Skipping one or two nursing/pumping session(s) a week

I have recently started working again. It's a half time teaching job and I don't really have time to pump at least once a week. I might be able to squeeze it in if I drop my break and hurry like crazy. E&N still drink every 3-3,5 hours during the day and a few times at night. I'm not sure what would be better: stressing about finding the time to pump every time without ever being sure of the outcome or simply letting it go and relax (or eat or drink or talk to colleagues) during my break?

 

if it's just once a week, i think you'll be fine. you can always try it & if you notice a significant dip in supply, you can go back to pumping.

 

I think it would be fine to skip since its not every day. It would be no different than if you went out in the evening and missed 1 nursing session. Just make sure on those days you either nurse or pump as soon as you get home.

 

Thanks for the advice ladies!

 

Hi, I agree with the above advice. I've BTDT. I started back to work full time at 9 mos.... At that time normally my boys would nurse 2-3 times/day during the times I was gone. Instead, I came home for lunch to nurse them, and I did take my pump with me. Due to my job situation some times I got a pumping session in, others I did not. I would nurse before leaving and as soon as I arrived home. I didn't see any sort of decrease in my supply or their desires to nurse.

HTH! Good luck!

 

I don't think 1 or 2 a week is a big deal. If it is, you know how to fix it- nurse, nurse, nurse!

 

No problem, the three of us (me, E&N) absolutely adore nursing. DH would rather have us cut back on it. :-(

 

Just curious- why?

 

He says I'm obsessed with it and overdid it (BFing a singleton for a few weeks is a LOT in our country, so go figure what people think about more than nine months with twins) and says the babies need to learn to be soothed by others than me. He's been super supportive until a few months ago and now wants me to gradually wean them.

 

That's a shame. Has he seen all the data on decreased illness, decreased obesity, etc? Plus, imagine the cost of formula if you wean them. Sounds like he's a little jealous. I would just reassure him that as they get older they are going to gradually get less interested naturally so there is really no reason to force the issue. Once mine turned 1 we pretty much dropped from 4 nursing sessions to 2 (AM and bedtime) within the course of a couple weeks, just by following their lead. Keep plugging along! You can do it

 

interesting rational, since soothing babies is technically a side effect, and not the main purpose, of nursing. ardon: i agree with what slugrad said. i hope you guys are able to reach an agreement you're both comfortable with. :hug:

just out of curiosity, what country do you live in?

 

Ugh. I'm very sorry to hear that. It's so hard to combat peoples' notions about breastfeeding sometimes. Especially if they are close to you. :hug:

 

I really want my girls to decide when they're done nursing. DH ignores the benefits of extended breastfeeding and says the babies need to learn to be less dependent on me. I guess he's not as much into the attachment parenting thing as I am. We also argue a lot about night time nursing. Everytime I mention how tired I am he's like "well, make them STTN then". I'm sure he would do CIO.

I live in Belgium, Europe. I was at home from work for eight and a half months and it's been considered waaaaay more than enough.

 

that's really interesting. i think i have an overly romanticized notion that all European countries have super long mat leaves & nobody has any issues with extended BF or NIP. that's my ignorance showing. :blush:

i'm sure you've already tried this tack, but you could point out to your DH that your babies WILL become less dependent on you, naturally. it's the course things take. there's no need to encourage it/force it, if you're happy with how things are.

 

I do, too, Rachel. DH & I would love to move to Europe & one of the reasons is the health care systems and sentiments about children/nursing. ardon: Anneke- and thank you for sharing with us that it's not all what we hear, here in N. America.

 

I think (know?) it is true in Scandinavian countries, but definitely not in Belgium. I did get 19 weeks of paid maternity leave, though. Moms of singletons have 15 weeks. After that period we are expected to go back to work. Being a SAHM is not the norm.

NIP is something I simply do because I really want it to become "normal". I do it in a discrete way of course and most people don't really mind. However, a few months ago, a mother of a 3-month-old was arrested (!) because she wanted to nurse her baby in the hospital she was taken to after an accident. Following the incident, there were lots of public discussions and it became painfully clear that lots of people think BFing a baby is "obscene".

The health care system is great, I must admit. Sure we pay a lot of taxes, but E&N's five week stay in NICU and mine in ICU cost us next to nothing.

It's funny, though. I sometimes think I should be living in the States. The grass is always greener on the other side, right?

 

Hello Anneke, I am from Belgium but I've been living in the States for the last 10 years. If you are in the Nothern part (Flamish speaking) people are usual very supportive of BFing, the Southern part (where I'm from) is different, they usually don't BF much which is very unfortunate... I am considered a weirdo too overthere, I BF my last one for 16 months (had to stop because of medication and now on top of it I will have 5 kids which is sooooooooooooo uncommon and I want to BF my twins, but I don't care, they can think whatever they want, I know what's best for my babies!

My DH is from France and their way of thinking is right along the Southern Belgian way so not much support there either... Oh well... I miss the good food though... waffles from Liege, I loveeeeeeeeeee those!!!! Would you eat one for me

 

MamanMag, awesome! I am from Flanders, but don't feel supported by my environment at all. The longer I BF, the more people disbelievingly ask if that's actually possible and inform why I haven't quit yet because we all know FF is the most "natural" thing to do. Ahum...

As for the waffles, I may go and get one later today and I'll think of you while eating! :-D Good luck with your pregnancy and BFing #4 and #5.

On topic: my supply is still fine and I skip two nursing/pumping sessions a week.

 

Waouw I can't believe that they don't support you, that is really sad! Too bad I'm not in Belgium anymore, we could have encouraged each other in person but oh well, we'll do it through the internet It is amazing how in Europe they are still encouraging FFing...

Thank you for your encouragement and I really hope that you will be able to BF as long as you and your babies wish!!!

Thanks for the waffle

 

it is interesting how countries are different.

I hope you are able to BF your babes as long as you/they want to! I did start trying to get mine to STTN more closer to 10 mo? and I think that it coincided with me getting my cycle back at 11 mo. anyway, I know when the kids were almost 2 yr old I was almost ready to give up, they were being so finicky and wanting to nurse, but no wanting to... my dh said I "had to make it to 2 yrs".. as a milestone of "been there done that"! and then it seemed to get easier ... so at 2.5 yrs old we're still going. and its SO cute for the kids to go lay down so nicely in my bed and say "mommy's pillow" and "my pillow" etc... and we all snuggle in bed and get under the covers and they nurse. I'm really enjoying it, and not sure when I'll quit... I'm trying not to offer, but to let them request it.

good luck! I hope you continue to NIP and share the knowledge of BFing.