https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:43:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/3#post-2441653 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 11:02:22 +0000 californiadreams 2441653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Initially I planned for one year since I had a year long mat leave. At some point though I wanted to see if I could make it to 2 years. Then I thought about letting him self wean. But ended up weaning him at 26 months when I was TTC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/3#post-2441643 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:59:26 +0000 josina 2441643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alba4: @MrsADS: I think it's pretty split among my groups as far as breastfeeding but it seems to be more popular lately though, older generations in my family didn't nurse at all, or barely.<br /> Sounds like a good thread though about how working affects breastfeeding length. I was able to pump at work for a year, (and went back to work after 7 wks) but it would be hard if my job didn't allow it. And sad!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/3#post-2441625 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:49:57 +0000 psw27 2441625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said I didn't have expectations but I guess I wanted to make it a year. Which I did, with pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441614 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:38:16 +0000 MrsADS 2441614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@alba4 I think you are definitely correct on that. I'm in the U.S. I got 12 weeks but negotiated to take an extra month. And I'm in a white collar professional job, I have my own office so I have a private place to pump whenever I want. I think EBF for women in the U.S. who work at jobs where pumping is difficult/impossible is a problem. Another reason we need paid extended maternity leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441565 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:12:05 +0000 Alba4 2441565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: it's true. I know many people who A. Never attempted breastfeeding and B. Didn't EBF for a full year. It's wonderful to see many success stories here on HB, but I personally see a much more mixed result in real life. </p> <p>I'd be curious to see the correlation between the length of maternity leave with success/length of breast feeding. I only had 4 months at home, and pumping at my school and trying to work pumping into my teaching schedule was a challenge. I know there are a lot of Canadians here too and they are able to take longer mat leaves than most women in the US. Just a thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441430 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 08:51:08 +0000 MrsADS 2441430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is interesting. I have to say, I don't think HB is really representative of moms in general - in "real life" I don't know a ton of people who have actually EBF for a year, and it seems really common on here.</p> <p>We've EBF to 5 months so far. Goal is 1 yr + (open to letting him self wean). BFing itself has been easy - no latch issues, I make tons of milk, etc. but DS has major food allergies/intolerances (MSPI plus other foods) and I have had to eliminate basically everything from my diet and it's REALLY hard. If he doesn't grow out of some of these intolerances, I'm not sure I can imagine continuing to eat this way for another year. I'm used to it at this point but it really sucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441373 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 07:14:04 +0000 AprilFool 2441373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Expected - 1 year. Reality - 3 days short. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441365 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 06:16:39 +0000 farawayyama 2441365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd hoped to go to 2+ (my mother did extended breast feeding with my sister who was born when I was 20). I found that at about 13 months she and I both lost interest. Our final session (if you could call it that - she took a sip or two and was off) was at 14 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441333 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 01:26:58 +0000 littlejoy 2441333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I figured I'd BF for 2 years. </p> <p>Major issues meant I only BFed exclusively for 2 weeks ... then BFed + supplemented for a year. She nursed for the last time the morning of her first birthday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441297 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 00:03:58 +0000 LadyPantaloons 2441297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first I told myself that if I made if to 8 months id be happy. We had a rocky start. Nursed 2years 3months! 3 months later I was pregnant again and now I have a 1.5 month old and things are going great. The goal is 1.5 years this time, so we'll see! Lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441296 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 00:03:01 +0000 daniellemybelle 2441296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Longer, then shorter. At first I planned to BF for 1 year. Then I had low supply and I doubted that I would make it to 1 year or even 6 months. When we made it to 1 year it was going well and I decided I thought we should shoot for 2 years. But at about 18-19 months it was clear that we were both ready for weaning (well, me more than her, but I knew she could handle it). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441261 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 23:30:19 +0000 QBbride 2441261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With DS, my goal was a year and I breastfed for 19 months (until I was 15 weeks pregnant with #2). </p> <p>With DD, I'd like to make it at least 18 months. It was a rough beginning but she is 6 1/2 months and things are going well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441167 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 21:39:25 +0000 MrsF 2441167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Shorter with my first (I had hoped for a year and only made it 8 weeks)</p> <p>About just what I had hoped with my second (nursed / pumped for a year) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441158 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 21:29:36 +0000 bisous 2441158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Made my goal of pumping for a year and surpassed my breastfeeding goal--nursed my daughter til she was 22 months. I am excited about breastfeeding my second and miss it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441089 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 20:56:28 +0000 Zbug 2441089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thought I would BF a year, stopped just after LO turned 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2441004 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 20:04:25 +0000 simplyfelicity 2441004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't vote because I am still bf but I started with the goal just to see how it went. In the very, very early weeks, I would have been shocked if you told me we would be at 7 months and still going strong with all of our issues.<br /> I am hoping to go til 12 months and day-wean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440984 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 19:53:59 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2440984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't vote b/c we are still going at 8mos, but my first goal was 6mos, my next goal is 12mos. I don't intend to wean, but I have a feeling LO may wean herself. She's already decreased her nursing sessions (# &amp; length of time), so I am just in the last day or 2 thinking I may add a pumping session somewhere in there each day during one of her solid food meals to try &amp; keep my supply up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440758 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 16:52:44 +0000 erinpye 2440758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The poll doesn't allow for more than one answer. The first time, I hoped at least a year, and only made it 8.5 months. I was very upset about not making it longer, but my supply dried up. The second time I had the same 1 year goal, and she self-weaned at 16 months. That was very healing for me, and I was so happy to let her decide when she was done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440635 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:40:38 +0000 PawPrints 2440635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't vote because I am still going (pumping right now, in fact) so I don't know if I'll meet or exceed my goal. But I think I am on track to breastfeed/pump longer than expected. I hoped to make it until one year. Currently at almost 10 months with no sign of stopping anytime soon. I may stop pumping at 1 year but I don't see that I'll stop nursing unless my supply tanks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440461 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:23:52 +0000 Mrs.Waffles 2440461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LOL! I planned to breastfeed for only six months. My LO is now 16 months and I'm still breastfeeding him. I wish he would just wean himself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440451 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:21:58 +0000 LilSprinkles 2440451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pre-baby, my goal was 6 weeks. I ended nursing DS for 19 months. Way, way longer than I expected! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440439 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:19:32 +0000 MrsSRS 2440439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought I'd nurse LO1 until about 2 years. I gave up pumping around 13 months and we stopped nursing somewhere between 16 and 18 months because pregnancy tanked my supply. 7 months in with LO2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440386 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:00:06 +0000 artsyfartsy 2440386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My plan was to breastfeed until 2 and to stop pumping at 1 (morning and night nursing and no more pumping while at work)</p> <p>We had to stop at 9 months because he wasn't gaining weight anymore. It sucked to not meet my goal but I got over it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440346 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:39:45 +0000 MrsStar 2440346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have expectations, I was willing to see how breastfeeding went and was happy to use formula if needed. I nursed lo1 until 13 months and lo2 is almost 6 months and still exclusively breastfed - I'm hoping to get to 18 months tis time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440338 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:34:57 +0000 gingerbebe 2440338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was open to whatever, but intended to EBF for a year since I took a yearlong maternity leave. I ended up with very low and uneven supply and my son had weight gain issues, so we did 90% EP with 10% formula supplementation with comfort nursing until 9.5 months when I weaned completely to formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440335 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:31:44 +0000 Kemma 2440335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't really have any set expectations but Miss A is just weaning now at 3y 3m so suffice to say we've exceeded expectations (we're on day four of books rather than boobs at bedtime!).</p> <p>My expectation with the wee guy is to make it to twelve months (he's 10m now) but he's not the booby baby that his sister was (and he bites!) so I don't think he'll go as long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440326 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:26:28 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2440326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't really expect anything, I just told myself that not breastfeeding wasn't an option and I would stick it out no matter how bad it sucked (literally). I breastfed #1 til 19 months, #2 for 17 months, and #3 still ebf at 4 months. I've been breastfeeding for almost 4 years! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440317 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:22:35 +0000 dc yoga bee 2440317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had not planned to breastfeed at all! Just did not want to do it. Then, when they put her on my chest, she immediately latched on. So, I said fine I'd do it throughout my 8 week maternity leave. Now, at 8 months EBF, I hope to make it to a year, and then just let her self-wean. That is, if she will finally take to some solids! It's been hard with an over supply, then an under supply, and the constant pumping at work, and making my schedule around pumping and making sure she has enough milk. But, worth it for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440300 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:15:53 +0000 ElbieKay 2440300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I selected that I had no expectations, which is sort of true. I did not know how it would go. I had a goal of six months, but no real intention to necessarily stop at six months. I wound up pumping at work until ten months. Then I nursed mornings, evenings and weekends for a few more months. Then down to just mornings for awhile longer. Stopped completely at 16 months when I cut him off to maintain my sanity. I was SO DONE!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expectation-vs-reality-how-long-did-you-breastfeedpump/page/2#post-2440273 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:03:37 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2440273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Longer than I expected. Once I was able to successfully nurse I said I'd try and make it to 1 year and I did...and then nursed until 13 months. I thought I'd definitely be done by my son's first birthday, but it was so easy once I stopped pumping and was only nursing once or twice a day to keep it up. I probably could have gone for longer, but I think when we stopped was good for both of us. I have no regrets! </p>