I have read stories online that this is doable and your body can adjust to make milk at certain times but wanted to know if anyone had tried this and been successful? LO is currently 2.5 months and pumping at work is really stressful. I would love to just stop pumping and give her formula while I'm at work but I still want to breastfeed when I'm with her.
If anyone has any experience with this I would love to hear your stories. Thanks!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
This is kind of a different situation, but once Xander turned one, I stopped pumping at work and I was able to continue nursing Xander in the mornings at home until he weaned. But I didn't try nursing him more than that on weekends, even though we were together. Not sure how that would work.
persimmon / 1364 posts
I'm currently attempting to do this. I'm going back to work in a month so I'm slowly weaning DD from breastfeeding. Hoping to continue breastfeeding her at night without having to pump at work. Fingers crossed.
pomegranate / 3331 posts
I don't know for sure, so others may prove me wrong, but I think it would be very difficult to pull off at that age. I stopped pumping when LO was a year and still BF (morning and night during the week and occasionally on weekends) and it goes great. but i think it's very different at that age, because i'm not sure your supply is regulated enough yet. I don't know what the magic age is, but i'd guess at least 6 months.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
We did this for about 4 months once she turned one. It worked well until the weekend came and she didn't understand why she couldn't nurse mid-day!
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Like other mommies, I did this closer to when DS was turning 1 as a way to wean him. I quit pumping and only nursed him in the evenings. However, I think at 2.5 months, your body still might be trying to regulate so it might be more difficult. Not impossible though since my BFF was able to nurse and pump from only 1 side and maintain supply!
persimmon / 1427 posts
@pmrlady: How long have you been pumping at work? I found it got MUCH easier to pump at work after I had been back to work for a few weeks. If you haven't been back long, maybe try it for a little longer to see if it gets easier.
Like others, I stopped pumping at work closer to LO's first birthday and was able to nurse morning and night for a few months. I'm not sure how well that would work with a younger baby.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I also think at 2.5 mos your supply isn't established enough to do that... I would just be afraid of drying up completely.
I know pumping at works really sucks... This is 3rd week back to work and my output still varies but I'm starting to get the routine down a lil better.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
I didn't do that until I had a huge stash built up. I didn't want to risk my supply with a baby who was a bottle refuser!
apricot / 316 posts
Seems like everyone did this later on. I will try to pump as long as I can. My work makes it difficult because I work in healthcare with patients in different sites every month and the days are busy. I'm already using up my freezer stash. I hope this girl doesn't refuse formula =/
Thanks everyone for your replies.
pomegranate / 3845 posts
@pmrlady: hugs 
I've heard of people pumping while driving, would this be an option? What about dropping to one pump session, over your lunch break?
You could also potentially comfort nurse but rely on formula for lo's calories.
Good luck! It's tough 
pomegranate / 3231 posts
My experience is similar to PP. I went back to work at 12 weeks. I was able to work from home twice per week until he was six months old, so I only had to pump three days per week. I quit pumping after 9.5 months and took two weeks off around the holidays and nursed round the clock. Then at 10 months we introduced WCM in a sippy cup during the day and cut back nursing to mornings, nights and weekends. My supply seems fine at those times.
My concern in your situation is that 2.5mo might be too early to have a fully established supply. It might be worth it to soldier through a bit longer for that reason. Other then that I think you should be fine.
honeydew / 7235 posts
Hi.... Agree with many others about waiting a littler longer since it's still pretty early. My supply wasn't super strong from the get go, but I tried to wean down to just nursing morning/night at around 10 months and I dried up.... I had also cut down from pumping 3x a day to 2x a day a couple weeks before so maybe it was too much too fast.
pear / 1961 posts
You could also try reverse cycling...where LO takes fewer calories during the day and nurses more when you are home in the evenings, overnight, and morning. But that obviously has the downside of more/longer MOTN wakings and less sleep for you!
apricot / 442 posts
I did this when LO turned one, two months later all the milk was gone.
I know pumping sucks, but try to keep doing it!
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 1 |
| Posts | 1 | 3 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
15 comments