Today was a big milestone for me.
I pumped for the very last time.
And I am so relieved.
No more packing and unpacking, or washing all of the 9000 parts every night. No more schleping the pump back and forth to work anymore. No more trips to vacant parking lots in the freezing cold because there’s nowhere in my office to take care of business. No more business trips with a van full of colleagues wondering why I have a heavy Trader Joe’s freezer bag on the way home that I didn’t have on the way there.
No more worrying that I’m going to be pulled over on my way to and from work and have to explain why I’m half naked.
So yeah, I’m relieved.
I have been counting down the days, really, but now I’m surprised to find I am kind of sad about it in a weird way. Sammy will be a year old on Thursday. He’s not a baby anymore. And while I’m planning to continue to nurse him when we’re together, he no longer relies on me when we’re apart.
I’m just not sure I am ready for that.
It’s been over a year since I last pumped and I still clearly remember those same feelings. I hope your non-pumping toddler nursing days are as fulfilling as mine were.
I’m glad you are felling so positive about your decision. But seriously, he’s going to be A YEAR OLD? Can’t be true! You’re a liar!
You should give it one more go and TRY to get pulled over. You know, for the sake of the blog! C’mon!!!
I am also on the wean for pumping and nursing. I remember having those feelings when I stopped nursing my first child and it will most likely be that way with my second. I was aiming for a year but it is a little over 7 months and my first child is potty training and constantly wanting to get on the potty with my assistance…I have not stopped yet but I know it is in the very near future.
yay! I felt like having a party the day I pumped my last bottle for my daughter. It’s just SUCH a relief to not have to worry about all that (plus, my back is thankful not to have to carry bottles, icepacks, pump parts, etc on my commute anymore!)
Good for you. 😀
I remember this feeling with P. It was a relief, but bittersweet. I loved nursing and was successful for thirteen wonderful months, but the pumping was a pain. Maybe because it was a constant reminder of where I’d rather be.
The end to nursing was rather abrupt for me and that is what was sad. P just woke up one day and decided she was done. Even if I wasn’t.
I think there needs to be a law that requires workplaces to give women a room to pump in.
I agree with Jenny! The bloogin world needs a great story like that!
and wow, I can’t believe he’s a whole year old!
My daughter weened herself at 6 months (longish story). Part of me was so happy to be FREE! But I also felt rather sad about it. I would guess most mommas have mixed feelings.
We just recently stopped giving our daughter a bottle before bed…and I was so sad. She’s been ready for a while, but her sappy mother has been holding on to this little ritual, the last sign of baby-hood.
Saying goodbye to bottles – and all your pumping paraphenalia – feels good, though, doesn’t it?
Wow – I am SERIOUSLY impressed that you pumped at work for an entire year. I’ve always admired women who do that – I’ve hung on to nursing for 12 months, but I have a feeling that if I went back to work at any point, it would be over. Way to go!!
I do have to giggle, you are stopping and I will be starting, we are going rent a pump from the hospital until we find one we like this time around…
(((hugs)))
I am proud of you for pumping for so long. I nursed for 1.5 years but could not pump for the life of me. I would sit there for an hour and only have half an ounce to show for it. (I was only trying to pump to get milk for cereal as I was and still am EXTREMELY (well most days 😉 )lucky to be a SAHM. We stopped nursing over a year ago now and I still miss it. Though she’s still attached to me just not THAT way anymore 😉
I stumbled upon your site from The Thrifty Mama. I happened to see your title on breastfeeding in the column and had to read. I pumped for our first child for 5 1/2 months due to serious latch issues as a SAHM, and then continued to nurse until she was almost 2 1/2. It was fabulous. Then we had our son, and I only had to pump occasionally when we had latch issues, and then he nursed until almost 2 1/2. We do not plan to have any more children, and I miss nursing so much! 🙂 It was my favorite part, so make sure you don’t stop until you both are ready. God bless you.