XP: EPing Moms

hohmanam

Have you been able to cut out a pumping session while still maintaining supply? DS is 3.5 months old, and I've read that supply should be established by 3 months. I currently take fenugreek and am able to freeze about 8-9 ounces per day in addition to what DS eats. I currently pump 6 times per day (5 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m.) Would it be okay to drop a pumping session and start pumping ever 4 hours instead of every 3 or is it too early for that?

qwerty777

First, I am really jealous at what you are able to freeze. DS eats so much that I"m lucky to freeze 5oz every couple days, and I get about 35oz a day. I was told to go 8 times a day, and that's what I've been doing. I wouldn't risk dropping any times, because it might drop your supply. I've never heard that you should be able to do that, so I'd be too worried.

BBS!

I pump 5 times a day and only occasionally supplement with the freezer. I've been doing this about 8 weeks pp. haven't needed formula yet.

st.augbride

I EPed with ds for 14 months. I survived this long because I was able to reduce to 4 and eventually 3 pumps per day. I think I dropped from 6 to 5 around 3 months and then down to 4 pumps at 4 months. I stayed at 4 until about 8 months when I went to 3. I lost about 5-6oz, but had an oversupply so I was fine. When I went to 2 pumps at around 12 months that was the beginning of the end.

BLPL101

I just dropped a pump 2 weeks ago and now pump 6 times a day. I freeze about 10-12 oz a day. I plan on dropping another one in a few weeks. My freezer is completely full.

Stillharbor

You should be able to.  When LO was 2 months I had to go back to work and could only pump every 4 hours, but when I got home I kept to the 3 hour rule.  (I had to be especially careful about drinking while at work.  I would notice a NOTICEABLE difference in my output if I hadn't kept my fluids up.). At 4 months a consistent 4 hr. pumping schedule, now at 5 months I've experimented with the occasional 6 hour break or trying to sleep through the night.  Those are possible, but I definately have to have a really good 30 minute pumping session after one of those long stretches.  I am extremely uncomfortable, especially trying to sleep through the night.

PandasMama0626

I've been pumping 8 times a day since DS was 10 days old and get about 50 ounces a day, so I freeze about 20 ounces a day on average. I stupidly tried to cut a session out 3 weeks ago and saw a big supply drop. Once I went back to 8 a day it went back to normal. The last few days I've been so busy I'm back to 7 a day and surprisingly havent seen a drop yet I say give it a shot and just keep a close eye on supply. if it dips, add a session back in. Or, add a few mins on to your other pumps to make up for the lost one. That way your total minutes pumping a day stays the same, but you can have longer stretches in between.