When you first start out exclusively pumping, you could be pumping up to 10 or 12 times per day. At some point, you’ll want to start consolidating the amount of time you spend attached to your breast pump. Here is everything you need to know about how to drop pumping sessions.
There are a couple of ways that you might know that it’s time to drop a session:
- Your baby is older than two or three months, and your supply has regulated;
- You are happy with your supply, whether you supplement or not, and you are okay with risking a drop in supply while you experiment with a dropped pump;
- You are losing your mind and need the sanity of more sleep/fewer pumps, or
- You are ready to wean from the pump.
(If you’re struggling with whether or not to drop a pumping session, here’s a flowchart that I made to help with the decision.)
What affect will dropping a pumping session have on my supply?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer here – different women will have different results. When you drop a pumping session, your output might not change, it may decrease, or it may even go up. (Mine stayed the same when I dropped from 8 to 7 to 6 to 5, went up when I dropped from 5 to 4 pumps per day, and decreased after that.)
The most important thing that you can do to protect your supply when you drop a pumping session is to add the time from the dropped pump back to other the pumping sessions unless you are weaning from the pump or trying to reduce your supply. The total amount of time in a day that you spend pumping should stay the same, just consolidated. For example, if you are going for 6 pumps per day at 20 minutes each to 5 pumps per day, you should change the the length of your sessions from 20 to 24 minutes.
If you’re weaning, keep your sessions the same length of time.
Does it matter which pumping session I drop?
For the most part, no. When deciding which pump to drop, think about what works best for your schedule. Do you need more sleep? Are you having difficulty getting away for work to pump? Or are you at home with your baby and are having difficulty pumping while he or she is awake? Figure out which pump going away would make your life better, and that’s the one that you should drop.
The only time I’d recommend keeping a certain session, even if you want to drop it, is if it affects your overall supply for the day significantly when you skip it.
For example, many women are able to pump more milk in the middle of the night than they are at other pumping sessions. Normally, when a breastfeeding mother drops the middle of the night session, she just gets that milk later, in the morning. If for whatever reason this isn’t the case for you, you might want to keep pumping in the middle of the night.
How to drop pumping sessions
There are four ways to drop a pump:
- Drop it cold turkey
- Slowly reduce the time of the to-be-dropped pump
- Slowly reduce the volume of the to-be-dropped pump
- Gradually bring the pumps closer together
The method that is best for you depends on how quickly you want to drop the pump and whether you are prone to clogged ducts or mastitis. Cold turkey is the easiest way to go if you don’t get a lot of clogged ducts; but if you do, one of the gradual approaches will be better for you.
1. Dropping a pumping session cold turkey
This one is pretty simple – you just stop pumping at the to-be-dropped pump time. However, you may need to re-space your other pumping sessions. For example:
Old Schedule: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 10pm.
To drop the 3pm pumping session, you might rearrange your schedule to the following:
New Schedule: 6am, 9am, 1pm, 4pm, 10pm
You can just switch over one day, and then you’re on the new schedule. If you see a significant supply drop, you can think about adding the dropped pump back in.
2. Dropping a pumping session by slowly reducing pump time
With this method, you start pumping less at the pump that you want to drop until you get it down to 5 minutes or so. Then you stop pumping at that time completely. Taking the prior example, where we drop the 3pm pumping session:
Old Schedule: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 10pm (each pump is 20 minutes)
Old Schedule/First Day Reducing Pump Time: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm (15 minutes), 6pm, 10pm
Old Schedule/Second Day Reducing Pump Time: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm (10 minutes), 6pm, 10pm
Old Schedule/Third Day Reducing Pump Time: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm (5 minutes), 6pm, 10pm
New Schedule: 6am, 9am, 1pm, 4pm, 10pm (each pump is 24 minutes)
3. Dropping a pumping session by slowly reducing volume
This approach works great for weaning from the pump or for dropping a middle of the night pumping session when you’re prone to clogged ducts.
Essentially, what you do is just pump an ounce less every day (or every few days) until you’re down to 1-2oz at a given session, then stop pumping altogether at that time. This works well for women with oversupply because you are carefully controlling the amount of milk removed from your breasts at that time to allow your body to get used to the new schedule.
Old Schedule: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm, 10pm, 3am (normally you get 4 oz at 3am)
Old Schedule/First Day Reducing Pump Volume: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm, 10pm, 3am (3 oz)
Old Schedule/Second Day Reducing Pump Volume: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm, 10pm, 3am (2 oz)
Old Schedule/Third Day Reducing Pump Volume: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm, 10pm, 3am (1 oz)
New Schedule: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 6pm, 10pm (each pump is longer to account for dropped pump time)
4. Dropping a pumping session by gradually bringing them closer together
With this method, you move two pumps closer together until you can comfortably drop one. In the below example, you would move the 3pm and 6pm closer together until you are ready to drop the 3pm one.
Old Schedule: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 10pm
Old Schedule/First Day Closer Together: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3:15pm, 5:45pm, 10pm
Old Schedule/Second Day Closer Together: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 10pm
Old Schedule/Third Day Closer Together: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3:45pm, 5:15pm, 10pm
Old Schedule/Fourth Day Closer Together: 6am, 9am, 12pm, 4pm, 5pm, 10pm
Then drop the 5pm pump and re-space to the 12am to 1pm and you’ve got the new schedule:
New Schedule: 6am, 9am, 1pm, 4pm, 10pm
Hopefully, this gives you some insight about how to drop pumping sessions so that you can hook yourself up to a breast pump less often!
References- Gray, Krista, IBCLC. “Why Breastfeed at Night.” https://www.nursingnurture.com/why-breastfeed-at-night/
- Bonyata, Kelly, BS, IBCLC. “My breasts feel empty! Has my milk supply decreased?” https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/breast-fullness/
Hello! I am an exclusive pumper since day one. My little one is 7 months old. I am over producing like CRAZY. I’ve cut back my pumping from 6x, daily to 3x daily. I pump ever 8 hrs for 20-25 min. I can easily pull 11-16oz from one breast during a 20-25min pump. Please help me figure out a safe and effective way to cut back without getting a breast infection? I’m prone to clogged ducts and I’ve had two breast infections before. My time is very flexible, I can try anything.
Hi Isha! So are you looking to drop down to 2x per day? Or you just want to reduce the amount you get? Thanks!
Hi Isha, were you able to wean off effectively? I’m on the same boat right now and would like to end up at 2 pumps per day. How were you able to do it?
So I’m ALMOST down to just 2 pumps a day. I pump at 530AM for 18-25 min per breast (my cut off depends on which comes first: 12oz or 25 min), then at 1030AM just 10min per breast, lastly my evening pump at 7PM for 20-25 min per breast. (For this pump I also use volume as my measuring tool, rather than time.)
I’m incredibly prone to clogged ducts, so I am weaning as responsibly as I can. I hope to have eliminated my 1030AM pump in the next 10 days.
If possible, I’d love to just pump twice a day… But I feel like I’d explode Or get an infection if I did. Am I, in fact, over producing? I donate 600oz a month to other breast feeding mothers, so I guess the amount is fine, for now. I would love to not have to pump anymore once he’s turned one. My milk seems to begin its heavy, steady flow after 5min, then will just (what seems like) continue strong forever.
Is it ok to go 10-12 hours between pumps? Currently I pump at 4am, 9am, 130pm, 530pm, and 930pm. I want to drop the 930pm – I can do the 530 later, but I dont want to change the 4am, 9am and 130pm because of my work schedule. Also, I am prone to clogs, but I haven’t had one in a few weeks. Thanks!
That’s fine depending on how old your baby is! Definitely if over 4 months or so.
Thank you!
I use to pump every 3 hours but my supply is really good so I was able to drop to pumping 5 times a day, than maybe 2 months ago I dropped from 5 times to 4 times and now I would like to drop to 3 times a day. I have a very good supply so I’m not too worried about not having enough milk. My little girl is 8 months old. I would like to drop my 2nd pump which is at 10am in the morning. I would pump at 6am, 2pm, and 9pm. Does this make sense to do?
Yes! It sounds like it should work. Just make sure you increase the length of your remaining sessions.
My baby is only 6 weeks old. I am exclusively pumping between 6/7 times a day and my supply seems good and I have a huge freezer stock right now. I usually pump between 8-12 oz total per session. I usually pump when baby feeds so I pump sometime between 1-3 am when she feeds. She also feeds from 6-7 but my husband typically does that feeding so I am trying to eliminate that pumping and the next feeding I would pump at would be 9 am. Right now the 2-3 am and 9 am seems too far apart. I am so uncomfortable and engorged in pain that it wakes me up either way around 5 or 6 am. Is there anything I can do to ween off this feeding and not get so engorged?
Hi Ashley! You have a great supply, that is fantastic! I think what I would do is to pump at that time, but pump less than you normally would (if you would normally pump 8 oz, stop when you get 7, then 6, then 5, etc.). You can drop down a little bit every day until you feel like you can make it to 9am.
My newborn is 20 days old and I’m pumping about 8 times a day. The last couple of days I seem to be pumping more than I need and would like to drop a session. Is it ok to just move to pumping every four hours instead of every 3-3 1/2 hours?
Hi Jodi! I think going to 7 pumps a day is okay. I wouldn’t go to 6 until you get to the 6-8 week mark to make sure your milk supply has regulated. Good luck!
My baby is 3 month old today and I returned to work a week ago. I’ve been on the following pumping/BFing schedule: pump at 12:30am, 5am, 9am, 1pm, 4:30pm and BF at 7:30/8pm. I’d like to cut out the middle of the night pump at 12:30am so I can get some more continuous sleep so I stop getting so sleepy at work. I’m a little afraid to go from 8pm to 5am without some relief. Is there an approach you’d recommend to get there? Maybe the gradually reducing one? Also, I’m happy with my current total daily pump quantity (28-30 oz). Is it possible my supply will decrease if I cut out a pump? Or will the milk show up in one of my other pumps? Thanks!
Hi Grace! Yes, this should to doable at the 3 month mark. Not sure what time you go to bed, but to drop the 12:30 pump I would try pushing that session up gradually. So do it at 11:30, then 10:30, then 9:30, then you can probably drop it altogether. And yes, that milk should show up in your other pumps – your morning session will probably yield a lot more. Make sure that you up the length of the remaining sessions so that your total pumping time in a day stays the same.
Hi Amanda, I have been gradually pushing my middle-of-night pump up and am close to getting rid of it entirely, but it hasn’t been working out well for me. I have noticed a decline in total milk pumped throughout the day. While I used to pump 28-30 oz per day, I am seeing 24-27 oz per day now. I am afraid that my supply is going to continue to decline. Do I need to re-instate my middle-of-night pump to keep my supply up?
Hi Grace! Ugh, so sorry you are experiencing this. Yeah, I would probably reinstate it. However, maybe you could rejigger the schedule to make it so you get more continuous sleep? Like what if you reinstated it at 3am instead of 12:30 – so you get that long stretch of solid sleep in the beginning of the night? Or you could try pumping at 10:30 and then go to bed afterwards and see if that helps?
Hi! My son is 6months and I’m hoping to drop pumping sessions to 3 times a day. Right now I do 5 pumps (6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm) and average 8-10oz each session. I would like to drop the 10am and 6pm so I would be going 8hrs between each session. Is it bad to drop 2 sessions at one time? I’ve never had clogged ducts or infections (knock on wood!) so I was thinking of doing cold turkey or reducing the time of those two sessions?
Hi Jamie! I think you can drop two sessions but should do one at a time. You can do it cold turkey though (just maybe a week apart)! Good luck!
I pump at 430a,845a,1130a,245p, and 815p with feedings at 615a and 515p. I get 3-4oz per session with exception of 430a getting 8. I want to cut out my 1130a pump. I’m really worried I’ll have a drop in supply. I have a 8mos old and Barry make enough for bottles at daycare. Thoughts?
I think you’d *probably* (I can’t guarantee anything) be okay as long as you added the time from your 11:30 dropped session to your other sessions. You can also try eating oatmeal in the mornings to see if that helps you out with a little boost?
So when you get down to two pumps a day, are you still maintaining the two hours total in 24 hours? So does that mean you are pumping for an hour??
Yes, unless you are weaning. 🙂
I was previously pumping every 2hrs/day for 20 minutes but only producing 1-2 ounces of milk per session. I’m trying to wean from the pump now so for the past 3 days I pump every 4hrs/day for 15 minutes or so (including at night). However, I’m still producing the same volume of milk per session so in the course of a day, my total volume per day isn’t really reducing… Is the issue that I’m inadvertently emptying my breasts so my body is still producing the same amount? Am I pumping too long anyway (or have been all along)? I notice the flow of milk during a pumping session pretty much stops after 4 minutes or so and then drips come down into the funnels.
I’m confused as to why my supply is staying the same. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks!
Alli, this is almost where im at except that I just want to get down to fewer sessions. I was hoping that my end total would be the same. How long has it been since you dropped sessions? I’m just wondering if maybe it’s too soon to see a drop. From what I’m understanding, if I drop sessions I won’t know what happens because everyone is different, is that correct?
First of all, I love your site! Thank you for your well-articulated information. You rock!
Okay so: when dropping the middle of the night pump, do you increase the amount of time pumped at the first one of the day? I am 11wpp and currently pump 6x/day, at 1a-5-9-1-5-9 (20 min each). I’d like to shift it to more like your 6a-9-12-3-6-10p schedule, but it seems like the 6am one should be longer than the others since there’s so much time in between. (Hope that makes sense!)
I was thinking, maybe 30 min at the 6am pump and 18 at the others?
Yes, I did and yes, that sounds good!
Hi there! I currently pump 5 times a day and get between 40-45oz a day. My daughter is a little over 2 months old and I want to cut back to 4 times a day and I just went back to work. Do you think I can do this without losing much of supply?
Hi Samantha,
I was wondering if you saw any decrease in your total oz when your dropped to 5x. My daughter is 8 wks and I pump 7x and want to slowly get to 5. Any advice?
Also, is it possible that your supply can increase by decreasing to 4 pumps a day?
Hi! I think you can do this but definitely make sure you keep your total pumping time in a day the same. If you can hold out at 5 pumps a day for a few weeks (like 10-11 weeks) that would be better, but if you can’t swing it, you can’t swing it, and you have a great supply. 🙂
It is possible to have it increase when dropping to four – mine did. Supply is so weird, anything can happen!
Hi, I was almost exclusively breastfeeding until 3 days ago, with the occasional pump when needed. My schedule was 4x a day and 2x a night. My 9.5 months old boy is fullymon solids and teething like crazy. He decided to start biting so hard while nursing that it made both of us upset and couldn’t handle it anymore so I am now , officially exclusively pumping. My milk supply has increased but I REALLY want to not breastfeed anymore and also just stop producing milk. So I really need a plan to STOP. I am so not sure if I am doing the right things.
My left breast for starting, produces most of the milk ( 4oz easily). I am prone to clogged ducts so I am just so nervous and sleep deprived.
I am drinking No more milk tea. Using cold patches.
My schedule right now is approximately:
Pump at
9 am 45 min in total 5/6 oz
1 pm same 4/5 oz
5 pm 4oz
9 pm ( I want to push it till 10 but not sure if that’s risky or not)
3ish pump and breasts are REALLY engorged.
Baby wakes to feed at 12ish and 3 ish.
Please help me turn this thing around.
Ugh, so sorry you are dealing with this. I would take Sudafed. Then I would drop one session at a time. Here is the plan I would recommend:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Hi
I’m currently exclusively pumping for my 4 week old, 8 pumps a day, getting about 1 litre a day and she’s drinking about 600-700ml a day so I’m building up a freezer supply too. It’s not possible for me to pump away from home as I don’t have access to a portable pump , I’m also getting rather stressed pumping so much over night at times seperate to when she’s waking up. I wanted to go to 7 sessions a day, so was going to stretch it to 4 hours between pumps, after a few weeks I my go to 6. I’m happy to use my freezer stash/supplement with formula if my supply drops. My concern is on the occasions when I do need to go out it would throw out the gaps between the sessions, what should I do? A few closer together before I go out and on my return? Have a bigger gap every day rather than just when I’m going out? I’d appreciate your advice. I’m worried about getting pain or mastitis.
Hi Sarah! I would just try to do a few closer together and a long one when you get back. Could you get a hand pump (like a Medela Harmony?) That would work to take the edge off when you go out. You can put it in your purse in a gallon-size ziploc bag?
Hi ,Great post! I have a question : so I pump 6 x a day 3 AM 7 AM 11 AM
3 PM 7 PM 11PM
So every 4 hrs
I want to pump every 5 HRs
How would I go about that ? Thank you in advance !
Hi! I would pick the most annoying pump (probably the 3am)? And just drop it. Gradually pump less at that time, and then stop. You can move the 7am up for a few days too while your body adjust, then push it back. Good luck!
Hi! Thank you so much for your incredibly helpful website! I am a mom of twins and have been exclusively pumping for 7 months to feed them both, and have a couple thousand ounces stored in our deep freezer. I am currently pumping 4 times a day (7AM, 1PM, 6PM, 11PM) but feeling really ready to start weaning from the pump. I am prone to plugged ducts and currently make about 10-12 ounces per session, except for the 7AM session where I make about 16-20 ounces. If I start to reduce a session by volume, should I keep the other 3 sessions at my current schedule? I would like to drop 11pm session first, so I can go to bed earlier when possible, but that would mean going from 6pm to 7am. Eventually, I’d like to drop down to two pumping sessions a day at 7AM and 6PM, then just 6PM, then stop. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
Hi! Yes, you should reduce volume at just one session at a time. then you can move on to the rest. After you drop the 11PM, I would just move the 6PM back by a few hours (to 8PM, or whenever you can swing it – like right after your twins are in bed). Hope that helps and good luck!!
Hi! I’m currently exclusively pumping for the last 5 months. Now I am ready to wean. I reduce the pump from 8x/day to 6 to 5 to 4 to 3x/day , but my milk supply doesn’t reduce. I am drinking Sage and peppermint tea, 3 cups a day and taking Pseudoephedrine 120mg 1x/day, doesn’t really reduce the amount. Is there anything else I can try to dry up the milk quickly? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Nicole! How much are you currently pumping per day? And how long is each session? What is your 3x/day schedule? Thanks!
I get about 11 – 12 oz per pump, about 30 mins each pump. I used to do every 8 hours, then I increase to every 8.5 hours to 9 hours , now is every 9.5 hours, so I don’t have a fixed time. I have to pump to empty, if I don’t, the next time I got plugged ducts easily.
Hi! I think I would suggest a different approach – to reduce volume on one session at a time. So for one session, you’d pump an oz or two less a day, the other two sessions you’d pump to empty. I think the reason you’re supply isn’t reducing is because of the pumping to empty every time – you have to pump less unless in order to reduce supply, so that’s what I’d suggest. With emptying at the other two hopefully you won’t get a clogged duct. Just a thought – hope it helps!
Hi, I am exclusively pumping with my third child and am an oversupplier. He is 3 months old and I’m already only pumping 3x a day with a 40oz/day total yield. I would like to get that down to 30oz for comfort reasons. One breast produces twice as much as the other so I’d love to reduce supply in just that one breast. Is this possible? My current schedule is approx 6:00 30 min 15oz, 1:30/2 20 min 10oz, 9:30 30 min 15 oz. I would do less time but I am nowhere near empty doing less and am uncomfortable or clog if I do. In fact I could probably get more if I pumped longer. I have over 2k oz frozen with no more space and my son takes 30 oz a day. Any strategies for reducing supply in my heavier side? I was on Sudafed a few weeks ago for a bad cold and it didn’t seem to have any effect. Cabbage leaves in the heavier side maybe? Would love insight. Thank you!
I think cabbage leaves in the heavier side is a great idea! You could also stop pumping just on that side earlier. Pump maybe 2/3 of the time then unplug the pump from that side and just pump the other side? I think that would work.
Hi Amanda,
Due to some starting issues, my now 3mo baby did not get on my breast so I decided to go EPing. After some ups and downs and suplements with formula bottles, I am now nicely oversupplying: my baby demands 25oz while I pump 30oz in 5 pumpings (3:00, 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00). I would like to drop one session (both for comfort and to get less milk), ideally the one at 12:00 while I prepone a bit the one at 16:00.
I have had 4 episodes with pre-mastitis symptoms so far, and I would like to know your suggestion on how to best do this.
Also, I would like to know if, if I drop my supply to 25oz and my baby in the future demands more, will I be able to increase supply again, or dropping now means cutting that portion of supply “forever”?
Thanks in advance. Finding your website has been a great discovery for me as I have found difficult getting guidance during this challenging process.
/Andrea
Hi Andrea,
For the first one, I would slowly move the 12:00 back until you get to the new time for you 16:00 (if you can, do you have any work scheduling issues)? I would move it back by 30 minutes a day until you get to the new time and then drop it altogether.
I would NOT expect to be able to increase supply later. It gets harder the more you are postpartum. Good luck!!! 🙂
Thanks for your prposal. I will think through it and see if I want to actually put it into practice since it seems I will then, most likely, not be able to fully supply my baby’s demand in 2-3 months time, when I understand she will drink more.
The other option would then be to move to 4 pumpings (1 less than current), without losing milk. What would you recommend in this case?
Thanks once more.
I think you could do that as long as you increase your pumping time during each session so that your total pumping time each day is the same. Depending on what your long-term goals are (i.e., if you want to pump for a year), I wouldn’t go lower than 4 sessions a day before your baby is 6-9 months old. If you don’t plan to pump for quite that long you may be able to drop faster. Good luck!
Hi again 🙂
I keep planning and trying to optimize my pumpings… and for this, I amtrying to get an overview of *average* milk intake of EP-fed babies. Are you aware of some material where I can see how milk intake evolves over time (12 months), as baby gets older and solids are introduced?
Thanks once more.
Hi! Here you go:
https://exclusivepumping.com/how-much-milk-do-breastfed-babies-eat/
THAT IS GREAT. Thanks a lot Amanda! Your blog and comments have been super useful for me.
Hi Amanda.
Following some of your recommendations I have successfully decreased to 4 pumpings per day without losing supply (or even slightly increasing it) 🙂
During these days, even though I try to stick to pump every 6h, sometimes it’s not been possible and I have realized that doing 2 times every 7h + 2 times every 5h gives me a better output that doing 4 times every 6h. However, I wanted to understand from you if you think this could have a negative impact in signalling my body, in the long term.
Thanks!
No – that should be fine! Don’t stress about it at all.
(Edit: removing typos)
Hello Amanda, after a few months I am still pumping! I keep the 4 pumps per day but have realized I might be able to drop 1 pump. I am almost 9mpp and currently planning to continue to 1 year. I am not super strict on my pumping timings, but I tend to do 3 pumps after 7h, and a 4th one after 3h. In those first 3 I get 90% of my total supply. So I was wondering if I could slowly increase to 8h between pumps, and go for 3 sessions. I am producing 3-5 extra oz per day, but I would like to mantain supply cause I need to travel for work, and so I need to leave milk for my daughter at home.
What would be your thoughts?
Thank you!
/Andrea
Hi Andrea! Sure, I think you could go for it! I did lose some supply when I went down to 3 pumping sessions per day (I got my period back) but there is no guarantee that will happen, you have a 3-5oz buffer, and your baby will be taking more and more solids. Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
My baby is currently 11 weeks old and I am pumping 6 times a day 4 hours apart – 6.30 am, 10.30 am, 2.30 pm, 6.30 pm, 10.30 pm, 2.30 am. I would like to drop to 5 sessions a day, ideally dropping the 2.30 am session. How should I go about doing it such that my supply doesn’t drop? Should I move the 2.30 am session gradually closer to the 6.30 am session and then drop it altogether? or move the 2.30 am session closer to the 10.30 pm session and then drop it altogether? I hope to still maintain the same amount of milk. Thanks!
Hi Kimberly! I would move the 2:30 back until you get closer to 5:30. And make sure you add the time from the dropped 2:30 session to the five remaining sessions. Good luck!
Hi there
I’m an exclusive pumper and am looking to wean. I’d like to do it as quickly as possible.
I am prone to clogs. I pump 4 times a day right now. My problem is I usually pump when my daughter naps because she is too busy for me to pump while she is awake. It’s usually 9am, 2pm, 830pm and 230 am. I’d like to drop the 9am pump first. How can I safely do this? Should I cut the amount of ounces over a few days at that pump and then once down to an ounce out of each breast drop that time altogether and rearrange the other times? (This means I’d have to pump while my daughter is awake unfortunately)
Also if one breast only produces around 1 oz before the other one drops to that amount should I stop pumping that breast at that session and just do the one?
Thank you so much
Hi Kristi, I think you can probably do this pretty quickly but I wouldn’t start until your clog/galactocele situation is more or less resolved. Anyway, yes, you have the technique right with dropping ounces and then rearranging your other sessions.
About your daughter being too busy – I am not sure how old she is but is she old enough to go in a high chair? If so, what I would do is put her there, bring a gigantic basket of toys, and sit there and play with her while she’s in the chair. That way she can’t reach your tubing and stuff. All the stuff in the basket will get thrown on the floor during your session but that’s why you bring a whole lot of stuff. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much…the highchair idea is genius. She is 9 months old so that works so well.
The clog seems to have resolved, thank goodness. I was getting super worried there. I’ve never had one that bad.
If one breast tends to produce 3 oz every 6 hours and he other produces 6 oz every 6 hours would you reduce oz until say lefty is at one oz and eighth is at 4 oz and then stop pumping the left breast at that time and continue to wean the right breast?
Thank you for your help. I’ve been following your page and newsletter this entire journey.
Hi Kristi! That should work! I would go with how you feel – if you’re down to 1 oz on the left and still feel like you want to pump until you’re also down to 1oz on the right, I think that would be fine too. Good luck!
Hi, I’m currently pumping 4x/day and would like to reduce to 3x/day if possible. My Baby is 13 weeks old. My pumping schedule is 4,10,4,10 at 30 mins at 4AM & 4PM and 20 mins each at 10AM and 10PM. I would like to switch to the new schedule so that I could pump 6,2,10. I am prone to clog ducts at the beginning but it has gotten better. How will I go about going to the new schedule to avoid clog ducts and not hurt my milk supply. Thanks a bunch.
Hi Lynn! Before I answer, can I ask how long you plan to pump? Three sessions a day makes me a little nervous about long-term supply at 13 weeks, but not if you’re planning on weaning around the 6 month mark.
To answer your question, I would increase the length of each session so that your total amount of pumping time in a day stays the same. To move them around without getting a clog, I would slowly move the 4 back to 6 (over a few days, wait a little longer to pump until you can make it to 6am. Then move your 10 back to 2 the same way, then stop pumping at 4. Good luck!
Sorry to bug you again. I have been slowly dropping ounces at one of my pumps. Then keeping on schedule for the rest of my pumps. I usually pump for 24 minutes and get a total of 8 oz. but I’ve noticed at my next pumps I’m getting more then usual. (Probably whatever isn’t emptied at the pump I’m trying to drop) for the remainder of my pumps should I pump the 25 minutes I usually do or stop once I hit what I normally pump before trying to drop one?
Thanks so much
Hi! I would pump until more or less empty at every session except the one you’re trying to drop.
Thank you so much.
Hello!
I have some questions I am hoping that you would be able to help me with!
I have been going over your site for tips on how to exclusively pump for my little one who is 6.5 weeks old now. I started pumping when my milk came in on day 3-5 postpartum. Since then I have had numerous clogged ducts (7 to be exact) and I’ve had 2 bouts of breast infections where I’ve had to be on antibiotics for 7-10 days.
I am now following your example schedule for pumping for a newborn right now where I am pumping 12 am, 4 am, 7 am, 10 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm.
That being said I have read your intro where it says you should be pumping for 120 mins a day so if I am pumping 8 times a day I would pump for 15 minutes. I was strictly doing 15 minute sessions and I would stop the pump even though my milk was squirting out. I am thinking this is what may have been causing my clogs and infections, because I was never emptying and the milk was sitting?
I have also read where other women have asked questions about engorgement and overproduction on your page and you state that you cannot over pump when exclusively pumping and that over-pumping would really be for nursing moms.
My question is…is it ok that I am pumping until the steady stream of milk is at a dull trickle in the flange? This can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes, usually around 20 mins depending on the vacuum setting I have set. So I am almost empty but I wouldn’t say dry. So 8 times a day 20-30 mins…usually more around 20 mins. Does this seem like too much? I produce about 60 oz a day, which I believe you said was an over produced amount?
With all of my issues with clogs and mastitis infections I would hate to be doing something that is going to harm me more in the long run.
I am excited yet also worried about transitioning to fewer pump sessions at 10 weeks and 12 weeks because of my history with clogs and infections. Being that I am already at 20 mins 8X a day, do you have any suggestions on how I can gracefully transition and decrease to the 6 pumps and so on? I am afraid I will be pumping for 30-40 mins when I decrease sessions…
Anything you can offer me would be such a help!! You’re website really has been a life saver, it’s so nice to know that there are others experiencing what I have been. This is definitely not easy!!
Ps my little one is eating about 30 oz a day (5 oz 6 times daily)
Thank you in advance!!!
Hi Tiffany! I definitely think it’s good that you increased the length of your sessions to 20 minutes so that you can pump to empty. I think what I would do is go ahead and drop one session now (if you want) and see if you can speed up getting to empty with breast massage. Can you increase the vacuum speed or does it hurt? You could also try a warm compress before you pump to see if that speeds things up. How many letdowns are you getting in that time?
As far as how to drop it, I would slowly reduce the amount of volume that you’re getting in the dropped session (like 1 oz per day) and then respace your sessions so that they are spread out better throughout the day. So if your schedule was 12 am, 4 am, 7 am, 10 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm, and you dropped the 12am, you could respace to 3 am, 7 am, 10 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm and 10 pm.
Hi Amanda! Thank you so much for your reply! I am happy to hear that switching to 20 minutes was a good thing! I absolutely want to drop one now! Doing a breast massage definitely helps to empty quicker but I wasn’t sure if I should be doing it. I’m not sure if I am doing it correctly but I basically go around my whole breast with my knuckles pushing towards the nipple alternating sides every couple of minutes. If you have a different way of doing that I would be open to learning! I have the spectra S2 pump so sometimes depending on how long it’s been between pumps I can do a 7 but sometimes it hurts so I do a level 6. I’m not sure how many let downs I am having- I feel really dumb not knowing this but is there a way to tell? I can tell you that I have a constant flow from the first letdown (I can feel the first one) until I turn the pump off at 20 mins.
I was thinking the 12 am would be the best one to drop, I am SO excited about a little extra sleep! I guess I am hesitant to do the drop by volume because I don’t necessarily understand it…I never get the same amount for sessions. At midnight I can get anywhere from the low end of 6 ounces between both to a high end of almost 8 ounces between both breasts…Does this mean my supply has not regulated yet? My left side is definitely a big producer pulling in about 1-2 ounces more than the right, does that matter when dropping by ounces or is it just a total between the two I am looking to cut? I was thinking since it is such a variation in ounces day to day what if I cut down times as follows…? Day 1 pump for 17 mins, Day 2 pump for 14 mins, Day 3 pump for 11 mins, Day 4 pump for 8 mins and Day 5 pump for 5 mins and nothing on Day 6…would that work? Would this be more likely to cause a clog? Am overthinking it?! Again thank you so much for your help!!!
Hi! Okay, maybe you’re just getting one letdown? Usually what happens is your milk starts flowing, then dribbles, then stops, then starts flowingly strongly again. It sounds like you’re just have a really long one? Which is fine too, I was just wondering.
As far as massage, I’m sure what you’re doing is fine. I would do it the whole time (if you can) and see if you can empty faster.
For the volume question I would take the highest you’ve ever pumped and decrease from there. So if the most is 8, pump 7 on day 1, 6 on day 2, etc. You can do the time thing too, I just prefer volume since that’s really what you’re trying to get to – getting your body used to pumping less and less milk at that time until you’re at 0. 🙂 Good luck!
Hi there! Your site is great and I appreciate all of your tips! I am exclusively pumping for my 5 week old. This is my second child and again I have an oversupply. I usually pump at 8:30am, 1pm, 5pm, 9pm and 2:30am. I want to drop the 2:30am session and have started to reduce the amount I pump by one ounce a night. However, my right breast yields more milk more quickly. Any tips on how to eliminate this pump safely? I was prone to clogged ducts with my first baby, and I don’t remember how I eliminated the nighttime pump. Everything is such a blur! Also, should I rearrange my schedule for the other pumps once I drop the nighttime pump or do you think I’m okay as is? Thank you!
Hi Jenine! As far as how to drop the night session, I’d drop by one a night until you’re getting 1 oz in the right side per night. The left side will be there faster, just wait for the right to catch up. And yes, I would move the 8:30am forward if you can and maybe the 9pm back, if you can. The others are fine, I think, unless you want to move them around. Good luck!
Hi, thanks for the reply. Do you mean drop by 1 oz until I’m getting 1 oz on the left side? The right side is the one that empties faster. Do I wait until the left gets to 1 oz regardless of what the right has? Or do I reduce each side by 1 oz individually and then only pump the left once I’ve reached 1 oz on the right since it’s faster? I just want to make sure I’m doing this correctly and safely. Thanks again!
Yes, sorry – drop by 1oz until you get 1oz on the side the empties faster.
Sorry for all of the questions, but I’m a bit confused. The right empties faster, so are you saying pump until the right has 1 oz regardless of what the slower left side has and then stop? And then it’s dropped? When you said the left side will catch up, I’m not sure what you mean since it’s slower. And do NOT pump until I get 1 oz individually on each side?
Sorry for the confusion! I’ll try to be more clear – my suggestion is reduce the volume on each side by 1oz per day until you are only getting to 1oz on each side. One side will get to 1oz first. That’s okay, just keep pumping 1oz on that side until you are only pumping 1oz on the other side as well.
Maybe an example would help. So say you get 5oz on side one and 2oz on side two. On day one, you’d do 4oz and 1oz. On day two, you’d do 3oz and 1oz. One day three, you’d do 2oz and 1oz. On day four, 1oz each side. Day five, don’t pump.
None of this is written in stone, it’s just a suggestion. You can tweak that however you want – stop pumping on side two early, etc.
Hello!
I’ve been eping since my daughter was about 3 weeks. She will be 11 weeks on Friday. My supply is pretty good (40-45 oz per day) so I would really like to drop my middle of the night session but am having trouble doing so. I started at every 2 hours and am finally at every 4 hour. I pump at 9am 1pm 5pm 9pm 1am and 5am. I would like to eliminate the 1am pump but I am prone to clogged ducts and engorgment so every time I try to push it back I wake up miserable and it usually takes me a couple of days to get back to normal. I would really appreciate any advice or tips you have.
Thanks in advance!
When you’ve tried to push the 1am back before, how long have you tried to go?
I just wanted to add that I pump for 30 min each time.
Thanks again!
30-45 min.
I would start really slowly then and just move it back 15 minutes at a time. Cabbage leaves might help you go longer – you could try putting them in your bra when you go to bed and see if you can go 30 minutes.
Hi. I am trying to wean from pumping. I pump 4 times a day (5.30 am where I get the most, 10.30, 3.30, 8.45pm). I pump 15 mins each session and the hand pump for 5 mins after.
Yesterday I started to wean by stopping the hand pumping and reducing each session to 13 mins. The 13 mins hasn’t hurt but not hand pumping after has. I was engorged 2 hours after the morning session and relieved a bit to feel comfortable.
Today I pumped 13 mins and hand pump after each session but dropped a session so it is 5.30am, 12.30pm and 8.45. So far it is ok. But how long should I leave it with the 3 sessions and how do I go about weaning the rest? I have had mastitis twice (but that was while breastfeeding and on drugs to increase supply).
Thanks for your assistance.
Hi Julia! I’m not a fan of the plan where you reduce each session by the same amount to wean because you never empty which makes it easier for milk to get “stuck” and for you to get a clogged duct. I would drop one session at a time – keep the others the same length, but reduce one slowly. Once you drop that one, move on to the next. Good luck!
Thanks For the response. I will stick with 13 mins each session with hand pumping still. So I should still empty after each session but drop a session every few days or week?
Yes exactly. Reduce the time of one session at a time, empty at the rest. How fast you want to go is up to you – either of those will work. Whatever makes you comfortable!
Thanks, I’ll have to give the cabbage leaves a try! Would you recommend doing 15 min each night or should I do 15 min for a few nights, then 30 for a few, etc.? Just don’t know how long it’s supposed to take to adjust.
I would go by how comfortable you feel after pushing it back 15 minutes. If you feel totally fine, you could go faster. If you don’t, give it a few days. Good luck!
Thank you!
Appreciate the response. I dropped the fourth pump (cold turkey) two days ago and coping ok with spreading the three to every 8-9 hours. I empty each one and it has reduced the daily quantity by 120ml. How long should I stay at these three pumps before I drop another?
I think a few days is good!
I am 8w pp. I have been pumping about 5-6 times a day exclusively since baby was about 5 days old. I have not been able to pump in the middle of the night I need sleep. I got mastitis twice once at 5wpp and again at 7w and then I said that’s the final straw I am done. I started the weaning process 3 days ago I dropped from 5 pumps to 4 and am not seeing a decrease in supply. I didn’t want to drop to 3 until I saw a decrease. How long does it typically take to decrease? My boobs are hurting at times so I don’t know if maybe I should try some things like cabbage leaves to speed it up. I wanted to get down to 2 pumps-morning and night quickly but then slowly go from there. Any advice? I pump 30 min sessions 4 times a day and am pumping about 33 oz total.
I would let it go a few more days and see if it gets more comfortable. Have you considered trying Sudafed to see if that helps bring your supply down? I think cabbage is a good idea.
I am down to two pumps a day.. 5ish and 7ish. Today my letdown took double the time to occur. Is this a sign my milk is drying up? I will stay with two pumps for almost a week before I start to decrease volume on he evening pump. I am quite engorged though.. what would you suggest to help? I am hesitant to relieve it as I don’t want to stimulate and encourage milk.
Thanks
Have you tried cabbage leaves? I would do that for engorgement. Or just pump a little to get the edge off.
I hadn’t considered trying anything I’m shocked because actually as I look closely at my last few days of data my amount is going up to what it was before I got the mastitis. I thought dropping a pump while having mastitis would keep it down. I will give it a few days and then consider taking sudafed.
Hello 🙂 FTM here Looking for advice please! I am on the fence about weaning completely or reducing pump sessions to relieve stress. Sorry for the long post, but hoping background info can provide insight for a recommendation.
I saw a LC today in hopes for suggestions to improve my pumping experience, but left more confused. She didn’t have any concrete ideas to help me so here I am trying to figure out next steps. I am so sick of being tied to my pump all day/night, and I’m sick of dealing with the BF and pumping issues I’ve encountered, but I want to do what’s best for my daughter (& me together).
I have been EPing since 2-3wkpp due to multiple BF struggles. I pump every time my LO eats, which is every 3hrs (8x/day), but she normally goes one 4hr feeding stretch during the middle of the night so the times shift making a schedule difficult to follow. She eats 4oz each feed, and recently I am able to freeze an extra 6oz bag each day on top of the 4oz/feeding she needs.
ISSUES:
1) I feel like my life revolves around feeding, pumping, and cleaning pump parts. I don’t have time for much else. I return to work in 6wks and need a little freedom from this pump.
2) I have aches and pains in my breasts before and after pumping, and sometimes I have bursts of shooting pains. If my daughter is sleeping on my chest and makes a sudden move or kicks/hits me in the wrong spot I experience intense pain. I do not have any flu like symptoms nor do I have redness, any noticeable lumps, or a fever, so I’m not sure if I have a clogged duct, mastitis, or thrush. I have my 6wkpp OB appt later this week so I’m hoping to confirm if one of these issues is the cause of my pains. The LC said I have a lot of milk and a strong let down, so skipping sessions in the past has left me very full and in pain.
3) My LO has bad gas issues that I can’t seem to resolve (have been trying 1x/day probiotics, gripe water, Mylicon, limited dairy intake, and I also started taking digestive enzymes this past week). The LC suggested cutting out wheat as well, which I am not thrilled to try, which makes me interested in trying formula since my pumping experience doesn’t seem to be working out.
With the challenges mentioned above, should I give up on my breast milk attempts and try formula, or could I successfully reduce my pumping sessions to relieve the stress of constant pumping?
If I can reduce pump sessions, how can I do it successfully with avoiding clogged ducts? Trying to determine a schedule that works with my daughters eating is a bit confusing. I’m not sure where to start. Your insight is greatly appreciated!!
Hi Jenn! I’m guessing your baby is about 5.5 weeks old? Normally I’d say to do 7 times a day, but you have a good supply and sound totally miserable so I think you’d be okay at 6 times a day, 20 minutes each. To avoid clogs, I would try to make sure you empty and stick to the schedule as much as you can. Also, try lecithin. Around this age, I switched to firm times during the day plus whenever the baby woke up at night. It’s okay to be an hour late or an hour early if you have something going on, just make sure to get the sessions is and do the best you can.
Regarding #3, could you try formula for a day and continue pumping, just to see if it helps with the gas? That might give you an additional data point to work with (maybe it will help and maybe it won’t). Most breastfeeding women can’t really do this b/c they are nursing, but there’s no reason you can’t try it.
Regarding the pain – are you sure you have the right flange size? FWIW, it doesn’t sound like a clogged duct or mastitis to me. Thrush is the most likely I think (obviously am not a doctor).
Thank you for the reply!
I was really hoping I could cut down to 3 or 4 pump sessions a day 🙁 I am going to try a larger flange size with lubricant, and a week trial of formula (while still pumping) to test the tummy issues.
Thrush sounds awful to deal with, I really hope it’s not that! but I do agree with you that it does sound possible based on the symptoms. 🙁 I’ll check with my doctor on Thursday.
If you are weaning and get mastitis how do you handle it so you don’t increase your supply by pumping too much?
In most cases I would recommend putting weaning completely on hold until mastitis in resolved and starting over. The only time I would maybe not is if you’re almost done weaning (like about to drop the last session) and your doctor says it’s okay. Sorry 🙁
Hello thank you for your website!
Im currently pumping every 4 hours for 12-13 mins at 330, 730, 1130, 330pm, 730pm, 1130pm. I get ~5 oz combined each time I pump. I am slightly ready to wean off completely. My clogged ducts are never ending and I use heating pads the whole time I pump. I won’t be able to pump on a timely schedule when I go back to work in a month. What do you suggest? I would like to still pump for my 10 week old son but I don’t see how I can use heating pads the whole time.
I know I can pump less at one session until I’m down to 1 oz then I stop completely and move to the next session right? I pump 70ml on left and 80ml on right each time. My clogged ducts are horrible what would you recommend? Should I go down to 1/2 an oz then stop?
Also in regards to myckogged ducts, do I massage and empty them out completely each time? But then I’m Afraid that will signal my body to make more milk and further clog my ducts while i wean.
Please help!
Sorry that you’re dealing with this! It sounds terrible. Yes, I would recommend dropping one at a time (by pumping less volume) and making sure that you empty completely at the other sessions. And yes, when you get a clog I would get it out completely. Have you tried lecithin at all?
Hi! Thank you for all this advice! I started off BFing and have moved to EPing. I don’t necessarily pump for a certain amount of time but until my breasts are empty. The amount of time and volume varies depending on which session. I pump at 630a, 930a, 1230p, 330p, 8p and 2a. I currently overproduce about 10 oz/day, which is about what I get from my 2a pump session. I’d like to drop the 2a session since I’m about to return to work. I’m currently 11wpp. Would the best be to reduce the volume gradually? I could potentially pump earlier in the morning (530a) and later in the evening if that would help.
Hi Shelly! Yes, I would do all of those things – temporarily move the evening session back and the morning session up, and slowly reduce the volume. If you haven’t had a clogged duct or mastitis you could do it quickly (maybe in 2-3 days), if you have I would do it more slowly. Good luck!
Hello Amanda! Great website, thanks for all your information and help. I was Eping since birth, my baby is 6 weeks old, but never got him to latch correctly. My supply is also not well established and pretty much very low. After discussing with husband and much heart pain, tearful days, we decided to supplement with formula. I used to pump every 3 hours for 15 minutes but have changed to every 4 hours since last night and cut down to 12 minutes each session. So far, feeling fullness in breast but was wondering if it was possible to drop it down to pumping for two sessions daily at least just to be able to give my baby a few ounces of my breastmilk? Schedule is looking like this now: 12AM, 4AM, 8AM, 12PM, 4PM, 8PM. If this is not ideal because I never got my supply established and I dont produdce much, I understand. I just dont know how to go about it without getting clogged ducts or mastitis, if you could give a suggestion of a schedule, anything is appreciated. Have had several episodes of clogged ducts, I do take sunflower lecithin. Thank you so much for your advice!
Hi Isa! I would just drop one session at a time until you’re down to two left (probably I would leave the 8am and 8pm, though it really doesn’t matter as long as they are about 12 hours apart). To drop a session, I would cut the time or volume on that session only (you can do it fast or slow – cut a few minutes or oz at a time, or cut it in half and then drop it the next day. Once you’ve dropped a session, I would wait a few days and then move on to the next one until you’re at two sessions. Hope that helps – good luck!
Hi Amanda,
I have been exclusively pumping since my son was 2 weeks old due to countless struggles between the both of us. He is now 13 weeks. I pumped 8 times a day (6,9,12, 3, etc.) until he was 10 weeks. I am finally over the hump with my breast issues and as my son has been sleeping longer stretches at night. I followed your post on dropping pump sessions so I could get some rest too. My schedule is now 5:30am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm. To drop my 12a and 3a pump I slowly stretched the time out between pumps over one week and then decreased both volume/pump time over one week to prevent engorgement. I have been on my new schedule for 3 weeks and feel I empty well after each pump.
Even though it has been 3 weeks of no pumping from 9p-5:30a, by 5:30am pump I am extremely full and uncomfortable (I do ice packs throughout the night and sometimes during to the day. I took Sudafed for 2 days with a cold and saw no decrease. Peppermint tea 1-2xday for 1 week also did not decrease supply. Previously cabbage leaves did not work either, but I am currently trying this again). I can pump about 10oz+ from my left breast and 4-5 oz from my right. Part of the problem is, most of this milk seems to be to foremilk. I noticed my son’s poop was getting green tints after morning feedings at times and return normal following the rest.
On average for my other pumps I get about 4-5oz from the left and 2-3 oz from the right after my initial morning session. I had increased pumping time for my additional sessions from 15 minutes to 20 minutes as you recommend but backed down again to 15 minutes because my supply still remains more than I need and I do empty by 15 minutes every time, sometimes even sooner. I try not to pump more than 5oz from my right breast for comfort and because I don’t need more. He currently eats around 26oz a day.
1) Is there a way I can decrease my first morning volume as it’s excessive and the amount of foremilk I get without compromising my other pumps or causing them to have increased foremilk?
2) I will be returning to work in a few weeks and wanted to start spacing my pumping to every 4 hours during the day. Do you have a recommendation for me on how to do this beyond slowly going longer between each pump? I think with my work schedule I’d like my timing to be 5:30am, 9:30am, 2pm, 6pm, 9pm.
3) As I drop sessions will I continue to see an increase in volume pumped from each breast? How much is too much? I’d like to pump just what we need and not much more.
4) As I drop sessions will I continue to see more foremilk rather than the hind milk?
Thank you so very much for your time and help!!!
Hi Codi! Congrats on your baby. This is a really tough one, but I’ll try to answer your questions:
1) It’s pretty hard to target a decrease in supply like this (morning session, not affecting other sessions) because supply is so unpredictable. What works for one person might not work for another, and the same woman might get different results trying something at different times. What you think might cause a small decrease in supply might cause a big one or even an increase. Something that might work for the foremilk issue is to just pump an ounce or two from each side and dump it into another container (you can bring one with you to wherever you’re pumping), and then continue pumping into now-empty bottles. Then just feed what you pumped after you dumped the early foremilk. Should solve that issue, but not the discomfort. Do cabbage leaves help with that, even if they don’t reduce supply?
2) I think you could just switch cold turkey one day – the only big change is in the afternoon, right? You didn’t mention having any clogged ducts in the past, so I think it should be okay. If you want to go back to 1pm one day and keep the 3pm pump where it is, and then the next day go until 2pm, that would work too.
3) Probably, yes, unfortunately. I don’t think there is a “too much” except what is too much for you. As I said above, it’s really hard to target supply reduction – like if your baby needs 30 oz per day and you want to make 35 oz and not too much in the morning but now you make 50 oz, you can’t know in advance what schedule/herbs/etc. will get you there. Your best bet is to keep tweaking things until you get where you want to be. I actually think you might be better off with fewer, longer sessions where you pump for longer less frequently, and thus get more hindmilk. Though that hasn’t been your experience in the morning, so I’ll guess we’ll have to see.
4) It depends on how long your sessions are. With longer sessions, you should get adequate hind milk. This is a double edged sword, though, because you’re concerned about too much supply. Question – do you usually pump long enough to get more than one letdown? The later ones tend to have more hind milk.
sorry I don’t have an easy answer here. There are so many factors and so much is individual to the woman.
Amanda, Thank you so much for your response and input!
I actually have tried dumping the first 5 ounces from my left breast because that is the one that seems to always have the overabundance. Those 5 ounces and even what I pump afterward all look like foremilk (watery white). Even my right breast milk looks that way even though I don’t get much. I’ve also tried combining a portion of that milk with milk pumped at other sessions, but seems to still cause green poop unless I eliminate using that milk completely. I just hate to not be able to use this milk. However, all my sequential pumps look normal. Should I try only pumping a certain amount during this first session? If I am pumping to empty every morning will that trigger my body to continue producing that much over night? I was hoping my body would have regulated by now for this stretch and I guess I’m worried it won’t :- (. Initially cabbage leave and ice packs help relieve superficial discomfort, but as soon as the coolness dissipates I continue to feel extremely engorged unless I pump.
Yes, the main change is afternoon. I did have mastitis twice and was engorged until about 8 weeks PP, but thankfully have been managing well now otherwise. I intermittently get the feeling of a clogged duct but can resolve it within 2-3 days. What would your recommendation be for fewer/longer sessions (pump every 4-5 hours for 20 minutes)? When pumping 15 minutes I don’t always get a second letdown, but sometimes I do around 12 minutes. When I did pump 20 minutes for a short period, I always had a second letdown.
Hi! That sounds very frustrating about the morning session! I would hate to have to dump it all too. I’m not sure what the answer is, to be honest. I think that if you only pump a certain amount, that would all be foremilk, wouldn’t it? (At least at first – maybe you were thinking over time your supply would reduce and you’d get more hindmilk at that time? That’s possible, maybe worth a shot.) I think the reason you get mostly foremilk at that session is that you’re not pumping for long enough to get it – but I understand that that is because you don’t want more milk. It’s really tricky to balance this!
Yes, I would recommend fewer, longer sessions.
Thank you again for your time, help, and input!!
I am exclusively pumping and am desperate to drop my 12 am and 3 am pumps. My daughter is 4 weeks old but I am an over producer pumping 10 oz total each time I pump. My schedule is 12 am, 3 am, 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm, 9 pm. I’d love to drop those two sessions and extend the time between my pumps to 4 hours. I have had a clogged duct and am prone to engorgement.
Any suggestions?
Hi Kelley! Wow that is a great supply. Am I doing the math right that you are producing 80oz per day?? That’s amazing. Anyway – I think you should drop the 12am first. I would push it back maybe 30 minutes at a time? So you would wait until 12:30 to pump the first night, then 1, and so on. You can wait a few days in between moving it back to let your body adjust if you’re more comfortable that way. Since you have a huge supply, I think using cabbage leaves for engorgement would be totally fine too. One you have the 12am back until 3am, you can then do the same thing with that session. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much! I always pump over 5 oz in my right breast and at least 3 in my left breast, but sometimes I get about 5 oz from the left too.
So I can end up dropping both sessions and be ok? What about changing the time in between sessions from 3 to 4 hours?
This site is SO helpful!!
Yes, you should be able to! Say you had twins and were producing 80 oz for them – eventually if you were nursing they’d sleep through the night and you wouldn’t wake them up to feed them. Your body should be able to adjust. I think spacing to 4 hours is okay too. Just make sure that you keep the total amount of time that you pump in a day the same (so your sessions should be longer).
I see that you advise to wait to drop a pump until 2-3 months. I’m currently producing 60-64 oz a day during 6 pumps with a 3 week old (exclusively pumping). Could I work on dropping a pump now since I’m oversupplying by so much? Thank you for your helpful site – I’ve learned so much!
Hi Jessica – how long are your pumps now?
15 minutes each right now.
I think I would wait until at least 5 weeks, just to increase the chance that your supply will have regulated. (That means that supply/demand is what controls your supply, not postpartum hormones.) If you don’t want to wait that long I would just increase the length of the remaining sessions to at least 20 minutes. Good luck!
I just dropped to pumping 3x a day, I’ve been exclusively pumping because my daughter was premature. It’s been a week since dropping from four to three times a day; I get 10+ oz a pumping session. Now, I really struggle to get as much milk from my right breast. I can let the pump do all the work on my left breast and get 5-6 oz no problem whereas I need to do a lot of massaging and squeezing to get 4 oz from my right breast (I was getting at least 6 oz without massaging before dropping a pump). What’s going on? What can I do? Can one breast dry up while the other is going strong?
It’s totally normal for things to be uneven! I generally got about half as much from my left side as my right. There is nothing to worry about there. 🙂
Hi, I am currently 3 weeks post-partum. I started exclusively pumping at 1 week postpartum but kept 1 nursing session. My schedule starting at 1 week was 8 pumping sessions and 1 nursing session (7am, 9am, 11:15am, 1:30pm(nursed), 2:15pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm, 2am). I was pumping 30-32oz a day and my baby eats around 20oz of pumped milk. The middle of the night session was killing me so at 2 weeks and 4 days post-partum I dropped the 2am session by reducing pump time from 15min to 10min to 5min and then 0min, I also moved my 10pm session to 11pm, my supply seems to have stayed the same. So my new schedule is now 7am, 9am, 11:15am, 1:30pm(nursed), 2:15pm, 4pm, 7pm, 11pm.
My question is, When do you think it is safe to drop another session? Ideally I would like my schedule to be 7am, 11am, 1:30pm(nursed), 2pm, 5:30, 9:30pm, 11pm. Do you think this schedule would work? I would love to drop that session as soon as possible. What do you think?
After that when do you think I could drop another pump session and get myself down to 5 pump sessions?
Hi, I am curious if you saw my questions? I wrote you on the 21st and saw you responded to someone else so I just want to make sure my post worked?
Hi Morgan! Sorry it took me so long to respond, I was working my way down the list and got interrupted!
Yes, I think seven total lactation sessions is good for what is now four weeks post-partum. I think see what happens there and then maybe drop another in the 7-8 week timeframe. Good luck!
Thanks, Do you think my schedule will work when I drop to 6 sessions? 7am, 11am, 1:30pm(nursed), 2pm, 5:30, 9:30pm, 11pm?
After that, When do you think I could drop to 5 sessions?
Yes, I think so! I would say 10-12 weeks would be okay.
Thanks so much for your help!!!
Hi – my little girl is almost 6 months old and I’m exclusively pumping 7 times a day (8am 11am 2pm 5pm 8pm midnight and 4am).
I’m looking to reduce the number of sessions I’m doing. My supply isn’t great but I’m happy to supplement feed if I need to. I’d really like to get down to 5 sessions if I can but I’m not sure how to go about it.
I’d appreciate any advice you can give me. Thak you for this wonderful site. All the information out there is for breastfeeding not expressing so to find your site has been my saving grace.
Hi Renae – I would probably drop the midnight and 4am sessions. First I would push the midnight one back by an hour a night until you get to the 4am (you could do 1am/4am, then 2am/4am, then 3am/5am), then wait a few days, then repeat by pushing the 4am back. Good luck!
Hi Amanda – thanks for your advice.
To clarify I assume when you are writing 1am/4am those are the times I should be expressing? Then once I get to expressing at 3am/5am wait a few days then continue with 4am/6am, 5am/7am, 6am/8am?
Sorry for the extra hand holding. I’m on 3 hours sleep (a teething baby with a cold is no fun) and pretty much need everything spelled out ?
Thanks again
Hi! Yes, sorry that wasn’t clear – those would be the times that you would pump. However, when you get to 3am/5am, I would wait a few days and then JUST do the 4am. Wait a few days, then just do 5am, then 6am, then see if you can go to 8. Does that make sense? Hope the teething stops soon!
Thanks Amanda. That makes total sense. Thanks for breaking it down for me. Yeah same here re: teething. It’s a sleep killer that’s for sure.
Thanks again for this great website and for your advice. I was about to wean completely until I find it and now it seems so much more manageable after reading your posts.
Hi Amanda, I m currently exclusively pumping 4 times a day (27-28 minutes per pump) at 615 am, 1pm, 5 pm and 10 pm. I would like to pump only 3 times a day, preferably 615 am, 2pm and 10 pm. Should I move the 1 pm and 4 pm pumps closer together? Should I move only the timing of one pump at a time or move two pumps together? Also, I m intending to wean by Dec and I hope to not increase each pumping duration – would I still be able to clear completely at each pump if I reduce the no of pumps but do not increase the duration of the pumps? I m prone to clogged ducts and often have to massage before and after I pump to clear completely. Thanks! Your site has been a tremendous help to me!
I think I would just switch the 1pm to 2pm one day since that’s not a big change and then gradually push the 5pm back until 10pm. You could do 6pm, then 7pm, then 8pm, then see if you can make it til 10pm. Good luck!
Hi Amanda, firstly a big thank you for sharing all the helpful information on EP! I was wondering if I am doing it right so far – my son has recently turned 6 weeks old and I am currently exclusively pumping 7 times a day (I do not have a fixed schedule so generally 2-3 hours between sessions during the day, and 4-5 hours between sessions at night). I produce between 4 to 8.5 Oz from both breasts combined for each session. I noticed that you recommended pumping 8-12 times a day and I am now worried that I am not pumping enough times each day despite already feeling tired from pumping 7 times at 6 weeks post partum… Should I be adding at least another session in to prevent a decrease in supply? Thanks!
Hi Vee! No, it sounds like you’re doing great! I wouldn’t change anything. 🙂
I forgot to mention that I pump for about 15 mins each time
Hi again! I have adjusted my pumping schedule (per my doctors recommendation) to every 4 hours (6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm, 2 am). My question is how can I drop the 2 am pump without getting engorged? I am prone to cloged ducts and have had mastitis once.
I really appreciate your site. As a first time mom, it’s really helped!
Thank you so much!!
Hi Kelley! I would very slowly push the 2am back – maybe 30 minutes or an hour at a time, and then wait a few days (or until you feel comfortable) moving it back again. Good luck!!
Hi Amanda,
My daughter is 4months and I’ve been exclusively pumping since she was 8 weeks. I pump every 4 hours during the day and then 5 hours overnight. I don’t have a true schedule because I’m still on maternity leave. I generally pump around 9a, 1p, 4 or 5p, 7 or 8p, 10:30p, and 3 or 4a. I really want to move the middle of the night session to 5:30 or 6a and am having trouble doing it. I tried pushing it back in 30 min increments and got mastitis instantly. I make about 3-4oz a side overnight and first thing in the morning. Would reducing the volume pumped and pushing it back help me drop that pump session? I get plugged ducts really easily and don’t know the best way to shift my schedule. I want to do 6a, 10a, 1p, 4p, 7p, 10p once I go back to work in a few weeks.
Hi Andrea! Could I get a little more information about how you pushed it back last time, when you got mastitis? When you pushed it back, what time did you go to the first night (was it 3:30? 4:30?) and did you get mastitis that first day? So sorry to hear you had to deal with this. Overall I think you plan will work – I think reducing the volume and pushing back would work well.
Yes. I went from 4a to 5a and got it that day. I woke up with a plugged duct and then couldn’t get it unplugged. It’s happened once before when I went too long at the very beginning. I want push it to 6a, so I was thinking about pushing it back 15 min each day and pumping the same volume so I can keep the supply, but wasn’t sure if that would work and I’m afraid of getting mastitis again. Ideally I want to shift my entire schedule slightly, so I was thinking if I start at 6a that would allow me to do 10a, 1p etc.
OK that makes sense. I think 15 minute increments starting at 4:15am is a good plan!
Your blog is amazing! I’m so glad I found it! I have been pretty much exclusively pumping for my son (my first child) since he was a couple weeks old. I tried feeding him directly from the breast during those first few weeks but it just didn’t quite work for us and pumping gave me so much relief when I was engorged. I’d never read much about EP’ing before that but I figured if it was working for us, why not go with it? When I mentioned it to my OB at my 6 week PP check up she wasn’t super supportive and told me I needed to nurse at least 3 times a day to maintain supply (hmph). After that I found a few articles online that helped me feel more confident about establishing my supply.
And now here we are – my little one is 2 months old and my supply is steady at about 42 oz per day. Baby only eats about 28 to 30 oz per day, so I’m building up a nice freezer supply too!
Anyway, I don’t really have a question I’m just so happy to see that there are other EP’ers out there who have made it work! All along my goal has been to keep my little guy exclusively on breast milk for at least 6 months, and I’m reassured to see it’s been possible for so many of the lovely ladies who have commented. I’m going back to work in 2 weeks (eek) and thanks to this blog I have a solid plan for reducing from 6 pumps a day (2am, 6am, 9am, noon, 4pm and 8pm) to just 5 (2am, 8am, noon, 4pm and 8pm). I’m hoping this will help our daily routine so that I’m not trying to squeeze in a pumping session while trying to get everyone up, dressed and out the door in the morning (including my definitely non-morning person husband lol).
Thank you so so much for this blog, Amanda, and thanks as well to all the other pumping mamas who’ve commented!
Amanda – want to thank you for the website it is so so useful ! I reduced my
Pump sessions from 7 to 6 and initially noticed an increase in supply.However after 5days of it I feel there is a drop.my current schedule is 8am,11am , 2pm , 5pm,9pm and then 3.30 or 4.30am depending when my little one wakes up.She is currently 7.5 weeks old , do you think I made a mistake by dropping a session ?i thought 6 is still plenty ! I have a large freezer stash but keen to atleast maintain my supply if not increase it ..thank you
Hi! How many days have you seen a consistent drop in supply? It’s normal for it to fluctuate a bit. If more than 3-4 days, I would add the dropped session back if you can if the supply is important to you. 🙁
Hi Amanda,
I want to start off by thanking you immensely for this wonderful blog and the information you have shared. I have been EP since week 1 due to latching issues and I have gone through mastitis, thrush and clogged ducts before (within 4 weeks of PP) and your blog and comments in the blog have been an immense support to keep up with EP. My baby is about 6 months now and I have steady supply. I have dropped my previous sessions successfully from 8 to 7 to 6 to 5 to 4 ( giving at least two weeks between each drops), it did decrease my supply by little but overall its still great. Currently I pump 5 AM, 11 AM, 5 PM and 10 PM, I plan on dropping the 5 PM session and need your advise on how to do without getting engorged. Should I move my 11 am to 12pm and then gradually move the pumps together by moving the 5PM to 6 PM to 7PM to 8PM -day after day and then go till 10PM (finally combining the session)? or do you recommed pumping less each day at the 5PM session? Would doing this decrease my supply? which I do not want to. Thanks in advance 🙂
I forgot to mention that I pump 28 to 30 min at each session 4X a day. By decreasing to 3X…I intend to pump 40 min per session, would this help in maintaining the supply? My goal is to wean by end of this year. Thank you!
I think the plan of moving the 11am to 12pm and then slowly moving the 5pm back will work well! Good luck! 🙂
Hi Amanda,
I have successfully dropped 4 to 3 pumping sessions and want to drop further to 2 session within the next two months and then to one later ( in December). Right now I pump at 6am, 12 pm and 8 pm ( 35-40 min each session) and would like to drop the 12 pm pump. I am wondering if I should start reducing the pump time from 40 min to 35 and follow that or should I bring pumps closer to get to 2 pumps a day? and also need your advise on reducing the session to once a day later.
Really appreciate your response. Thank you Amanda 🙂
-Asmi
Hi! I think instead of reducing the time I would gradually push it later if you can. So try to go until 2pm, then 4pm, then 6pm, until you feel like you can make it until 8pm. You can go as fast or as slowly as you feel comfortable with. Good luck!
Hi so I have a question. My son is currently 2 months old. This last week I have decreased to only pumping 4 times a day 9am, 3pm, 9pm, and 3am. I am getting about 50 oz a day. The main issue I’m having tho is that I’m getting engorged a lot. My goal is to get to 3 pumps by November 5th due to I’m only going to be able to to pump 1 time at work and I work 13 hr shifts. How can I do this without getting engorged? Please help. I didn’t really get engorged until I just moved to 4 times a day. I pump minutes each time.
Can you try cabbage leaves and see if that helps? It might just take your body a few days to catch up and then it might even out?
Please help me!
I am going back to work in 10 days and I am looking to pump only at night …. I have to be at work at 7 4 days out of 4 so I need to leave my house by 6:45 …. right now I am pumping between 4-4:30 pm 8-9 pm 11pm -12am 4-5 am and 11-12 pm … I am looking to cut out that 11-12pm one since ill be at work from 7-330 …. I get a ton of milk .. yesterday my breasts filled up randonmly twice in between some of the pumps and I still got about 12 ounces … on a larger pump I get about 20 … I am sending my son to daycare (where I work) so I need help planning a pumping schedule where I won’t get full and uncomfortable mid shift!
I think that theoretically this shouldn’t be too different from training your body to go overnight without pumping, which I think is doable at 8 weeks. So what I would normally tell a mom to do when she’s trying to do that is to gradually push the midday pumping sessions back. So if you normally pump at a 11, try to go to 11:30, then 12, then 1, etc. until you can make it until 3:30. If you think you won’t be able to make it to 3:30 before you have to go back to work, you could bring a hand pump and just use it for a few minutes in the restroom if you don’t have any other options (you can put it in your purse and dump the milk).
Hello. I am 4 weeks PP and need to get to pumping only twice a day as I am switching to formula so my supply can decrease. I was pumping every three hours and went to every 4 hours but keep getting cloged and am in extreme pain by the 4th hour. I am afraid to cut more sessions but need to do so quickly. What is your advice to get down to the last 2 with minimal pain.
Have you tried lecithin at all? I would do that and cabbage leaves. Good luck!
Thank you for this helpful article, Amanda.
I’m currently in the process of weaning and am down to 3 sessions at 2am, 10am and 6pm. The next step is going down to 2 sessions: 7am and 6pm. I’m leaning towards using the 4th method, “gradually bring the pumps closer together” since I’m worried about getting clogs.
My question is when moving the 2am and 10am pumps closer together, do I keep the pump time the same length for the two pumps getting close together or as the times get closer keep the first pump the same length and reduce the pump time of the middle session and eventually dropping it?
Hi! I would do the latter (keep the first the same length and gradually reduce the second).
I’m about 5 weeks pp, and I would like to get to pumping every 4 hours, but I get so engorged and it’s very painful. Especially where I’m clogged up. I just feel like I’m stuck to the pump doing it every 2-3 hours, and at night I tend to miss a pump because I don’t wake up to my alarm. I don’t want to end up hating my pump. I would like my baby to have breast milk for at least a year.
I also have had clogged ducts in certain areas since my milk came in. I try to clear everything every time, but it just won’t release all the way in those areas. It now feels like someone stabbing me where those clogs are constantly, and in the past few days my breasts have become engorged before the 3 hour mark. I have tried pumping for less time to tell my body it doesn’t need to keep so much, but it only makes it more painful later on.
Hi! Five weeks is still pretty early and I think things will calm down on their own a bit over the next few weeks. What I would do: 1) pump every 3 hours (4 overnight), stick to the schedule as much as you can, 2) consider lecithin* for the clogs, 3) when you are starting to feel engorged put cabbage leaves on your breasts for relief, 4) don’t be afraid to take Motrin (or another NSAID)* for the pain and inflammation. After things calm down in the next month I think you’d be fine to go to every 4 hours.
* Disclaimer: not a doctor, just a mom
Hi,
My LO is 4 weeks old now and I’m currently pumping 8 times a day. I pump after he feeds which varies from 2 hours apart in the evening to 4 apart at night. I am absolutely exhausted and have a lot of respect for the ladies that do this for a year! I tried to go down to 7 pumps and that was fine and then 6 and I got some horribly clogged ducts and had to go back to pumping every 2-3 hours to work out the clogs. I’m wondering if I went down to 6 pumps too quickly after 7. How long would you say I should stay at 7 pumps before trying to get to 6? I also find that I’m pumping about 22 minutes 8 times a day to completely drain both breasts. How do I speed that up? I’m doing massage and heat but it still takes so long!
Hi! I would give it a few weeks since you’re only 4 weeks postpartum and it’s possible that your supply hasn’t regulated yet. Maybe try again around the 6-7 week mark? Have you considered lecithin? It might help.
I’ve tried to do some research on lecithin but I can only find anecdotal recommendations. And it always says consult with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding so it makes me a little anxious to take it. I’m going to ask my doctor about it at my next visit.
Hi Amanda, I would like some advice. My daughter is currently 13 weeks and I have been exclusively pumping since she was born. My goal is to EP until she is 6 months so I think I should be looking to keep my supply at the moment (even though I can’t wait to be done pumping). Currently I pump about every 3 hours with the exception of the middle of the night one – 4:45am, 7:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, 9:30pm. I’ve been trying to get rid of the 4:45am pump by stretching the time as close to the 7:30pm session but I wake up very engorged so now I’ve been thinking of trying to drop the 1:30pm session first so I’m not always stuck at home or running back home to the pump. I was prone to clogged ducts until I started to take lecithin about a month ago.
My questions are:
1) should I continue to try to cut the 4:45am pump (I get the most out of this session)?
2) should I try to cut out of the day sessions such as the 1:30pm instead? As I was prone to clogged ducts prior, would it be better for me to try to reduce by volume?
3) If so, let’s say I reduce by 2oz each other during the session, does it mean that I don’t need to pump for 20 mins at the 1:30pm session as long as I’m reducing the volume? Would I have to increase the time in my other sessions to ensure I”m still pumping 120 mins/day? Sorry for the long post! Thank you!
Hi! I think you should drop whichever session is more annoying to you (the 4:45am or the 1:30pm). If you decide to do the 4:45, could you move your 7:30 upwards at all? Like have your first morning session of the day at 6am instead of 7:30? (Your morning schedule might not allow this, just throwing it out there.) You could try pushing your evening session back a bit for a few days while you transition to see if that would help. You can also try cabbage leaves for the engorgement.
And yes, when you’re dropping the session, I think reducing by volume is good. So if you pump 2oz less, say that takes 6 of your 20 minutes. You would add the remaining 14 minutes to your other sessions of the day.
Hope that helps! Good luck!
Hi Amanda. I have been EP for the last 4 weeks as we’ve been trying to figure out why my LO was losing weight. Bottom line, she will be on formula only going forward and will not be able to consume any of the milk I’ve pumped. I want to stop pumping as quickly as possible. I pump for 15 minutes only, and I’ve been increasing the time between pumps – for example, I went from 3 hours to 3.5 hours for 2 days to 4 hours between pumps for the last 2 days. Reading your blog and the answers to people’s questions above, I’m unclear whether I should keep following this path (adding 30 minutes to the spacing every couple of days) or if I should put myself on a set schedule and then drop like you’ve instructed? Thank you for the help!
Hi Kimberly! If it’s working for you, you don’t need to change things. Often when people wean they are on a set schedule, so this is easier to explain. But if you have been going by spacing (i.e., every 3 hours), increasing the spacing will work too. Good luck!
thank you! this post is everything Ive been looking for online, all in one page! Now, my question is how long will it take to wean off the pump. I have 5 weeks before i go back to work, and I would like to not pump at all by then. Which method should I go with and is it possible?
Hi! Yes, I think it can be done in 5 weeks. If you haven’t had a clogged duct or mastitis, I’d cut the time; if you have, I’d cut volume. Good luck!
My little one is almost 12 weeks old and Im exclusively pumping. Recently my supply is at its highest, about 35 oz a day. It’s taken a lot of work to get it up from about 20 oz a day. That being said, I’d like to move from 7 x a day to 6. I started spacing out the sessions further the past two days. Right now my supply has decreased about 1-2 oz a day. I’m pumping the same amount of time as before (2 hrs 20 min a day) Is that normal/will it keep decreasing?
Hi! It is normal, but I would be a little concerned. 1-2oz could be just a daily variation though. What is your old schedule and what is your new schedule?
Wow this us so incredibly helpful! I am 4.5 months pp and return to work in two weeks. Down to four pumps a day. 1a (most production at this time) 7a, 1p And 7p without a drop in supply (40 oz a day) but my goal is to drop the 1a and 1p feedings. 1) I’m afraid I haven’t left myself enough time 2) Is 12 hours between pumps be too much?
Hi! If you can push the 7pm one back a bit that might work better, at least at first. (So maybe right before bed?) If that works out, then you can slowly move that one up if you prefer to pump earlier.
Hi Amanda, I love your site! Thank you so much for all of your valuable insight, as it has truly been a lifesaver for me and my family!
I’ve been EP’ing my almost 10 week old baby girl since 3dpp and managed 7 pumps a day ~30oz up through 8wpp. I just recently decided to drop down to 6 for sanity and to prepare for my return to work and have maintained roughly this schedule: 2:30am, 6:30am, 10:30am, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 9:30pm with an increase of 5-8oz per day. I am hoping to eventually get to 5ppd and am not opposed to keeping the MOTN pump, but would also appreciate a longer stretch of sleep (9:30p-4a). Do you have any advice on how I can adjust my 6ppd schedule to safely switch over to 5ppd?
Thanks so much, happy new year!
Hi! I would maybe just drop the 2:30am altogether and move the 6:30am up to 5:30am for a bit. To do that, I would move the 2:30am back gradually – slowly if you’ve had blocked ducts before (like 30 minutes at a time, when you feel ready), faster if you haven’t (maybe an hour every day for two days). Hope that helps!
Hi there! Thanks for all of this advice. I produce about 16-18oz a day for my second baby. I’m happy with this, considering I had a breast reduction 10 years ago and wasn’t even sure if I would be able to produce milk. I worked like crazy to get my supply to become this much with my first baby. My second baby is now just shy of 5 months and I’m pumping/nursing anywhere between 6-8 times a day (normally 7). I’m looking to get down to 5 pumps per day. In your opinion, is it too early to go down to 5 pumps per day? I pump/nurse every 4 hours during the day and every 4-5 hours at night. When would I be able to drop down to 4 pumps? My goal is, of course, to not lose milk, though I know that’s never a sure thing. Thank you so much in advance for your advice!
Hi! I think 5ppd at 5 months is just fine. (No guarantees on supply, because anything can happen of course, but that’s my guess.) Make sure you increase the length of the remaining five sessions so that your total amount of pumping time in a day stays the same. Good luck!
Hello,
I’m trying to wean off pumping all together. I’ve never been a big producer ( I have to supplement two of babies bottles a day) so Im thinking of dropping a session cold turkey. If I drop the first session cold turkey, how long should I wait before dropping the next session?
I would say a few days to a week (less time if you’ve had clogged ducts/mastitis, more time if you have). I would wait until you feel comfortable where you are and then drop another one.
Hi Amanda!
I’ve dropped down to one pump per day as I was planning on stopping completely but I find the one pump totally manageable and want to keep going as long as I can. I am still getting about 1 oz from one breast and 3 from the other. How long can I keep this going? I’m just wondering if one pump per day has any negative effects on someone… also wondering if it’s too late to add the other evening pump back in. I’ve been down to one pump for about a week…
Thank you!
Hi Kelley! No negative effects! You can keep doing it for as long as you like. and you can definitely add the evening pump back in, but you probably will see less milk than you were getting before. Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
I have successfully dropped to two sessions in first week of December and saw a difference in the supply and from this week(almost a month after dropping from 3 sessions to 2) I am seeing a major drop in the supply- its getting less by each day. I was hoping to continue until end of next month, but looks like I am going to dry up pretty soon which is ok with. Should I let it takes it course or how do I go about dropping these two sessions to one and then to none? Really need your advise.
Thank you so much your support and advise during this Challenging yet wonderful journey!
-Asmi
Hi! I think this has the info that you want about dropping those last two sessions. Good luck!!!
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
I seem to have the opposite problem of most of your commenters. I have a very low supply. The MOST I have ever produced in a day is around 25 oz. (I supplement with formula since I can’t produce enough) I have been exclusively pumping since my baby was 2 months old and he’s now 20 weeks. I pump 7 times a day. Usually go 2 to 2 1/2 hours between pumps during the day and at night usually 4-8 hrs all depending on his sleep schedule. The last few weeks my supply has dropped even more and I am only pumping around 21 oz a day I get my biggest output in the morning (usually 4-6 oz depending on how long it’s been) and then only pump 2 – 2.75 for the rest of the day. It’s so frustrating being so tied to the pump all day and keep getting less and less. I have tried fenugreek, eating oatmeal and lactation cookies and brownies but I have never noticed much difference with any of that. I pump for 25 mins in the morning and 15-20 the rest of the day. (I was pumping longer but because of soreness and advice from the lactation consultant I cut it down to 15.) Any suggestions for me? Should I try to stretch it to 3 hours in between pumping and move to 6? I don’t know what to do at this point. I’d like to continue with him getting about 50-60% breast milk through 6 months then I plan to start the weaning process. So I don’t have too much longer- about 6 weeks.
I think that sounds like a good plan! You might want to try increasing the length of the sessions a bit (2-5 minutes, maybe) when you do that – not if it ends up leading to soreness, though. Good luck!
Hi – I have a low supply (I make about 7-8 oz daily), my little one is almost 7 mos, and I’m ready to start weaning down to 3 pumps per day. I’m VERY prone to clogged ducts, so I want to proceed cautiously. (I currently take 4 capsules of sunflower lecithin daily, plus Happy Ducts if I feel a clog starting.)
My current pump schedule is 7:00, 11:30, 4:00, and 9:30, and I’m trying to get to 7:00, 2:00, 9:30. Part 1 of my plan is to gradually push the 11:30 pump to 2:00 by moving it forward by 15 min increments every week. (This will take a couple of months – do you think I can be less conservative?)
Then, Part 2 of my plan is to reduce the time of my 4:00 pump by 5 min. This is where I could use some advice. Currently, I pump ~15 min and then hand express till “empty.” Would reducing the “time” first start with me not hand expressing after pumping? (So, just doing a 15 min pump with no hand expression afterwards?) And how long would you stay at a 5 min increment before dropping to the next lower increment? (Again, a side goal is to keep clogs at bay, so just want to make sure I’m being conservative enough.) Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Aimee! For Part 1, I think you could do 15 min every few days – two or three, maybe? For Part 2, yes, I would stop hand expressing first, and then maybe every three days, drop down 5 minutes? I hope that helps!
Hi Amanda! Your site has been a life saver for me. I am 6 weeks pp and am trying to plan out how to drop my number of sessions from 7 to 5 hopefully by the time I return to work in 6 more weeks. However, I don’t mind going back with 6 sessions if this is too ambitious! My current schedule is 12, 6, 9, 12, 3, 6 and 9. Considering I work 12.5 hour shifts, I would ideally like my schedule to be 430, 830, 1, 6, 1030. Do you have suggestions as to which sessions I move first and a reasonable timeline so my numbers don’t plummet? I am producing 40 oz per day now and have had a couple plugged ducts. Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Hi Marie! I think I would start by moving the 10:30 back cold turkey, skipping the 12, and doing the rest of your schedule the same as it is now. Then after a few days move the 3am back to 4:30 cold turkey and switching to the rest of your new schedule. If you feel uncomfortable the first few days between the 1pm and 6pm, then go ahead and pump for a few minutes to decrease the pressure. Let me know if this doesn’t make sense. Good luck!
Hi Amanda!! Thank you for your site, it is a lifesaver. I am EPing for my 18 week old son 7 times per day. 12am, 5am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm and wanting to cut out the 5am pump. I had a horrific case of mastitis back in October that led to 6 aspirations so I am very nervous to cut out a session. Any advice on how to do this successfully?
Hi! I think I would move the 9am up (to whatever works with your morning routine, maybe 7ish)? Then I would slowly move the 5am back. You can go really slowly, like 15 minutes a day, to give your body time to adjust. It might also be worth trying cabbage leaves for a few days at your normal pumping time to try to prevent mastitis again. (You poor thing!!!!! I’m so sorry you had to go through that!)
Hi Amanda,
I am currently pumping 4 times a day, getting between 28 and 30 oz per day and supplementing about 5 oz of formula. I am 5 months pp and would like to drop down to 3 pumps a day and I am good with adding a bit more formula. Currently I am pumping at 5:30, anywhere between 9 and 11 am, 1 and 2 pm, and then last pump around 8 pm. Ideally I would like my schedule to look like 5:30, 10:30, 7 or 8 pm. How can I go about getting there? Your help is greatly appreciated.
Have you had a clog or mastitis before? If not, I would drop it cold turkey and see if you can make it to 7pm without pumping. (if the pressure gets to be too much, just pump for a few minutes to take the edge off.) If you HAVE had a clog or mastitis before (or just want to be more cautious), you can gradually reduce the amount of time that you pump at the 1pm session (so if you pump for 30 minutes, drop 5 or 10 minutes a day and then stop pumping). Make sure you add the time from the dropped session to your remaining sessions so that your total amount of pump time in a day stays the same. Good luck!
Hi Amanda! I cut out the 7th pumping session and added the time to my other sessions and haven’t had a drop in supply and it’s been about a week and a half. Yay! Thank you for your advice! As I mentioned previously I wanted to start weaning around 6 months but now that it’s so close I am feeling guilty! My friend suggested maybe pumping once a day through a year so I won’t dry up completely. I’ve thought about it and I definitely think I could manage twice a day until he turns one. My question is- what should I do about the weaning process? I thought I’d try to stretch pumping during the day to 4 hours for about a week, then 5 hours, etc… until I get down to just once ever 12 hours. Do you think that would work okay? And if I do that since I don’t want to wean completely what should I do about my pumping time? I highly doubt I’ll be able to maintain anywhere near my supply now (22 oz a day) since my body doesn’t produce much to start with. But I was wondering how long I should pump for if I do cut it to two? Right now I pump 30 mins in the morning and 20 mins each throughout the rest of the day so 2 hrs and 10 mins total. I am okay with pumping longer than 30 mins but I don’t know if there is a limit to how long you should pump. I’d like to still get at much as I can of course. Please let me know your thoughts! This site is wonderful- I don’t feel like there aren’t many resources for those of us exclusively pumping even with lactation consultants I’ve talked to in the hospital. So thank you for all you do!!!
Hi! Yes, I think that would work fine. I think as long as you don’t mind your supply dropping that 30 minutes twice a day would be fine! There is no real limit for how much you can pump, though I think over an hour is crazy. So I would just do what you can, somewhere between 30-60 minutes. Hope that helps! Good luck!!
I’m pumping 8 times a day, but each pump lasts from 30 mins to an hour (it started off with less, but I just kept getting more letdowns)! I need things to be more manageable, but I don’t know how to maintain my supply while dropping the amount of time. 8 sessions already feels like a million…is the only way to maintain to add more sessions?
Thank you so, so much.
—Katie
Hi! I would just stop at 30 minutes. How much milk are you getting? Do you have oversupply or no?
(My son is a month old 🙂
—Katie
Okay, I need help! My LO was 6 weeks early so I have been pumping from day one. I got not so great advice and pumped for 30 minutes at a time from the start. So that’s 8 30-minute sessions. I’m now pumping 7 times at 30 minutes a pump. LO is 10 weeks old today. I produce 36-39 ounces a day doing that, so it’s an oversupply but nothing insane. Do I need to slowly cut down on my pumping times to get to a total of 2 hours a day before I start dropping sessions and increasing that time back? I assume that by doing so, I’ll lose some supply? Do you have any advice for me for ultimately being able to drop sessions as she gets older? Also, we are still attempting to latch so she can breastfeed, so would trying to slow my supply down be beneficial anyways? Thanks!!
Hi! Yes, I think I would cut out a minute at a time from each session (so 7 minutes, 1 for each session) and see what happens. I think you’d probably be able to get to at least 25 minutes without too much supply loss. Do you feel like you are getting letdowns in the last 5-10 minutes at all?
Hi! After a bumpy breastfeeding start, I have been exclusively pumping my 6 week old and would like to drop a couple sessions to ultimately end up at 3 (one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one before bed). I am planning on supplementing with formula if needed. I pump every 3-4 hours and get 4-5 oz., I just can’t keep up this pace because she is my 4th and I have 3 other kids to look after, so being tied to the pump is not working for us. Do you have any suggestions on the best way to drop a few pumping sessions without getting engorged? I am only emptying every other session and try to pump just to take the edge off when needed. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
Hi! I would drop one session at a time, either cold turkey, by volume, or by time, depending on what you’re comfortable with. If you’re pumping every 3 hours I’m guessing you’re at 7-8 sessions per day now? So it might take a few weeks to get there since you’d need to drop 4-5 sessions. (Depends on how fast you feel like you can drop them, have you had clogged ducts before, etc.) I think it sounds like a good plan though! Congrats on your fourth and on making it this long – exclusive pumping with older kids is HARD.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly and for your advice. I agree with you…it has been hard to EP with the older kids and I have had a hard time squeezing in their homeschooling with pumping so often, which is what led me to your site. 🙂 Yes, your assumption is right. I’m pumping 7 times a day and I have struggled with clogged ducts and mastitis, so I’m trying to be super careful and sensitive to how full my breasts are. I am having a hard time dropping a a session, but am trying to alternate pumping a full session, and then 4 hours later, just pumping to relieve the pressure. Do you think that will work?
Hi! Yeah I think that will work! I think dropping one session at a time might be less risky, but I don’t see why this wouldn’t do the trick too. Good luck!
Update: I have successfully dropped to 4 pumping sessions (8 am, 2 pm, 9 pm and 2 am). I have to supplement some with formula, but am happy that I am able to still give her a significant amount of breastmilk. Thank you for your help! 🙂
Awesome!
Hi Amanda,
Am circling back to you from my reply on 1/14. (To refresh your memory, I’m prone to clogged ducts but was wanting to drop a pump, going from 4ppd to 3ppd.)
Update: I made it safely to the 2pm pump! And was doing well with weaning my 4pm pump (got down to a couple days of pumping for 5 min only)… and then got a clog. Am currently dealing with the clog… fingers crossed that it’s gone soon.
My question is: once I resolve the clog issue, how do I resume dropping the 4pm pump? (E.g., do I start where I left off? Pump just 5 min? Or do I go back to pumping 10 min? Or some other route?) Am unsure how to proceed, as I still want to progress towards 3ppd, but obviously want to do so clog-free. Would appreciate any advice you can offer – thanks!
Hi Aimee! I would start with where you leave off after clearing the clog (i.e, if you were pumping more to clear it, maybe include that time where you resume dropping it, just to be on the safe side).
This is a really helpful article! I’m currently pumping 3x at work and am hoping to eliminate one of those sessions. I’m going to try your recommendation of gradually reducing the amount of time I spend pumping in my 2nd session and see how it goes. 🙂 I’m worried about maintaining my supply, but hoping your strategy works!
Good luck!
Hoping for some advice to save my sanity! I have been exclusively pumping since my baby was three days old due to him not being able to BF. I pump every three hours on the dot. He is one month old today. Mine and my husband’s sanity is nearly gone, I cannot keep being tied to a machine that often. He wants me to quit all together and do formula. I feel much too guilty to do that. My question is, how would it work if I just did 4 set pump times a day? Say 5 am, 11 am, 4 pm, and 9 pm? I’m only one month in, so would my supply completely crash? Would it be worth it? I’m would I just supplement what I’m missing?
You can definitely do that and just supplement what you’re missing. Your results will be better (in terms of supply) if you make those four sessions closer to 30 minutes than 15, but you need to do what you can handle. You’re doing great!
I was at the same point you were at 6 weeks (I’m at 10 weeks now). I have 3 other kids and couldn’t keep up the pace of pumping that often. I now pump at 7:30, 2 or 3, 8 or 8:30 and 2 or 3 a.m. I am able to give her mostly breastmilk throughout the day, and she gets a bottle of formula at her nighttime feeding and anytime I don’t have quite enough breastmilk at her other feedings. It has freed me up so much. I hope it works for you! Good luck!
Hi! I’m currently pumping 8x a day every 3 hours and outputting ~18-19 oz/day total (with output basically equal each pump). My LO is almost 3 months, and I want to start weaning off pumping altogether. What would be the best process in doing so, and how long would it take approximately in order to stop pumping completely? I am prone to clogged ducts and have experienced this a few times already, so it makes me nervous to cut back!! Thank you, your sure is so helpful!! 🙂
Also to add- I pump 20 min each time!
Hi! Since you’re prone to clogged ducts I think I would plan on it taking about 3-4 days per session. Here is how I would recommend doing it:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Basically, you drop one session at a time by slowly reducing time/volume at that session until you can skip it altogether. Once you’re down to two session at 12 hours apart, you drop one and keep the other, then repeat the process with the last one. Hopefully that makes sense!
Hello
Question about gradually reducing volume to get that pump knocked off. When you say decrease by an ounce are you saying overall or per breast? I get about 4-5 oz out of each breast every 3 hours and I am very very prone to clogs and mastitis so I want to make sure to do this right. My sons 7 months old and I pump 6 times a day still. I know I need to start reducing. Thanks for any help!
Hi Jenna! I meant per breast, but this is absolutely adaptable to each person’s situation – you can do half an ounce per breast (or someone who wasn’t prone to clogs could do two ounces per breast at a time). If you are very prone to clogs I would do .5 per side, for a 1 oz total reduction. Are you taking lecithin at all?
Hey Amanda
I do but just a couple a day as a maintenance dose but now that you mention it it might not hurt to increase it while Im dropping the pumps. Plus I will probably do half an oz a day it may take longer but I think I’d rather be safe then sorry lol … Thank you so much for your help!!! I don’t know what I would of done without these blogs ?
Hi there,
Great blog!!! I’m trying to reduce volume for comfort and I am an EPer. I was doing 5 pumps but found I was becoming anxious about pumping and find 4 much more managaeable.
I pump 4x/day roughly at 530, 10, 4 and 10. I produce way more than my LO needs and can’t really get a deep freezer to store the excess so reducing volume makes the most sense. I produce about 30-40% more than what she drinks.
When I go from 10pm to 530am I am sooooo engorged, I hardy have to put on the pump to get out the milk and have reduced the volume from 10oz to 8oz in the last few days.
Is that too much too soon or will the fullness of the breast go down with some time? I’ve been waking up at 330/4am to hand express toll comfort then go back to bed until 530 and pump to the reduced volume amount.
I’m 3m pp and dropping pumps from 8 hasn’t seemed to have changed my output at all.
If I keep pumping till empty, won’t I just keep producing the same volume? Or should I reduce the volume until I get the amount I want and then pump till empty one it has stabilised at a lower volume??
Thanks in advance for your reply 🙂
Hi! Yes, your body will adjust with time. And yes, you have the right idea about pumping until you get the amount you want and then pumping til empty. I’d give yourself a little cushion in case your body goes farther than you’d planned or you get your period back or something. Good luck!
I am currently pumping 5x a day for my 10 weeks old son. I pump approximately 34oz and he eats about 24oz a day. I have to pump at least 40 minutes to empty. My first letdown takes forever. Can I drop to 3 sessions a day this early if I do it gradually over the next few weeks? Thank you!
Hi Crystal! I would try four and see what that does, supply-wise, and then reassess. Do you have a timeline for how long you want to pump (i.e., six months, a year)? Also, I wasn’t sure if you’d seen this – maybe hand expression or a lactation massager would help with getting that first letdown? https://exclusivepumping.com/how-to-boost-milk-supply-letdowns/
Hello Amanda,
First of all thanks a lot for running a web site like this and you helped a lot when I EP for my first baby. Unfortunately I have to do the same thing second time around and following question came up. It’s way too hard to keep up with a toddler plus newborn plus pumping. Now I have 6 pumping sessions and thinking about to drop to three, it’s way too hard to keep all of them but seems reasonable to me to do both fomular and some milk instead of just formular. I don’t really know what to expect in this case, if i leave only 3 sessions does it mean that I will be engorged all the time or body will readjust? I have experience weaning from the pump but it is slightly different thing. Also I am worried will I be in increased risk of clogged ducts when pumping sessions are spaced that wide through the day. Thank you in advance!
Hi Julia! Congratulations on your new baby! Keeping up with two and pumping is definitely a lot. So I think going to 3 sessions and doing formula is fine – you just want to do it slowly, and your body will readjust. I would drop one session at a time and give yourself a week in between if possible (and if not, a few days) before dropping the next one. That will help your body adjust. Did you have clogged ducts with your first baby? If so, I might try starting lecithin before you start dropping pumping sessions, that might help. If you can increase the length of the remaining three sessions, that will help too. Let me know if you have any questions!
Hi, I am currently pumping 10 times a day and starting to go slightly crazy. My son will be 6 weeks tomorrow. I only get about 3oz in total on average per session (it varies quite a bit from time to time how much I get) and am just marginally exceeding his needs at this point (since he only feeds 8 times a day and I pump 10). I am already on prescription meds and a bunch of herbals to boost my supply. Am I ever going to be able to decrease how often I pump? His requirements are only going to go up from here and pretty soon even at 10 pumps a day I won’t be able to keep up.. Is there any hope that I would be able to drop to 6 pumps a day (my max number I think I could sustain long term) while also being able to meet his needs?
Thanks
Hi! Yes, there is definitely hope. When you drop a session anything can happen, but as long as you add the time from the dropped pump back to the other sessions, the most likely outcome is that your supply will stay the same. I would start by dropping one of the ten sessions and seeing what happens. Assuming your supply stays steady, you can drop another, and so on. Give it at least a week in between. Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
Thanks a a lot for the quick and prompt response. Yes I am prone to the clogged milk ducts and already started taking lechithin and probiotics, also I have pumping pals and they are as helpful as hands free pumping bra! Currently I am pumping 30+ Oz during 5 sessions and they are about 15 min each. From your own experience what should I expect from my supply for 3 sessions a day? I know it depends but just for reference? I am pumping around 8 weeks
Thank you
Yuliya
Hi Julia! I think when I dropped to 3 sessions I went from 45-40 oz (at 4 sessions) to 35 oz (at 3 sessions). I also got my period back (it can come back faster the less frequently you pump, and then affects your milk supply). So maybe a 15% loss? Hope this helps!
Hi,
I want to stop pumping and my baby is 7 weeks old. I can now manage to space out to 2 sessions about 15-20 mins, 12 hrs apart but my breast feel really hard and I’m scared of getting Mastitis. Any recommendations ? Should I just stop cold turkey ?
That’s great! I would drop the remaining sessions one at a time. Slowly drop one, and then when your body adjusts, slowly drop the other. Try cabbage leaves too! Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
I’m hoping to wean completely in the next 2 weeks due to a healing breast abscess and galactocele. I currently pump 6x a day at 15 mins each time (8a, 12p, 4p, 8p, 12a, 4a). How would you recommend weaning quickly but responsibly as I’m prone to infections/clogs. I currently make about 30-38oz each day. Thank you!
Hi Rit! I wasn’t sure if you’d seen this:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
That’s definitely what I would recommend. Definitely email me if you have questions. Also if you would be willing to talk about your experience with a galactocele – I would love to interview you about it!
I’m in desperate need for sleep at night! I’d like to continue pumping but sleep more if possible. If I’m pumping mostly every 3-4 hours can I go 8 hours at night? Perhaps 10p and then 6am?
Hi Melissa! How old is your baby and how many pumping sessions are you doing now?
He is almost 4 months. I pump every 3 hours, occasionally I’ll go 4. I’d like to maintain my production without as many pumping sessions if possible. I have a lot stored up but don’t want to make the mistake of severely decreasing my supply.
I think you should be able to do that. I would just do it gradually (like don’t go 8 hours at once, but stretch it an hour at a time), so that you can reassess as you go. And make sure your total amount of time pumping in a day stays the same. Good luck!
My baby is now 16 weeks, and I have been (almost) exclusively pumping since my baby was 12 weeks when we discovered that nursing was not going well (long story short, our tongue and lip tie release at 2 weeks was not done far enough, so while I was pain free, baby couldn’t effectively pull milk and was coasting on the huge letdowns form my early oversupply). I recently tried to drop a pump to go down to 7. My schedule was previously 2am, 5am, 7am, 10am, 1pm 4pm 7pm 10pm and this was working great! I decided to drop the 7am since it was so close to the 5 and move the 10 a little earlier (it is spaced this way because of my commute to work). However, after only 3 days being down to 7 pumps and redistributing the time of the dropped pimp my supply seems to be going down a little. Do I need to add that 8th pump back in? Will I be doing 8 pimps for the whole duration of the one year I want to breastfeed?
Hi Amy! Ugh, 8 pumps a day for as long as you pump would be terrible. How much supply did you lose? Maybe you could try making the last session of the day (or whichever one works) a power pumping session and see if that helps?
Hi! I’m currently pumping 4x day for a 6 month old. I’m ready to drop down to 2x a day. My current pumping schedule is 4am 10am 4 pm 10 pm. I really want to drop the 4am for my sanity (have to get eldest daughter ready for school at 6 so I’m pumping and taking a nap in between). I’ve have mastitis 2x so I’m super terrified and don’t know where to begin. Should I start by moving my 10am pump closer to my 4pm pump? Or can I just drop my 10am and 4 pm and replace it with a 2 pm pump? Then it will be 4am 2 pm 10 pm. From there I’m not sure what to do to move my 4 am pump to at least 6 am. Please help!
Hi Priscella! Okay, what I would do is slowly push the 4am back to 6am. (Maybe 30 minutes a day? You can see what feels right for you.) Once you’re at 6am 10am 4pm 10pm, I’d drop the 10am and move the 4pm back to 2pm. So to do that I would move the 10am back until you can get to 2pm without issues. I’m guessing that won’t take too long since you’ll be pumping at 6am instead of 4am. Does that make sense?
Hi, my baby has been sleeping through the night for 2 months and I am ready to drop or push up my 1am pump. I also went back to work 3 weeks ago so I am pumping 4x a day and breastfeeding 2-3x a day. My pump is currently +\- 30 Mins at 9am, 11:30am, 2pm and 5:30pm. I last bf around 9/9:30am and pump at 1am, my baby wakes up at 7:30/8am. I want to push my last pumping session to ideally at 11pm or latest 12am, how do I go about doing that? I am semi prone to clogged duct. Thanks!!
I forgot to mentioned I have tried pushing up pumping time 15 mins at a time but I still get woken up by engorgement around 6:15-6:30am everyday. Ideally I’d like to get 7 hrs of sleep straight so hoping to sleep from 12-7am or 11:30-7am. Thank you!
Hi Karen! Have you tried lecithin at all for the clogs? I think I’m not getting what is happening right now with you moving back the pumping sessions. Are you currently able to move the 1am all the way back to 6:15am? Or were you referring to something different? Sorry if I’m not following!
Hi Amanda, sorry for the confusion. what I am trying to achieve is to push up my 1am pump to 11pm or 11:30pm. How should I make this happen, I am usually really engorged around 6:15-6:30am when I pump at 1am?
Got it! Sorry, two follow up questions – how old is your baby and how’s your supply? Is it something you’re concerned about or do you have oversupply?
Hi Amanda, my LO just turned 5 months and my supply has been on par with demand but could use a bump if she wants to feed more. She has been STTN since 3 months so we can only get 6 feedings in during the day. I have pushed my 1am pump to 12:30am for a little over a week and I am still awaken by pain around 5:30am, she doesn’t get up until 7:30/8am so I am really hoping I can get through until 7am without being in pain so early. In an ideal world, I’d like to pump at 11:30pm as my last pump session and get up at 7am, please let me know the steps I can take to get there. Thank you so much!
Hi Karen! So sorry to hear about the pain at 5:30. What do you do when that happens? Do you pump? Assuming you do, I think the two things I would do are a) putting a cabbage leaf if your bra at some point (ideally, around 3 or 4, but I don’t want you have to wake up for that, so maybe if you wake up at some point to go to the bathroom? if not, at 5:30 is fine) – this will help with the engorgement and b) only pump enough to get the pressure off at 5:30 and then pump a regular session in 15-30 minutes so that you can train your body to go later. Push that back as you can, just like you’re doing with the 12:30 session. Also, don’t overdo the cabbage as it can affect supply. You’re doing great, sorry this is so tricky!
Hi Amanda,
Normally when I wake up in pain I would massage and hold out until LO wakes up around 7:30-8am, sometimes I can go back to sleep in 30 mins and sometimes I am awake until baby is up to feed. I will try pumping a little at 5:30a(whenever I am awake from pain) to get the pressure off, I tried expressing a little but it didn’t take away the engorgement and uncomfortableness. When you mentioned I should do a regular pumping session 15-30 minutes later do you mean I should add another pumping session to my day and eventually push that session out until my feeding time? I am really trying to be able to sleep a longer stretch at a time since my LO has been STTN for two months already and I do have about 4-5oz extra of pumped BM. Thank you again for your help!
Hi,
I’m currently weaning from the pump and looking to use the reduction in volume method to drop one of my sessions however I’m wondering whether doing so could create a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance? If I don’t pump until breast is empty will I still get all the fatty hindmilk?
Thanks.
Hi Lisa! At that session, you wouldn’t, no – but your other sessions should be fine. How old is your baby? I wouldn’t be too concerned if he or she is old enough for solids and is getting hindmilk from the other sessions.
Hi Amanda,
Question. My son is currently 3 months and I pump and BF. Right now I BF at 7am, pump whatever is left to empty, about 10 minutes, then pump again at 9:30, 12:30, 3:30pm. I nurse at 6:30, 8:30 then a quick dream feed at 10pm and pump again until empty, usually around 10 minutes. I’d LOVE to reduce this schedule in some way as I’m definitely over producing. I don’t mind having the extra but if it went down a bit it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Where do you recommend I cut back? I’m worried to loose the am and pm because I am prone to clogged ducts but would love to skip the morning pump after I BF or lose one while I’m at work. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I think you’d be okay skipping the “whatever is left to empty” pump after 7am since you pump again at 9:30. I would start with that and see what happens. Can you make the 9:30 a little longer, if necessary? If your schedule allows you could also move it up for a week or so while you transition to dropping that morning session. Are you taking lecithin for the clogs? That might help too!
Thanks so much for the quick response. I’ll give that a try. I could for sure make the 9:30am longer and start earlier if I needed to. I’m just so full in the am I dont know if I can make it, but will definitely try! LOL. I probably get another 8 ounces in the am after he feeds. I am not taking anything for the clogs but will definitely try the lecithin! I probably get 1 a week, which is no fun. Thanks again.
Good luck! You could also try weaning yourself off of that morning session – instead of 8 oz stop yourself after you pump 4, say. You could try that for a few days and then see if you can get to 9:30. 🙂
Hi Amanda,
I have a 12 weeks old baby girl. I just went back to work last week. Currently I pump at 6am, 10am, 2pm, bf at 6pm, 10pm, and 2am. I am trying to drop the 2am pumping session. I got mastitis earlier this month, what willll be the best way to drop without hurting my supply? Thanks!
Hi Linda! Sorry to hear about the mastitis. I would slowly push it back, maybe by half an hour a night. So, the first night you’d do 2:30, then (either the next night, or you can wait a few days to let your body adjust), you’d do 3pm, and so on. Once you can go to 5am you can consolidate the 5am and 6am into one pumping session, make it longer, and then push it back to 6am. Hopefully that makes sense! Also – make sure that you add the dropped time to your remaining pumping sessions so that your total pumping time in a day stays the same. Let me know if you have any questions.
Hi Amanda,
I have twins, 14 weeks old. I have dropped to 4 pumping sessions, 30 mins per pump, and am producing 60-64 oz a day. My schedule is 4am, 10am, 4pm, 9:30pm. I would like to switxh up my schedule so I can stop waking to pump in the middle of the night since my boys are now sleeping till 7am. Do you think if I go from 10pm-6 am my supply will decrease?
I’ve never gone 8 hours between pumping. 6 has been the longest. Until 2 weeks ago I was still pumping 8/7x’s a day and was able to cut back to 4 with no decrease. Thank you!
Hi Megan! If you don’t change anything else, just push the 4am back to 6am, my guess is that you will be fine. 🙂 Good luck!
If I may ask, how much did your supply decrease when you went from 4 pumps to 3. I currently pump 4/day and get about 34-38oz/day. My daughter is 4.5 months and drinks around 25-27oz, unless growth spurting, of course! I have a stash in the freezer that I could supplement with if my supply drops below her intake. I’m just wondering if there’s a good rule of thumb about how much a supply can drop if dropping to 3. Thanks. Your blog has been a lifesaver for this unplanned-EPer!
Hi Shannon! When I went from 4 to 3 was when I starting losing supply (I hadn’t before that when dropping sessions). I believe I went from about 45 oz per day to about 35oz, but this drop took awhile – it was over several months. I also got my period back around this time which likely contributed. I hope this helps – everyone is different but for me 3 was when the drop started. 🙂
Hi! I’ve been pumping throughout the day (15 min each breast) 7x ( 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, 12 am) and nurse only at night. My goal is to completely stop producing milk since I have to return to work in 2 weeks. I just started one of your methods-dropping 1 session cold turkey style- but my question is after the dropped session (6pm) .. do I continue to pump for the same amount of time on all my other sessions or do I start reducing the time on those ? Also is it safe to give the expressed milk to my baby since I believe it’s mostly foremilk.. or should I toss that out ?
TIA!!
Hi Liz! Since you’re weaning, you keep the remaining sessions the same (15 min each breast) except for the one that you’re dropping. (If you weren’t weaning, you’d add the time from the session you’re dropping back to the other sessions).
For the milk – if your baby isn’t on solids yet, maybe freeze it and give it to him or her mixed with solids after they start? Breastmilk mixed with fruits or veggies works well and it doesn’t matter if it’s all foremilk for that.
Good luck!
I have a 2 week old and was exclusively pumping but need to wean completely and start formula. I had a plan w a lactation consultant that I would start by decreasing each pumping session from 17 min to 14 min, which I put in effect yesterday. Then today I increased the time between two morning sessions by about 45 min while also reducing just that later session to 11 min. My breasts slowly became painfully, unbearably engorged over the last 2 days. I now have mastitis and am on an antibiotic. The LC said I should go back to pumping every 3ish hours but that it would be okay to make each session 15 min so that I’m not entirely back at square one. I am also keeping cabbage leaves on my chest and having occasional peppermint tea. However, I feel extremely depressed and in pain and just want this to end. I can’t go weeks longer trying to wean when every step towards weaning causes more engorgement and pain. Any suggestions on how to do this safely and effectively but also quicker? I’m desperate 🙁 thank you
Hi Alexis! I would drop one session at a time instead of decreasing them all at once. The reason behind this is that you never fully empty your breasts at any of your sessions, which can lead to clogged ducts and mastitis. Here’s a step by step plan – good luck and so sorry you are dealing with this!
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Hi Amanda,
Thank you so much for your website! I wish I found it sooner. I have a 2 month old. I was BF for the first month but had to stop because it was just not working for me. Instead I started pumping. I’ve been pumping 6x day and supplementing with formula. I pump: 2am 6am 10am 1pm 5pm 10pm. I usually get 2.5oz – 5oz each session depending on the time (less in the 10am-5pm sessions). I return to work in the next month and would like to continue pumping but move it to 5x a day and then hopefully 4x. What can you advise I do? I feel like dropping the 1pm session because I feel like I can go out anywhere for a long time. I do have a medal harmony but don’t want to be in the go and still pumping – it’s too overwhelming. Then hopefully I drop the 2am session.
I think that sounds like a good plan! Maybe drop the 1pm and move the 10am back to noon? That way you could do it at lunch? I think that would work well!
Hi there! I’m currently exclusively pumping. My little one will be 2 months on October 18th. My goal is to reduce my pumping sessions significantly by the time he is 3 months, mainly for sanity and sleep deprivation sake. So that means I
would like to be reduced by November 18th (if feasible). I will keep the reduced schedule until he is 6 months then wean off completely. Currently I pump every 3 hours at about 1am, 4am, 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, and 10pm. Of course there are some variations in that. When I pump I get about 8-10 ounces total. I would love to get my sessions down to 4 a day. Perhaps getting rid of the middle of the night session (either 1 or 4am). I unfortunately am prone to clogs and engorgment but have never had an infection (knock on wood). Can you help me determine if this goal is feasible in the designated time frame and if so what’s my best approach, perhaps provide a sample schedule. Any help is greatly appreciated. Mama needs some relief!
Hi Kista! I think that’s feasible. I would start by dropping the 1am by pushing it back 30 minutes – an hour each night. (More on how to do that here: https://exclusivepumping.com/drop-middle-of-the-night-pumping-sessions/). Then I’d do the same thing for the 4am (maybe move the 7am up to 6am or the 10pm back to 11pm if necessary). Each of those should take about a week to a week and a half. Then you can drop whichever middle of the day ones are most annoying for you and respace your remaining sessions. Let me know if that doesn’t make sense. Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
Let me start of my saying you’re awesome for providing such great advice to everyone. I don’t know how I would’ve survived these past 2 months without it! My LO will be 3 months on Nov 19… I’m currently pumping 7x day every 3-3.5 hours. My schedule isn’t much of a schedule… I pump 4am, between 7-8am, 11am, between 2:30-3pm, 5pm, 8:30pm and 11pm. Two weeks ago I was on a great schedule and was pretty on top of pumping every 3 hours.. but these past few weeks have been hectic. My supply seems to be regulated … I pump an average of 27-30oz through out the day and my little one drinks about 24oz a day. I’m wondering what your schedule was when you were pumping 6x/day. I would like to pump every 4 hours and was thinking 4am, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm and 11:30pm. I don’t mind the 4am pump since I get the most ounces during that time. I’m wondering how I can help my body adjust to this schedule without hurting my supply… I’ve been pumping for 20-30 mins each session or until I’m “empty.” Do you think I should just start the schedule or try to push some sessions back 30mins?
Hi Jenny! This sounds like a great schedule! I would just switch to it cold turkey – so one day you’re on the old schedule and one day you’re on the new (unless you have a history of clogged ducts or mastitis)?
Thank you so much for all of your helpful tips. You are the reason why my baby is getting any breastmilk! I do have couple of
questions about dropping pumps and pumping schedules. My baby is just over the 3 month mark and I’m currently at 6 pumps trying to go down to 5. I currently pump at 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm, 2am. I’m trying to get rid of the 10pm as I’m having a hard time staying up. I have no issues waking up for the 2am pump and my lo is still wanting milk around that time anyway. I need to keep my morning pumps the same due to my work schedule and think I can live with 6am, 10am, 2pm, 8pm, and 2am. My question is do you think it’s okay to implement that schedule, knowing I might want get sick of the 2 am and need to adjust to a different schedule still with 5 pumps? Also, is it okay to have a different schedule on the weekends? My 10am and 2pm are required for work, but I’d love to spread them out on sat and sun.
Thank you in advance!
Hi Rachel! Yes, I think that’s fine. When you go to drop the 2am, you can move it back to right before bed. It should be fine.
Totally fine to have a different schedule on the weekends. Babies don’t nurse by the clock, so you would if you were pumping at work and nursing! Just get the sessions in. 🙂
Hello!
I am exclusively pumping since week 5 post partum. Baby girl had a high pallet and had a great latch but would fall asleep at the breast and the minute I would lay her down she would begin crying-that pattern went on for a few days before we lost our minds and introduced a bottle. I make plenty of milk (about 40 oz a day). I pumped for a couple of days 12x/day way in the beginning and switched to 8x/day and I dont exactly remember when I switched to 6x/day but around 2 months post partum I was pumping every 4 hrs and stayed that way until 9 weeks post partum when I dropped to five pumps per day. My supply was on its way to 50oz a day when I dropped to five pumps a day a few weeks ago (9-10 weeks post partum-this was also right around the time when I gave back my rented medela lactina pump and switched to a spectra s1). I got so engorged and I am 12 weeks post partum now with mastitis as of this morning. I just started antibiotics today. They told me to try to increase to 6x/day but I really really do not want to do that. I was hoping the supply would decrease to 35 oz or so upon dropping from 6x/day to 5 but the milk increased from 40oz to 50oz and mostly showed up in the morning pumps. I am worried it will happen again. I think I am one of those people who when they sleep more, they make more milk. Should I just keep to 5 pumps per day for a while or reduce to my goal of 4xday? If I should stay at 5-how much longer should I stay there? I am 12 weeks post partum today, and I am a stay at home mom so I will not be returning to work. I just want to 4 pumps per day eventually so I can have a life again (go grocery shopping!, and sleep a little bit more! and maybe go for walks to the park!-you know-participate in life again! =] ) I feel like 4x/day is way more manageable even long term, and I could do that but if I can barely make it to five hours without clogging and heading down mastitis road then I do not know how I am going to make it 6 hrs in between. I think it is funny but I literally dream of having to only pump 4x/day. haha…..I really hope I can get there.
Current schedule: I get about 7-8 oz total at each pump-little more in the AM and a little less around midnight. Right side produces 3-3.5oz and is currently my infected side. Left will make more than 4 oz but I try to keep an eye and stop it just before 4oz or at 4oz if I am too full to cut it short. Sometimes I get 4.5 if I forget to check it.
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I welcome any thoughts!
I think I would stay where you are until the mastitis is resolved and then slooooowly drop one session. Are you taking lecithin for the clogs? If not, I would start. And I would stick to your schedule as much as humanly possible. And I would consider using cabbage leaves while you drop that session.
Hope this helps!
The plug came out finally. There was 2 oz stuck in there and things feel sooooo much better so I think the mastitis may have been prevented but I overall do not know for sure. Things are back on track but it has only been 24 hrs since I started antibiotics and I have 9 more days of antibiotics to complete. How long would you wait if it were you before dropping the fifth pump? Are you saying to keep to 5 sessions for as long as I can tolerate? Would it work if I emptied every other pumping session while trying to drop to four sessions? I think that was the mistake that eventually caused the plug and then the infection in the first place. I tried reducing a little with all sessions when I dropped to five pumps per day. Thank you so much for your input! I soooo appreciate you putting this site together and taking the time to check on everyone who writes to you on here.
So glad it came out and you are feeling better! I would just wait a few days to confirm there are no other issues and then go ahead and drop to 5. and I was saying to just not miss pumping sessions (to improve your chances of not getting another clog) – not that you needed to stay at 5 long-term.
I think I would focus on dropping one session at a time versus emptying every other because consistency helps your body know what to expect (it’s trying to match supply to demand). That’s not super important unless you’re trying to avoid clogs and such. Definitely don’t reduce all at once – you’re absolutely right that that was probably the problem.
I hope this helps/makes sense!
Ok. I see. I was taking lecithin but it caused large stinky green colored poops to my baby (I am laughing but it is true-smelled like hard boiled egg) It gave me something to laugh at in the middle of the night when I was awake pumping and could hear her tooting away. I found that staying hydrated and taking hot baths frequently helped with previous small clogs. This is the first clog that a hot shower/hot bath and hot compresses didn’t relieve but for the amount of milk that is coming in I am surprised this did not happen sooner. Anyways! I started moving the 0500 pump to 0600 in fifteen min increments and after that one settles I will adjust the 2000 to 1800 slowly in the same manner. Haven’t decided if I should move the 1500 pump to 1200 or mesh it into the 1800. Thanks for your time! Appreciate you!
Good luck!!! Too bad about the poop!
I want to drop a session by gradually moving sessions closer together.
Should I continue to pump the same duration per session while doing this? I usually pump 20 minutes per session. So continue to pump for 20 minutes even when I’m on the fourth day and they’re only an hour apart?
THANK YOU!
YEs, keep the same length until you combine them! 🙂
And then I can continue with 20 minute sessions, don’t have to do do the combined session as 40 minutes?
You would redistribute the 20 minutes among all of your remaining sessions. So if you’re dropping to 5, they’d each become 24 minutes. 🙂
Your Instagram and website have been so helpful during the long days and nights of having a newborn and EPing. My baby is 6 weeks old and I’d like to decrease to only pumping twice per day because I’m emotionally and physically not doing well with little sleep and stress. I’ve gone down to pumping 5 times per day with about 5 hours in between pumping sessions of 15 minutes. I get 5-6 ounces per session and I’m ok with using what I have in the freezer and supplementing with formula. I’ve tried increasing the time between sessions to 6 hours while decreasing the pumping to 12 minutes. How can I safely decrease to pumping twice per day while still having some breast milk for my baby? Thank you!
Hi Jesse! I would drop one session at a time versus increasing the time between. So write down your schedule and figure out about when you usually pump, figure out what you want your schedule to be, and drop the three sessions that you need to to make that happen. Does that make sense? I would NOT decrease the length of all at the same time because of the risk of clogged ducts or mastitis. Let me know if you have any other questions!