Long term EPers...when did you drop pumps?

mrsdiamonds

I just need to see some light at the end of the tunnel!  I dropped to 6 pumps a day around 3 weeks and I went down to 5 pumps when DS was 2 months.

When did you drop to 4, then 3, etc?  I just want to give myself a time frame.  I would have quit if I didn't drop to 5 pumps, I already feel so free.  I just know that eventually I will long to drop to 4 pumps and was wondering when people do that.

TIA!

gymrat

I think it depends on your own idea of how long you would like to continue pumping. I'm still at 5 sessions a day because it works for my babies. I have to use some of my frozen stash every other day and it's slowly dwindling.

I'm apprehensive about dropping a session because I want to at least make it through the winter. I'm afraid if I drop a session my supply will drastically drop.

So you have to be comfortable with losing supply if you should drop a session. 

kel716

I alternate days.  I pump 4 one day and 5 the next.  Right now with the holidays, this has helped me tremendously.  I may have to go back to 5/6 this week because the stress of the holidays I think has hurt my supply a little.  However, I only recently tried to drop to 4.  It worked for a day or so, and yesterday I lost track of my output so I'm not sure where I'm at.  I know I'm still ahead of DS, which is what I care about most. 

happythoughts1

I dropped to 6 pumps at around 8 weeks. Then to 5 pumps when I went back to work at 12 weeks. I went down to 4 pumps at 6 months. I'll have 3-pump days occasionally (once a week, maybe). My supply's been pretty consistent the whole time. I was a bit worried, since it seems a lot of people lose supply at 4 pumps, but I was fine.

Stacyc625

Totally depends on how much you have, and how long you plan on EPing.

i am sorry-- but if you want to EP for a while there is no way you should only be pumping six times a day at 8-9 weeks. So many people do that and then come on here in a couple of weeks later and complain how much of a crappy supply they have.

i didn't drop to five pumps until six months. At seven months i dropped to four pumps (but i have a freezer full of milk). I don't plan on weaning until nine or ten months.

flamencogal

I dropped to 4 pumps at just shy of 6 mos and so far have only lost an ounce or two a day in my supply. ?It doesn't bother me b/c I still have a great freezer stash and having to only pump 4 times is soooo much better than 5 times/day. ?Now I can't wait until I can drop to 3/day but I think that's still a ways off. ?My goal is to make it to a year and with my freezer stash, I think I could stop at 10 months or so and still make it to a year.?

Like pps said, it depends on your goals and if you were able to build a freezer stash in the beginning. ?I did the 10pumps/day for the first 8 weeks and then was at 8 pumps/day around the 10 week mark and gradually worked to 6/day by 4 months.?

EastCoastFamily

I did 7 pumps till my daughter was 2 months old, then 6 till she was 4 months, then 5 through September, 4 through October and some of November, and then dropped to three times a day, where I currently am.  I don't know yet when I'm going to drop to two.  It is amazing how dropping just one pump can give you a sense of freedom you didn't have before!!

mrsdiamonds

 Thank you everybody for the great advice!  My mini-goal was to make it to 6 months but my long term goal is to make it a year.  I am thankful to be blessed with an oversupply of milk and I have a huge freezer stash.  We had to buy a deep freezer and it is filling up fast.  Otherwise I never would have dropped to 5 pumps so soon.  Sounds like I should stay with 5 pumps until 6 months at least!  Very doable now!!  Thanks again!!