https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 21:25:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627213 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:37:56 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 627213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Would he do ok on formula if that was true? I really have no idea what the issue is. I just k ow that the first time on rice cereal actually decreased his volumes. He started to get better after that, then really took off on formula. His volumes were a little down when I reintrod breastmilk, but I also had a hard time getting the right flow nipple with the new consistency.</p> <p>Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!</p> <p>I asked the neonatologist numerous times if they thought I should modify my diet, but they said they didn't think it was a likely issue. </p> <p>My next ped appt is on weds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627189 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:15:32 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 627189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you sure that there isn't a protein intolerance issue? Kind of sounds that way from what you describe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627130 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:53:09 +0000 brownie 627130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like a food intolerance to me. My son never had blood in his stool but he definitely had food intolerance to milk and soy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627074 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:06:17 +0000 MamaCate 627074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: I can see how it would be hard to be motivated to pump if I weren't getting to nurse at all! I agree with pps that you could decrease the # of sessions slowly to avoid mastitis or killing your supply...it's a tough situation. i do hope you eventually get to nurse!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627060 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:48:19 +0000 pl0508 627060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly , if it were me I would probably just quit. It sounds like he is thriving on the formula ! And... Since you have a stash the option for some breast milk is still there. But... I am from the "if its not broke dont try to fix it " camp! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627055 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:37:32 +0000 hummusgirl 627055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have firsthand experience with preemies but my gut would be to drop to one pump so you can enjoy the rest of your leave with your baby rather than being hooked up to the pump all the time. If your doctor doesn't think he needs breast milk, then I wouldn't worry too much about it. </p> <p>I pumped until 7 weeks and my now-5-month-old has been formula fed since then, and he's never been sick (knock wood!), whereas a lot of his breastfed friends have been. Just wanted to point out that breast milk is far from a guarantee when it comes to sickness so you shouldn't feel bad either way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627047 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:22:10 +0000 yin 627047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I imagine that your supply would be adequate if you approached weaning down to one pump session a day properly. I used to pump upwards of 10 times a day (crazy, I know), and when I chose to drop pumps I had to slowly go longer between pump periods. During the actual pumping, I would try to extend the session to maintain my supply. On average an exclusive pumper should pump 120 minutes within a 24 hour time period (if my memory is correct). If you only want to produce 5-8 oz, I don't see that being a problem as long as your single session is long enough (maybe a full 30 minutes). I don't actually have experience weaning down to a single pump, but I would imagine that as long as you pump long enough in that single session you should be fine. Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627044 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:17:52 +0000 tequiero21 627044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pumping once a day but I was also breastfeeding so my supply hasn't changed drastically.... Good luck, sorry not sure what to say... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627031 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:58:44 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 627031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone pump once a day? What's your supply look like? I'm fine with just 5-8 oz or so...just don't want nothing if choose to keep making milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627014 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:44:11 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 627014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: yeah I guess it makes sense to wait until next ped appt at least and ask about rice cereal. (He's being seen weekly riht now.) i'm not a huge fan of the ingredients in the rice cereal either, but not sure how it compares to formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627009 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:42:27 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 627009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The ped cares more about weight gain than anything else. She mentioned waiting until he's 5 months adjusted. (He's 5 actual now, 2 adjusted). I just can't pump for three more months just to see...). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627008 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:42:14 +0000 matador84 627008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: ah so hard. Maybe try that again now that he is older? I have a friend whose baby was born at 25 weeks and she went through something similar to what you are dealing with now. You can always use the breastmilk to mix in with cereal when he is ready also. My DS is only 10th percentile and weight has been hard for us so I kind of feel your pain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627005 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:40:56 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 627005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: he is not nursing at all although I would like to get to 1x a day. I just don't know if he can handle straight breastmilk :(. </p> <p>I'm a teacher so I get done at 2:30 which helps. I'm also only working for 6 weeks until summer... I'll probably at least drop to 3 when I go back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-627000 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:38:10 +0000 MamaCate 627000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What does the ped recommend? Are you nursing at all or doing all pumping and bottles? </p> <p>I dont have direct experience with this but i pumped for 10 months once i wnet backto work. It was usually onlt twice a day though. 4 is a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-626999 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:38:01 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 626999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: yeah I won't do cold turkey </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-626997 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:37:38 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 626997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: the docs don't think he has a milk allergy because he hasn't had blood in stool. So either he has Trouble breaking it down, or it's too thin for him to handle (the AR is thickened). I could try thickening my bm whi h we tried a month or two ago. (Didn't work then, but he's. lot older...). I'm just afraid to experiment when it's so important for him to be gaining consistent weight to stay on the growth chart. He eats 17-20 ounces a day right now. (I produce 28ish.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-626992 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:34:45 +0000 T.H.O.U. 626992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all you should be careful just stopping. I would suggest slowly going from 4-3-2-1. See how you are doing at each of those phases. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-626990 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:34:13 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 626990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm giving some to my friend and I will look into donating it also. I definitely dont want to throw it away! I don't know anyone in particular and the NICU itself wouldn't take it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-626987 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:33:09 +0000 matador84 626987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there something else you can do to help with the reflux so he can still get bm? I know nothing here but gosh, how tough! I would probably start dropping pumps but protect the stash! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-626983 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:30:24 +0000 prettylizy 626983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would drop down to 1 pump a day because the idea of drying up my supply all together would scare me and I'd want to still have the option if I chose to. Is there anyone you know from the NICU that could use some of your milk if you wanted to donate it before it goes bad? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quit-pumping-need-advice#post-626962 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:15:04 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 626962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo was born at 25 weeks and was in NICU for 5 months. I've been pumping that whole time and have had no supply issues which is really lucky for a preemie mom. Lo started getting breastmilk very slowly so I have a TON of frozen milk...gallons.</p> <p>3 weeks ago we switched to formula because lo wasn't eating enough. The formula really seems to help since be has reflux (we use Enfamil AR). I was okay with formula because I always thought I'd go back to breastmilk.</p> <p>Two days ago I mixed 1/3 breastmilk with formula. Lo went from 1 poop a day to 5! And seemed really uncomfortable and ate less :(.</p> <p>I really want him to get some fresh milk to keep him from getting sick as much as possible, but I don't know if its gonna work. I could also try thickening my milk with rice cereal, but am afraid to experiment when we are on something that is working.</p> <p>Also, I'm going back to work in 6 weeks.</p> <p>I'm currently pumping 4x a day, but it's really frustrating spending all of that time,l not knowing if it will ever be eaten.</p> <p>I could 1) quit altogether and use frozen milk if I get to a point where he can eat it.</p> <p>2) drop to 1 pump a day so I have a little milk for lo (I kind of like this option but don't know how to do it...what supply will look like).</p> <p>3) keep doing what I'm doing.</p> <p>How that you've read my novel, what do you think? </p>