Talk me out of it!!!

[jnei]

Lately I've been thinking about weaning my baby off breastmilk in the next couple of months. I teach and it would be easy to do over the summer break.

Part of it is because I have a low supply. I've done everything to increase my supply but no matter what I do, I can't get more than 10 oz a day. Because I teach, I only have a chance to pump once while at work. I know some is better than none and she'll be six months at the end of the month.

I really don't have much support as I'm the only one in my circle of friends who has/does breast feed.

The other part is because of selfish reasons. My boobs are being destroyed for one. I keep getting these sores from where the pump is irritating my breast. My skin has become super sensitive since I had my daughter. Also, pumping takes time. Time that is super precious since I commute an hour back and forth to work. Not to mention, my lunch break is quite lonely since I use that time to pump. Obviously I have no one to talk to since I'm pumping. And just once, I'd like to go out without having to schedule it around a pumping/feeding time.

I really wanted to try for a year. But it's just so discouraging when I don't make enough in the first place. I'd much prefer that my daughter gets all breast milk but that's never been the case. I have struggled so much with breast feeding and have always felt alone in this venture.

[You Tell 'Em]

You've come so far already (almost 6 months!)

When you're on break you won't have to pump anymore, you can BF DD on demand which in return can help with supply. Baby is better at getting milk from your breast than a pump is.

In regards to the friends, be the example. Show that even with the "hardships" it can be done. If you wanna go for a year, you can do it!!!!

[AmyfromKY]

Hang in there momma!

Have you tried lubricating your flanges with olive oil before pumping? That may help with the sores or you just may need a different size flanges.

If you really want to wean have you thought of partial weaning where you give formula while she's at daycare and nurse while you are home? Luckily for you, you have all summer to nurse no matter what you decide to do.

[abunchoflemons]

Heat pads. Flaxseed, tea, & others I hear help some momas. I had issues with first just doing pump & supply decreased & I was engorged all the time. Baby best for ur supply. See if any moms nearby are pregnant & might have extra. We do here & I donated 2000 almost to bank.

[abunchoflemons]

Try lansinoh. Or I use sween for sore stuff baby & me.

[jnei]

Originally Posted by AmyfromKY Hang in there momma! Have you tried lubricating your flanges with olive oil before pumping? That may help with the sores or you just may need a different size flanges. If you really want to wean have you thought of partial weaning where you give formula while she's at daycare and nurse while you are home? Luckily for you, you have all summer to nurse no matter what you decide to do.

I have not tried olive oil. Ill have to try that.

She already gets formula at daycare since I can't keep up with her feeding demands. She's been half and half for a while now. I try to nurse her as much as I can at home. Unfortunately, "all summer, is really just the month of July. We let out in May, summer school in June, off for July and back to school in August. Whew!

[tibeca]

As you have already seen, breastfeeding isn't all or nothing. It is okay to do formula when you are separated and breastmilk when you are together. Perhaps try cutting out pumping during the day and see what happens. Of course your supply will dip, but your body should figure out that you still need milk at night.

Perhaps make yourself a list of ALL of the advantages of breastmilk. We all need a reminder sometimes of why we keep going when it things are difficult.

[SageR]

Coconut oil is also a good lubricant and as a food it is excellent for improving the quality of your milk. Mother's milk also helped me increase my production when I had low supply.

Remember that the baby is getting more than just nutrition from the breastmilk. It supports her immune system in a way formula can't.

But...a happy mama is absolutely the most important thing for a happy baby. You sound very uncomfortable and lonely and if the only way you can change that is to wean, you should give yourself permission to do so without guilt. Breastfeeding is not easy or simple for everyone and you've already given your baby a great start.

[JasmineMama]

I just want to second trying a different size of flange...that really helped me not only feel better, but also get more milk!

Also, I'm always amazed at the differences between people. I love pumping at work because then I don't have to chitchat with people who I have to be around all day anyway. When I worked full time I went home everyday to nurse DS1 and I got to get out of all the lunchtime BS meetings and socializing (i.e. the shark tank) and it was excused because I was going home to BF my son. Maybe you work with sweet people, but I see pumping at work as bonus time because I get to have some blessed moments of peace away from people.

Finally, you've already done so much for your LO without much support it sounds like. Good for you! I will also say that I find the second 6 months of BFing to be easier than the first 6. Baby and mama know the drill, baby is faster and more efficient.

[Liadan23]

i think you have to do what you feel is best for you. i totally understand where you're coming from, i could never pump enough to give my son all bm after i went back to work. i tried EVERYTHING, and i never got more than maybe 12 oz total, which was nowhere near enough. the older he got, the more formula he got, until i just felt like it wasn't worth it. i hated pumping. especially since he was having mostly formula during the day anyways.

BUT, to echo pps, bfing doesn't have to be all or nothing. when ds was a little older than your baby, i finally couldn't take the pumping anymore, so i weaned off the pump during the day. but i continued breastfeeding him once in the morning before i left, and again at night when i got home, as well as as much as he needed during the nights. it was great! once the pump was gone, i stopped being so sick of bfing and really really enjoyed it again. we continued that way until he was almost 1yr. and honestly, if i hadn't been forced to wean because of medical issues, i would have happily continued like that for a long long time. he did have to have formula during the day on the weekends as well as at daycare, because my supply adjusted accordingly, but it was so so nice to still have that snuggling/bonding time with him in the mornings and evenings without the stress of the pump. maybe try it first, and see? that way you don't have to feel like you're giving it all up at once. if you get there and find that you really DO want to wean all the way, that's fine too, you've done great so far! my best friend has a baby the same age as yours and she's a teacher, it is NOT easy, i know. we were' actually just discussing this same thing this weekend, and she says she's done with pumping after the summer break too, it's just too much. anyways, i just thought i'd throw out that encouragement. it's hard being a working mom and bfing, but i never has to be all or nothing