BFing/weaning/pumping question

[y4m]

When DD and I had a rough start to BFing, and I came here asking whether I could just exclusively pump forever, you guys gave me the good advice that I should keep working at nursing because the pump was eventually going to get old.  That was super great advice, and we eventually did figure out how to EBF, and it was glorious.

We have made it to 6 months EBF with me pumping during work to send the 15oz she takes at daycare (in addition to 3 serious meals of solids).  We have also recently started supplementing some formula at night - mainly because I can just barely eek out that 15oz (and sometimes can't) and daily stress of having to hit 15 was getting old.  It's extra difficult because my job involves serious travel, so I've done a lot of things like pumping in airport bathrooms and discussing the temperature of my breastmilk loudly in the open with male TSA agents.

DD is equally happy to drink from bottle/breast/formula/breastmilk, which is awesome.  But here's my problem: when that last feeding before bed is formula, she sleeps awesome.  If she nurses, she gets all comfy and sleepy too early and doesn't eat enough (or the supply just isn't there - not sure), and then she's up a bunch more in the evening.  A bottle of cold breastmilk she can drink quickly might solve that problem - but then that's one more time when I have to be tied to the pump and then I'm kind of just back to EPing, which sounds awful.

WWYD at this point?  My BFing goal was 4 months, which is done.  In general, I'm a fan of the convenience of it, but nothing about EPing is convenient.  And while I love nursing - if that just leads to less solid sleep, I am not a fan. And I'm not really convinced of the benefits of breastfeeding beyond this point anyway, though I'm open to it if it makes my life easier (which includes any reduction in the daycare germs that seem to be rampant around here right now).

Open to any ideas or thoughts!  thanks!

[icedcoffee]

If you want to give her formula at night then I think you should. I would guess that doing this will cause your supply to tank so just keep that in mind.

With that said....if you'd like to continue BFing I would probably either:

1. BF her and then top her off with a small bottle of formula since it seems to make her sleep better
2. Give her a bottle of formula and then pump right before you go to sleep to keep production up and help achieve your 15 oz per day

I pump for 10 minutes right before bed just because I like to go to bed "empty".

[starryfish]

Hugs, this decision is difficult for sure. I am in a similar boat and we are trying to transition S to formula. My decision was made "easier" bc I was done being dairy free, but I am still SUPER emotional about it. My goal was 6m and I made that.

I hate pumping, so I will be glad to be done with that.

Whatever you decide, your baby will be FED which is best.

[momin2013]

I would absolutely do whatever is easiest. If there's a noticeable difference when she has formula at night, I'd keep doing that, and keep pumping at work to be able to send what she drinks at daycare during the day. Since you've already surpassed your goal, I would keep that up for only as long as you want to/until it gets old enough that you're ready to quit.

[dcn]

If formula works then do that!

I ebf my kids, and after ds2 self weaned and we switched to formula it was so much less stressful. I pumped for about a month and hated it so much.

You've done a great job! Give yourself permission to let go of guilt or the idea of what you "should" do and just do what is best your your family. Either way, your dd will be fed and she will get everything she needs.

[Mrs.flang]

Congrats on reaching your goal, especially after a tough start!

I think formula digests slower than BM so they say some babies sleep better on it because of that. I was suuuuper emotional about keeping up BFing, so I would probably try to continue nursing at night and top off with formula right before bed. If that doesn't work out the way you hoped, make the switch to full formula.

[pooh8402]

Jul 21, 2017 14:27:00 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

If you want to give her formula at night then I think you should. I would guess that doing this will cause your supply to tank so just keep that in mind.

With that said....if you'd like to continue BFing I would probably either:

1. BF her and then top her off with a small bottle of formula since it seems to make her sleep better
2. Give her a bottle of formula and then pump right before you go to sleep to keep production up and help achieve your 15 oz per day

I pump for 10 minutes right before bed just because I like to go to bed "empty".

ditto this for sure. I was also a before bed pumper.

[pinotgrig]

Could you do a small-ish bottle of formula and then let her nurse? That might be the best of both worlds.

[y4m]

Jul 21, 2017 18:37:34 GMT -5 pinotgrig said:

Could you do a small-ish bottle of formula and then let her nurse? That might be the best of both worlds.

I tried this tonight and so far so good. Thanks guys!

[Velar Fricative]

Maybe this is just my life with an EFF 6-week-old talking right now, but sleep is everything. If this had worked for DD1 when her sleep went to utter shit for a while when I returned to work, I'd have done it with no hesitation every night despite me being so adamant about BFing her as much as possible. I'm glad you found a happy medium and I hope it works well, and congrats on achieving your BFing goal and then some!

[pinotgrig]

Jul 21, 2017 18:59:33 GMT -5 y4m said:

Jul 21, 2017 18:37:34 GMT -5 pinotgrig said:

Could you do a small-ish bottle of formula and then let her nurse? That might be the best of both worlds.

I tried this tonight and so far so good. Thanks guys!

Fingers crossed! Congrats on meeting your BF goal, too - that's great!

[hbomdiggity]

I never would have made it EBF as long as you have with your travel schedule. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I had to pump in some place other than my house or my very nice pump room at work.

And at 6mo, I would have killed for STTN.

I would probably give her formula before bed and try to pump before you go to bed. If that's just too much then I'd stop the pump, but it may hurt your supply. If it does, it does, and your baby will do great on formula.

I admit that when my supply tanked at 9mo i was sadder than I thought I'd be, but it was also a huge relief. DS was also super easy going foodwise and didn't skip a beat with formula.

[mccallister84]

My DD didn't really take to nursing until 9 weeks or so, so she has basically always had a bottle before bed. I have firmly believed that this is part of why she sleeps so well - she goes to bed full - so even when she started nursing and we were able to breastfeed during the day we kept up the nighttime bottle. My H gives her the bottle and then I pump around 9:30/10 while watching tv. However, I am home with her so that's the only time I have to pump. If I was pumping all day long I could see it getting old, but only pumping the one time right before bed isn't that bad.

In addition, H does bedtime - it's nice that they have that time together.

Honestly, I'll do the same thing next time, even if the baby nurses well from the beginning. I was even willing to do half breastmilk/half formula/all formula if I couldn't keep up production wise.

[gastro]

Since she isn't a newborn and you've made it to your goal I would do whatever gets everyone more sleep.