FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

Has anyone successfully made it nursing/pumping for the full year without any supplementing of formula...???

We are going on 7 months, and I have yet to give DS even a drop of formula... HOWEVER since I pump 80% of the time (because of work) Im always battling supply issues...

I had a huge frozen supply (like 600oz) so on "short" days- I use that..but I can't see it carrying me another 5 months, and I dont see my supply increasing to a 32-40oz output/day...

My original goal was 6 months, and we have reached that, so Im very happy...but now Id really like to make it to 1 year....

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

I too initially said I hope to make it to 6 months, then I kept going...with DD I made it to the year mark (& was thrilled). After 8 wks w/ her I was pumping exclusively...after her first day/two in the NICU she never had formula again. I just made sure to use fenugreek when I needed to & oatmeal & drank lots of water.

Now DS is almost 8 months & was drinking 32 oz a day & I was struggling to keep up; but just the last day or so he's drinking less (25-28 oz).

You can do it!!!

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

I tried my HAREDST....but had to start supplementing at 9 months....I am still doing to morning and night feedings. I struggled for a long time since I could feed her fine myself on weekends, days off, etc.....but with her taking 10oz and me only pumoing 4 per day, and my frozen stash getting so low, I knew I had no choice. She has been getting the formula for 2 weeks now and she has done great with it. I thought it would be hard since she won't drink anything out of a bottle except BM, but within a week of mixing BM and formula she was on formula totally like she never even noticed a difference.

Hopefully you will be able to do it!

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

I am going on 10 months now, and i am thinking of dropping one feeding per day and to do this bc i don't want to pump during it, I am going to give her a little formula for a week or so until she no longer needs the feeding. I don't think she needs it now, but she has a crazy internal clock and knows that 5:30 means milk, so I have to get her out of that habit. She likes formula less, so I think it will work. Other than that, no formula. It hasn't been easy pumping at work and all, but so worth it. I don't regret a thing!

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

Yes, I nursed Ryan until he was 14 months (I was 4 months PG with Colin so it was time to stop).

I, too, had a huge freezer stash (up to about 650 oz). I pumped 5x/day M-F, and 2x day on weekends. Around 11 months, I started introducing whole milk (mixing with BM) b/c I was PG and my supply was dipping, and I wanted to get him on whole milk anyway.

By 12.5 months or so, he could take whole milk, but I still nursed morning and night. By 13 months I did once a day, and weaned at 14 months.

Good luck

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

I made it to 14 months without supplementing while working. At that point DD was introduced to whole milk.

You've made it this far and you should be very proud of your accomplishment. Go as far as you can/want without stressing yourself. Happy mommy=happy baby!!

ETA: I never had that kind of freezer stash. I was always pumping to feed DD the next day.

Message edited 12/30/2009 11:24:07 AM.

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

From 9.5 months on, it was a real struggle to pump enough. DS only takes 5-6 oz bottles. I'd wake up really early to pump and try to nurse him as close as possible to when we left. Then, I'd try to pick him up a little earlier so he only needed two bottles at daycare. I had no problem nursing him, but wasn't pumping enough at that point. I also started taking More Milk Plus and pumping more on the weekend. I went through almost all of my freezer stash by 11 months and was worried I wouldn't make it to a year. I was able to make it though.

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

I did which completely shocked me! I started whole milk a little past 11 mos. bc I was pregnant and I knew my supply was crashing, but thanks to a crazy freezer stash DD got half BM and half whole milk until she was 13.5 mos. I nursed her until 11.5 mos. and pumped until one week shy of her 1st bday.

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

I did. DS never had any formula. he is 14 months old and still nurses 2x a day. I stopped pumping at work 2 months ago. It was a constant battle for me to pump enough milk but I was able to do so and never give him formula.

Re: FT working moms who breastfeed (and pump)

Thanks Ladies Its so great to hear that it can be done....