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ShhhTTCin11
3 under 3?!
Member since 5/11 2229 total posts
Name:
Coleen
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Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Someone please tell me I'm being silly. I've been pumping/ breast feeding DS for just shy of four months now, and I probably have a 3 month stash frozen (we bought a chest freezer for my breastmilk and it's full to the brim!)
We haven't dug into my frozen supply at all yet and currently give DS all bm except his last bottle of the night is formula (he sleeps longer with formula haha)
I decided today I'm going to stop pumping over the next week or two but I feel so guilty stopping, like I'm giving up on something he needs. It is just too much with being back at work. I know formula is fine and babies do great on it... But I feel horrible!!! I'm not sure what is wrong with me! Anyone else feel like this? How long do most people breast feed? I know the recommendation is one year...
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Posted 7/18/12 9:54 PM  |
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MrsG72907
Mommy of 2 girls!
Member since 5/10 2046 total posts
Name:
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
I felt the exact same way. I EP for 7 1/2 months and felt extreme guilt at the end. Why couldn't I continue until she was a year? Then I stopped myself. I did a lot and I wanted to enjoy my summer without a pump shackled to me! I think regardless of when you stop you will feel guilty. I am 2 1/2 weeks off the pump and I feel great, no regrets!!
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| Posted 7/18/12 10:00 PM |
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ShhhTTCin11
3 under 3?!
Member since 5/11 2229 total posts
Name:
Coleen
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Posted by MrsG72907
I felt the exact same way. I EP for 7 1/2 months and felt extreme guilt at the end. Why couldn't I continue until she was a year? Then I stopped myself. I did a lot and I wanted to enjoy my summer without a pump shackled to me! I think regardless of when you stop you will feel guilty. I am 2 1/2 weeks off the pump and I feel great, no regrets!!
At least I'm not nuts! I'm glad you are feeling good! I can't wait to not have to revolve my day and night around pumping!
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| Posted 7/18/12 10:05 PM |
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allIwant
Love my crazy life!
Member since 1/10 9170 total posts
Name:
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Totally normal...I cried for 2 days when I decided I needed to stop bfing. It gets better fast I promise!
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| Posted 7/18/12 10:07 PM |
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FlowerWife
Positive Vibrations...
Member since 1/08 8423 total posts
Name:
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Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
everyone feels guilty stopping i think. i nursed til 9m and was never even EBF. she got mostly formula, i just nursed and gave her whatever i had (i had realllly terrible supply). i stopped pumping after 6m and felt bad then too even though i was still nursing.
if the only issue is that you are back at work and dont want to pump anymore, you can always nurse in the morning and at night. you might get engorged for a few days but your body will adjust.
i stopped completely at 9m because she was only nursing in the morning and she was soooo disinterested when we started table foods. it became a struggle and i soon realized it was more for me then it was for her. i stopped but even after all of that i felt bad stopping. its always hard i think!!
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| Posted 7/18/12 10:10 PM |
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ShhhTTCin11
3 under 3?!
Member since 5/11 2229 total posts
Name:
Coleen
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Thanks ladies
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| Posted 7/19/12 7:32 AM |
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MrsPenthouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 924 total posts
Name:
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
I can only imagine! I am still pumping and nursing but my supply has dipped a bit and I was so upset at the thought of having to give a bottle of formula a day. I found that I felt ALOT better after I found an organic formula that DS loves! Knowing that the quality of ingredients is top notch brings me so much peace, maybe something you might want to consider.
Congrats on feeding and having such a great stash! Maybe try going back to work and pumping for a week or so...may not be as bad as you think? I only say that because pumping at work gives me a bit of a "break" and my late morning pump is something I look forward to.
Message edited 7/19/2012 8:57:42 AM.
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| Posted 7/19/12 7:57 AM |
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Annie91606
Brotherly love
Member since 12/07 1816 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
I understand how you feel. There is a lot of pressure these days to EBF.
I didn't BF my first, and my second was only BF for a month. I had supply issues, and frankly, it just wasn't for me. I felt guilty the first time, but not the second!
I knew since my first DS was FF that my second baby would be just fine. Enjoy this time with your baby- the infant stage flies by! Remember, this is one of those things that matter to you now, but won't mean anything in the future.
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| Posted 7/19/12 8:14 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
I give you SO MUCH credit for pumping for so long! I only pumped on occasion and I found it to be sooooo much work! I can't imagine doing it full time and I really think women who do it long term are amazing. Please don't beat yourself up. It sounds like you have a great stash that will keep your LO on BM for quite a bit longer. You have already done such a great thing for him, you don't need to beat yourself up if it's no longer working out.
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| Posted 7/19/12 8:48 AM |
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MCD0524
LIF Adult
Member since 4/10 1199 total posts
Name:
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Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
If I had a supply like that, I would 100% stop. I exclusively pump and my DS is 6 months. I have no supply saved because he was diagnosed with a milk allergy and I had to toss everything!!! I refuse to stop pumping because the formula he needs is expensive, and my insurance won't cover it. I also would stop if I could put him on organic formula. I think you have done great and should give yourself the break :)
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| Posted 7/19/12 8:54 AM |
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KellyNYC
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/05 650 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
I honestly wouldn't give it another thought, and I bf my first til 2y/o. I cannot believe your dedication to pumping and building that stash. I pumped at work too and know what a grind it is. Once I stopped I felt so free. You've done an amazing thing for your LO thus far. Don't beat yourself up and take care of yourself. You'll be much happier! Congrats on your accomplishment!
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| Posted 7/19/12 9:26 AM |
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PoppySeed
LIF Infant
Member since 10/09 358 total posts
Name:
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
You should do whatever you feel is best. But remember, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can still nurse in the morning and at bedtime, if you're home, and do formula the rest of the time. Your body will adjust and make just enough milk for those two feedings. That way your DS gets your milk, but you don't have the stress of pumping.
I BF until 19 months, but for several months was only nursing when we were together and she had formula or, eventually just food and water, when I was working.
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| Posted 7/19/12 9:28 AM |
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KellyNYC
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/05 650 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Posted by MrsPenthouse
Congrats on feeding and having such a great stash! Maybe try going back to work and pumping for a week or so...may not be as bad as you think? I only say that because pumping at work gives me a bit of a "break" and my late morning pump is something I look forward to.
Actually this is really good advice. I remember when I was working, looking forward to my pumping sessions as a much needed respite from the day where I could feel closer to my dd who was at home with the nanny, and read a stack of magazines we kept down there. Oftentimes I'd stay "hooked up" just to finish an article, which usually resulted in a second let down.
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| Posted 7/19/12 9:30 AM |
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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Unless you're causing harm to your child,I think happy mommy = happy baby!! You do what's best for you.
You do have a great stash, and I've heard that even ONE bottle of BM a day gives a child the benefits...so if you can space it out you can make it to one year!
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| Posted 7/19/12 9:41 AM |
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MrsPenthouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 924 total posts
Name:
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Posted by KellyNYC
Posted by MrsPenthouse
Congrats on feeding and having such a great stash! Maybe try going back to work and pumping for a week or so...may not be as bad as you think? I only say that because pumping at work gives me a bit of a "break" and my late morning pump is something I look forward to.
Actually this is really good advice. I remember when I was working, looking forward to my pumping sessions as a much needed respite from the day where I could feel closer to my dd who was at home with the nanny, and read a stack of magazines we kept down there. Oftentimes I'd stay "hooked up" just to finish an article, which usually resulted in a second let down.
LOL thank you for responding on this point...glad I'm not alone with "Staying hooked up" while I finish reading people mag or some other fun trashy magazine/website.
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| Posted 7/19/12 9:47 AM |
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Pomegranate5
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 4798 total posts
Name:
Pomegranate5
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Posted by FlowerWife
everyone feels guilty stopping i think. i nursed til 9m and was never even EBF. she got mostly formula, i just nursed and gave her whatever i had (i had realllly terrible supply). i stopped pumping after 6m and felt bad then too even though i was still nursing.
if the only issue is that you are back at work and dont want to pump anymore, you can always nurse in the morning and at night. you might get engorged for a few days but your body will adjust.
i stopped completely at 9m because she was only nursing in the morning and she was soooo disinterested when we started table foods. it became a struggle and i soon realized it was more for me then it was for her. i stopped but even after all of that i felt bad stopping. its always hard i think!!
I feel like I could have written the same thing. Especially the first sentence.
Right now I just nurse in the mornings and sometimes at night, but just like FlowerWife, I know it's mostly for me at this point.
You're going to feel guilty. It's normal. But you've given LO a great gift by BFing all this time, so be proud of that too.
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| Posted 7/19/12 9:49 AM |
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azoodie
Member since 8/05 8377 total posts
Name:
Team SEXY BACK
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Re: Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Posted by PoppySeed
You should do whatever you feel is best. But remember, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can still nurse in the morning and at bedtime, if you're home, and do formula the rest of the time. Your body will adjust and make just enough milk for those two feedings. That way your DS gets your milk, but you don't have the stress of pumping.
This is exactly what I would say. You can still continue to nurse or even pump once a day at night if you want to. However, if you really want to stop there is absolutely nothing to feel guilty over!
DS stopped on his own at 11 months (I am guessing because my supply had gotten really bad at that point) and I STILL felt guilty. No matter what, we as mothers will always have some sort of guilt about something 
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| Posted 7/19/12 10:20 AM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
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Feeling guilty (re: stopping breast feeding)
Like others have said - it doesn't have to be all or nothing.
You can try pumping once or twice a day at work. I used that time as my me time, and called to check in on DD.
If you decide not to pump at work, you can still BF at night and on the weekends. When you stop pumping BFing can be enjoyable instead of stressful.
That's great that you have so much stored, but that means that you must have been a slave to your pump. You might feel differently about giving it up if you cut down the pumping.
Whatever you decide, let go of the guilt. We are all just doing the best we can, and you gave your baby a great start already by doing it as long as you have!
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| Posted 7/19/12 10:23 AM |
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