I'm beginning to feel like a cow!! Mooooooo!

M

Megan Turnidge

New member
First off, I want to say kudos to all you who successfully nursed your babies. It has been such a nightmare!!! :cursing: So here's the backgroud story.... when DD was born she wouldn't latch on, then I had to use one of those dang nipple shields to get her on (never was able to nurse w/o it), then at 4 mos. she just REFUSED to BF! I was in school at the time and just didn't have the time, or the patience, to force a screaming baby to nurse (especially since she's a BITER, particularly when mad, and already had two teeth :blink: ).

So, I still wanted her to have the benefits of mommy's milk and I already was using my pump and decided to pump all her feedings. I've been doing this for FOUR months now (she is almost 8 mos. old now) and I am SO READY to be done!!! I especially feel this way when it is midnight and I am tired, ready to go to bed.... ooops! I still have to pump! Grrrrrr.

Moooooooooo! Yup, feeling a bit like a cow with all this milking going on! LMBO!

I either need encouragement to keep going or words of reassurance that it's ok to put her on formula now. I was such an advocate for BF before all this mess! But, formula is EXPENSIVE and pumping only costs me time....
 
(((hugs))) You are doing great!!!!

My friend has had 9 babies and has experienced all variations of feeding....exclusively bf, exclusively ff, and for the last two babies, exclusively pumping! She does it because she has a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and for other reasons. Now, she is "gifted" IMO, (LOL) because she only pumps 3x a day....first thing before everyone wakes up, during their nap, and after they go to bed...and she pumps about 32 oz a day...I could never do that! She says she pumps 12 oz of that in the morning...I can't imagine getting that much!

I think it is totally normal to feel like a cow in your situation...I'm sure I would too. I feel like a cow sometimes without the pumping, just with the nursings.

Think of it this way...if you have done it this long, a few more months is doable...mommy's milk is the best! But if you need to stop now for your sanity, that's OK too! 8 months is totally respectable and a rawking length of time to nurse!
 
{Hugs} pumping is so hard and so demanding, but you can make the choice to stop if you want. Don't feel like you have to keep going! BUT think of it this way, you have made it 8 months only 4 months left and she will be a year old and if you want, you can switch her over to cows milk.
 
Congrats on making it this long!!!

D-man weaned himself at 4-1/2 months and I couldn't pump. R nursed until 8 months and I only pumped during the day while at work. I was lucky if I got 8-12 oz. per day. And, unfortunately, he didn't have the best reaction to BM. As soon as I put him on Soy formula his diaper rash went away and he started sleeping through the night. He also quit spitting up/puking every time I fed him. I really hated to give up BFing but I knew that the Soy was better for him. Recently I tried giving him regular formula and he broke out with a bad diaper rash again... looks like he's gonna be a Soy boy all the way.

Only you can decide what is best for your baby and you! {{HUGS}}
 
Oh wow! You definitely did the best for your child and you can't stop without feeling guilty! Anytime nursing is an awesome success!! Congratulations on making it that far! What a good mama!!
 
Megan, go for the formula. The formulas are really good these days. DD1 was breast fed for a week, DD2 for a day and DS1 only while I was in hospital. So they've all been on formula and are fine and healthy. DD1 started on cow's milk at 1, DD2 and DS1 started at 9 months with 50% milk and 50% water.

Don't beat yourself up about it girl. You've done great to make it 8 months I say. It's such a personal choice though.
 
I nursed Mason for 6 months and then quit...he didn't want to quit, but I did. I just never enjoyed breastfeeding at all. And pumping wasn't an option for me...I could pump for hours and only get a tiny bit out, lol...not worth it. Mason was always hungry, I just wasn't a good source of milk.

Natalie, on the other hand, nursed until she was 11 months. I HAD to wean her because she refused to eat any sort of solids, she was content nursing...but again, I wasn't a really good source and she was nursing ALL the time.

Anyhow, it's OK to stop nursing her or giving her breastmilk. Formula is expensive, but you have to do what you've gotta do...babies need those nutrients and if they're not wanting to nurse, the best option is formula. My neice just weaned herself (I think she's around 6 months now) and is on formula only.
 
can you just pump like crazy, stock up, and then quit? My guy is a preemie, so they're having me pump and fortify with a little formula in my ebm right now and I'm so exhausted. In fact, I've had him on the breast all morning today because I just haven't had the energy to get the pump out. And I hate that because I don't know if he's getting enough just on the breast, because he falls asleep.

Either way, it's formula, not poison, do what you have to.
I'm stubborn though, you're so close to a year, why not just go all the way that way you can puff your chest out with pride later and be like, "Yeah, I pumped for a year. I'm fracking supermom."
;-)
 
I nurse and pump...but honestly, whatever you feel is best for you and your baby. Wish only a few months to go before she can really tolerate milk, I'd say stick to pumping. Formula can be so expensive. I have nothing against formula, all my kids have used it, and I've supplemented with Teaghan a bit with it if I've eaten something on the do not eat list lol

Don't feel guilty with whatever you decide though :) Making it 8 months is great!
 
Congrats on making it this far. You are a much stronger woman than I was, I couldn't even bring myself to try BF. I have a large chest and I knew it would make me uncomfortable, which wouldn't have made for a good experience. Good luck with your decision
 
Voodoo_Bryn said:
Either way, it's formula, not poison, do what you have to.
I'm stubborn though, you're so close to a year, why not just go all the way that way you can puff your chest out with pride later and be like, "Yeah, I pumped for a year. I'm fracking supermom."
;-)
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Bwahahahhahahahha! :)
 
For different reasons, I could only BF my kids for 5 months each time. I did pump for 4 months with Katie while I worked full-time, so I know how exhausting it can be. Congrats on making it this far. I just wanted to let you know that they've done just fine on formula. No ear infections...in fact, they are some of the healthiest kids you've ever met. So if you do decide to go the way of formula, it's not the end of the world! And if you buy it at Costco, it's not that expensive, either.
 
I feel your pain LOL.

The shields didn't help much here...I was bleeding and in so much pain by the time we got sent home from the hospital!

About the cow thing...reminded me of something at work that I can't help but share.
I friend and I both had little ones...I think Rachel was about 9 months, and her little girl was about 4 months. One of the male teacher's wives had given my friend a breast pump. The teacher was in the library where I worked and mouthing off about how nursing mothers were just cows...typical of this jerk's talk IMO. My response...better a cow than a jack$%@.
 
I'm am a HUGE advocate of BFing, and I'm also extremely cheap. Since I have to buy forumla for my 2 year old with a feeding tube, who weaned from the breast at 15 months when I got pregnant again, I'll be damned if I spend anymore money on the stuff for my 5 month old. Formula is expensive if you're buying the regular kind or if you're buying a specialty formula like we are.

I say continue to pump, but that's just me. I nurse and pump for Ian, as I've been back at work since he was 7 weeks old. I'll be honest, I hate pumping with a passion, but it's saved us I couldn't tell you how much money. So, I continue to do it.
 
Ohhh man- as a former LLL leader-I'm all for continuing to pump! If you can make it just a few more months, you will be SUPERMOM! Pumping is so exhausting-but so worth it on so many levels.

I'm not a crazy BFing only momma-and have supplemented all three of the boys with formula...

I have faith in your ability to make the best choice for you!

Hugs girl!
 
Voodoo_Bryn said:
can you just pump like crazy, stock up, and then quit? My guy is a preemie, so they're having me pump and fortify with a little formula in my ebm right now and I'm so exhausted. In fact, I've had him on the breast all morning today because I just haven't had the energy to get the pump out. And I hate that because I don't know if he's getting enough just on the breast, because he falls asleep.

;-)
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How is his output? That's really the only way to tell if the BFing infant is getting enough milk. Either that, or you could go to your primary care's office, weigh him in just a diaper right before you feed him, and then weigh him in a dry diaper right after. That will give you a rough estimate of how much you are feeding him. A pump will not tell you this, as it is not as efficient as a baby at extracting milk.

Also, have you tried using a supplimental nursing system for your fortified feedings? We were lucky. When we had to feed Aidan fortified BM, she was 9 months old, and so, my supply was well established. Since your LO is so young, your supply could probably really benefit from using a SNS for your fortified feeds. That way, you're still stimulating your breast to make milk during those feedings. :)
 
I would try to keep up with pumping, but maybe you could also get a container of formula and pump less and supplement one or two feedings with that?

One of the issues with the idea of pumping like crazy and then stopping is that your body is still going to think that you are super-momma, and you're gonna end up extremely sore and possibly with blocked ducts or mastitis and stuff. When stopping, it seems to me like it's a good idea to decrease it gradually by one feeding a day or every few days.

My oldest nursed until he was 15 months old (I was pregnant again and milk must have changed). My daughter nursed until she was 21 months old, and Chase is ... going to be 22 months old and he is still nursing. Keep in mind that with my daughter before she stopped and with Chase now that they primarily only nurse(d) at bed-time, and occasionally very early in the morning.

I think you're doing great! Oh, and I had to use the nipple shield with Blake for a while. He had latch issues. I'm so glad we were able to work through that because before it became successful with Blake, I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to breastfeed!

~Melinda
 
Congrats on making it this far! If it plays into your decision at all, over the next few months your little one is likely to increase solids and gradually decrease BM. With my 2 I've noticed that difference starting around 9 months (I can tell because that's when I start gaining weight :cursing: ). So if you do decide to stick it out until a year, the pumping burden may not be as bad as it is right now. There's also the option of supplementing, as some people have brought up. That would free you up a little from pumping but still give your little one the benefits of BM.

With all of that said, you have to do what's best for you and your family. If you're really just ready to be done with pumping and giving it up would make you a happier mother with more time for your kids, then go ahead and switch! You've done wonderfully to stick with pumping this long--I'm all for nursing for at least 12 months, but I honestly don't think I could make it anywhere as long as you have if I'd been exclusively pumping.
 
I think it's awesome that you've made it 4 months of pumping! I tried pumping after Kyle quit nursing at 3 months and it didn't matter how much oatmeal I ate, mother's milk tea I drank or how much fenugreek I took I still couldn't pump enough milk to keep up so we made the switch to formula. I just never had a very good milk supply no matter what I did (even when still nursing). He did just fine with the formula until we switched him to regular milk @ 11 months. If you can stick with it that's awesome, but don't feel guilty if you need to stop she'll be fine with formula for a bit!
 
You gals are great! :) I have a really good supply. Always have. The only exception is during "that time of the month." ;) I only pump 3 times a day (especially now that Allie is eating baby food), but it is still annoying. My supply is lower now b/c of the addition of other foods, but before 6 mos. I was pumping A LOT. Always had at least 3 full bottles in the fridge and a stockpile in the freezer. Now I'm making exactly what she needs... but I wish my supply was higher b/c sometimes I have to go pump before I can feed her.
 
Wow honey your a trooper!! I think what you are doing is wonderful!! I know how rough breastfeeding is we are NOW weaning Noah at 21 months and its not easy going at all. I can totally relate on feeling like a cow LOL Wes always says im Noahs personal dairy queen LOL
 
I think you have done great! I can relate to the guilt thing - I could only BF for a few weeks because of various problems and I remember feeling like such a failure! Everybody kept telling me not to stop, to try one thing or another, breast is best, etc., but no one ever said to me "Dawn, it's ok to just stop. Your child will not be damaged for life." So, anyhow, it's fabulous (and cheaper, as you mentioned) if you want to keep going, but please don't feel guilty if you decide to stop. It's ok and your child will not be damaged for life!
 
ok so i nursed hunter for well a REALLY long time...probably about 16 months.. sorry... but it was awesome..BUT with kaney...oh my gosh..he drained me...and i TRIED to pump but my class that year was totally WILd and my principal would come in so i could go and "milk" as he would say.. the parents were so unsupportive of me leaving the class in the afternoon i enventually dried up ...i was totally distraught..but he did FINE without me...the formula i used was perfect for him and i guess it was one of the closest ones to breast milk..bottom line..they will be fine..it is just getting over it for you..because it was SOOOOOOOOo hard on me! there are FABULOUS formulas out there...do whatever is best for you and works best for you! best wishes...xoxo.ash
 
Girl, you should pop that pump off your titty ASAP! I was bottlefed, and I am a smart, healthy well rounded human being. In fact, I might stop bf-ing my baby JUST so that he can turn out like me, now that I think about it. :p

Clearly you should do what is best for you, but it sounds like you have gone above and beyond and are ready for a break. I say throw that pump to the left, to the left...
 
BRAVO to you!!!:thumbup: I nursed Abby for about 4 months {and I pumped for about 2 months after I went back to work}...just wasn't working for me or her... and I managed to nurse and pump with Peyton until he was almost 5 months old, but when you have 4 kids and work fulltime, it makes it really really hard...so BRAVO to you and all of my kids did fine on formula, so I think if your sanity is in play here then you should not feel guilty about switching to formula...are you eligible for WIC? maybe that is something you can look into...but again KUDOS TO YOU:thumbup: for making it this long, it just didn't work for me...
 
joelsgirl said:
Girl, you should pop that pump off your titty ASAP! I was bottlefed, and I am a smart, healthy well rounded human being. In fact, I might stop bf-ing my baby JUST so that he can turn out like me, now that I think about it. :p

QUOTE]

This is all a matter of personal opinion-isn't it??:p
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I used a nipple sheld with my first, it was a HORRID disaster. We bf until 7 months, but it was horrible at the end, I never could get him weaned off it. It was the worst experience ever. He was always hungry, no one told me the nipple sheild could be part of the problem.

I had a much easier experience the next two times. Pumping is SO hard, I used to have to do it a lot with Amelia because I went back to work, and with Rae because of massive oversupply.

You done good mama, pumping is very hard. You should be so proud of yourself!
 
Your job as momma is to nurture your child...you have been feeding your child the best that there is now for eight months - if you feel that by switching to forumla, or at least supplementing with formula will give you more energy and patience and ability to be their for your child that would help you nurture better. Your baby doesn't need a stressed out over exausted resentful momma! But...if you can do it and push through you will be a hero in my books too!

I was only able to breast feed for two months with each of mine - my first had pyloric stenosis which caused her to vomit violently 10-15 times a day, she was starving and I simply could not produce milk fast enough. She was loosing weight rapidly and finally we got her to see someone who knew what the problem was. She had surgery at 7 weeks. After that I was pumping for a few more weeks but I simply had NO milk. I was getting 2-3 ounces a day, pumping 6 times a day with an electrical pump! Not worth my time for a hungry little girl who after surgery took 8 ounces at a time of forumla!

My son I was determined to breastfeed, and had midwives and lactation consultants and everything. He lost weight rappidly too and was feeding constantly. Pumping and expressing some, and putting it in the fridge (as my midwife suggested) showed I had almost no hindmilk. They suggested my milk was not of a good quality. (and I was resting and eating really well!) So I had to forumla feed him too. It broke my heart, but he was finally healthy, happy, and sleeping and not screaming round the clock because he was hungry!

I must say I'm jealous you have been able to feed your baby the good stuff this long! I wish I could have! You obviously love your baby and are doing everything you can. Do what is best for your baby - if that means giving him a sane mom by making another choice right now that's OKAY.
 
OMGosh - I am so sorry you are having problems.....I was very lucky, aside from extremely sore nips at the beginning, it was smooth sailing - I was determined when I had her that it was my milk or no milk so literally never even thought twice about any other option. I BF her for 16 months (I know getting a bit close to wierd when its that long) but the last few months were pretty much one or two feedings a day as she was eating solids then. The kicker is that I NEVER used a bottle (never even made a bottle) - she was exclusively fed from the breast - yep we were together every moment for the first couple of years of her life, I was never away from her long enough to miss a feeding. Now that she is turning 8 (next week) and I look back on it, I am very grateful that I was able to do it that long. I know how hard it is for those who want to BF and can't because sometimes its just not possible with schedules, work or if the baby has other ideas......sometimes formula is the only option and that's just what you have to do. I feel very lucky that I was able to BF easily after all the other's who've had problems because I know that has to be heart-wrenching! BUT - you have to do what is best and if BF isn't in the cards - that's alright!! Just do what is best for EVERYONE (yourself included!).
 
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Megan- don't stress girl! Jaxon was BF and I pumped for 18 months- but Marley had reflux and after 6 months of Bf and pumping had to move to formula. Interestingly, once she was on solids, she'd occasionally comfort nurse and still talks about "the boos"! LMAO!

BTW, it could be worse... you could LOOK like a cow! Ha ha! :)

Hang in there girl!
 
Wow, definitely be proud of yourself for making it this long! That is awesome. I had problems breastfeeding both of mine because of their reflux. So I breastfed for 2 months and pumped for 2 months after that....that's all I could take.:) But I figured that was better than none at all :)
 
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