Still Pumping for My 20 Month Old - How Did You Decide to Stop?

I'm not in the same situation, but (as you probably know) the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until age 2 or beyond, so I say congratulations on pumping this long, and keep it up as long as you like. Hopefully over time the general public will gradually become more accepting of this...

My question is - why does the world ok drinking milk from a cow but not mom? Just doesn't make sense to me.

J.
why on earth would you TRY to give up something that doesn't inconvenience you and gives such benefits to your child? i certainly don't think you're crazy, and i urge you not to let social pressure from our rather warped society make you feel any need to stop doing such a wonderful thing. my sister nursed her second daughter until she was three years old, at which point the girl decided she wanted to be a "big girl" and was ready to quit. at that point she was just getting a few minutes in the morning and after nap, but it was still a lovely bonding time for them both, as well as a healthy snack.
you're not crazy! i plan to nurse my daughter (and any future kids) as long as they bloody well want, unless it becomes too hard on me or something. you sound like a great mom to me! way to go!

First, kudos to you! I stopped pumping at about 15 months although my daughter still nurses in the evening. If you don't find it inconvenient I'd continue to do it. It's the best thing for her. Good for you!

You sound like me I'm stiull pumping about 3 times a day maybe 4 for my 15 month old, she does nurse during the night and sometimes duing the day. She gets about 50% brestmilk and then some cows milk. I also don't geta whole lot when I pump but I feel that giving her breast milk is a goodthing. Some days I hate the pump - LOL- but I have it set up at the computer so I go online when I pump.
Anyway as far as knowing when to stop I think that when you stop producing or your daughter doesn't drink the breastmilk anymore. I am now on a month to month goal to continue. I think by the summer I might stop just because of what the pump does to my breasts/nipples(not to seem rude)but my nipples get pulled out and then you can see them through my shirt which I hate-even with a padded bra I feel like I'm sticking out.
I think it's wonderful that you are stil pumping.

I am still pumping and nursing a little for my 16-mo old and don't know when we'll stop. I agree that the benefits outweigh the hassles. The only problem for us is that the baby still greatly prefers nursing to bottles and we have big screaming fits at home (she's fine w bottles at daycare).

to actually answer your question, I figure we'll stop nursing sometime within the next 6 mo. Maybe when the baby can talk and understand more, it will make more sense to stop. It's really hard, though, to decide when, and I think we are currently in the middle of a very gradual weaning, but it's hard to see that forest for the trees of everyday nursing, pumping and screaming about bottles.

anyway, I just wanted to say congrats and don't worry about other people thinking it's strange to still be producing milk for the baby at her age.

I did accidentally learn what you will find online: that mint tea really attenuates milk production. So when you do want to stop, just try a few cups a day and it will probably help you dry up without the pain of engorgement.

Hi J.,

Good for you! Keep it up. I breastfed both of my sons for at least 2 years. You are correct, it IS healthy for your daughter. Cow's milk is for baby cows. EVERYONE doesn't know what they're talking about. You are doing what is best for your child. Congratulations!

: ) Maureen

When I asked my homeopathic pediatrician how long I should continue to breastfeed my son, he asked me if it drove me crazy. It didn't so I continued until after his second birthday. Then it seemed to get to be too much for me so I stopped. I went over 3 years with my 3rd son.

I did find I started getting pressure to stop at about a year. I made it less public & continued until I felt it was right for me.

I would say as long as it works for you keep it up.

Congrats to you for pumping so long! that is awesome. If you don't feel inconvenienced by the pumping then I feel the same way you do-that breast milk is so good for the babies there is only good things that come from it. I BF until my son was 18 months when he weaned himself off. I personally hated pumping and had to do it full time when my son was born since he was premature. When he weaned himself off he wasn't taking bottles and I felt 18 months was good.

If the only reason you're thinking of stopping is because other people think it's crazy then I say keep pumping. When you've had enough of it then you can stop and you'll feel great that you did such a great thing for your daughter for so long!

Hi J., i am a 40 year old mom with a 2year old and a 9month old. I breastfeed my first for 14 months, then he self weaned. i plan on doing the same for this baby. I think it is great what you are doing and as long as you can handle it, you are doing her a world of good! I'm sure i don't have to tell you all the benifits. i would go to work and pump during the day (i am a hairdresser on Newbury st) and people would always have a comment for me..."Your StILL pumping?" Not exactly a breastfeeding friendly environment. Don't let anyone else dictate how you choose to feed your child! and yes, it is by far better than cow's milk, which is not that good for young tummies anyway. the only reason i stopped the first time was so that i would ovulate and get pregnant again, as i am not getting any younger! Good luck and good for you. HJS

I am not in the same situation but wanted to applaud you for still pumping. I hated pumping and my body didn't respond well to it (would never get much and my milk goes bad pretty quickly after it is expressed). Fortunately I only had to pump for a short time (for medicine when my daughter was an infant). I am however still nursing and my daughter will be three come July - so I definitely agree that the benefits of bm are advantageous well beyond a year of age. Congrats on such a great milestone!

Hello J.. I may not be able to relate from personal experience to your question here, but from an objective point of view I feel it makes all the sense in the world to continue providing your child with your breast milk for as long as your gut (your inner wisdom) tells you to, period. One morning, you'll wake up and you'll know when to stop. You are an intelligent woman. I sense you really don't need anyone to tell you this. Why question your inward voice? What could it possibly matter what others think? I vote 'no one's business but your own' as long as your actions are NOT harming you, your child, or those around you. I highly doubt this would be the case in this beautiful situation. ;) Our culture is creeping slowly back to more sustainable means of living after decades of reckless abandon of simple values...Mothers' milk is the perfect food. Don't bring 'worry and doubt and fear' into one moment of your decision to do what you instinctively know to be right and good and BEST for your child. Be Peace. N.

I wonder this myself everyday. I don't pump but I still BF about 2-3 times a day and my son is 20 months too. I can't see that I will stop till he's decided he's done, which I imagine will be around 2. I think he's only getting a few ounces a day too but anything I can do to help him stay healthy I'll do. He's only been sick once and that was a cold he caught at the Pedi office at his 18mo checkup! So I'm with ya on this. I hope you get some good responses, as I will be checking back. For now, let's pat ourselves on the back!

If you want to pump, pump. I couldn't stand it, but congrats to you. Breastfeeding gives you endorphins and energy. When I stopped breastfeeding I became so tired. I loved the freedom, but my energy was zapped. Once I started to feel like myself again, I got pregnant! ;) So back to being tired again. haha There is nothing wrong with pumping except you are always tied to your breastpump! So if you want the freedom, stop. If you don't care, them keep pumping away!

I breastfeed my daughter until she was 2 (she is 3 now), and then I decided it was time to stop. She only did it at night, and that was it. I had slowly started to wean her before that and she was eating more solid food of course. I had to do it cold turkey. I told her it was "all gone" and there was no more (I still had milk though). I knew she was ready and I was ready. She was also biting me something awful!

Now if we can only get rid of the pacifier that easy!

BTW, she still does not drink hardly any cow's milk, we do rice milk and soy milk, she does get cow's milk in things like cheese and yogurt.

J.,
First I want to say, good for you. I was only able to nurse and pump until my son was 9 months old. To be honest I feel that if it doesn't bother you and she still enjoys it, well why stop. Other cultures nurse until the child is 2 to 3 years old. Best wishes....

Way to go J.! I wanted to BF my DD until she was 18 mos - only bottle and sippy cup after 12 mos with expressed milk, but she had other ideas and weaned herself at 11 mos. She weaned herself from the bottle too at 15 mos.

I pumped for another month and couldn't take it, so that made me stop. I was only getting a couple of ounces at it was taking at least 30 min, twice a day, and I was so aggravated.
When I stopped I did not even get engorged! I was just out of milk.
So if it does not bother you, go for it!

I really feel for you! My son never figured out nursing, and I pumped for little more than 25 months.

For me, stopping was a combination of lowering supply as I cut down pumps (and pumping devices from hospital-grade to double electric to single manual), and forgiving myself/giving myself permission. I think I mostly stopped talking about it before then, to avoid the not-quite-criticism(sp?).

BTW, I'm still nursing my 25-month old daughter, and there are no signs she'll be stopping anytime soon!