EP - Please come in...

cutelilme1210

I have been EPing since day 1. I have been freezing quite a bit daily...about 20 oz. I was originally planning on not pumping once I return to school the end of August. We were just going to use my freezer stash to keep DD on formula for as long as possible. However, as the time quickly approachings, I am second guessing that because I know there isn't enough there to get her to 6 months (which was our originally goal). I was thinking of trying to get down to 1 or 2 times a day (all day, not a working day). Even if my supply crashes, at least we can supplement so she is getting some bm, instead of non.

Has anyone done this and been successful?

Stacyc625

I EP'ed for a full year. What i can tell you if you choose to go down to 1-2x is really do it slowly. just to save yourself the pain of engorgement. I wouldn't suggest dropping more than one session per week. Because it takes up to 2 weeks for your body to really register that lack of demand of the breastmilk- and there is lag time for your body to catch up with the new supply factor.

1-2x sessions really seemed to be the 'end' for me when i was pumping. I wasn't getting much at all (which was of course the goal-) So my suggestion is to really know that is what you want before dropping that many sessions because it is next to impossible to get back to where you were if you change your mind for whatever reason.

cutelilme1210

Thanks for the advice. I am not sure what I am going to do for sure. I figured the beginning of August I would start to drop sessions. I was only going to drop one session a week until I was down to only a few.

I am a middle school teacher and pumping is going to be really hard for me. I only have a 30 minute lunch and a 42 minute planning period when I am not with my students. I am teaching 4 different classes this year so I have a lot of planning to actually do. My "planning period" is actually after my lunch. I have one class in between.

Stacyc625

I hear ya- teaching can be rough with pumping. I would suggest you cross post this on the BF'ing board- i know there are MANY teachers who pump still- maybe they can offer additional suggestions and/or support.

But what it comes down to is just you being ready and wanting to stop pumping. The rest is just logistics.