Exclusively Pumping

I stopped at around the 6 month mark. It was getting so draining, excuse the pun. I started to stress about when I could next pump and when my husband is at work or away with work it was hard to pump without my little boy pulling my pump or wanting picked up and I couldn't. He had reflux and would only have 4/5oz at a time, every 3 hours. I switched to formula and it's more expensive but I don't feel stressed or struggle to pump. I don't think anyone can answer or tell you to stick it or not it's completely down to you and how you feel

@Tasha Thankyou, I know it’s sooo draining at the minute with the constant worrying, did you have any issues switching from breastmilk to formula? Xx

I also stopped around 6 months as it was taking its toll on my mental health too. Had many a cry over feeling guilty for putting her on formula which is ridiculous, she’s 7 and a half months now and she’s thriving on formula. Do whats right for you, no shame in stopping if you need to, no shame in powering through if you want to! X

He had reflux, even on breast, so we tried I think 3 different reflux formulas, but he refused them because they taste and smile vile! But when we found a formula he would drink, went with aptamil 2 he's been fine. We didn't have an issues with him adjusting and he can now finish an 8oz bottle It felt bittersweet, like no more stress but also i felt like i let him down to start with but he is a happy little boy and im happier xx

My LO took the boob the first 3 weeks but then just screamed and it stressed me out so much we stopped. I was already not good mentally after a traumatic birth so decided to pump. I found it really tough at the start because I had an oversupply and got mastitis 3x in 3 months. I then started eating soya lecithin and never got it again! I managed to keep it up till 16 months and then had another month supply in the freezer so LO had it for 17 months. It was really hard some days but I made it work and my partner would help with all the washing/sterilising. I also had multiple parts and did the “freezer method” so it didn’t seem too bad. With next baby I will get a portable pump though as that’s what I found most stressful having to pump in bathrooms and stuff when being out rather than just popping the pump in my bra.

I’ve been doing it for 15 months but also has almond milk as cows milk did not go well with her but am trying to reduce to just one pump a day, once baby on foods and pumping less it’s a lot easier x

I can only breastfeed at night so I pump during the day. My daughter is 6 months and I’m pregnant with baby #2. It’s ROUGH but trying to hold on until shes 11 months

I switched to supplementing one feed with formula at around 5 months because I was getting stressed about not pumping regularly enough to make enough milk. Just this one formula feed meant that I was so much more relaxed about if I missed pumping or got too busy ect but also felt happy knowing he was still getting a large amount of breast milk. We have been doing this for almost 3 months and my mental health is so so much better. Just an option if you didn't want to fully stop but make things more manageable x