Exclusive pumping is more difficult than nursing in many ways. However, weaning from the pump is one area where it actually can be easier!
For one thing, the decision on when to do it is completely up to you – you don’t need to worry about your baby adjusting to no longer nursing. Additionally, there may be less of an emotional hurdle for you as the mother. Finally, you can completely control your pumping output and carefully decrease it, whereas if you were nursing, it’s difficult to know whether your baby is getting more or less than the day before.
When you have decided to stop pumping, you will need to “wean” from the pump just like a nursing mother would wean her baby. (I definitely don’t recommend weaning from pumping cold turkey!)
How Long Does It Take to Wean from Pumping?
Your goal is to slowly reduce the amount of milk that you’re producing in order to minimize discomfort and issues with clogged ducts, mastitis, and engorgement. In general, I would give yourself about a week for each session that you need to drop.
If you’ve had issues with clogged ducts and mastitis during your pumping “career,” it might take you a little longer. If not, you may be able to go more quickly.
(If you need to wean faster than this, I would recommend trying some of the methods for decreasing milk supply like taking Sudafed and using cabbage leaves, along with the steps below.)
Weaning from the Pump in Six Steps
Below is the process that I used, laid out in six steps. (If you’d like to read more about when/how/why I weaned from the pump with my first baby, I wrote a separate post about my experience here.)
Step 1: Drop Pumping Sessions Until You are Down to Two Pumping Sessions Per Day
If you are currently pumping three or more times per day, start by dropping down to just two sessions per day, preferably about 12 hours apart. (Obviously, you can skip this step if you are already at two pumping sessions per day.)
Here is some detailed information on how to drop pumping sessions, but the most common ways to do it are to reduce the amount of time that you pump at a given session (reduce by a few minutes each day) or the volume (reduce by an ounce or two each day) that you pump. I would recommend using volume if you are prone to clogged ducts or mastitis, or if you have oversupply, to make sure your breasts start to get the message that they should be making less milk.
After you drop one pumping session, it’s a good idea to wait a few days before dropping the next unless you need to wean quickly.
Step 2: Gradually Reduce the Length and/or Volume of One of the Remaining Pumping Sessions
Since they are about 12 hours apart, you can choose the one that you are most eager to get rid of. (For example, I was pumping at 7pm and 6am and decided to drop the morning one so I could sleep a little longer.)
Keep the one session you are not dropping the same length while gradually decreasing the length of time or amount of milk that you pump for the other one.
Step 3: Drop Down to One Pumping Session Per Day
When you are down to just a few minutes/a few ounces on the pumping session that you’re dropping, try skipping it completely and just doing the one longer pump per day.
If you feel uncomfortable, go ahead and pump, but just enough to relieve the pressure.
Step 4: Hang Tight for a Few Days
Let your body catch up with you.
Step 5: Gradually Reduce the Last Pumping Session
Gradually shorten your last pumping session (again, by time or volume, whatever has been working for you) until you’re getting only about 2 or 3 ounces from it.
Step 6: Stop Pumping!
Once you’re down to a few ounces, see if you can skip a day completely, then do one last pumping session 36-48 hours later. Hopefully, at this point, you should be all set to stop. If you feel full a few days later, pump if you need to, but as little as you can and still be comfortable.
[Bonus tip if you are already getting your period and experiencing a supply drop along with it: Try timing the weaning process to correspond with said supply drop. Your body is already making less milk, so encourage it to continue to do so. Drop a session at the beginning of your period and maybe another one at the end, if you think your body can handle it.]One last thing: it’s normal to have mixed feelings about weaning. On one hand, you might feel a loss of connection with your little one – especially if you are weaning before you’d like to. It is also normal to undergo some hormonal changes.
On the other hand, your life is about to become so much easier – no more hauling a pump around, no more trying to wrangle a baby while pumping, no more pump parts to wash. Try to focus on the good work that you have done by pumping for your little one. Congratulations mama!
Want more information on weaning from the pump? Check out my e-book on weaning from the pump here.
(Updated to add: I was featured on The Boob Group podcast on this topic! You can check the episode out here.)
Hi,
I am trying to fully wean from exclusively pumping. I am currently pumping 2x a day (7am and 8pm). Each time I pump until I don’t see any milk coming out and I pump about 12-15 oz at each session. In the last two weeks I dropped 2 pumps (was pumping 4x a day and made 30oz total per day). My supply is not decreasing and I feel engorged before my bedtime pump. How do you advice I drop my bedtime pump? Should I gradually lower the time pumping? I have had clogged ducts and mastitis before and really don’t want that again.
Hi Katie! I would slowly reduce the volume you pump from the bedtime pump by an oz or two a day, maybe? Go as fast or as slow as is comfortable for you. Consider lecithin to help avoid clogs/mastitis. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your speedy reply!!!
Hi! This has helped me so much with weaning, and I think I’m done! It’s been 48 hours, and I’m still feeling ok and not uncomfortable. I did want to ask why you suggest pumping one more time a few days later? Is that something that is completely necessary? Thank you!
Hi Meagan! So happy to hear that! No, if you feel okay, it’s fine! Most women want to empty one last time but your body will absorb the extra milk. 🙂
Hey this is a great blog! Thank you for sharing your expertise. I have found it so helpful. Unfortunately after watching my baby struggle for a while as I built up my supply I discovered I have the excess lipase right away and not even scalding it solved it so I switched to entirely formula and am now trying to stop my milk. I followed what you said and got down to 2-3oz in a once a day pump. I am now trying to figure out how to stop the milk entirely from here. It has been about 32h since I last pumped but I am very uncomfortable and have been for a few hours. I am religiously doing the cabbage leaves which do help, but how does the milk go away if I do as you say one last pumping session later this evening? What will I do when I am then uncomfortable the following day? Or will I not be? Thanks!!
Hi Melissa! I totally understand. If you are very uncomfortable go ahead and pump enough to relieve the pressure. Maybe drop down to 1-2oz before trying to go 36 hours?
So if you never pumped again, the milk would reabsorb – think of a mom whose baby suddenly stopped nursing 100 years ago when pumps didn’t exist. So it won’t be stuck there forever, our bodies can handle it. However if you are uncomfortable you can pump again the following day. Just try to keep doing less and less, so that your body keeps making less and less.
I hope this helps! GOOD LUCK!
Hi! I love the blog!
I was wondering why, when you get to 2 pumps a day, you decrease the length of only one pump rather than both of them?
Thanks!
Ariana
Hi Ariana! Thank you so much!
It’s so you aren’t leaving milk in your breasts day after day and NEVER emptying – the risk is clogged duct/mastitis. By “emptying” once a day, you are still training your body to make less milk with a lower risk of milk getting “stuck.” Hope that makes sense!
Hello! I have a different question than the others. I have been weaning down and am now pumping 3x – 6am, 1pm, 8pm. I have been using cabbage leaves to try to decrease supply. I had mastitis in one breast, which I am just getting over with antibiotics. My milk looks watery and I’m curious of it is still recommended to give it to my baby. He does not stay satisfied for more than 2 1/2 hours when he drinks 6 oz of breast milk. When he has 6 oz of formula he is fine for 4-5 hours. Thanks!
Hi there! It’s probably mostly foremilk. You can give it to your baby but maybe mix it with formula or with solid foods (if your baby is old enough). You can freeze it for later if baby isn’t old enough. Hope this helps!
Hi! I currently pump 4 times a day(8:30 am, 2:30 pm, 8:30 pm and 2:30 am) for about 18-20 min getting anywhere from 5-7 oz. I would like to start my plan to wean. I did get mastitis last pregnancy but not with this one yet. (Knock on wood!). Would you suggest dropping by time or volume? Also, when dropping to 3, would I evenly space them approx 8 hrs apart? I wouldn’t mind a 6am, 2pm, 10pm schedule in hopes to continue to wean completely. I want to wean safety with minimal discomfort but also as quick as my body will allow. Thanks in advance for the help!
Hi Aaryn! I would drop by volume and I think 6am/2pm/10pm sounds perfect! 🙂
My daughter is 8 days old and due to some other medical issues, I have decided to stop breastfeeding. My doctor told me to pump, but decrease the time pumping and increase the time between pumps. I’ve gone down to pumping for 5 minutes, and have waited 9 hours since my last pumping session. My breasts are full and tender, is this ok? When do I stop pumping completely?
Hi Elizabeth! I think it’s okay. You can try cabbage leaves if you feel uncomfortable. I would stay here if you can until you stop feeling uncomfortable and then drop a session (right now you’re pumping about three times a day, so try to go to 2, then 1, then stop altogether. I hope this helps!
Hi! It’s been 8 days since my last pump-last Thursday night about 9pm. (I weaned down from 4 pumping sessions equalling 60oz a day over about 6 weeks time.). I was pumping about 3oz from each side when I dropped my last pump, which was down from about 10 ounces per side. I made it about 60 hours before getting too uncomfortable and then just hand expressed a very little bit in the shower on Sunday night because I was uncomfortable. It’s Friday night and the fullness of my breasts has not gotten any better (not worse, just not better). They don’t hurt at all unless I touch them or try to sleep on my side, or someone hugs me! But the underside of both breasts is pretty solid and tender. Is this normal? When should I start to feel some relief? Thank you so much!
Hi Missy! Congrats on weaning! So exciting! So this is a bit out of my expertise and it might be worth a call to your OB – but I think what I would do if it were me is to pump one more time (one short session should empty you out but not spike your milk supply) and/or use cabbage leaves to keep the milk that’s left over from getting “stuck.” I hope this helps!
Hi Amanda, love the blog! Quick question, I am looking at weaning and would really love it if I could get rid of my last night pump however I get large lumps very quickly pretty much every morning. I have never had mastitis as I am able to get rid of clogged ducts within 2-3 pumps.
I currently pump at 7.30 pm, 4 am and 3 hourly thereafter. Would you recommend dropping the 4 am pump (as this is the most annoying one) or reduce supply of drop another day session first? Im just so scared of mastitis and unsure if I should push through the lumpy boobs or not. Thanks heaps!
I should mention I take lecithin and probiotics- lactobacillus fermentum
Hi Roxana! Yes, I think that makes sense. Basically you’d combine the 4am/7am – maybe move it to 6am for a bit while you adjust? To do that I would slowly move the 4am back. Here are more detailed instructions for how to do it!
https://exclusivepumping.com/drop-middle-of-the-night-pumping-sessions/
Hi there,
I was exclusively pumping for several months and have been trying to stop the last couple weeks. I went about a week without pumping and then my one breast was very hard and sore at the bottom so I just pumped until soft and then a couple days later my other boob was hard and sore and I thought I felt little clogs so I pumped until soft.
Am I going backwards?! Am I supposed to just leave them and let them be hard and full and painful for a few days? Or do I pump until soft each time?
(Back story- I’ve had mastitis and used to get frequent clogs. I am using cabbage leaves daily and am using sunflower letchitin)
Hi Tiffany! I think you did the right thing. I wouldn’t pump again unless you’re feeling a clog, and hopefully that doesn’t happen! I hope your body gets the message soon. (If you’re just feeling hard spots like engorgement and they aren’t painful, you might want to leave those. I would only for sure pump to clear a clog. I hope that makes sense!)
Hi Amanda!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS POST! It seriously saved my life!
I currently pump 3 times a day 830,230 and 830. I want to completely wean off. I’ve had two mastitis’s and I’ve had several clogged ducts. Do you recommend to cut volume from every session? Also, how many days to do I wait apart to cut down more?
By the way, thank you so much for posting a lot of information on breastfeeding!
Hi Jessica! Thank you so much! I would cut volume from one session at a time, yes! You can drop more every day as long as you are not feeling uncomfortable, if you are, give your body a few days to adjust. 🙂 Hope this helps!
Thank you for having this site! I’ve also read your book. I’ve been weaning the last weeks and a half (I had been at 5ppd). I’ve always been a just enougher or undersupplier. I am now at 3ppd with the middle being reduced in 5min increments (yesterday I did 15min). As I pump this morning after 30min I may have half an ounce combined. Do you recommend I still slowly drop pumps? It seems like a waste to get hooked up even twice a day if I’m only getting this much at each pump.
I think you can go faster if you’re getting half an ounce! I would just drop the middle one altogether (no need to reduce by 5 minutes) and see how it goes.
I am starting the weaning process. I currently have a schedule at every 3 hours during the day and once in the middle of the night.
So 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and 10pm (right before bed) and then 4am.
I am wondering if I should focus on the middle of the night one and gradually push it to closer to 7-8am before I start increasing time in between feeds during the day?
I figured I shouldn’t try and do both simultaneously (weaning night and starting to be every 4 hours during the day). Or do you think it is doable if I have a good 7-8am pumping session?
Or what would you recommend?
I think your plan sounds great, Ally! Good luck!
So you think I should wean from the middle of the night session before trying to increase the time beteeen sessions during the day?
This is so helpful! Thank you so much!!!
Hi 🙂 thank you so much for this. I have weaned slowly over the last 2 months i got down to 1 session 12 minutes at a time went slowly down to 5 minutes then i waited two days … pumped for 5 minutes only got a combined amount of an ounce. day before yesterday . Can i stop now? do i need to try again to make sure im stopped or can i be done? thank you!
I think you can stop (unless you get uncomfortable in a day or two and WANT to pump again)! Congrats!!
Hi Amanda! I’m finally down to two pump sessions at 10am and 10pm. I pump for 40 minutes per session and get about 8 ounces per side. However, the left breast makes 6 ounces in the first 13-15 minutes, but the right breast makes only 3-4 ounces in that time and catches up later. I’m prone to clogged ducts, so how would you suggest weaning since my breasts operate so differently? Thanks so much!
I would reduce the volume you pump instead of the time. So one day pump 6oz and stop, then 4oz and stop, and so on. You can stop sooner on the left than the right. Hope that helps!
I was down to two sessions but suddenly my milk production is maybe had an ounce for 20-30 mins but I was having pain during the day and got a clogged duct so I went ahead and pumped to get it clear now I’m in serious pain and using cabbage leaves because I’m not getting very much milk at all but I’m engorged and it’s painful. Is there anything else I could do help?
Hi Amber! Ugh, I’m so sorry to hear that. If it’s engorged and you’re not pumping much milk – is a problem with letdown, maybe? How are things now? I’m sorry it took a few days, I was on vacation.
Hi Amanda,
I am finally down to 2 pumps, 9:30am and 9:30pm, it took a month to get here from 5 pumps a day. I am pretty engorged both times, and I have gotten semi-clogs so I always pump until there aren’t any more hard lumps. How should I get to 1 pump and hopefully no more pumps?
Thanks!
I’m currently pumping 6am/9/1/5/10. I Cut middle of night feeding about 2 days ago. I’m trying to cut down to stop pumping entirely. I’m only pumping 14 mins each session. Can I reduce pumping minutes every 2-3 days and gradually move times closer together over the span of a week?
Hi Lindsay, I would reduce the time on one session at a time and reshuffle your schedule to move them closer together – that would work. I wouldn’t reduce the minutes for all sessions at the same time.
Thank you Amanda! About how long should it take to wean off pumping without doing cold turkey?
Hi Amanda! I am currently pumping at 6am, 3pm, and 930 pm. I got to about 430 today before I felt like I was going to explode. I do have an “oversupply” because twins. So I produce 7+ oz per boob each pumping session if I empty. But in order to reduce my supply should I try to drop the 3pm pump and pump at 6pm instead and then in the morning? It’s a struggle to make it the 9 hours during the day. I’ve had several clogged ducts but no mastitis. Also the key is not to empty myself, correct? I have been doing that and probably not helping trying to stop production 🤦🏼♀️
Hi Bethanie! Congrats on weaning!!! Yes, you should do this:
But in order to reduce my supply should I try to drop the 3pm pump and pump at 6pm instead and then in the morning?
The key is to do is slowly enough that your body gets the memo and can do longer. You should not empty at the session you’re dropping, at the others you should pump however long you’ve been pumping and if that means you empty then that’s fine. Hope that helps!
Will definitely do it till I’m at two pumps a day! When I do get there say my pump times are 6am and 6pm, do I just gradually space it out? So I pump at 6am and then try to go till 7pm for a couple days, then 8pm, and so on?
Amanda – this all makes sense except I’m still confused of how to get to the 6-2-10 pump times. Right now I’ve gotten to 5 pumps with four hours in between (first pump starting at 5 and last one was at 930 last night). I made it through the night and didnt feel too uncomfortable this morning when I pumped at 5am. I was thinking of trying to increase the length of time by .5 hours each day or possibly an hour depending on how my body reacts ( I also just started the Nuvaring yesterday and have been doing the old wives tale of using cabbage leaves in my bra – I’m also considering buying that no more milk tea..).
So I’m still trying to figure out how i can drop off two pumps to get down to three? When i try to figure out the new times down the road, I’m still ending up with five pumps during the day. The only way i can see getting down to three would be eliminating the last pump time of the day, which isn’t getting any closer to the 10pm time you suggested.
4 hours a part:
5am
9am
1am
5pm
9:30pm (I stretched this one out last night since previously i was pumping 7 times with last pump around 1130)
4.5 hours
5am
930am
2pm
6:30pm
11pm
5 hours
5am
10am
3pm
8pm
5.5 hours
5am
1030am
4pm
9:30pm
6 hours
5am
11am
5pm
11pm
6.5hours
5am
1130am
6pm
1230am
and so on.. what am i doing wrong here??
I think when you get to 5 hours, just switch to being on a set schedule. 5/10/3/8.
Then move the 10 and 3 closer together so you’re at 1pm – that gives you 5am/1pm/8pm. close enough!
To move the 10 and 3 closer together, you can do it a few ways. I would move the 10 back by half an hour each day until you’re at 1pm and then drop the 3pm. Once you get to 1pm, stop pumping at 3pm.
Amanda this makes sense now, thanks for spelling it out for me, I really needed that! You’re a lifesaver 🙂
Hi!
Firstly thank you so much for this blog! It’s been a lifesaver since I started exclusively pumping when my son was 6 weeks. I’ve just finished weaning from pumping and haven’t pumped since Saturday (it’s now Wednesday). I still feel like my right breast has some “fullness” and maybe a minor clogged duct or two. It’s not uncomfortable or painful at all though. Should I try to pump one more time? Or just let it resolve by itself? I’ve been wearing tight sports bras round the clock for the last couple weeks to help lower production while I weaned.
Thanks!
If it’s not uncomfortable or painful, it’s totally up to you! Your body can handle it, but pumping won’t hurt anything. If you think you do have a clog, I would try to get rid of it. But other than that, you should be good!
Hi Amanda,
I’m having a hard time figuring out how to wean off pumping completely since I don’t have an established pumping schedule nor pumping session length of time (tho its typically 20-30mins each session). I’ve only been pumping for around a month now (baby was born 1/29/19 – had latch problems and I thought I could make the pumping work, however, I need to wean off pumping and go to formula). I don’t pump at the same times each day nor for the same amount of time. I am producing around 30 oz with 8 pumps. Lately I have been making my last pump of the night anywhere from 11pm-12am and then sleep five hours straight sometimes 6 hours before i make it to the pump with having to feed my daughter a bottle first. I am completely full when i wake up and might be pushing it a bit with the 5-6 hour stretch, but I desperately need the sleep. Since I was trying to establish my milk and feed my daughter only BM, I have been squeezing in 7 pumps between my first pump in the morning and my last pump at night…usually 2-2.5 hours a part but sometimes if I got ahead by doing a pump earlier than the 2.5 hours then I would stretch out the remaining pumps over the remaining time till my last pump or go a longer length between only two of the pumps.
Do you have a recommendation of how I should go about this? Since I have not been pumping long I have not experienced a clogged duct- however I may be prone to them as today I was trying to go down to 15 minutes for each session and space them out 3 hours, but I think its too abrupt because my my left breast was getting lumpy on the sides and lumpy down below on both breasts – both breasts seem to be getting full very quickly today now that my mind is set on weaning…please help! :/
Hi Magdelene! You can space the sessions further apart. So if you’re doing every 2.5 hours I would stretch it to 3 but keep them at 20 minutes. Then stretch to 4 and still keep it to 20 minutes. After you get to the point where you’re at 8 hours apart it makes more sense to get on a schedule like 6am/2pm/10pm or the stretching has you up at random hours. Don’t reduce the duration on ALL pumps at once, you’ll get a clog. Hope this helps!
Thank you for your response Amanda! How many days do you recommend staying at the same length in time between pumps before increasing the time? Also do you recommend only increasing by half an hour or should I do an hour each time i increase ? Is the goal to slowly drop off pumping sessions that fall within 6am-12am or is it to get down to three sessions no matter where the new pump times fall? If for example it went from 12am to new pump time of 1230am Do I just ditch that pump or do I continue with this new pump time? Once I get to 8 hours a part how do I get rid of those last remaining three? I am hoping to completely wean off pumping the fastest way possible so I can enjoy my little one before I return to work at the end of April. 🙂
Hi Maggie! I’ll try to answer all of your questions!
1) How many days do you recommend staying at the same length in time between pumps before increasing the time? – I would say it depends on a) how comfortable you are after increasing the spacing and b) how much you increased it by. If you increased it 15 minutes, maybe you don’t wait at all. If you increased it an hour, maybe 3-4 days? But this is an art, not a science, it depends on how you think your body is adjusting.
2) Also do you recommend only increasing by half an hour or should I do an hour each time i increase ? Again, it depends on your body. If you think you can comfortably go an extra hour, go ahead and do that. If you start feeling uncomfortable, make it half an hour.
3) Is the goal to slowly drop off pumping sessions that fall within 6am-12am or is it to get down to three sessions no matter where the new pump times fall? If for example it went from 12am to new pump time of 1230am Do I just ditch that pump or do I continue with this new pump time? I would say to get to three sessions that are 8 hours apart, and try to make it so you have one early morning, one midday, one evening when you are doing the spacing. So a schedule something like 6am/2pm/10pm. Does that make sesne?
4) Once I get to 8 hours a part how do I get rid of those last remaining three? Once you get here you can start following the steps in the post. First you’d drop the midday session, and go to 2 sessions 12 hours apart, and then continue through the steps.
Hope this helps!
Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for this amazing website. I currently pump five times a day: 6am, 10:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm, and 11pm. My plan was to cut down initially to 6am, 12:30pm, 6pm, and 11pm. As I wean further, would you recommend that I follow one of your options above (I’d probably decrease by volume, since I’m prone to clogged ducts) and drop sessions until I’m down to two (probably 6am/6:30pm)…OR could I wean to 6am/2:30pm/11pm, and then down to 6am/10pm? I’m afraid that interval will be too long but it would fit in well with my baby’s sleep schedule. Thanks so much!
Hi Cindy! Ideally you’d have the last two sessions as close to 12 hours apart as possible – but if 6am/10pm is the only thing that works, you can try it! (It does make me a little nervous with you history of clogs, but if you dropped the 2:30 super slowly it could be okay. Maybe that one you drop by stretching it back, so you train your body to go 16 hours at a time, dropping by volume. Does that make sense?)
Hi Amanda! I dropped from five to four pumps (currently doing 6am, 12pm, 6pm, 11pm). My next step will be to drop to three pumps per day (ideally 6am, 2pm, 10pm), and then down to 10am and 10pm as my 12 hour interval. As I continue to drop pumps, do I keep the *duration* of each pumping session the same as it has been because I’m trying to wean off pumping? Or am I still trying to make my daily total pumping time about 120 minutes?
Hi Cindy! Keep it the same! This is the only time you don’t increase 🙂 Good luck!
Thanks for your reply! I’m not taking sunflower letchin but have thought about it. I pump 20 mins most all sessions and a few mins more in the morning if needed. Since cutting off 4 mins out of the 10am I’m not getting empty at the other sessions in 20 mins.
I would definitely do the lecithin and the other strategies – maybe pump a few extra minutes at the 4:30 one to empty? I just don’t want you to transfer all the time to the other sessions, but I do want you to be comfortable. It’s more an art than a science!
Hi Amanda,
I am starting the weaning process now. I pump 4x a day (6am, 10:30am, 4:30pm and 10pm) and am trying to drop the 10:30am first. I’ve rediced my time from 20 to 16 minutes which gives me one oz less on each side. The problem is I still feel very fully and somewhat engorged all day/night. I’m keeping the other pump time the same. Should I pump longer at other pumps to not get so engorged and clogged? I have had mastitis on one side twice now.
Hmmm – that’s a tough one. Are you already taking lecithin for the clogs? I would do that, and take Sudafed, try cabbage in your bra when you start to feel engorged, and go slowly. Wait for your body to catch up to the reduced amount before reducing further.
Do you feel like you’re getting to mostly empty at the other sessions? How long are those sessions?
Hi Amanda, I love your blog! This was such an asset as I started exclusively pumping and had no one to reference for help! I think I am fully weaned but I do have a question. I followed your steps til I got to 2 sessions a day-and then I started to decrease time from 10 to 8 minutes. Then I felt after a week or so of doing 2 sessions i could cut back to one session a day. The first day I used my electric pump. The second day I used my hand pump
and pumped less ounces than I was used to producing (3 oz left, 1 oz right). Then I stopped all together. It’s been 30+ hours and I haven’t pumped. My breasts feel a little sore, but not engorged or lumpy (I was prone to clogs). Should I pump again like you suggest in 48 hours? Or see how it goes? Do I need that one final pump to completely empty my breasts? Thanks so much for your help!!
Hi Jenn! You don’t need it if you don’t want to – lots of women stop nursing abruptly for all kinds of reasons, so our bodies can handle it. It’s really more a comfort thing. It won’t hurt to do (you won’t start producing tons of milk again) and shouldn’t hurt not to. I hope that helps! Congrats on weaning!
Hi! This is super helpful! I followed the steps and Friday was last last “official” pump. After 48 hours (yesterday) I pumped super quick and got out a half ounce. I leaked a bit yesterday after a shower and today I’m feeling a little engorged. Should I wait until tomorrow to pump? Should I hand express today? Not sure what to do. Any guidance would help! Thanks!
I think either way is fine! You can either do another super quick pump, or put a cabbage leaf on and see if that helps! Pumping again probably won’t shoot up your milk production, but it’s also not necessary – lots of babies stop nursing suddenly and mom’s body is usually able to handle it. Congrats on weaning!
Thank you so much for this!!
Hi, this blog has been very helpful! I slowly decreased my pumping sessions by frequency and volume and it worked out great! By the time I completely stopped I didn’t become engorged, didnt leak at all and wasn’t even uncomfortable! But now it’s been over two weeks and all of a sudden I have become very engorged and have been leaking nonstop. I had to hand express several times just to get the leaking to stop. Is this normal? I would have expected this when I first stopped but I just don’t understand why it’s happening now. Any insight would be helpful! Thank you!
Hi Samantha! Ugh, I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. Is there any chance that you’re pregnant again? This is out of my personal expertise, but this might be helpful if you haven’t seen it yet?
https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/galactorrhea/
Me, too! I came on here specially searching for this. I weaned over the whole month of March and last pump was Mar 31. Then April 8th I felt heavy and sore and started leaking a bunch!
Hi! Thank you so so much for this blog! It has been extremely helpful. I’d finally dropped from 6 pumps a day down to one. It took almost two moths because I was producing so much milk. Once I dropped down to one I slowly weaned down and my last pump was 60 hours ago at 1.5 total oz. I’m feeling a little full and I never did a follow up pump 36-48 hours later as you instructed. Should I pump now and then no more pumps? And if so, how long do I pump for? Thank you again!
Hi! I’m pumping twice a day, 7am and 8pm. I need step by step instructions on what to do. I produce a lot of milk. About 20-24 oz only pimping twice a day. What should I do exactly? Also, my right breast is prone to clogged ducts so I don’t want to reduce time.
Which of the two is most annoying – 7am or 8pm? Start reducing the volume that you pump at that session by 1 oz per day, until you’re down to an ounce or two. The next day skip that session. Pump the normal amount of time at the other session.
Repeat with the remaining pumping session.
Consider lecithin for the clogged ducts if you’re not already taking it.
I am weaning 1 of 3 pump session by reducing time. I noticed the session I wasn’t weaning I am making 1-2 oz per breast total. Should I just try and skip that one as well?
hmmm – I wouldn’t drop two at once, but maybe just drop that one first?
Hi Amanda,
Yes, I’ve had a few clogged ducts in both breasts but never mastitis. Should i still do cold turkey or decrease volume/time one by one?
Thanks!
Karen
I would decrease by volume! 🙂
Hi Amanda,
I’ve finally made it to a year and have a ton of frozen BM so I am ready to wean. I am currently pumping to empty at 8:30am (25mins), 10:30am (15mins), 2:30 (15mins), 6pm or 8pm (15 mins), then 11:30pm (18mins). I get around 10oz my first pump and 5/6oz the rest of the pumps. How should I start my weaning process? Should I choose one session to cut down the volume/time first or can I drop one session completely by changing the time I pump (ie, 8:30am, then 12pm then 4pm, etc)?
Thank you so much for your help!
Karen
Hi Karen! Yay weaning! If you have never had a clogged duct or mastitis, you can probably just drop the 10:30 cold turkey. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi Amanda,
I am finally down to 2 pumps, 9:30am and 9:30pm, it took a month to get there. How should I get to 1 pump and hopefully no more pumps?
Thanks!
Hi Amanda! I currently pump five times a day at 11pm, 6am, 10:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm. I am very prone to clogged ducts/mastitis and will take sunflower lecithin through the weaning process. If my plan is to drop my pumps to 6am/6:30pm, is there a session that you think would be best to decrease first? I will follow your advice and try decreasing by volume. This also may be obvious to others, but as I drop a session I keep the length of pumping the same for all the other sessions right?
My son is 13months going on 14 and he has completely weaned off the bottle so I had no choice but to stop pumping, I’m down to 1 pump a day but the emotional distress for me has been terrible. I know I will have more free time and I have tons of frozen milk but I still feel distraught. Baby wont take my milk anymore not even in a cup, any suggestions on what I can do to keep him drinking all the milk I have for him. I was told by lactation that he still needs breastmilk so that broke my heart knowing that he refuses. I have been exclusively pumping since he was born until now so you guys see my dilemma. Any advice will be greatly appreciated
Hi Alma! Will he take it mixed with whatever other milk he’s taking? (not sure if he’s drinking cow’s milk or formula or something else)?
Hello! I would like to start by thanking you for this blog. It has offered me so much comfort and support over my four month pumping journey. I began exclusively pumping because of latching issues and my son being born early prematurely. He also had three surgeries early in his life and bottle feeding helped my husband and I ensure he was eating enough.
Before I found this blog I was on a pumping schedule given by my lactation consultant. That schedule lead to a massive oversupply. I’m currently weaning and I’m down to two pumps a day. However, I’m still making 15oz total at each pump. Do you have any advice for weaning from the pump with an oversupply?
Hi Diana! Congrats on being ready to wean – yay! I think I would recommend following the steps to decrease slowly by volume when you drop each pumping session. Because you are making so much milk, it will take you a bit longer. (Someone who is making 5oz per pumping session would take 3 days to decrease 2oz per day, you would take 8 days.) Does this make sense? Hope it helps!
That does make sense! Thank you so much for commenting back.
I’m currently down to one pump in the evening… getting about 5 oz between each breast.. not totally emptying either and pumping for about 20 min. When should I attempt to just stop or should I work it down a little more?
I would work it down a little more – maybe drop it 1oz per day per breast until you’re getting a total of 1oz per day per breast. If that makes sense!
Is it possible that one breast will be more cooperative stopping pumping than the other? If so, would you suggest just pumping the one that’s not cooperating?
Yes! This can happen when one breast is more prone to clogged ducts and mastitis than the other. If this is the case, you should go slowly on that side. You can do both sides slowly, or go quickly on the “good” side and wean from it first while still taking the other side slowly. Hope that helps!