Did you wean before 12 months?

By snowjewelz Sep 14, 2015

My supply was never great to begin with, and it's getting lower and lower with time (and after 6 mo I had no desire to fight to get it back up). This past week DD wasn't a great eater either, and I was pumping a little less than a bottle. I said that if I wasn't even pumping 1 bottle out for her anymore, that it's time to wean. She also doesn't NEED the boob to sleep anyway...

But I am just freaking out, wondering what the last time I nurse will be THE last. I might stop pumping (I'll see how much I pump out this week), and still nurse as long as there's something in there...

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19 comments

jape14
pear / 1586 posts

Sep 14, 2015

I stopped pumping around 7.5-8 months and nursed morning/evening until around 10 months. We dropped the morning session first (so I could "sleep in" on a weekend or two, ha!) and then the evening session a few weeks later. DS honestly barely noticed!
.twist.
pineapple / 12802 posts

Sep 14, 2015

I stopped BFing at 10 months and went straight to whole cows milk. I could not be happier with the results. I, actually, wish I would have stopped sooner.

Good luck with your decision.
Smurfette
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts

Sep 14, 2015

Yes. I started to wean her at 6 months. It was much better for my sanity. I never loved it and hated all the pressure on me. I started with dropping a day/pumping session a week. Then for a couple weeks I just did the am and pm. Then I dropped the am one. The next week I started dropping a minute with the nighttime session. So the last session was 1 min on each side. Then the next night I just didn't nurse. So she was 7.5 months when I fully stopped. Then she got a bottle of BM a day till 8.5 months.
bushelandapeck
pomelo / 5720 posts

Sep 14, 2015

I haven't had this experience but our pediatrician did tell me that I could switch DD to whole milk when she was 11 months if I wanted to stop pumping (I work 2 days/week).
Mrs. Cheesecake
blogger / kiwi / 588 posts

Sep 14, 2015

With DS I pumped until he was 1 y.o., but he had a nursing strike (probably due to teething) around 10 months. So for about a week he refused to nurse with me and would only take the bottle. By that time we were only nursing him to sleep at night and he had bottles during the day. Honestly though, I was sad that our nursing relationship ended that way and I wished I had tried to nurse again after his teething/nursing strike.

DD is still nursing well with me and I hope to go to 1 year with her and then let her wean on her own. She only seems to want me and not the bottle right before bedtime; so hopefully it'll stay that way for a while.
littlejoy
pomegranate / 3375 posts

Sep 14, 2015

I had extremely low supply due to medical reasons ... LO just got bored at the breast. She stopped nursing around 7 months, minus comfort nursing in the morning. I stopped pumping at 10 months. She was on formula since week 2, and since her breast milk consumption was already so low (and my journey was so traumatic), I just "let it go".

She last comfort nursed the morning of her 1st birthday. I tried the next morning, and nada ... she wanted nothing to do with it. My heart hurt for a bit, but I just accepted that we were moving on. I hope that you can find peace with your choice during this transition.
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Sep 14, 2015

@littlejoy: Aww, I'm glad you remember her last time!
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Sep 14, 2015

I think if I was in your shoes I would definitely stop pumping or plan to soon. You could consider nursing still when together! If only for the cuddles. It's been a long journey!
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Sep 14, 2015

@junebugsmama: Right?! I kept saying when I can't even pump ONE full bottle I'd stop. But it's almost like I don't know how to stop something that I've been doing for the past 4257389475 months it feels like!
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Sep 15, 2015

So I think we officially weaned Can't help but to feel guilty... In my heart I know I did my best as a FTM. In my head tho I keep thinking of the "could have" and "should have" like I should have started pumping earlier to get a stash, I should have fought even harder to up my supply, etc...

I'm still pumping today at work, since I want to pump enough to at least finish making one last full bottle. My stash will only last a few days, so I'm gonna use it verrry slowly.
regberadaisy
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts

Sep 15, 2015

@snowjewelz: you did a fantastic job! Pumping at work and breastfeeding is hard work!! Do not down what you have accomplished!!!!
Charm54
cantaloupe / 6885 posts

Sep 15, 2015

I stopped EPing after 6 months. I got sick and my supply tanked and I was over it. I didn't want to power pump, take herbs etc to bring it back. We switched to FF and no regrets at all
KT326
pomegranate / 3438 posts

Sep 15, 2015

@snowjewelz: my LO went on a nursing strike at 10 months and my low supply tanked even lower. We were never able to recover. It sucks and I felt guilty for a couple days but then I looked down at my son guzzling down his bottle and smiling and I knew we both were going to be just fine.
snowjewelz
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts

Sep 15, 2015

@Charm54: Yeah exactly. Where as I was willing to take on whatever to get more milk, now I just can't be bothered!

@regberadaisy: thank you I know I did the best I could!

@KT326: I def must say it is a huge burden off my shoulders to not have to worry about pumping/having enough milk, counting oz...!
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Sep 15, 2015

Congratulations on making it this far!
BandDmommy
pomelo / 5660 posts

Sep 15, 2015

@snowjewelz: hugs.. You did amazing!!!
psw27
pomelo / 5220 posts

Sep 15, 2015

@snowjewelz: You did awesome! No guilt necessary. xoxo. I totally get you though, I just quit pumping last week and I still keep thinking should I have kept trying? But I was getting less than a bottle worth...
Anya
nectarine / 2784 posts

Sep 15, 2015

@snowjewelz: you did amazing!! you give her everything she needs no matter what
Pumpkin Pie
persimmon / 1431 posts

Sep 15, 2015

I stopped pumping at 7 months, and it was a huge burden off.

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Did you wean before 12 months?

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