Not sure what to do. Weaning...?

[Cellist]

I am just not sure what to do and would love to hear from BFing mamas who weaned around 12ish months (obviously not CLW).

In some ways, I selfishly want to be done BFing. DS is 11 months and my goal was to make it to 12 months. I can do one more month.

BUT, I have heard that the hormone drops when you stop BFing can be bad...and the "tool" you have to help comfort your child is nice to have as they head into toddlerhood...and I'm not sure I'm ready to be done in some ways, but am totally completely ready in others.

I just want to hear thoughts. Did you stop BFing around 12 months? Anyone not do CLW? How was it for you, emotionally, physically....?

Annnnnnnd, upon further reflection, maybe I just need to figure out how to quit pumping at work. I work 4 days per week and HATE pumping! I'm so tired of it. Any thoughts on any of this would be of interest to me...thanks!

[lunarlady]

I quit pumping when DD was 11 months (I used frozen milk to make it to the year mark.). I hated pumping and was so glad to be done. But I kept BF her at night and on weekends, and she is still nursing at almost 4 years of age. It is easier to wean when they can't argue, but I like the connection I have due to extended BF, and I was committed to the WHO 2 year guideline. It was easy to stop pumping. My supply adjusted very fast, just a couple days of leaking.

[larzanna]

There is a lot in between "weaned" and "BF all the time/pumping at work". I know many people IRL who at around 12 months were no longer pumping at work and were down to about 3 nursing sessinon in a 24 hour period (AM, PM and nap on weekends (or afterwork/afternoon-ish during weekdays). I know this works for a lot of people.

[Amy0417]

You will most likely notice the hormone drop regardless of weaning and CLW because with weaning you still have to do it gradually so you do not get clogged ducts and/or mastitis. Though, the hormone drop would probably be less noticeable when CLW because it's even more gradual than plain weaning.

To me it seems like you are done with the pumping but not the nursing. I would try what the PP said and wean from the pump. Make it gradual though so you do not cause any confusion in your breasts since you wouldnt be demanding as much milk from them anymore. After you are done with the pump think about how you feel about your nursing relationship. If you still feel done then you have your answer.

Good luck Mama.. these are hard decisions

[sacridote]

Originally Posted by larzanna

There is a lot in between "weaned" and "BF all the time/pumping at work". I know many people IRL who at around 12 months were no longer pumping at work and were down to about 3 nursing sessinon in a 24 hour period (AM, PM and nap on weekends (or afterwork/afternoon-ish during weekdays). I know this works for a lot of people.

This. I think there is a big middle between cutting it off at a year and CLW.

When I nursed my first DD, I quit pumping (not cold turkey) at about 11mo and used frozen milk for daycare until her first birthday. After that they gave organic whole cow's milk. But we continued nursing at home in the morning/evening and weekends until about 17 mo when I was just done.

[Quinalla]

I hear you about being ready to be done pumping, but if you like breastfeeding otherwise, you may want to consider weaning off the pumping at work and continuing to breastfeed otherwise. I plan to do that myself as I am going to introduce cow's milk slowly starting at a year and get her drinking that instead of breastmilk at daycare so I can stop pumping at work too.