BF pity party

[madringal]

I have been EP'ing since DD was 3 weeks old, with the goal of 6 months - she is 10 days away from being 6 months old.

A little after she turned 5 months, I started to slow down pumping because I have a great freezer stash. Then I got my first PP period, and my supply taked. I went from 25 ounces a day to about 10, and then just 8. So I was down to pumping just once a day in the morning. Yesterday morning I woke up and my pump wouldn't work! So I haven't pumped since Sunday morning and I am not even a little engorged. I have gone through almost all my freezer stash and have started mixing formula with frozen BM. She doesn't notice the difference in taste although it seems to be making her really gassy.

I just can't believe how fast it all went downhill and that I was **this close** to my 6 month goal of EBF.

[countthestars]

Don't be sad, you did a great job!

[ijack]

Hugs! You've done great!

[DarcyLongfellow]

I know it's sad, but don't feel bad. You did a GREAT thing by giving her breastmilk this long. She got so many great benefits from it for several months.

Just think of all the extra time you'll have to play with her now that you won't have to be hooked up to that pump for so long!! (And I bet if you were pumping at work you'll get your work done faster!)

[vegas]

Don't be hard on yourself. Seriously, BF'ing is tough and anyone who says otherwise either didn't BF or is extremely lucky! I had mastitis three times before I finally threw in the towel at 9 months. At the time I was so depressed and down on myself for not meeting my goal of a year, but in hindsight I realize that any time BFing is a benefit to the baby.

You did an amazing job at something that is extremely difficult. Try to give yourself a break.

[madringal]

Thanks ladies, you are making me feel better!

[atouchofklasse]

Maybe think of it as making it to 24w instead.

Great job!

[sewpinkgal]

You did a great job giving her breastmilk for as long as you did! I hope that instead of beating yourself up for not meeting your goal, you'll realize you should be patting yourself on the back for nursing/pumping as long as you did. Good job mama!

[madringal]

Thanks again ladies! I am pretty proud of how long I pumped. I have a love/hate relationship with that stupid machine. I told DH that I am so excited that I don't have to stare at a wall for HOURS every day. But I loved that she was getting BM even though nursing didn't work out. With DD1 I gave up nursing at about 9 weeks, so I really wanted to make this work longer and I am glad it did.

[bunch]

You did awesome! There is no way I could have eped for that long. You should be really proud of yourself.

[slug*bug]

Jun 25, 2012 9:13:40 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Don't be sad, you did a great job!

This! That's a huge accomplishment!

[drloretta]

Don't be too hard on yourself. If you really look at it, you gave yourself a somewhat arbitrary date to get to, and you came very close to achieving it. You didn't give up at 2 weeks, or 2 months, or because you switched to pumping. That's saying a lot. Sometimes our babies or our bodies make the decision for us. No worries.

[gbck]

you did awesome--hats off, because EPing is hard work.

[mie]

You did a great job!

[megs193]

I EP'd for my son with a goal of 6 months and my supply tanked at 5 months when I got my first post-partum perod so I ended up stopping. EP'ing is so hard and in the grand scheme of things 10 days doesn't matter. You should be proud of yourself for making it this far!

[mrshandy]

You did awesome.

EP is hard work!

[MamaMaui24]

You did a great job! Pumping is HARD work. EPing even more so. And didn't you have weird pumping logistics at work?

[madringal]

Jun 25, 2012 14:04:43 GMT -5 MamaMaui24 said:

You did a great job! Pumping is HARD work. EPing even more so. And didn't you have weird pumping logistics at work?

Haha, yes I had to pump in a really gross bathroom. And then they remodeled the really gross bathroom so I was banished to an even more gross bank vault. But you do what you have to do I guess!

[birdmom]

That's a huge accomplishment. Pumping is really hard work!

[nonsenseabound]

exclusively pumping??? Good lord, I would've probably quit early on if my kid didn't take to the breast. Pumping is serious work. I hate it.

Good for you for getting as long as you did.

[LauraMoser]

That sucks. Don't be too hard on yourself though.

With DD2, I BF'd until about 3 months. There was a period of two weeks in which I had the stomach flu three times. My supply went from abundant to virtually nonexistent. I tried hard to get it back to what it was with no luck. Sometimes you just can't help these things.

[beachdweller]

Don't feel bad - - celebrate your 5 months and 3 weeks accomplishment!You've given kiddo such a healthy start. I get the bad feelings, though. I had to stop breastfeeding at 5 months for my own hospitalization and could not continue because of certain meds. I was devestated for a week or two, then realized what a great start I had given kiddo and that you can only do what you can. And only pumping for that long -- amazing!

[Ashley&Scott]

You did great! ({) (})

[froggy76]

You are amazing! Pumping is no picnic. Who cares about 10 days- just round up

[MadamePresident]

I think you made it to 6 months. Its close enough, and I see no reason to beat yourself up.