Weaning from the pump

After being blessed with BF DS for 6 months, I've decided to stop pumping. This has been such a difficult decision for me to make since being a mom. If I didn't have to work FT I would continue BF. However, I DESPISE the pump. From the first month after I started pumping, I dreaded every minute of it.

With that said, is it possible to stop pumping for 4 days straight and then BF for three days straight? If my milk supply will drop doing this, then how did you wean your boobs and DC from BFing? Ideally, I was hoping to BF in the AM and PM only for 4 days and BF for 3 full days. DS also drinks 2 bottles of formula daily.

Re: Weaning from the pump

bump....

Re: Weaning from the pump

I doubt you'll be able to do that. Your body will likely adjust to the a.m. and p.m. feedings within 4 days. You can definitely continue nursing twice per day, but I don't think you'll be able to keep switching between nursing twice per day and full-time.

I'd gradually drop feedings. If you go longer between feedings, do you get engorged? Try spacing the pumping sessions out a little longer. See how you're feeling. It may take a few days to drop a session or it may take a little longer.

Re: Weaning from the pump

I agree with Brooke, I don't think you can nurse AM and PM and not pump and then go back to BFing all day for a few days. For me, my body adjusted really quick to what I was doing... I stopped pumping around 6 months and just was BFing AM and PM (I did it gradual so I was pumping 3x/day at work, then went two 2x/day for a few weeks and then 1x/day for a few weeks, then stopped). I was able to do this until about 8.5 months when I went to just BFing in PM. I just stopped BFing last week at a little over 9 months.