What would you do? (breastfeeding question)
Quick history: My son is now 10.5 months old. I nursed him exclusively for 2 months, but he had such bad reflux, we decided we could control how fast he was eating from a bottle, which only helped the reflux a little. He decided that he preferred the bottle, so I pumped several times a day, enough to feed him only breastmilk for the next 4 months. Once he hit 6 months, his appetite grew and my milk supply didn't I had to start supplementing about an ounce per feeding. Since then, my milk has gone down gradually, and short of pumping for HOURS a day, I'm only getting about 4 oz. a DAY now. I only pump once, at night when my husband sits down to feed the baby at bedtime. It takes about 20 minutes to get that 4 oz, but it's no trouble to continue doing it. My goal was to nurse him for 1 year, but with his reflux issues and the fact that I pumped exclusively for so long, I'm surprised we went as long as we did before having to supplement with formula.
I'm torn, I feel like it's 4 oz of goodness for him, I'm producing it, it's not taking time away from the family, so why not continue. On the other hand, it's only 4 oz. of breastmilk, and he eats a total of 35 ish oz. a day. I'm only a month and a half away from my "goal" of breastfeeding/pumping for a year. I feel like I could be making good use of my 20 minutes at night doing laundry, cleaning, or catching up on other stuff around the house. I'm torn!
What would you do? If you were still producing, would you keep pumping? Or is 4 oz. not worth the time to you?
Follow your heart
It's hard... depend of you but your son got the best out of it on the six first months. Right now he will be eating much more also and will get the vitamins etc needed from there. You did great and had more patience then a lots of womans! I went true this also and stop when I had 2oz. I would follow my heart and not feel bad at all if I stop at this point. You did wonderful!
pumping
I nursed 2 out of 3 babies. I think you have done a good job seeing you are pumping strictly. My last one nursed until he was 13 months old and was down to a only a before bed feeding for two months. I think if you were still nursing than I would say go for it, but you could spend the quality time giving you son his night time bottle than pumping. I personally would prefer to do that. 4 oz of breastmilk compaired to 20 minutes of quality time with your son at this point in the game seems more benifical. That is the way I would look at it. He has gotton the most benifit already and now will receive the nutrition from other sources. You need to do what your heart tells you. What works for you and your son.
Trust your gut
I nursed my first for 12 mos., but my other two pretty much weaned themselves around 6 months. I wasn't quite ready to give up nursing, even though they were, so I tried the whole pumping thing too, and did it for a while. I credit you and any other busy mom who pumps for long periods of time...I know it can be a chore sometimes, especially with older children to take care of! Just listen to your heart and do what you think is best for you and your son. I'm sure he's reaping from the benefits of your milk thus so far, so if you choose not to continue pumping, he(& you)will be okay. Before you know it, he'll be drinking whole milk from a cup and eating big people food and the new and exciting world of "fun-with-food" begins :)
Lisa
Your Goal
You set a goal for youself of breastfeeding till he is one year. As long as it isn't taking time from other things then i would keep doing it. Breatmilk is the best for them. If you can still do even 4oz a day it is still better then nothing. Just be thankful that you were able to breastfed b/c some mothers can't. when i had my daugther i breast fed her. It was the best experience of my life. I loved it. I actually miss having that time with her. *sniff sniff* but she is getting to be a big girl now. so keep doing it. you will feel like you successed at your goal.