Wean from Pump

JM1226

EP anyone wean yet and how did you go about doing it? How long did it take?  I cut down from 4 sessions to 3 and ready I'm ready for 2 a day.  When I cut the next one out how long between the next session should I do....a few days... a week.  I cut my 4th one a month ago and my friend suggested I'm going to long between cutting the sessions out.  Am I making sense? 

Shannonlea

I weaned from EP at 6 months.  I was pumping 50-60oz, 7 times a day.  I cut a session every few days until I got down to 2 sessions.  When I got down to 2, I quit.  It hurt like heck for a couple days but once I got to day 3, the pain went away.   I dont think you need to go a week between dropping sessions, id go a day or so between each dropped session. 

daisybride78

I started weaning at 7 months and pumped for the last time the day before my boys turned 8 months, so I took it really slow. I both dropped pumping sessions about once a week, and reduced the length of time that I was pumping. I first dropped my mid morning pump, then the afternoon pump, then the right before bed pump and then I spent 2 weeks just pumping in the morning. I used to pump for 30 minutes in the morning, so throughout the 4 weeks, I slowly dropped down that pumping time so that by the last week, I was only pumping for about 10 minutes in the morning. Throughout the entire process, I was only engorged once (the morning after I first dropped my bedtime pump). My take is that going slow makes it much easier on your body. Good luck!

kristalovesjared

I just did this 3 weeks ago and thought I was going to be super sore and engorged, but I wasn't at all... my supply had started to decrease, so I thought it was time. When I made the decision I just thought I'd pump whenever I felt engorged and I probably only pumped 3 times the first 2 days, 2 times the next day and then once the next. Like I said, I thought it was time and I was shocked at how quick it went away!

darleenmonroe

I cut one pump session per week starting with the pump session I got the least amount of milk - so for me that was the 3PM - waited a week - then I dropped the 12 noon pump session - waited a week - then the 9 AM pump session so all I had was first thing in the morning and then right before DS went to bed. I did all this when DS turned 6 months old. So I started actually nursing DS each morning and then before bed so I was completely DONE with the pump forever! Ahhh what a freeing feeling! Then we supplemented formula for all other feedings.

Anyway there's no sush thing as waiting too long between dropping sessions. You can wait as long as you want just don't drop a feeding session any sooner than 4 days apart or you will be VERY uncomfortable. That's why I waited a week inbetween dropping sessions. The process can be as drawn out as you are happy with.

Now DS is almost a year and I decided I am done so I dropped the morning feeding and waited a week and then dropped the bedtime feeding. Now we will be starting the formula to cow's milk transition this weekend.