What should you do when you have too much breast milk and want to reduce your milk supply? Here are seven ways to decrease your milk supply when you have an oversupply.
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How do you know if you have an oversupply of breast milk while exclusively pumping?
Basically, if you make more breast milk than your baby eats in a day, you’re an oversupplier. (Note: because milk supply varies over the course of a day, look at the amount that you pump over a 24 hour period rather than session by session.)
There are three basic categories of supply when it comes to exclusive pumping:
- Undersupplier (or Underproducer): Makes less breast milk than baby eats
- Just Enougher: Makes about the same as what baby eats, maybe with a small buffer of a few ounces
- Oversupplier (or Overproducer): Makes more than a few ounces more than what baby eats.
This means that two people can pump the exact same amount of milk, and one can be an undersupplier and one can be an overproducer.
So for example, say that Sally pumps 30 oz per day, and her baby eats 25 oz. Sally is an oversupplier.
On the other hand, Meg pumps 30 oz per day, but her baby eats 35 oz. Meg is an undersupplier.
What issues can an oversupply of breastmilk cause?
There are a few issues that having an oversupply can cause. Often, these issues present less of a problem for exclusive pumpers than for those that nurse, but they can still occur.
Possible complications of oversupply can include:
Forceful letdown
Sometimes, during letdown, too much milk can come out at once for baby to handle. This can be frustrating for the baby, especially since they often get sprayed in the face.
If you’re exclusively pumping, this complication of oversupply will not be a problem for you! Your breast pump can handle whatever letdown you give it.
Foremilk/hindmilk imbalance
Foremilk is the milk at the start of a session, and tends to be less fatty than the hindmilk at the end.
If a baby fills up on foremilk (because there is so much of it) before she can get to the hindmilk, this can cause foremilk/hindmilk imbalance.
This tends to be less of an issue for exclusive pumpers, because the milk is all mixed together in a bottle, but some people do still struggle a bit.
Many find that the pitcher method is helpful in managing foremilk/hindmilk imbalance when exclusively pumping.
Recurrent clogged ducts/mastitis
Anyone who is breastfeeding – undersupplier, just enougher, or oversupplier – can struggle with recurrent clogged ducts or mastitis.
However, it may be a bit more of a issue for overproducers because they have more milk that needs to be removed when they lactate. This means that cutting a nursing or pumping session short can sometimes lead to milk getting “stuck.”
How to decrease milk supply when you’re not weaning (versus when you are weaning)
If you’re trying to decrease milk supply when you’re NOT weaning, I recommend being very cautious.
(If you’re exclusively pumping, unless you are struggling with one of the above issues, I generally advise not trying to decrease your milk supply – more on this here.)
I’ve ordered the below strategies from baby steps to most effective. If you are not weaning and just trying to curb production, start with the baby steps, and make sure to go slowly and watch how your body is responding before continuing.
If you are weaning and trying to completely dry up your milk supply, feel free to go all out and choose whatever method you’d like.
How to Decrease Your Milk Supply
Here are several things that you can do to reduce your milk supply, from least drastic to most effective.
1. (Gradually) Pump Less Milk
The most important thing that you can do to pump less milk is: pump less milk.
Breastfeeding is a supply and demand process, so the more milk that you remove from your breasts via the pump, the more milk your body thinks it needs to make.
The trick is to pump less milk gradually, so that your body gets the message that it should ramp down production.
There are a few different ways that you can approach this, and I’ve covered them in more detail in a post on dropping pumping sessions. For example, you can slowly reduce the volume that you pump in a given pumping session, or you can completely drop a pumping session.
More information on how to drop a pumping session here.
2. Try Cabbage Leaves
There hasn’t been a lot of research done to show why cabbage may reduce milk supply, but it is often recommended by lactation consultants and doctors to provide relief from engorgement and reduce milk supply.
One theory is that the amnio acids in the cabbage help to decrease tissue congestion by opening capillaries and improving the blood flow in and out of the engorged breast, relieving inflammation and allowing the milk to flow freely.
I wrote a step-by-step overview of how to use cabbage, but the short version is: to use a cabbage leaf, wash it and slice off the tops of the vein with a knife. Then put it in your bra. You’ll want to leave it in there until it wilts – about 20-30 minutes – and repeat often.
People who have engorgement are instructed to do this three to four times in a 24 hour period to reduce engorgement without losing milk supply. Since you are trying to decrease your milk supply, you may want to do it more often.
(If you have cracked or bleeding nipples, hold off on using cabbage until that has healed.)
3. Eat Peppermint
Peppermint is an herb that may decrease milk supply in larger doses.
A few peppermint candies or menthol cough drops probably won’t make your milk supply plummet, but in larger quantities, it might have an effect. Start small and see if you notice your milk supply starting to drop.
4. Eat or Drink Sage
Like peppermint, sage is one of a few herbs that can decrease milk supply. There are a few different ways that you can consume it:
- You can use dried sage from your spice rack to make tea or ingest directly, or
- You can take capsules.
To make sage tea, put one teaspoon of dried sage in one cup boiling water and steep for 15 minutes.
You can also eat it directly by mixing it in with other foods, or, if you don’t like the taste, putting about 1/4 tsp of it on something sticky (like honey on a very small piece of bread) and try to swallow it like a pill.
5. No More Milk Weaning Tea
This tea contains sage, peppermint, and parsley, and is intended to help speed the weaning process. Basically, it’s a packaged way to get the more powerful anti-milk supply herbs.
No More Milk Tea might be a little more palatable than sage capsules or tea or eating large quantities of candy canes. Again, start slowly.
6. Birth Control Containing Estrogen
Birth control products that contain estrogen, such as Nuva Ring or oral combination birth control pills, may have a negative effect of breast milk supply.
If you are weaning and planning to start taking birth control with estrogen anyway, it might make sense to time it so that you start your new birth control when you start weaning.
(I wouldn’t recommend trying this unless you are weaning, as the effect might be greater than you’d like and it may be complicated for you to stop taking it.)
7. Take Sudafed
For some women, taking pseudoephedrine (the active ingredient in Sudafed) will reduce milk supply – a small study of lactating women showed that one dose of Sudafed reduced milk supply over the next 24 hours by 24%.
Unless you are weaning or have significant negative effects from oversupply, use caution with reducing supply with Sudafed, as the effect will vary from person to person, and you don’t know how it will affect you until you try it.
In the United States, Sudafed is sold in most pharmacies behind the pharmacy counter, but you don’t need a prescription.
Have you tried to decrease your milk supply? Let us know how it went for you in the comments.
Thinking about weaning from the pump? No idea where to start? Worried that you’ll get a clogged duct or mastitis when you stop pumping? Grab my one-of-a-kind guide here.
References- Bonyata, Kelly, IBCLC. “How does milk production work?” https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/milkproduction/
- Aljazaf, Khalidah. “Pseudoephedrine: effects on milk production in women and estimation of infant exposure via breastmilk.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1884328/
- Smith, Sandra. “Cabbage Leaves for Treatment and Prevention of Breast Engorgement.” https://www.breastfeedingonline.com/cabbage.shtml#sthash.I9qKNMdh.ZziI8Pk1.dpbs
Comments & Chitchat
Hi I was wondering if you could help me. I just had a baby 5 days ago and it was via cesarean so I knew I would pump and supplement with formula. So right now I pump every 3 hours during the day and would not like to pump at all overnight. I don’t mind the baby getting formula overnight so that’s not the problem. The problem is engorgment and the lumps in my armpits. No fever or hotspots. So my question is, do I just hand express to not be overly full at night and the body will know not to make milk? I don’t plan on pumping very long only for 2 months max since I have to go back to work and I’m self employed. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi Kathy! I think that either hand expressing at night to relieve pressure or pumping with a manual pump for a few minutes can work well. If you end up getting a clogged duct, there are other things that might help like lecithin or maybe cabbage leaves. (Clogs and mastitis are definitely a risk with this approach, but it can also work fine. A lot depends on the individual person. I hope that helps!)
Hi! I have been on the same EP schedule for about 2 months now (6a, 9a, 12p, 3p, 6p, 9p) and I still continue to leak really bad by my morning pump. Not so much pain, just extremely full and lots of leaking. I figured my body would regulate by now. I don’t completely empty them at my 6am pump, but I do at my 9 am pump and so on. I pump for 15 minutes each session and get about 42 oz total per day. My baby is 4 months old and drinks 30 oz per day. I am wanting to get her to a year before weaning and we have a ton stashed in our freezer. What do you recommend I do to stop the over supply in the mornings? Thanks for the help!
Hiii!!!
So right now, I’m pumping only 3 times a day! Around 5AM (10oz), 1:30 PM (8oz), and then around 8-9 pm another (8-10 oz). Right now I have more milk than he is drinking! I’m gradually dropping a pumping session, and that’s the 1:30 one. Hand expressing when I need too to relive some breast swelling. And when I do pump now, I only pump 10-15 min rather than 1hour, making about 10oz a day. Just started this yesterday! I’ve only had 1 clogged duct on my left nipple which was super painful but I managed to unclog it on my own. My baby had gone on a boob strike and wouldn’t latch on for 4 days so I was exclusively pumping! Which honestly upped my milk supply a couple oz a day as I was just making enough to feed him. He drinks about 20-24 oz a a day & I feed him bottle and breast. Do you think it’s okay what I’m doing? Hand expressing and shortening my pumping session along with dropping one? Or would that cause me to have another clogged duct or mastitis? My baby is almost 3 months on April 30th.
Hi Janette! How long do you think that you want to pump for? I’m so glad you have a great supply! ❤️
I usually pump for 30-45 min! But right now I cut down to only 15-20 which is great but I’m still making about the same. What would you suggest?
Also, I wanted to ask you! I have a wedding coming up & I wanted to just have fun and have some alcoholic drinks..my baby will be staying with at my mothers for the weekend. Do I pump & dump the weekend? I only plan to pump twice morning and night. And would my milk supply lower? Or how could I go about this without causing issues with my supply or possibly getting another clogged duct.
Oh sorry – I meant, how many weeks/months! 😀
Here’s some info on how to manage alcohol and breastfeeding that might help!
https://exclusivepumping.com/alcohol-and-breastfeeding-pump-and-dump/
Hi Amanda,
Appreciate all the information and advice you put out, your site has helped so much. I’ve been EP my 7 month old and had mastitis three times now. I overproduce and can’t seem to figure out how to ween. Anytime I make an effort to cut out a pumping session is when I get clogs. When I get mastitis I’m pumping more frequently to help with the pain but I feel like that is making me overproduce too; it’s like a vicious cycle for me. I’m ready to ween completely. Been trying to reduce by volume like you suggested but that is causing me to stop pumping while I have a pretty steady flow still coming out. Is that ok? Taking lecithin, drinking lots of peppermint tea, and using cabbage. Not sure how to know how much to express for “comfort” while weening without fear of getting clogs or mastitis.
Hi Katie! What’s your pumping schedule like right now and which session are you trying to drop? So sorry you’re dealing with this stress and mastitis and stuff!
My son is 8 days old I am exclusively pumping. I pump every 3 hours for 20 minutes and get 6-8 ounces each time. One breast is fine and the other feels swollen and hot and engorged. Do you have any suggestions on how to help with this pain?
Thank You
Hi Monique! Do you have a fever at all? I’m wondering if you have mastitis.
No I do not have a fever today managed to unclog both breasts so they don’t feel engorged anymore but still feel warm.
I might try cabbage leaves (just a little – I wouldn’t over do it) and see if that helps?
Hello,
I believe I am an oversupplier, but I worry about when my LO gets older and will I enough milk? Currently, she drinks about 24 oz a day, and I pump anywhere between 30 – 34 oz, how will I increase my supply when she starts drinking 36oz? Or by they time will it be supplemented with food? Thanks for your help.
Hi Jena! How old is your baby?
Hi Amanda
Your post has been helpful. My daughter is 3.5 months old. I started pumping every 2.5 to 3 hours then changed it to now every 4 hours. I pump 60-70 ounces a day and wanted to know how I can reduce? My deep freezer is completely full and I’ve been rotating her milk where I use her old milk and replace with new dated milk. My pumping schedule is somewhat like this: 2 am, 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm. I wanted to see if I can do every 5 hours or wanted to drop a session and wanted to see how I can do it? My daughter wakes up once in the middle of the night so I can’t do 2 am. If I drop the 10 pm would that be too long without pumping? I pump 20 minutes per session. Please let me know
Hi Kim! I think that would be fine. You might want to push the 6pm back to 7 or 8? Here is some info on reducing supply while exclusively pumping:
https://exclusivepumping.com/pumping-and-oversupply/
Hi Amanda,
I’m looking to move my MOTN pump into an early morning pump + drop a pump at the same time. I currently pump 6x a day (2:30am, 8:30am, 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:30pm & 9:30pm).
I’m looking to move the 2:30pm to 5:00am and also drop to 5 pumps to have the following schedule:
5:00am, 9:00am, 1:00pm, 5:30pm& 9:45pm.
I have been slowly moving the 2:30am pump 30 minutes each day but am confused on how to drop the day pump at the same time since i’m an oversupplier and had mastitis once so I’m scared of getting it again
I tried to just drop a pump completely today but now I am not sure how much time I should be pumping. Should I maintain the same time as before since I’m not looking to keep the supply? or should I have not dropped the pump that quickly and should have done it gradually?
Thanks!
WInnie
Hi Winnie! I think I would move the one session up and THEN go ahead and drop the afternoon pump. (Just because you had mastitis before.) When you drop the afternoon pump, I would slowly reduce the time on the afternoon pump that you’re dropping and if you don’t want to add it back, you can experiment with how that goes. So you’d pump 5 minutes less, then 10 minutes less, etc. Hopefully that makes sense!
I was hoping to continue for another year, hopefully.
Hi! I think I wouldn’t drop to 3 right now. I am pretty risk averse, though. For me 3 pumps per day was a supply killer (I got my period back). I would probably wait until 9 months if you want to pump for a year – but that’s just want I would do. You have to weight the annoyance of 4 sessions per day versus the risk of a drop in supply. Good luck!
Hi there!
I produce about 65-67oz a day pumping 4x a day (honestly I’d like to go to 3x a day). Every time I’ve decreased my pumping frequency I actually seem to produce more? I want to try to drop a pump but I’m nervous about a steep drop in production because I’m unsure if I’ve regulated or not. Im also terrified of getting mastitis. I’m 11 weeks pp and I pump at 4am, 10am, 4pm, and 10 pm for 20 min. I used to feel really full around pump time but no so much anymore. Although in general my breast just feel tingle around pump time. I do also wish I was making closer to 45 oz. do you have any suggestions?
Hi Mallory! How long do you think you’d like to pump for? I think I will have a different answer if it’s six months vs a year, for example. Thanks!
I was planning/hoping for a year
Amanda thank you so much for having this website and sharing so many tips and ideas. I was an exclusively pumping mama 13 years ago and there was little to no support or information out there about how to do this. The most common response was – “It’s not sustainable and you will dry up.” I didn’t and was able to give both my older children my breast milk that way as both were unable to latch despite working with amazing lactation consultants for weeks. Fast forward 13 years and I’ve now given birth to my miracle rainbow girl who like her siblings has refused to latch, though I continue to try. She is 7 weeks old, and I am overproducing and pumping about 7x a day for 15 min each. Even with that scaled back schedule I am producing almost 3x what she is currently taking in. I tried to space out my pumps to every 4 hrs and ended up with clogged ducts and engorgement. I tried to reduce the time at each of my pumps and that also resulted in clogged ducts. I am now on lecithin to help with the clogged ducts and I am trying to reduce my milk supply by reducing the volume approach. My question (sorry it took this long) is – should I decrease the overall volume of the pumping session or decrease the output of each breast? I am reducing my 9am pump which is usually 8oz (4.25 oz from right breast, 3.75 oz from left). Today I pumped till I got 7 oz but it was 4oz Right and 3oz left – does it matter? I know this is super detailed but I want to proceed as careful as possible to avoid another visit to urgent care. Thanks so much!
Hi Mari! That’s a great question. I would do each breast! GOOD LUCK!
Hello Amanda thanks for the reply, my sessions are 30 minutes in the morning,20 minutes at 5 and 30 minutes in the evening. I shall try the cabbage leaves,hopefully my supply will lesson soon.
Good luck!
Hello I have been exclusively pumping my 9 week old baby since birth,I would love the ease of just breastfeeding but I have such an oversupply of milk and a forceful letdown.i want to cut down my pumping and add a bit of formula to the mix,trouble is my supply doesn’t seem to be going down. I went from 4 pumping sessions a day to 3 (9am,5pm,10pm)) two weeks ago and I’m still getting very engorged between sessions,I’m pumping around 32oz a day. I really want to cut out my middle pumping session but am finding it impossible because I get pretty engorged,I’ve tried limiting the time of the middle session but am also worried about foremilk/hindmilk balance my baby receives.
What shall I do?
Hi Tina! How long are your sessions?
If you don’t mind reducing supply (which it sounds like you don’t?) you could try using cabbage leaves when you start to feel engorged. That might help both reduce supply and with the pain.
https://exclusivepumping.com/how-to-use-cabbage-leaves-breastfeeding/
Other than that, it might just be that you need to give it some more time. AT 9 weeks your supply might not have regulated yet and this will sort itself out. I would give it a few weeks and see how you feel. Email me or reply here if it’s not better!
Hi,
My son is almost 8 weeks old and I am pumping 8 times a day still. I have had oversupply since the beginning, pumping anywhere from 12-15 ounces in a fifteen minute pumping session. I cut my pump times down to 13 minutes each session instead of 15 to try and help reduce my output. I get around the same amount each session now (4-5 ounces a breast) unless i have a clogged duct i or am engorged (which is often), in which case i can go back to getting 7-8 a breast. I want to start cutting down my sessions and i want to reduce the massive amount of clogged ducts and engorgment. Recently I thought my breasts were regulating since they felt soft and not painful for a full day and still produced a good amount but the next few days I am back to feeling engorged and in pain. I massage while I pump and even get on all fours when in pain or have a clogged duct to have gravity help me out. Any advice on reducing the pain and reducing the times I pump?
Hmm – so sorry you’re dealing with this! I think I would consider lecithin for the clogs and instead of dropping to 13 minutes, try doing 6-7 sessions instead of 8 but pump 15-17 minutes?
I was ebp every 3 hours for 20 minutes, producing around 50 ounces a day. My newborn was drinking about 25-30 ounces of that.
Now, he’s a little over a month and has learned to latch. I want to stop pumping unless I’m away from him.
What is the best approach to wean from pumping when I know I’m producing 20 more ounces a day than I should for my newborn? I was originally going to drop a session at a time but since my newborn nurses on demand, he sometimes nurses after a pump, which I would think causes my body to produce more, right? But also, I do not want to drop too low too fast because I want to continue nursing. What do I do?
Oh I forgot to add, as of now I’m nursing and only pump when I get really full uncomfortable but I do want to avoid clogged ducts or anything like that.
I am emptying around 3am because it gets SO full and most nights my newborn sleeps through. I end up pumping 14 ounces total from both, and nurse the rest of the day unless it’s TOO full then I’ll pump maybe around 12pm and 9pm
Hi Ryna! I’m so sorry, but I am not a back to breast expert and am worried I would give you incorrect info. However, there is a back to breast FB group that might be helpful!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1284778218291474/
If you use sage to reduce the milk supply, is the milk still safe for the baby to have? I have been incredibly fortunate and produce a ton of milk that I will have enough in the freezer by the time she is 6 months old to last her until after her first birthday. I currently produce over 50 ounces a day and I typically freeze about 32. My stop date is March 19th (for my current schedule because at that point I will have over enough in the freezer) but I’m afraid with as much as I produce it would take quite a long time to wean off without any supply decreasing supplements. I hate to waste what milk I may pump in the final stages of weaning but I didn’t know if taking the sage would make it okay for my baby to have
No issues with sage and milk being safe! Sage is listed as a “herb to avoid” but only because it reduces milk supply. Kellymom doesn’t list it as one that is harmful to mom/baby:
https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/herbs_to_avoid/
Hope this helps!
amanda, i dont think i can skip a session right now.. that would be 6 hrs and i dont think im capable right now. i am taking sudafed and sage tea and lechithin. massaging when pumping. my sessions are only short just to get relief.. i’m hoping that by doing this my supply will tank and i can start to space out the sessions more. would that work? i’m afraid if i empty it will just cause my body to make more.. especially if i’m emptying 7 times a day and trying to skip one session..
You don’t skip a session, you gradually reduce time/volume while leaving the other sessions the same. Hope that makes more sense!
Message: Hello, I have been EP since my son was born early in November. I am in a hyperstimulation situation where I have produced SO much milk. I have a huge freezer stash. I would pump every 3 hrs and do it until empty. I would produce 7-10oz per session. Currently I am trying to wean by pumping when I feel uncomfortable and engorged.. it’s looking like that’s approx every 2.5-3 hrs. But I do not empty them. I do it just until I feel relief and work out any knots/bumps.
I desperately want to wean asap.. I love my little guy but this is affecting my marriage, my social life, my mental health. I feel like a prisoner to the pump, can’t go out longer than 2.5-3 hrs without needing to come home and pump. I want to be my best for my son and I’ve realized that breastfeeding/pumping is not accomplishing that. I started drinking sage tea today and will continue. I also started taking Sudafed every 4 hours (recommended dose on package).
My question is.. do I need to wean on a different system? Like more of dropping sessions? Or is what I’m doing going to get me to the point I dry up? HELP!
Hi Denise! I would drop one session at a time rather than not emptying every time – I am worried that you might get a clog that way. Here is a step by step way to do this:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Let me know if you have any questions!
Hello! My son turned 5 months old today and I have been blessed with hyperlactation since he was about 2 or 3 weeks old. I can produce anywhere from 90-120 ounces of milk per day pumping only every 8 hours now. It seems that even when I have stretched my pumping to 8 hours, I still produce a lot of milk…it will not slow down. I can easily pump 20 ounces in the first 10-15 mins of pumping In addition to feeding him the milk, I have over 8,000 ounces of milk in deep freezers between myself and 3 other family members for my son to last him for months! I have currently ran out of storage room for the milk and I am trying to stop pumping altogether since my son it set with milk. I have been trying since yesterday but since I produce so much milk, my breast are unbelievably engorged and I have been trying to release a little milk every six hours because it becomes unbearable. Needless to say it doesn’t seem like my milk is slowing down despite constantly using cabbage leaves and only relieving partial milk. PLEASE HELP. What can I do to stop my milk supply?
Hi Kimberly! I would drop one pumping session at a time – here is more info:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
HAve you tried Sudafed??
Hi Amanda! Update…I have dropped one pumping session now and I have been able to go 19 hours without pumping for 3 days straight until I become very uncomfortably engorged, then I empty my breast. When I do empty my breast, I still produce about 35 ounces of milk so my breast take longer to be very engorged but the milk production is still there and is decreasing very slowly. I tried Sudafed but could only find 10mL (every 4 hour) tablets where I live and it did not seem to help much. I am going to try to order the 24 hour (240mL) tablets to see if that helps. I am also going to try not to empty out my breast now, however when I tried that before, I became very engorged again within 3-6 hours and it was frustrating to stay uncomfortable the whole day so I just emptied them out. I am still not sure what will significantly reduce my breast milk supply and it seems to be a long process. Thanks again for your help!
I’m now using my frozen breastmilk. What’s the quickest way to get it ready for a feeding? How do I take the milk with me if I need to go somewhere and he needs a bottle?
Hi Michelle! I prefer just putting a bag of frozen milk in a sink or bowl full of hot water when at home.
When you need to leave the house, I would defrost the milk ahead of time and bring it with you in cooler with an ice pack like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Insulated-Breastmilk-Chevron/dp/B00FZGLJ4K/
Then you’d have to warm it, your best bet is it ask in a restaurant for a cup of hot water:
https://exclusivepumping.com/warming-bottles-in-public/
Hi Amanda ,
My baby is no more due to Sepsis shock we lost our baby on Nov 1st at the age of 15 days. Now need to stop the Milk , Could you please suggest what to do for stooping milk.
Hi Keerthi,
I am so very sorry to hear this news. You will be in my thoughts.
Here is how I would suggest weaning:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or if there is anything I can do to help. I am so very sorry. amanda@exclusivepumping.com
Hi. Yesterday I was asking about reducing pump sessions. Now today I’m asking about how to dry up my milk. It’s been on my mind since my baby was at least 2 weeks but I’ve been trying to hang in there. Today my little one is a month old and I’m done. I’m going to feel sad about it either way. Any suggestions on drying up milk? On this may be difficult for me because I’m still doing so many sessions. Last night I started to control my volume at my 10 pm session. Then I did not pump at my 1am or 4am pumping (this was not on purpose, I was so tired and sleepy and my little one was fussy) so then I was thinking maybe I should continue that routine since I want to stop. I did get up at 7am and pump but wasn’t sure how long I should have done it since I didn’t pump at all in early morning. Should I still just do 15minutes since I’m quitting. Help?
Hi Michelle,
Here’s a step by step plan to wean from the pump:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
I would focus on dropping one session at a time and not go too fast, you don’t want to get a clogged duct and have to start over. Good luck!
Hi. My little one will be a month old tomorrow. Currently I’m pumping every 3 hrs around the clock, which equals to 8 times a day. When can I go to pumping 7 times a day? If yes, can I drop a middle of the night pumping? How long should I by
between pumpings?
You can go to 7 now, and yes. At one month out I would do maybe 6 hours at night without pumping? There is no hard and fast answer, though. If your baby was nursing and slept for 8 hours straight, then you’d go 8 hours. A lot of babies sleep 5-6 hours at one month, so that’s what I’d aim for.
Remember to increase the length of your remaining sessions so that the total amount of time that you spend pumping stays the same.
Hi Amanda!
My little one is a couple days short of 2mo and I have been EPing for the last month and a half due to latch issues. I am currently pumping 5 times, 10-15min per session, and producing 50-60oz a day. I had to buy a deep freezer, which is already almost full. Do you think I could go down to 4 times a day? Thanks!
I think you should be okay but I would keep your total pumping time the same, so make each remaining session 15-20 minutes. Good luck! 🙂
What do I about severe cracked bleeding nipples? Right now, I’m just using the cream.
Hi Michelle! Here is a lot of detail about that 🙂
https://exclusivepumping.com/bleeding-nipples-when-pumping/
My engorgement is gone. With that supply, do I still need to do pumping every 3hrs around the clock for 15-20 minutes?
At 8 days out, I would suggest at least 7 sessions per day, at 15-20 minutes each.
I think I do around 120 /130ml each pumping session. He takes between 30 to 50 each feeding.
OK, great! You have a great supply. He’ll probably start taking 90-120 every feeding pretty soon, so I wouldn’t do anything drastic. Your supply should regulate soon which will help with the engorgement. (It will do that without you having to do anything.)
https://exclusivepumping.com/when-is-milk-supply-established/
In the meantime, cabbage leaves might help with the engorgement. I would just be careful not to overdo it. Good luck!
Hi. I’m Michelle. My newborn is 8 days old. I breastfed in the hospital, the day I was discharge, I was already engorged. When I got home I stopped breastfeeding, treated the engorgement. Now I exclusively pump. I pump every 3 hrs around the clock. I have an oversupply. Already storing milk in freezer. Between the oversupply, those early morning pumpings and being afraid of getting engorge, I don’t know what to do. Help?
Hi Michelle, how much more are you pumping than your baby is eating? What would you say your total output in a day is?
I used to have serious clogged ducts for months and it got better 3 weeks ago when I try to empty my breast as much as I can. However, I still have about 3 tiny clogged ducts (a rice size) on my left breast. I couldnt remove them completely. I have been taking lecithin (1200mg) per day for 4 days now.
Hi Amanda,
I exclusively pump and my son is 3 and half month now. I think I have been doing wrong when I read your post. I dont have a set schedule, I usually pump every 4 hours and I have oversupply. I had clogged ducts so often therefore I always spend lots of time to empty my breast (45 minutes including pumping and hand expressed). Please advise.
It’s okay that you don’t have a set schedule! Every four hours is a schedule – though you can switch to time schedule if you want. Have you tried lecithin for the clogged ducts? Might be worth considering.
Thank you anyway, I will remember you if I do decide to pump exclusively. Dashara, I will email now, thanks! Kate.
Kate shoot me an email Shara.dareen@gmail.com. I have an issue with oversupply and and over active letdown. I can provide you with tips that have worked for me.
Hello, my little one is 8 weeks old and I am really struggling with feeding. It’s my second baby and I just assumed feeding wouldn’t be a issue as it wasn’t the first time! I definitely have an oversupply and she is not coping with the let down. I’ve started pumping and then giving her what I’ve pumped before I feed again but I’m getting pretty engorged and after having mastitis twice I’m a bit worried that will happen again. Is it best to pump smaller volumes and use that or feed and pump after or pump exclusively (could be tricky with toddler at home) sorry for all the questions, thank you for your advice, Kate.
Hi Kate! I am not really an expert on dealing with oversupply when you’re trying to nurse, I’m so sorry! I would suggest finding a lactation consultant, they can be super helpful! If you do decide to exclusively pump, though, I can help with that!
Hello, my baby is 9 months old and I have been exclusively pumping due to working, etc. I have always had oversupply producing 50-60 ounces per day. As she approaches a year old I am hoping to drop my supply but I get plugged ducts ALL the time! Over the last few months I have weaned from pumping every 4 hours to 5 hours and now to every 6 hours. I am afraid to not empty my breasts when I pump or to pump for less time because of the clogged duct issue. Would you just keep slowly weaning the time between pumping sessions or try reducing the volume and taking soy lecithin?? I just don’t want more clogged ducts!! Thanks!
Hi Cassie! I would slowly drop one session at a time by reducing the volume. I think lecithin is a good idea, too!
I wasn’t sure if you’d see this, it might be helpful:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Hello my baby is 10 weeks. I have an over active letdown due to oversupply and have been bfding on one side per feeding and will due the same if she’s not satisfied, then switch after 2 hours or more. She has silent reflux and it has gotten worse. Nights are horrendous. I generally have to hold her. I try to not let her nurse often but she gets so worked up I eventually give end from exhaustion and let her nurse which only makes reflux worse; crying doesn’t help either. Poor thing had gained so much weight (8lbs 8.5oz at birth now almost 16lbs at 10wks. She so uncomfortable but nursing helps her calm down.
I’ve trued swaddling, snuggle me and FP rock n play sleeper to help her sleep at night but end up holding her upright all night. I’m giving her a probiotic and I really don’t want to get her sudated to confirm condition and have her take medication. I’m leaning toward taking a Sudafed. Should I?
Forgot to mention I’m not eating dairy or eggs bc dairy caused gas and egg really dry skin. She still a bit gassy. I’m so tired. I dint pump bc I fear it will make matters worse.
Hi DaShara! I really wish I could help you, but since you’re nursing I would recommend asking a lactation consultant. So sorry I can’t help – I can really only offer advice on pumping. Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
My daughter is now 4 weeks old (but born at 35w). She can latch well, but will quickly fall asleep and dream feed/comfort nurse. She doesn’t take much in. The latest weighed feed, she only took 15mls.
Because if that, I’ve been pumping and bottle feeding. I have an iver supply so I was pumping every 4 hours, only once in the middle of the night. However, I got a pretty bad case of mastitis that almost turned into an abscess.
I started then pumping every 2h hours to prevent that and with the mastitis, my supply tanked a little, but still more than enough to feed baby.
My milk production is increasing again. With one pumping session, I’m getting about 6-8 oz. Baby only takes 2h every 2h.
I’d like to have her back on the breast, but she doesn’t take i n much. I just think she is out of practice and has a bottle preference. So with that, I have two questions
1. How do I safely reduce the amount of milk I produce with our risking mastitis
2. How do I get her back at the breast [if she latches, do I still puml?]
Tks
Hi Kassia! Congrats on your baby!
1. I don’t think you need to reduce the amount you pump just yet. It’s still so early – your supply should regulate soon and then your boob should “settle down” – more on that here:
https://exclusivepumping.com/when-is-milk-supply-established/
2. I would join the back to the breast group on Facebook, there are lots of moms there that will have good advice!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1284778218291474/
Hello… My daughter is nearly 6 weeks old and has had trouble latching onto my left breast due to an almost flat nipple. Because of this I have been mostly feeding her on my right ‘normal’ breast. My right breast is now huge and fills with milk quickly. As she is now older she is beginning to latch onto my left breast easier… so I really want to start feeding equally on each side. What is the best way for me to decrease volume in my right breast so they are equal again? I have been pumping on my left to get the volume back up there. Thank you!
Hi Nicole! I’m really not an expert on nursing, but I would try to slowly reduce nursing/pumping on that side. So start nursing on the left side first, always, and pump that side to try to build up supply (like you said you were doing). I would top her off with the right side. I’m not sure how to gauge whether or how to pump the right side, because I don’t know how to handle that with nursing. if you were exclusively pumping, I would say to reduce the amount you pump on that side by an oz or 2 each day, one session at a time, on that side. I hope that helps!
So my son is almost a month old. I literally pump between 8oz and 12oz every pump.if not more. My boobs so sore I’m just tired of dealing with the pain..
Help
Hi Brandy! How often do you pump and for how long?
I am prone to clogged ducts and take lecithin everyday, should I still take it when I am trying to wean off pumping?
And I dont have a actual schedule when pumping i just go by when my baby sleeps/naps during the day and 2x between 12-6am. Iam currently pumping 7-8x a day. should i pump when i feel like i have a clogged ducts? do i completely empty that boobs or just pump enough just to relieve the pain? also i do pump then next just putting the hakkah silicone in my boobs and pump next time, do you consider that as weaning off?
Hi Giezel! I would continue the lecithin, yes. And I would start dropping sessions one by one – if you pump when she sleeps, just don’t pump at one of those times, let you body adjust, and do it again with another pumping/sleeping time. Does that make sense?
Amanda. Thanks so much for your quick response. I used to be on the following regime: nurse baby on demand during the day (around every 1.5 to 3 hours – although very little milk was being taken out by baby) and expressing at 7 pm, 11 pm 4:30 am and sometimes 9 am And it 2 pm if baby didn’t remove enough milk.
Now I’m moving to expressing 4 times a day: 11 am, 5 pm, 11 pm and 5am. However I am getting quite engorged during the last hour and I don’t want to go back to every 5 hours as it is less easy to plan my day. Eventually I want to only have 11 am and 11 pm – but this sounds impossible for now given how engorged I get already. I will use cabbage leaves and sage tea hoping that that is enough to help my breasts get used to these times but I wonder if I want to still nurse my baby once a day when should I fit it in and how should I replace this for an expressing session to avoid producing extra milk?
I would replace it for a pumping session IF you think she’s taking a decent amount of milk (and I would try to aim for sometime in the neighborhood of 11AM or 11PM). If she’s just comfort nursing, then no, I would just do that in addition and do it whenever. Hope that helps! 🙂
Hi Amanda
Thanks for setting up a website like this, i haven’t found anything as helpful as this!
I’m currently living with the fear of getting mastitis again and because baby doesn’t latch properly and doesn’t empty my breasts I’m currently pumping every 5 hours or so. It has become very difficult and exhausting both physically and mentally and I wish I could reduce this to 1 or 2 pumping sessions per day or ideally 1 nursing session and 1 pumping. I’m not sure how I can get there as I’ve been trying to slowly increase the time between pumping sessions but I quickly get engorged again and the lumps keep making me anxious!!! Any advice you can provide would be super helpful!!
Hi Mireya! I’m so sorry to hear that you had mastitis and are struggling. You are doing a great job! Have you tried cabbage when you get engorged? I think that might really help. I would also go slowly. Maybe it would be easier to have a set schedule and drop one pumping session versus trying to space them farther apart? Let me know if that doesn’t make sense and I can give more details of what I mean.
Hi Amanda, I have been pumping exclusively for the last 2.5 months and my daughter is now 3 months old. I will be returning to work in a month’s time and would like to continue to express and feed her breastmilk. Currently I pump 6 times a day (8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm, 1130pm, 5am) producing approximately 50 to 60 ounces each day, each session 25mins. How do I reduce my supply without totally depleting it? I was hoping to change my pumping session to 20 mins. Also, I was wondering if I can eliminate my 8pm session and do my last pumping at 10pm so that I am able to sleep from 11pm to 5am – however thats 7 hours from my 10pm pumping time to 5am pumping time and I am afraid of engorgement/lumps. What should I do?
Hi Chantal! Congratulations on your 3 month old, and your awesome supply! I think going down to 20 minute pumping sessions would help. I would reduce it down one session per day (so it would take you 6 days to get down to 20 minutes for all of the sessions). One that’s done, I would give it a week or so and then drop the 8pm session. Good luck!
I thought I wanted to quit breastfeeding and took sudafed / stopped pumping did cabbage leaves over a week time and was down to every 6 hours producing very little. What can I do to get my supply back? I’ve tried everything including fenugreek liquid, oats, brewers yeast, etc
Hi! Domperidone might be a good option? I think that’s usually what’s recommended for relactation. Good luck!
Can you stop cold turkey pumping? My baby is 6 weeks old and finally learned how to latch! (So happy!) I have been putting him to both breasts. I am feeling engourged but I try to get in the shower and massage the lumps and let them drip, instead of pumping. I’m wanting to stop pumping all together unless I’m away from my baby. I have been pumping every 2-3 hours and getting almost 6 ounces together. My let down is crazy though on one of my breasts and my baby can not tolerate it. What are some pointers to help decrease my supply in one breast?
Congrats on getting your baby to latch – that’s huge! Maybe try a cabbage leaf on that side and see if it helps??
Hi, Does Sage tea really help reducing milk production???
My baby is now more than 1 year old and he stops suckling from one breast but he is still suckling from the next breast.
I am having pain because of two different sizes ( 1 breast is 4 times bigger than the other) and it hurts like hell when it gets full of milk.
It makes me cry as one breast weight pulls my body down and gives lots of tension to my back.
i would so much like to stop breastfeeding as my baby has nicely started having solid foods.
I am not taking any medicines since my child`s birth and i just want to use herbal/natural medicin.
Maybe see if this tea works for you? Sorry you’re having such a hard time!
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-More-Weaning-Breastmilk-Teabags/dp/B0032AM8JQ
Thank you for the reply AMANDA , I checked the link and Surprisingly many mothers seems to be happy with the tea bags.
Unfortunatelly they do not ship to Nepal.
Hello – I really want to wean from the pump now that my daughter is 3 months old and that my freezer supy can carry us easily up To 6 months.
I am down to 4 sessions (6am/12pm/6pm/11pm) but still produce 45 to 50 oz per day.
I have clogged ducts all the time (never had mastitis yet – fingers crossed- but so scared of it). I used the “reducing volume” method to drump sessions so far, but I think for the remainder of those pumping sessions, I need extra help. Sage tea can help you said? I want to avoid susafed (or medicine all together).Do I still need to use the reducing volume (or time?) to drop sessions? I would like to wean in a week or two…
Also, My periods returned and I haven’t seen any drop in supply…
Thank you for your amazing advices on the website, it was so useful for me, the exclusive pumping is a hard choice and I felt supported!
Hi! Yes, I would still use reducing volume to drop sessions. I would also try this tea:
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-More-Weaning-Breastmilk-Teabags/dp/B0032AM8JQ
I would use cabbage leaves, too, to speed up the process.
Here is more info about weaning:
https://exclusivepumping.com/weaning-from-the-pump/
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions!
I am exclusively pumping and struggling with oversupply-I make 50-60 ounces a day. I am currently pumping 6 times day or every 4 hours. I would like to cut the middle of the night pump but am worried about mastitis (I’ve had it twice). My little one is 2 months old. Do I need to focus on decreasing my supply before I cut a pumping session?
Hi Emily! I don’t know that you need to decrease your supply (though it couldn’t hurt), but I would definitely focus on gradually reducing the amount that you pump in the middle of the night so that your body has time to adjust. So you could reduce output by time or volume, either will work, and then I would make sure to definitely pump to empty on the first morning session. I would also use cabbage leaves as you’re dropping that middle of the night session. So sorry you’ve had to deal with mastitis twice! Good luck!
I am currently nursing on one side and offering the other if he acts hungry. Most of the time he doesn’t want it. Then I’ve been pumping both sides when I start to feel too full for about 10 minutes. Pumping has been around 7, 12, 5, and 10 right after he nurses. He seems content and isn’t fussing. He also has a good amount of wet diapers! I am paranoid about how much he eats and keep worrying he isn’t getting enough.
Hi! Okay, great. So assuming he’s not getting any bottles, I’d drop one pumping session at a time by reducing the time that you pump at it. You can go as fast or as slow as you want (2 mins at a time, 5 mins at a time, cold turkey, etc.) – just do what makes you feel comfortable. I would do the middle of the day ones first and probably tackle morning last. (Or even keep it long-term, so you can have some extra – I did that with the babies I nursed.)
If you’re super paranoid you could get a baby scale and weigh him before and after! I think I got one on amazon for $40, which was worth it for the peace of mind. Good luck!
Hello Amanda,
I have been exclusively pumping for 4 months and my son finally learned how to latch! However, I have an oversupply and produce about 60 ounces a day. I am currently pumping 5 times a day for 20 minutes each. How would you go about weaning from the pump and only nursing him? I have only been feeding him on one side. Thank you!
Hi Kalen! Congrats on getting your baby to latch!!!!! What are you doing now? Do you nurse him on one side, then pump on both? (So he’s getting everything he needs via nursing?)
Hello Amanda! Since the beginning of my pumping career I’ve been able to only pump 22 oz a day and was never able to increase no matter what I did. I decided it was too much to pump now that my baby is 7 months and consuming more to pump further. I’ve made it down to one pump a day and pump either half of an ounce to 3 ounces in that pump. Should I slowly wean this last pump or just stop? Thank you!
I think try going 36 hours and see how you feel (so if you usually pump in the morning, skip it one day and do it that night instead). Good luck!