Moms who nursed, how long did you go for? I'm 3 months in and the struggle is real. I've been considering adding in formula but I'm trying to make it to the most ideal time, where baby gets the most benefit.

12 months, 6 of which was exclusively pumping at the end (draining let me tell ya) and I was glad to be done! Next go I’m aiming to get to 6 and then supplement

6 months but we started combo feeding after a few days, topping up with an ounce or two. It made a world of difference for my son, who really needed slightly more than I could supply. It also made weaning easier on me mentally because I knew he did well with formula already. When my supply crashed after getting covid and restarting work in the same week, I didn’t run myself into the ground trying to get my supply back. I’ve seen women go to incredible lengths to preserve EBF and while it’s admirable in a way, I’ve seen incredibly toxic borderline martyr behavior and I don’t think it was really benefiting anyone.

My son and I are at 4 years and 3 months right now. Never thought it would go this long but here we are!

6 months is great to aim for bc that’s when most babies start solids, but (1) it doesn’t need to be exclusive, and (2) if you’re going crazy to get there, just stop when your body and mind are telling you too. Not worth it!
I went crazy doing EBF with baby 1 till 9 months. Then I weaned to morning and night with formula in between till 13 months.
Baby #2, I’m still breastfeeding at 9 months now. BUT I started using 1 bottle of pumped milk once a day around 2 months bc I felt the cluster feeding was driving me insane. It allowed me to get out of the house and pick my oldest son up..and feel like a person again. I started one bottle of formula a day around 3-4 months when I started working again. My production slowed down at 6 months when baby started daycare so I was forced into ~2 bottles of formula a day with 1 pumped breastmilk bottle and nursing morning and night.
I still exclusively breastfeed on weekends and don’t stress out if I want some time to myself like gym or whatever and baby gets formula instead of breast.
He’s eating a ton of real food and growing and that’s what matters!
My advice stands - do whatever doesn’t drive you crazy. A mentally healthy mom is a great mom!

I had 2.5 years of exclusive breastfeeding, but this was during pandemic, glad to experience it with my 2nd born. However, with my first born, it was only for 1 month, then went bottle fed since she doesn’t like to be breastfed, and for mental health too since I was having PTSD. You do what is best for you and your baby. You got this mommy!

Every baby/mom is different! I did four months with my first who was WAY happier once he went on formula. My second wouldn’t touch formula and we went for 13 months. Do what’s best for you both and don’t let anyone give you grief!!

I did it for 6.5 months. We started solids around the same time

6 months exclusively BF with my first, I’m 5 months in with my second but pumping this time around. Using the Medela freestyle has helped me stick with it exponentially.

First baby was exclusively formula. I didn’t get much lactation support and just didn’t know how/what to do

Second baby was in the NICU so we supplemented with formula the first 2 months or so then went EBF. Started solids a little later (around 9m) and still nursing 2-3x a day at 14m

13 months- but at 7/8 months I exclusively pumped. I found it easier. Then around 10mo I supplemented with formula.
The first 3-4 months are the hardest then it does get easier so if you can make it to 4 months it usually gets way better. However, do whatever is easiest for you. A lot of people thought I was insane for exclusively pumping but I hated breast feeding with a passion… it just worked better for me and helped with my anxiety for wondering if I was feeding him enough.

I did 13 months. A mix of nursing and pumping, including pumping in my job’s lactation room which I actually enjoyed as a break from the desk a couple times a day (once I got a routine down). There were definitely some trying times where I thought I’d have to supplement, and I had an emergency can of formula at home, never ended up having to dig into it.

I was commuting 1+ hours each way and it was just too hard so I made it 4 months with baby 1 and 2.5 months with baby 2. I think if I exclusively WFH it would have been different. My kids are 12 and 15 and eating McDonalds like all the other breastfed kids so if it’s too much for you, don’t beat yourself up about it.

First EBF 5 months, second EBF 3 months, introduced formula as a supplement for my mental health and was able to continue to BF until 13 months (and actually enjoy it)

16 months for each of my 3 babes. Started slow, steady weaning a little after 1 year mark. Also pumped / bottle fed after returning to work.

If it’s a struggle don’t force it.

With my first (COVID baby) I went back to the office at 10 months, so at that point decided to drop all day feeds, supplement with formula/frozen milk, and just nurse at wake up and bedtime. Let us get to a year nursing, and avoid pumping which I hated. With my second now I’ll be back in the office much sooner so it’s my goal to get to a year with pumping but we’ll see!

Im 3 yrs in. 2 kids. My first i nursed to 2 yrs so that my newborn and 2 yr old could have that extra bonding. It was a huge part of my transition to wean the 2 yr old.

I almost quit so much in my first 6 months. I had letdown depression. Every single letdown, I'd get upset, sad, and dissociated. It was awful, and it felt so lonely until I learned it affects other women too and learned to cope. It eventually went away as hormones leverled a little bit more. I stuck with it and had an overall beautiful journey breastfeeding my firstborn for the full 2 yrs. There were lots of hard moments, but at the end of it, I knew 10000% I made the right choice to keep going because of the temporary feeling of lost bond when he weaned off. That feeling made me realize just how much that brought us close and was lucky to have been able to designate that time every day to just breastfeed him. I still miss it with him to this day, and he's 3 now. I get to enjoy that same journey with my 15 month old now, and it's just as amazing. Im sure ill miss it once I wean my 15 mo old off later on.

We tried formula for both babes for a bit, and it just wasn't for us. It was vrutal trying to transition, and i gave up on that. Im a full supporter that fed is best, either way you go. Every journey is going to look different, I'm glad I had the opportunity to share a little about mine.

I had to supplement from day 1 and never made enough. Kept up with breast and pumping til went back to work at 5 months. Worked hard at it but supply reduced even more and then around 6 months he would t take breast at all :(. He started as a preemie in Nicu and now is tallest kid in third grade. Fed is best.

First baby 18 months second will be 2 next week and that’s our stopping point! I’m ready but it has been soo nice! I love that time… I did stop pumping as soon as possible.. it is so much harder in my opinion - especially if you have to do it at an office .. I do believe fed is best though…Just anything that works for you is best for baby! You dreading and struggling all the time aren’t worth it

I have 4 kids and always gave myself grace to breastfeed as much as I wanted and supplement with formula as needed. My babies got around 25% formula and I stopped breastfeeding at 12mos. I was very happy with the arrangement. It was still difficult to pump while working to keep my supply up but doable.