reasons why i can't wait to stop pumping/breastfeeding

* i can get rid of my nursing bras

* i don't have to wear pads that go along w/ the bras

* we can get a babysitter and maybe have a date night once she can be put to bed by someone else

* i can have more than 1 drink at a time

* no more pumping at work

* harper will hopefully be eating what we are eating by then

* did i mention that i can have more than one drink?

* i can drink caffeine again


so it has been almost 9 months since i started breastfeeding. i have been pumping for about 4 months. overall, i have enjoyed breastfeeding because there is nothing like being able to be that close to your child and knowing you are providing her with all that she needs to become a healthy, happy baby. but man oh man, it is tough. i am blessed that she took to it on day one in the hospital. those are the toughest days, usually when most mothers give up. you are faced with trying to feed a newborn and process everything else at the same time. most babies lose weight, become jaundice and are expected to thrive on breastmilk alone. having the babies latch on is also an entirely different challenge you are faced with. talk about some painful moments in the beginning. i used to look at other mothers feeding their children formula in a bottle, jealous of how easy that must be. not having to worry about if you could find a place to breastfeed in public, the pain you experienced every time she latched on, the pain from being engorged and being able to share the duties of feeding. when we used to feed every 3 hours, i used to think that it would never end. every 3 hours, over and over and over again. and it was all you. as much as amy wanted to help in the middle of the night, she couldn't.
pumping became my enemy at one point. i was having trouble at first and mostly psyching myself out. i just couldn't comprehend tyring to pump in between feeding harper every 3 hours. mentally i was exhausted. having a personal lactation consultant was definitely helpful. thanks kriss! once i began to go back to work, the pumping turned out ok. i pump twice a day at work, but still needed to supplement her bottles with some formula. lately, i haven't been successful when i pump. it has been very frustrating. could it be from the stress of the upcoming trip? or am i mentally blocking myself again? or maybe i am not drinking enough water. it is 94 degrees outside today, after all. i'm hoping to stop pumping after all of our vacations, around july 1st. then we will be transitioning her to real milk at that point. i can see the light. i will continue to breastfeed her in the morning and evening. there is going to be one big celebration on the day i stop breastfeeding. it may involve me drinking the entire day so i think we may need a babysitter. : )
i do know one thing. i am doing this for harper and that is one big enough reason to power thru all of the challenges i am faced with.