Exclusively pumping - am I giving up?

I am combi feeding so was pumping as well to build supply but I have stopped that now and just doing boob and bottle, as stopped really for the same reasons - it was draining and I think damaging my breasts more. I think when I go go back to work he’ll have bottle by day and breast by night so I can avoid the pump even then 🤣

I unfortunately did 😞 I was gutted. So started xombi feeding to stock up a bit and then dried when I used the last one. It's mentally draining I found and wasn't helping me with anything else. Bubs is happy on formula and that's all that mattered really. 😞

I posted something very similar the other day! I was EBF for 2 months then pumping with formula top ups the last 2 months. As we’ve been going out more and more I’ve been able to pump less and less resulting in only giving 1 or 2 bottles of BM a day. It was taking me like 3 x 30 minute sessions to produce that and so after a lot of contemplating and a few tears I’ve decided to stop.

I have my moments when I wish I had went longer but all in all the last few days have been simpler, I am less stressed and I am spending more time with my LO in a meaningful and happy way. Before I’d be like “please sleep now or I won’t have milk for your next feed” it was really taking its toll.

18 weeks is fantastic! She’s had so much goodness out of you so whatever you decide just know you’ve done amazingly! X

Thanks ! It’s so nice to know other people feel the same way. I think it’s either now or I’ll stop in 8 weeks prior to Christmas as I return to work in January!

Just glad the feelings are normal, pumping really had taken its toll!

I exclusively pump from birth and will continue to do until 6 months, I am counting weeks and days. 17 weeks down 9 more to go 🤦‍♀️😂 it’s not easy but don’t want to buy formula.

I feel similar to be fair. But with going back to work I wonder if it’ll be easier?

Ohhh I feel you!
My little girl has never been able to latch properly so I had to pump from day 1, even if I complement with formula (about 2-3 bottles at night) all that pumping is soooo much work, it’s so hard to go anywhere as you need to plan around your pumping on top of having to plan around baby’s feed, also it’s so time consuming and so hard to do a few times a day when baby is very demanding and refuses to be put down 95% of the time…
I’m at 14 weeks tomorrow and I think about quitting every other day 🤦‍♀️

it takes time to stop gradually pumping, if it’s too much for you mentally and fiscally, now start introducing formula to some feeds. You still have couple month until January. My baby is really good with breast milk so I don’t what to have any possible issues with his tummy etc so that’s why I am delaying formula.

it’s not easy, I was struggling for a while with single pump, but after failing to breastfeed bought second pump and a bra so my hands are free to hold my baby if needed.

You've done a great job, pumping is so hard! I breastfeed as well as pump and honestly I doubt I'd have managed exclusive pumping, it's so time consuming, it's harder than formula and without the ease of popping a boob out. Why don't you start combi feeding and slowly move off?

think I’ll do that in the next few weeks! Xx

I think the most difficult with baby isn’t the pumping itself as I have a wearable one, it’s setting it up and worse, sorting it all out at the end, take it off, sorting the milk and washing/drying it, 10 min with baby crying in the background nearly every time when daddy isn’t home 🤦‍♀️