Tomorrow there will be no back up supply of breast milk. This is my last bag. I knew this day was coming. I was hoping to have enough milk to get to the transition to whole milk, but I didn't make it. I started pumping when Braylen was about 1 week old and was able to store a freezer full of milk. In fact, I ran out of room in my freezer for food. My friend so kindly allowed me to store half of my supply in her deep freezer for months. Thank you, Laura!
I get strange looks when I tell people that I pump even though I stay home with my baby full time. I had a very negative experience with nursing Evie. Luckily Braylen and I had a much better nursing relationship. I am still nursing him in the morning and night, but have been bottle and cup feeding him for months during the day. I nursed Braylen one time in public. That's not me at all. I decided to stay close to home during feeding time or be at a close friend's house instead of "whipping it out" in public. The pumping and bottle route was more comfortable for me even though very time consuming.
I am very, very thankful for my ample supply of milk I could give Braylen. I've been questioning for weeks whether to introduce whole milk now or go to formula and wait until 12 months for whole milk. Miss Evie pretty much scarred me with her slow and painful transitions from breast milk to formula to whole milk. Did I really want to endure that again? I went back and forth for weeks and finally was swayed to formula by my new pediatric nurse practitioner friend on Monday.
I started formula with B a few months back when I mixed it in with his oatmeal baby cereal. I have a container already. I mixed it up for him, put it in his cup, and prayed for the best. Braylen guzzled the whole thing. God is good!
It's amazing how freeing it is that Braylen drank the formula without a battle. So it cost 20 more dollars than the free milk I was supplying. Hopefully the transition to whole milk will be just as easy. The next big "freeing" experience is the end of pumping. I am still pumping to give him as much milk as I can, but my supply is dwindling hence the need for some cups of formula.
I am really proud of the commitment I made to Braylen to give breast feeding another try and to pump 3 times a day to provide him with nourishing food. I am so close to the end. I cannot wait to zip up that little black backpack one last time! I know my family members will be overjoyed not to hear that familiar whoosh sound 30 minutes every day.
2 comments:
You did awesome making it so far, especially after the bad experience you had the first time! I was so excited to be done pumping the second time I sold my pump like 2 days later even though I'd love to have another kid someday! The breast feeding was much harder to give up - enjoy the snuggle time while it lasts!
Good job, Marisa! I remember the glorious day of pump retiring after all those months of pumping for Hannah. Retire it happily- for a job well done!
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