Pumping at work for a 14 month old

[vboyarski]

My 14 month old breastfeeds on demand while I am at home and nurses several times a night.  I'm trying to decide if I should continue pumping while at work (full time) and I'm struggling with daycare right now.  My baby's daycare will not allow breastmilk in their toddler room.  In order for my baby to get her milk during the day, they have to take her to the infant room to give it to her, but I think they are only willing to do this till she is 18 months, after which time she will no longer be allowed to go to the infant room.  I prefer that she have either breastmilk or water while at daycare, we don't give juice or any other forms of milk.  I'm still pumping twice a day at work and wondering if this is overkill since she doesn't always take her milk at daycare and if she's not going to be allowed to have her breastmilk anymore after 18 months, perhaps we should start moving her off it?  I'm also worried about whether I will have sufficient milk supply for my baby if I stop pumping at work.  For those moms out there who have pumped at work beyond a year, how long did you go?  How did you make the decision to reduce pumping time and the number of pumping sessions?  Was your baby ok with milk supply after you stopped pumping at work?  I feel like I'm starting to get weird looks from people that I'm pumping beyond a year.  I know most people stop.  I just don't know what to do.  I'm hopeful we will move soon, after which time I plan to stay home with my baby.  However, if that doesn't happen, I need to deal with work, daycare, pumping and breastfeeding.  I would love to hear what other working, pumping mothers have to say about this.  Thanks.

[hildare]

i stopped (working ft) pumping at 13 mos. 

to get nutritional and health benefits, a kid over that age only needs to nurse a few times a day, which sounds like what you're doing.  you may nurse more at night or when you get home but it will not hurt your supply.  it's totally fine to stop pumping and for your kid to not have breastmilk during the day till you get home and reconnect. 

in fact, my dd had started refusing it around when i stopped, refused cup/bottle both. 

the only thing to watch out for is to not stop so suddenly that you get mastitis. that happened to me at 12 mos so i went a little longer & phased it out.

[jph8980]

I have supply issues, and I'm terrified that once I stop pumping, my supply will drop from "a little" to "none!"  And DS2 still nurses quite often...he's quite a nurse-aholic!

However, he turns two tomorrow, and I'm going to cut out the pump within the next 4-6 weeks.  I've gone down from 3 to 2 pumping sessions, and will eventually move that to just once a day, then hang up my pump until the next baby comes along.

[QMtwins]

My twins are 20 months old. I have had supply issues also.  I still pump for them while I'm at work.  If I'm not home and didn't pump for them they would be getting some other form of milk, so it makes sense to me for them to have as much breastmilk as they want and I can give them.  When I"m home, they still feed on demand and sometimes its 6-8 times a day.  If I'm not pumping while at work, my supply would go down and I would be really uncomfortable.  I work 8 hour and 12 hour shifts, its too long for me not to pump.

I've stopped caring about others, though I still do get comments as ridiculous as they are from some colleagues...and I work in a field that is very aware of the benefits of breastmilk.  Just this week, one of my colleagues said she was going to make fun of me for so long because I was still breastfeeding.  Wow, I just said its what is best for my kids and walked away. 

As far as they breastmilk at daycare...hmmm...I should think they would do whatever it is that is best for the child (which I do believe is breasmilk!).  If you want her to have breastmilk, then have them give it to her where ever they think they need to.  IF she doesn't finish it, so be it.  Toddlers are so busy, its hard for them to even sit down for their meals!  Why can they not give it to her whenever they give the other toddlers their beverages?

You just have to do what's right for you and your kiddo(s) and stick by your guns.  What is right for you may not be right for everyone and that's OK.  Good luck!