I've made the complicated decision to begin pumping again. I'll continue breastfeeding as well but my current plan is to pump twice, once after the morning feed and once after the bedtime routine hoping to get around 12oz a day.
I haven't pumped since 2 months pp. My son is now 10 months old and we're weeks away from running out of my stashed milk. I had a horrible oversupply and ended up with 600+ozs in just two months. I've been using that milk since he started solids at four months to add to his food or give him in a cup with a straw. He is super food motivated and hardly nurses during the day. I'd say we're down to 3-4 feeds lasting maybe 10 minutes each. I'm confident about still producing milk but he ends the session himself. We always breastfeed before meals and I think he wants to get it over with asap so he can go have "real food".
His pediatrician isn't concerned because he's gaining good weight but it worries me. He drinks around 12oz a day from his cup and he drinks it FAST. I'm refilling that thing within a minute. I feel like it's the only sure way I have to know how much breast milk he's getting daily and since we're about to run out of bagged milk I'm nervous. I could start offering formula but if I'm capable of providing breast milk, even if it's from a cup, I'd rather do that.
I had expected to breastfeed for two years but it seems like he's getting ready to wean himself around a year old. I may keep pumping even after he weans until 2 years since that's recommended.
Not sure what I'm hoping to get out of this post, mostly solidarity or tips from other moms who have experienced something similar.