Are you an exclusive pumper who is ready to stop pumping? Here’s what you need to know about weaning from the pump when you are exclusively pumping.
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Exclusive pumping can be more challenging than nursing in many ways. However, weaning from the pump is one area where it can actually be easier!
For one thing, there is less of an adjustment for your baby. You’re just changing what’s in her bottle, not how she’s eating in addition to what she’s eating.
You can also completely control your pumping output and carefully decrease it, whereas if you were nursing, it can be difficult to know whether your baby is getting more or less than the day before.
Can you stop pumping cold turkey?
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 – this can lead to a lot of discomfort, clogged ducts, and/or mastitis.
How long does it take to wean from pumping?
Your goal is to slowly reduce the amount of milk that you’re producing.
How long it will take to wean depends on how many pumping sessions you currently have each day, your milk supply, and whether or not you are prone to clogged ducts and mastitis.
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. I would give yourself a week and a half to two weeks per session.
On the other hand, if you’ve never had these issues, you might find that you are able to go more quickly.
What if you need to wean more quickly?
There are some methods to decrease milk supply that may help. Examples include:
- Drinking No More Milk Tea
- Using Cabo Creme or cabbage
- Taking an over-the-counter medication containing pseudoephedrine (such as Sudafed)
More on decreasing milk supply here.
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
There are a lot of different ways to drop pumping sessions. You can reduce the time until you feel comfortable dropping a session, move sessions further apart from each other, etc. Much more on how to drop pumping sessions here.
As you drop pumping sessions, rearrange your remaining sessions so that they are more evenly spaced.
For example, say you’re dropping from four sessions per day at 6am, 11am, 4pm, and 10pm. When you drop to three sessions per day, instead of having a long break from 6am to 4pm or 11am to 10pm, you may want to re-space the remaining times so your new schedule is something like 6am, 2pm, and 10pm.
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.
When you’re down to two sessions, you want them to be about 12 hours apart, or as close to that as you can get (for example, 6am and 6pm, or 7am and 8pm, whatever works for you).
Step 2: Gradually reduce the length and/or volume of one of the remaining pumping sessions
It doesn’t matter which session you drop first – you can choose the one that you are most eager to get rid of. (For example, I was pumping at 6am and 7pm 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 pumping session 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 1 or 2 ounces total per breast.
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, after this, you should be all set to stop. However, if you feel uncomfortable a few days or a week later, you can pump again if you need to. It won’t suddenly spike your milk supply.
Do you have to do that last session (36-48 hours later)?
No. Weaning is different for everyone, and therefore it’s is more of an art than a science.
It’s okay to evaluate how you’re feeling and decide not to do it, or, on the other hand, decide to pump once every other day for a bit until you feel ready to stop.
Do you need to express every drop that you make to be done pumping?
No – this isn’t really possible. Your body will reabsorb any milk that you make and don’t express.
You don’t want to leave an uncomfortable amount in your breasts because of the risks of clogged ducts and mastitis, but you don’t need to get every last drop, either.
Timing the weaning process
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 that drop in supply.
Your body is already making less milk, so encourage it to continue to do so! You could drop a session at the beginning of your period and maybe another one at the end, if you think your body can handle it.
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Weaning from the pump: an example
One of my readers sent me a visual she put together of how she planned to wean from the pump based on the above six steps. I think this is much more intuitive for visual learners, so I asked her permission to share it here.
- On the top in the “Current” column, she has outlined the six sessions that she has at the time she starts to wean from the pump. Each of them are 20 minutes long, so she’s pumping for a total of 120 minutes per day at the beginning.
- Then, she has planned out the order in which she’s going to drop each session, with a red X signifying that she’s dropping it or has already dropped it. She will drop one session per week.
- At the end of the chart, she ends up at the end of Step One above, with two sessions about 13 hours apart. She can pick whichever she’d like – the 8am or the 9pm – and drop that one, then repeat with the final session.
- At the bottom she has outlined the number of minutes that she’ll pump at the session she’s dropping as the week goes on. On day one, she’ll pump for 15 minutes and then stop, and each day after that she’ll reduce the time by 5 minutes until she’s at zero. Then she gives her body a few days to catch up until the week is over.
A few final thoughts on weaning
You may leak for a few days after you finish weaning.
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 breast 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! Do a photoshoot to celebrate, if you want!
Comments & Chitchat
Hi! I have gone 24 hours without pumping. I don’t feel uncomfortable but I am noticing some lumps in my breasts. I will do one more pump as you recommend 36-48 hours after my last one but if these lumps are still there will they eventually go away and how long could that take. Thank you!
Hi Morgan! Congrats! I think they’ll go away but if not you could maybe see if lecithin helps? Eventually your body should reabsorb any extra milk.
For the possible last pump after 48 hours. Is the suggestion a full session like 20 min or another 5 min session or like just get and ounce-ish out of each breast?
Hi Casey – this is more of an art than a science, so do whatever makes you feel more comfortable/go with your gut. You can even skip it entirely if you don’t feel like you need it. Hope that helps!
Hi Amanda!
Thank you so much for your helpful info and advice. I’ve worked with three different lactation consultants, including one most recently to help me with a weaning plan and your site and guide are way more comprehensive and helpful!!! I was wondering if you knew anything about cortisone shots and decreased supply. I received injections in my wrists for de quervains 4 days ago and all of a sudden went from pumping 5 times a day, to 2 in the last 4 days (4 min each). Now I’m never engorged and am wondering when I can be done with pumping. Yesterday my total volume for the day with 2 pumps, 4 min each, was 2 oz. If I can get down to 1 pump, or 0, am I done?? I can still hand express milk but I’m no longer ever full. Thank you!
Hi Steph! I have never heard of that but it sounds like it worked out well for you! Yes, I would say just go along with what your body is doing – if you can wean faster, that’s awesome!
Hi Amanda,
I am currently weaning from the pump (3 pumps a day, down to 17 min for the day pump and decreasing by 3 min every 2 days). If I started taking the no more milk tea would I change anything or just add it into the plan? Once I drop the day pump I plan to work on the bedtime pump by decreasing time again and then the morning pump. Thank you!
Hi Laura! I would take it and kind of see how it works for you! If you notice you’re getting less milk more quickly, you could slow down more quickly. It seems to affect people different. Good luck!
I’m at 2 sessions a day for 4 minutes, I’ve been weaning for the past 6 weeks. I’m feeling very irritated, angry, agitated, anxious and sometimes sad. I did not expect these huge mood changes. Is anyone else feeling this. It really sucks
I feel the same! Did you get any answers?? I was thinking this was late onset of PPD!! But maybe just from decreasing milk supply???
Hi! I am trying to wean and got down to two pumps a day and now have another bad mastitis infection (I’ve struggled a lot w clogs and mastitis and take lechitin regularly). I am starting antibiotics for mastitis today, so I can I use this as an opportunity to just stop pumping all together now? Or will my infection never get better?
I really need to be done with pumping and am doing it very gradually but seems like every time I drop a pump i get another clog. I don’t really feel engorged, my supply has dropped a ton and when I pump I have to massage a ton in order to get a couple ounces. I’m down to about 3-4 oz per pump. If I dont massage when pumping I hardly get anything out so it’s hard to just cut the time of my pumping it just all depends how on much I massage each breast
Thank you!
Hi Julie! I think this is something you should talk to your doctor about – I don’t feel qualified to give advice since you’re on antibiotics and I would feel terrible if I gave you bad advice and you got an abscess. I wish I could be more helpful!
Hi, I’ve been trying to wean from the pump for about two weeks now. Like a lot of the others I have been getting clogs almost everyday in both breast. I’ve tried the cabbage leaves, lecithin, no flow milk tea, and started taking Zyrtec D. I have been reading some of your replies and you recommend Sudafed. I was wondering if Sudafed works better than the Zyrtec D?
Hi Jessica! Anything with pseudoepedrine should work! How slowly have you been going? How have you been trying to wean?
Awesome thanks! I was pumping every 4 hours for 15 minutes, but then I got mastitis after trying to push my pumping to every 5 hours. Once I got mastitis I went to pumping every three hours and have been reducing my pump time but 2 minutes every three days. I was also over producing milk but once I got the mastitis I dropped by about 20 oz a day. I’m currently pumping every 3 hrs for 8 minutes. Tomorrow I was going to start your schedule of reducing a pump session….so starting back at 15 minutes every 4 hrs.
Hi Amanda!
I have followed your instructions on weaning from the pump and I have successfully reached the end, I’ve stopped pumping! My question is, why do you recommend to do one last pumping session 36-48 hours later? Is it to empty any last bit of milk remaining? It’s been 72 hours since my very last pump (where I only got 3oz total). I’m not engorged, not uncomfortable, however if I hand express I definitely have milk in there. Not sure what to do? Thanks!
Hi Marianela! So you don’t have to do this last pumping session if you don’t want to or feel you need to. You won’t be able to get ALL the milk so don’t worry about that – your body will reabsorb anything leftover. It’s just a last stop in dropping the last session to make it more gradual but if you’d rather not don’t worry. this is more of an art than a science. Hope that helps!
I am starting the weaning process I have dropped one of my 6 pumping sessions per your blog instructions and am down to 5
15min sessions. I noticed that I am getting more milk at my other sessions following the one I dropped. It’s like my body is holding on to it and waiting until I pump again. I have had mild mastitis 3 times and am hoping to transition to formula by 6mo. I am using cabbage leaves, no more milk tea, sunflower lecithin and sudafed(though I’m not sure how often to take this one). Any advice?
Hi Erica! I would just give it time. You’re doing all of the right things, sometimes it just takes time for your body to get the message. You’re doing great!
Hi there,
I’m only about 4 weeks postpartum, but am needing to wean from pumping. I was previously pumping 8-9 times per day for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours and am now at 5 times a day every 4.5 hours while slowly dropping a minute or two every few days with the goal to drop more pumping sessions as well. My issue is that I keep having recurring clogs no matter what I do (massage, vibration, sunflower lecithin, etc.) One will resolve and then another will pop up. Obviously I desperately want to avoid mastitis, but really really need to wean. My question is, are my methods to resolve my clog counteracting my weaning? I try to only use heat and vibration when absolute necessary but again, I don’t want to take a few steps forward just to go backwards. Thank you!!
Hi Rachel! I think I would keep doing what you’re doing. It might go slower – but getting mastitis is also going to slow things down, you know? I would consider Sudafed and cabocreme. Also if you’re going on birth control at your six week appointment, you could consider one with estrogen. That might also help. Congrats on your baby!!!!
Hi! I feel like I’ve been reading this post everyday!! I’m down to 2 pumps 6a end 7-8pm. Early session is 15 minutes. I’m beginning to cut the late session to 10 minutes. I’m only getting 1-2 ounces total each session. Should I stop now or keep shaving time off that late session??
Hi Tiffany! I think you could cut it in half and then stop completely! Congrats!
I’m desperate to stop bf, please help!!!!!!!
This is my 3rd time with mastitis. The clog is so painful, I wasn’t able to sleep at all.
I tried to pump 1 less minute, no other changes… and after 2 days, I have a massive clog.
I desperately need this to end. Should I stop cold turkey while I’m on anti biotic?
Hi,
I have been trying to stop exclusively pumping with an oversupply issue for almost two weeks now, down from 6, 15 minute long sessions ( ~ 10-11 oz per session) and am down to 4, 5minute sessions a day, but still producing about 5 oz total per session. I have been taking the Pinkstork Noflow supplement daily, and using Cabocreme multiple times a day for over a week. My breasts are still very tender and I can feel them getting hard, and I have had to manually massage a few harder spots/ started doing a warm compress before each pump because I am scared of having a clogged duct but I don’t know how to get my supply to decrease enough to cut any more sessions and the goal is obviously to stop pumping entirely as soon as possible!!
Do you have any advice on how to get weaned completely and safely at this point? Your website is so helpful, thank you for creating!
Hi Julie! Congrats on weaning! I would drop one session at a time versus reducing the time of all at once from here on out. Are you taking lecithin at all for the potential clogs/hard spots?
Hi Amanda,
I desperately want to stop pumping as my boobs can not take it anymore. They are peeling and bleeding and I don’t enjoy pumping anymore. I am physically and mentally exhausted. I asked my doctors what I should do an she recommended just stopping completely but I am prone to clogged ducts which is extremely painful. I have been taking sunflower lecithin to decrease my changes of getting another clogged duct. I tried not pumping and putting cabbage leaves in my bra but I started to get pains in my chest and it was hard and I felt the milk clogging. I ordered the tea you suggested but it won’t be here until 3 days so I am unsure what else I should be doing. PLEASE HELP I know this post is late from when you first uploaded.
Hi Ladia! I wouldn’t stop cold turkey, I would wean off. Can you drop one session at a time instead of stopping altogether? Sudafed might help speed things up – is taking it an option at all?
Hi!
I have EP’d for 13.5 months now… I am down to one session a day and pumping between 2-4 oz per session.
I’m trying reducing the time on each session… down to 10-12 minutes from 30-45….
Is it ok to just stop at 10 minutes even if I still have a milk flow? I usually squeeze to get every last drop…
I am just kind of scared of getting clogs if I don’t empty. I’ve had very very bad clogs and I don’t want any more
Thankfully I’ve never gotten Mastitis… but I don’t need to experience it while I’m weaning from pumping!
Thank you for this site! I’ve referenced it so many times during my pumping journey!
Deanna
Hi Deanna! Thank you so much! I think when you get down to about 2oz total you can just stop. It sounds like you’re almost there? I would pump 2oz, then wait 36-48 hours and pump one last time (hopefully). CONGRATS!
Have reduced my pumping gradually over the last two weeks
Am now down to pumping 1oz every 24 hours
How do you suggest stopping from this point?
Hi Emily,
I would just stop and see if you need to pump one last time in 36-48 hours. 🙂
I returned to work this last week and am having trouble with emptying enough with pumping. I had previously pumped for 3 weeks, with no problems. Now I am only getting 1-1.5 oz per session and often feel “engorged” after. I pump 5-6 times a day, and sometimes will nurse my son in the AM before work, which is the only time I feel empty. I am okay with weaning now that I am back to work, but am concerned about getting clogs since the pump is suddenly not pulling milk. I have replaced pump parts already. Do you anticipate that I will quickly lose my supply now that I am engorged after pumping?
Hi Kiley! I do think it might be faster since you haven’t been removing as much milk. If you’d like to keep pumping, you could maybe try hand expression or using a manual pump to see if that emptied you better?
I have been expressing for 3 weeks for my baby and am weaning off the pump due to my mental health
7 sessions a day of pumping
Trying to drop one session at a time but getting lumps- these are not painful
Do I need to be concerned?
Hi Millie! If they aren’t painful it’s probably fine. You might want to go a little slower and see if that helps. You could also try lecithin. Good luck!
Do you think it is possible to stay on one pumping session for some time or will it dry up real quick? Thanks!
Hi Bina! It’s different for different people – some are able to, others lose supply quickly. I was in the latter camp. Unfortunately there’s no way to know until you try it.
Thank you Amanda! Do you think I could successfully go back up to 2 if 1 goes down? Or is that also person specific. My goal was 6 mo which will be this week. I dropped to 2 sessions this week and it is more bearable so Im kind of having second thoughts…
Hi Bina! It’s sort of person-specific, I’m sorry! I wish I could give you a more clear answer!
Hi, I tried to wean and ended up with mastisis (for the second time). I tried to apply the principles of pumping for a little less time each night and I was also spacing the night time pumping sessions as my daughter started sleeping more through the night.. What am I doing wrong? Where do I start? I’m going back to every 3 hours pumping right now to get this clog worked out / make sure I don’t have more issues… but long term, this just isn’t sustainable.
Hi Kaelyn, ugh, so sorry to hear this. Are you taking lecithin at all?
Yes, I started taking it again yesterday. Should I be taking that always. or only when I have a clog, like now?
I went through your playbook yesterday and I think I should be at the 6 pumps, I built a plan, but I’m still nervous in general given my history.
Hello! I am 9mo pp and I dropped down to two 30min pumps a day because at 8mo pp I had enough fresh + frozen milk to get my baby to 1yo. However, my supply dropped more than I anticipated. Is it possible to increase my supply back up by adding back a third pump? Or is it too late now that my body has regulated to this lower volume? Thank you!
Hi Jenna! IT’s definitely worth a try! I would also try eating oatmeal and power pumping. Good luck! ❤️
Hi! It has been over a week since I have pumped. I have hand expressed a small amount to try to relieve some painful lumps I have. Will these go away eventually? Is that normal?
Hi Steffanie, if you’re having pain, I might pump again just to make sure you don’t have a clogged duct or anything. Any lumps that are NOT painful, I would probably leave and let your body absorb. However, definitely ask your doctor what they think too! Good luck!
First off I just wanted to thank you for all the information that you provide. It has all helped me so much on this journey.
I do have one question as I just finished weaning. For the last pump after a few days, is it absolutely necessary to do that pump again or is it OK to completely be done? I wasn’t sure if it was necessary for emptying purposes to prevent something certain.
Hi Brittany! It’s not absolutely necessary – go with your gut. 🙂 This is more of an art than a science!
Hi! Thank you for all of this great info. I’ve been weaning by increasing time between sessions, but my output hasn’t changed over the last couple of weeks (still at about 20 oz a day) pumping 4 sessions a day. Is this normal?
Hi Keri! Yes, supply is weird and unpredicatable – I would just keep going!
Hi Amanda!
I am slowly in the process of weaning. I’m at 8.5 months pumping and am at 4 pumps a day. Early in my journey I got an abscess and it had to be lanced, I have also had thrush twice due to antibiotics (last was early October) occasionally since weaning I get sharp needle like pains in my abscessed boob. Could that be the scar tissue/ milk supply dropping? It does feel like thrush and is random.
Thank you for your help!
Hi Katrina! I am not sure – I wish I was qualified to answer this question but I don’t think I am. Can you ask the doctor who lanced the abscess if the scar tissue is a possibility, and see what she would recommend for the pain? You could try OTC APNO in case it is thrush but given your history I think it’s a good idea to talk to a professional. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Hi! How long should the final pump be(after 36-48hrs of not pumping)?
Hi! You can either pump to comfort or to empty. This is more of an art than a science, so do what works best for you.
Hi, Amanda! Is the milk we pump while weaning good to give to baby? Or no because it will be primarily foremilk?
I have this question too!
Hi Amanda! I’m 12 months pp and trying to wean from my pump. I’ve gotten down to 2 pumps a day and recently recovered from mastitis which I’m prone to on one side. My affected side has almost dried up (1 oz max). Can I stop pumping on my affected side and just finish the weaning process on my side that is still producing a decent volume?
When you drop down to two sessions while weaning are you still keeping to the 120 min per day rule? Thank you!
Hi Tiffany! If you’re weaning, no need to stick to 120 minutes. Hope that helps!
I’m at 2x a day 7am and 2pm at 5 mins and now getting less than 1 oz- when can I just stop?
Hi May! I would stop at one session, wait a day or two, and then stop at the second. Good luck!
Hi Amanda – I’m down to 1 session (did 5 days at 1 session for 5 mins) and stopping today. What do you mean wait a day or two and then stop?
Hi there! This is the best info I have found so far as most searches I have done teach how to wean off the breast not for someone like me, that is just exclusively pumping. I have been only pumping for almost a month. My lo was born prematurely on 1/6. She spent time in the nicu and she nursed with me a few times but because we were apart, we didn’t make that connection. She was taught to bottle feed there and had to be put on a calorie boosting formula so it was established that I would express the milk to mix with the formula. However, my supply is low, I’m exhausted pumping around the clock, and I keep clogging so I’m stopping. I produce 9-11 ounces a day and pump 7-8 times for 15 minutes a session. What do you recommend in terms of a schedule? Would it take 8 weeks or would I be able to do it a little quicker because I am not producing a lot? Possibly dropping more than one session a week? I appreciate the help!!! Thank you!
Hi Leslie! I think that if you are not prone to clogs, you could start with 2 a week and see how it goes. If it’s going well and you feel like you can go faster, then do that. This is all more of an art than a science so go with your gut and do what feels right. Good luck!
Hi! Your page has been my Bible since I had to pump from day 3. I am now weaning at 10 weeks due to ongoing supply issues (averaging 8 ounces a day in total from birth) despite medication and power pumping. Problem is, have you ever heart of one boob weaning quicker than the other? My lazy boob is barely lumpy at 2ppd and my hero boob gets a bit lumpy and feels tingly… is that normal that one boob weans faster than the other? Lazy boob had mastitis recently so maybe that’s why it is weaning faster? It feels weird to just pump one side haha!
Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much and YES, this is a thing. It’s totally fine to just pump one side (but I do know it can feel weird)
Thank you so much for the great information! I have been nursing and pumping for 15 months and I keep getting clogs. I’ve had mastitis twice and am on 4 lechithins a day. I just had back to back clogs in both breasts when trying to drop five minutes off of a session. My letdown takes almost 30 minutes so I pump for an hour, sometimes longer. I need to wean now and think drying up my supply is my best option to avoid clogs. I plan on taking peppermint oil and an antihistamine and using cabbage leaves. How should I reduce pumping? If I dry things up successfully, do I need to slowly reduce pump time or if I don’t see anything coming out can I just stop for the session?
Hi Ashley! So sorry to hear about that! If you are pretty empty (breasts feel soft/nothing coming out) then you can just stop. Good luck!
Hi Amanda. Super great web page. I’m weaning from the pump by increasing the number of hours between each pump. I didn’t keep a schedule when I EPed and so don’t want to do one when weaning. I was pumping every 3 hours and right now I’ve increased to 7 hours between. I haven’t been prone to clogs or anything (knock on wood). I haven’t been leaking much (sometimes here and there). I’ve been increasing an hour each week. Do you think I can go faster with increasing the time between pumps?
Yes, if you’re comfortable, absolutely! 🙂
What is the leaking an indication of -milk drying up?
Your page has been such a huge help during my pumping experience! Thank you.
I am currently almost to 8 months EP and am working on going to 4 PPD and cutting out my 6pm. I’ve been trying to make it closer to my 10 but the evening time is such a challenge to pump consistently around then. At what point can I skip it and pump again at 10? So I’ll be from 3pm to 10pm. I do have history of clogged ducts and mastitis and am an over supplier. My goal is to try and make it to 12 months, so I am VERY slowing weaning.
Hi Katrina! I think there’s no reason that you couldn’t do that now! I would just do it slowly, to reduce the chances of clogs/mastitis. You might also want to consider lecithin. Good luck! and remember to increase the length of the remaining 3 sessions – if you don’t I think there is a good chance your supply will drop quickly.
Thank you for the helpful info! I’m weaning after 6 months of EPing. Down to 2.5 sessions right now and am noticing that the remaining sessions are SO uncomfortable. Like I’m counting down the minutes because I can’t stand the feel.
I’m guessing it’s just because frequency is so low? Any advice to make it easier?
I’m going pretty slow— dropping 5 mins every 2 days bc I’ve been prone to clogs so I can’t really go any faster to get it over with.
Hi Jenna! Oh my gosh, so sorry you’re dealing with this! What do you mean when you say it feels uncomfortable – like it just when you pump, or after at all? It is just like friction pain, or shooting pain or anything like that? So weird! ❤️
Hi Amanda!
It’s just while pumping… mostly just on my nipple: Today I tried turning down the intensity—- from 5 to 4 (on spectra pump) and that seemed to help some. I feel like my boobs are changing so much as I’ve been weaning that I’m thinking maybe it’s just part of that? It’s not pain— just an annoying feeling and I’m dying to get the sessions over with so that it stops. In all my 6 months pumping I never felt like that!
Thanks for your help!!
Hi Amanda,
Any suggestions on what to do if you get clogged ducts while weaning? I’m prone to them and usually would just pump as often as I can I get ride of the clog but when weaning I’m trying to get my body to procure less milk so I’m not sure pumping constantly works towards that goal.
Dropping time on pumps never seem to signal much to my body while dropping down from 7ppd so I was always pushing time between pumps or bringing two closer together etc. do you think dropping time works better at the end? What if you don’t see a reduction in supply after?
Hi Dana! If you’re not seeing a drop with dropping time, you can reduce volume instead (i.e., stop pumping after you pump a certain amount of milk instead of for a certain amount of time). Hope that helps!
I’ve been pumping for a year and a half and am weaning off because I’m 5 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I had been making oversupply of milk and got a lot of clogged ducts before. I went through the steps and stopped pumping when got down to making only two ounces total. I’ve gone 3-4 days now without pumping but on one side I still have milk leaking a tiny bit and it’s not too full and a little bit hard but not as much as whenever I had a clog and the other side is completely fine. Idk what to do
Hi Elizabeth! Congrats! I wouldn’t do anything as long it’s not painful/not a clog. I would just let you body start to reabsorb it. If you get a clog I would normally suggest you pump to clear it, but in this case, I would ask your OB what to do. Not all providers will want you to pump while pregnant. Good luck!!!
In step 5 you say “until you’re getting only about 1 or 2 ounces from it.” – do you mean 1 or 2 ounces total, or 1 or 2 ounces from each breast?
I’m finally down to 1 pump per day, I had an oversupply and had clogged ducts on a regular basis. I am now down to pumping for only 14 minutes producing a total of 5 oz. I don’t know if I can stop completely, or I should continue pumping and keep decreasing my time. Suggestions? Thank you!!
I mean total! Sorry for the confusion. I would continue to decrease time for a few more days. Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
I’ve been using your website since the beginning of my pumping journey, your advice has been so helpful and it has been good to have someone to reassure you when you are not sure of what you are doing. Thank you very much. I am now at the end of this journey and am trying to wean. I’ve always been an oversupplier and prone to clogs and mastitis – i’ve been on one pump for about 2 weeks and not quite sure how to just…stop. I”m making about a bit less than 3 oz combined and have went from pumping 40 minutes to 20minutes. Is it ok to just stop completely at this point or to shave off a bit of time before doing so?
Thank you!
WInnie
Hi Winnie! I might cut the 20 minute to 10 and then stop. Maybe give it a few days at 10 minutes – but go with your gut. This is more of an art than a science.:) Congrats!
Also, just wondering—what is the purpose for that final pumping session 36-48 hours after? Is that to check if there is any leftover milk? I’m worries about initiating more supply
After 36-48 hours of not pumping, it’s unlikely that one short session would have an impact. But you don’t HAVE to do it – it’s more just to make the end as gradual as possible (like how a nursing baby might wean). This is more of an art than a science, though, so go with your gut!
Hey there! Your blog has been a go-to resource for my over the last 4 months of exclusive pumping. Thank you!! I am now deep into the weaning process, and I’ve worked down to 3 10-min pumping sessions a day. Each session yields less than 2 oz. I feel somewhat full before each session, but not unbearably uncomfortable. I’m wondering if you’d recommend that I go through the final steps of reducing minutes and dropping a session one by one or if you think that at this point I can just quit. I am prone to plugged ducts, but I’m not sure if I’m being unnecessarily cautious by taking a very gradual approach. Do you have any thoughts?
Hi Claire! I would drop them one by one, but I think you could do it in pretty quick succession (in 3 days, maybe? Or 6 if you wanted to leave a day in between?)
Instead of dropping sessions can you gradually increase the amount of time between pumps to wean off pumping? I don’t have a schedule – just do every 4 hours during day and every 5 hours at night.
Hi MG! Yes, you can do that. Good luck!
Hey Amanda, thanks for this wonderful post. I come to your blog to find answers for any exclusive pumping related questions and amazingly, you have answers to all my problems. Regarding step 6, how long should I pump after waiting for 36 to 48 hours? I have reduced from 6 times a day to 1 time. I am ready to go to step 6 now.
Hi Pam! You can either do until you feel comfortable or to empty – this is more an art than a science so I would go with your gut/what feels right. Good luck and congrats!
Hi there. I’ve had low supply issues throughout and I’m down to two pumping sessions with only producing 2-2.5 ounces each session. No significant issues with clogged ducts or mastitis at all. Would you recommend following the instructions above with cutting the time down still? Or do you think I’d be safe to drop down to one pumping session more quickly/easily?
Hi Jen! If you haven’t had clogged ducts/mastitis, you’re probably good to go faster. Just go with what feels right to you (it’s more of an art than a science). Good luck!
Hi Amanda
I’ve been block feeding my entire time breastfeeding and the turned to block pumping because of over supply issues. I pumped 6x a day and baby nurses at night twice.
How do I pick which feed to start reducing from on week one?
I’m prone to blockages – and have had blockages my entire time breastfeeding.
Thanks in advance
Hi Elaina, what is your current schedule like? Thanks!
Roughly every 2:45-3hours during the day 6x during the day Opposite breast each other. So starting with the left breast, then switching to the right the next session and it continues for 6 sessions.
Over night I breastfeed the baby twice on demand.
Left breast at 8am
Right breast at 10:45
Left breast at 1:30
Right breast at 3:15
Left breast at 6:00
Right breast at 8:45
I had to turn to pumping during the day because of severe breast aversion, after dealing with oversupply, thrush, mastitis, blockages, engorgement and vasospasm – baby only took the breast in drowsy state, hence overnight feeds.
Thanks in advance for your advise and wisdom.
Thank you so much for your instructions. Following your above article I was able to wean off successfully with no issues! Thanks!
Hi Amanda!
Yes I was decreasing time off of each pump every few days but I am having no luck! I am still getting clogged ducts. So, if I should only take time off of the one I want to drop, do you pump until empty for the other two sessions or until comfortable? Thank you for your help!
Hi,
So I did the above steps and stopped once I got down to only pumping around 1/2 oz in both sides combined! I then didn’t pump for a whole week and one side is normal sized breast like before I breastfed the other the side the produces the most is really enlarged! Does this mean I have to restart pumping to get out the milk? If so how would you recommenced this without causing more production of milk? I have always been a overproducer and has oversupply issues with both pregnancies..! Thanks 😊
Hi Alexis! I would pump on that side (or hand express) just to comfort. Good luck and sorry you’re dealing with this!
Hi Amanda!
I am currently stuck on 3ppd. I generally pump between 9 and 10 am and then again at 2:30 pm before I leave for work and then when I get home around 9:30 pm. I am prone to clogged ducts. I really have been trying to decrease time at each pump session (I am even watching my ounces too and also my left always makes more) but my breasts don’t seem to be getting the hint. I even have been using Sunflower Lecithin, cabbage, Cabocream, and No More Milk Tea. I have Sudafed on standby, but I wanted to use this as a last resort. I am at a loss! Please help! :((
Hi Michelle! Are you trying to decrease the time on all the sessions at once? I would not do that – only at one at a time (probably the 2:30 in your case). Hope that helps!