I’m starting to contemplate whether or not I should stop pumping and start giving Ruby cow’s milk 100%. After she hit the one year mark we started slowly incorporating cows milk in with my breast milk, first 30/70 and then 50/50. She’s taken to it fine and I cut back on the number of times I pump, including pumping at work. It’s so nice not to have to deal with hauling my pump and everything around. My supply maintained itself for a few weeks and then about a week ago things took a dip. Now I am lucky if I get 4 ounces total from both breast each time I pump. I’ve even gotten as low as only 2 oz.
I’m going to give it another week and see if my supply picks up from my trip home. If not, I think I am going to stop. I’m ready to stop. Before I felt kind of guilty about it but I’ve gotten over that. I know Ruby will do just fine on milk and that she’s already received a lot of the benefits from being fed breast milk so long. I only have slight concerns with how my hormones will shift and whether or not I will suddenly put on weight from stopping. Lord knows I don’t need any help in that department.
I think you’re amazing for going this long, I wish I could have! We transitioned Ginny to whole milk from formula at about 10 months, and she’s done fine. My only concern now is that she might be drinking too much milk. Need to work on encouraging her to drink water.
As for the hormones… while every woman is different (how’s that for stating the obvious?), it was a serious bitch for me when I stopped. Personal question… has AF started again for you yet? For me, two weeks after I stopped pumping/bfing I got AF, and the killer PMS that came with it was the beginning of my PPD. I’m wondering if perhaps I hadn’t had to deal with both AF and milk production stopping at the same time, things mightn’t have been so rough. Hoping it’s easier for you!
I got it right before Christmas. Man, was it a little bitch. Usually my PMS symptoms are next to nothing but not that time. PPD is definitely my biggest concern. I’ve been dealing with it on and off since Ruby was about 3 months but it’s not an issue right now. I’d like it to stay that way!
I’ve heard or read that your body will hold on to a few extra pounds while you are nursing, just in case the baby needs milk and you aren’t eating (leftover from the caveman days, I guess). So maybe you will lose a few pounds if you stop nursing/pumping. I’m still nursing, so I can’t speak to it, but I hope it is true!