Question about pumping at work while still nursing

[Deleted]

DD is 18 months old.  I work three days a week.  On the days I work, I pump once a day for 10 minutes.  I really don't mind it.  I like to give DD a cup of BM for daycare and she drinks cow's milk after the first cup.  It's not necessary to give her that BM cup because she drinks cow's milk, eats solids fine, etc.  I'm still pumping 1) because i don't mind it 2) benefit of giving her BM at school but mostly because 3) i'm worried about messing up supply.

On the four days a week I don't work, DD nurses a couple times during the day when I'd be at work (before nap and when she wakes up from nap).  I'm afraid if i stop pumping, my supply will decline and i'll have issues with BFing.

Do I still need to pump.....  I've been fine with it but now I'm kind of stressing because I've thought about stopping and not sure what to do. 

Thanks.

[Deleted]

Not sure if it matters but I've been getting between 3-5 ounces depending on the day. I used to get 5-6.

[vvvvvfee]

i would definitely stop pumping- especially since you only work 3 days a week. i worked f/t with both kids, i stopped pumping at around 14 months with both. i had no issues with supply in either case. nurse right before you leave for work and right when you get home, and if you're up for it, let DD nurse on-demand when you're at home during the day. whether you're pumping or not, your supply is naturally going to gradually decrease as LO gets older and she eats more solids. i also feel like the less you pump the worse your body responds to it- like, the less you pump the less you pump. so give yourself a break- LO will still be getting plenty of BM at home.

[maplebaconbar]

I think you're totally fine to stop pumping at this point if you want to. I work full time, DD is over 2 year old, and I stopped pumping almost a year ago. On my days off with her, she'll nurse for nap or other random times during the day.

[Risscaboobs]

I stopped pumping at 10 months because I had enough stored for daycare use. We were nursing just like you were at that point (before naps and before bedtime and in the morning). It didn't seem to affect my supply at all. You could always go back to pumping if you do notice a worrisome decrease in supply.

[Deleted]

Thank you to everyone for the input! I think I just needed some encouragement that it would be ok

[fuzzylogic]

A little late to the party, but I stopped pumping I think in January or so mostly because I was tired of losing that time at work. Twenty minutes is a lifetime of preparation in teacher world! I noticed no issues with my LO and she's still nursing just fine. It was nice to hang up the bag.

[tinydancer]

I think you can stop too! At this point I think your supply will even out and you guys will be just fine.

[sunfrogger]

Kudos that you are still pumping! I gave it up at 12/13mo. It's all good!

[spicysalmonroll]

Agreed you can stop! Do your breasts still get that "full" feeling? Because here's a piece of advice- if they stop feeling like that when you stop pumping do NOT freak out. You haven't lost your supply. I would always feel very full after ~4 hours, then at 11 months I stopped pumping. The fullness feeling completely went away and my boobs always feel squishy like pre-pregnancy. Sometimes I don't get a chance to nurse for 12 hours and they still feel soft. But the supply is still there! I pumped for the hell of it the other day just to see how much he's actually getting from me. I thought it was going to be like an ounce- it was 5!! I was completely shocked that soft, squishy boobs could hold 5 ounces LOL. But they do, and it's awesome because I can finally sleep on my stomach and still nurse.

[yummeecookee]

I also stopped pumping when DS turned 1 and I still continued to nurse him for 2.5 more months with no problems and I was working 5 days/week.