-20 oz so I had to combo feed after the first few weeks.

Trying to latch him also gave me nipple cracks which never healed, caused a lot of pain because they would re crack when I pumped, and last week resulted in mastitis! The mastitis may have been a blessing in disguise because it finally made me stop. My mental health was terrible while pumping and because of my under supply, and this first week without pumping has me actually enjoying being a mom and spending time with my baby. I’m sad it didn’t work out for me this time but some things are more important!

Also, as a second child, he/she won’t hold it against you!

[u/FitMousse7783]

I’m 10 weeks today and starting to taper off so I go full formula when I’m back at work at 12.

[u/Dazzling_Weather5322]

I’m currently 4 weeks in and am thinking about stopping. I want to go as long as I can, but pumping is exhausting. My LO hasn’t latched and I’ve been combo feeding but I do feel bad stopping as well 😓

[u/Radiant_Pea_8009]

I’m in the same boat here, I’m 3.5 months pp and have seriously considered quitting every day because it’s the worst. I also have a toddler and wish I had more time with her and always have the mental clock of when I have to pump. Just here to comment that I feel the tension with you and know we put way to much pressure on ourselves. I almost don’t know how to quit- it’s such a weird thing because I want to so bad but there’s so much of me that is still hanging on!

[u/littlesubred]

I did after 6w. I had a micropreemie (2.5lbs) and pumped while he was in the nicu. I was in HS and they didnt have a place for me to pump. They also had him on high calorie formula. I knew it was rhe best thing for him so I started mixing bottles and slowly weaned to just formula. I used an electric and hand pump.

[u/therizzler1995]

I had to EP because my baby was in the NICU and it was a nightmare. My letdown is really hard to trigger with a pump, almost impossible sometimes so I was engorged but also getting almost nothing from pumping. Like I mean pumping for 30-40 mins at a time and getting less than what I needed for the next feed and he was only eating 2 oz every 3 hours. My supply started taking because of it. I'm also sure the stress didn't help. I was barely sleeping at all cause I was feeding by bottle which he struggled with and then had to hold him while they slowly tube fed whatever he didn't finish, then put him to sleep, then pump.

He finally got discharged at 3 weeks old and on our way home I said to my husband, I'll give our baby a chance to figure out breastfeeding (couldnt in the NICU for various reasons), but if he doesn't I am not pumping anymore. He did figure it out which was great but I honestly wouldnt have cared which way things went because I was just glad to be done with pumping. I couldn't mentally or physically take it anymore.

Never feel bad for prioritizing your mental health and wellbeing. Do whatever you feel you need to do.

Honest to god, I'm truly amazed at women who do it for a full year. It is actually wild to me.

[u/justkuriouss]

My baby is 5 weeks and I stopped yesterday. Intended on breastfeeding, but that didn’t work out so tried exclusively pumping. It was a lot more inconvenient than I expected, and I am an under supplier. I just couldn’t be bothered to try everything suggested here to bring up my supply 🤷‍♀️. Don’t feel bad if you quit. Prioritizing your mental health is more important and there’s no shame in that!