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 Pumps 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 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 Pumps.
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 Pump 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!
Do you want more details? The above gives you the basics that you need to wean from the pump, and most pumping moms will be fine weaning with these steps. However, if you have special concerns or are just really confused or nervous about the process, I wrote an e-book that goes much deeper into the topic of weaning from the pump – it includes an overview of a few different methods, more details on dropping pumping sessions, specific steps to take if you’re worried about clogged ducts and mastitis, and more. It also includes sample weaning schedules. You can check it out here!
(Updated to add: I was featured on The Boob Group podcast on this topic! You can check the episode out here.)
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/
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!