Well it was a good run but I think its about over. My breastfeeding has pretty much come to an end. 5 months - I think I did a pretty good job. My goal was 6 months but I just dont forsee that happening. Mackenzie eats way too much. While at work she does 3 bottles of 7 ounces. I only pumped 10 ounces at work yesterday. My supply has been decreasing and she is getting hungrier! If it wasnt for my reserve that I had (about a months supply) I would have been done a lot earlier. I am glad that I pumped so much while I was on maternity leave - it definitely allowed me to continue breastfeeding a lot longer.
But my reserve is pretty much gone and I cant pump enough for her daily feedings. I think I am still going to try and nurse her first thing in the morning and maybe before bed. But as for all the in-between feedings I will be formula feeding. She wont eat the powdered formula...although I wouldnt blame her. Has anyone ever tried tasting it??? It is absolutely disgusting - tastes like metal! So we buy her the ready made formula and she likes that much better. It does taste better but is more expensive!
So I bid farwell to breastfeeding. It was good while it lasted. I loved every minute of it and will miss the closeness that I had with Mackenzie during her feedings. I know if I wasnt working I would still be nursing, but I feel like its near impossible to nurse for an entire year while working a full time job. So I am very proud of myself that I got this far. And hopefully I can continue one or two feedings until shes 6 months!
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I know that if I had gone back to work I would have quit breastfeeding! I think it is great that you did it for so long. And, yes, formula smells awful! We had to switch D to soy, and it doesn't smell as bad. The milk based kind is terrible though. Yuck.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Ash! 5 months is awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou did AWESOME! :) Breastfeeding is no easy task, especially for a working mom who has to pump!
ReplyDeleteMy pediatrician suggested the soy formula as well because it is a bit sweeter, like breast milk. Target has a generic brand so it isn't too expensive. Your pediatrician should have some samples for you to try as well, so you can find one the Mackenzie likes.
We ditched the pump at 5 months and I said I would do morning and night feeds as long as I had milk. Well at nine months we still have plenty of milk. I just nurse on demand in evenings and on weekends. You could probably do this if you didn't want to completely stop but beware, I am feeling like the older he gets the harder he is going to be to ween. But, at least I am still saving a bundle on formula.
ReplyDeleteI HATED pumping but love breast feeding so this works for us.
21 ounces just in the afternoon is A LOT!!
ReplyDeletePat yourself on the back for making it to 5 months!! I don't know if I will make it to 3 at this point, lol.
Way to go! I hear BF is quite the chore, so good for you for sticking it out this long.
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