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EPing - best way to decrease pumps per day?

starlightstefstarlightstef member
in Breastfeeding

I'm EPing and just reached the 12 week mark.  I'm anxious to start decreasing the number of times I pump each day because 8 times a day is just plain stressful for everyone involved (me, dh and even ds).  What's the best way to go about this?  How quickly can I eliminate a pumping session? (i.e. how long do I have to go down to 7 before I can go down to 6...etc).   My goal is to get down to 4. I'm hoping to not lose too much supply, but if I do I've just had to tell myself it's ok. LO has already been getting one bottle of formula a day as it is, so getting 1 or 2 more may not be ideal, but it's not the end of the world.

Also, ds just started sttn two days ago, so I've slept through my motn pumping sessions.  Is that bad?  Should I get up anyway?  Thanks for your help!

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Re: EPing - best way to decrease pumps per day?

  • RJM050705RJM050705 member
    I would love to know this too!  I'm EPing and have a low supply, so I still have to supplement.  I currently pump 7-8x/day (and take domperidone) and get 17-20oz on average while DD eats around 26-30oz.  If there was anyway to decrease # of pump sessions without affecting my supply I would be all over it.  I'm already dreaming of February. ;)  My goal is to make it to her birthday and then reevaluate.  There have been a couple of days I've only gotten 6 pumps in, but I'm not convinced my supply is well enough established to start dropping sessions.  Plus, since I don't currently make enough milk to avoid formula, I feel like I should keep all of my sessions (or even add one when I can) to see if I can increase my supply any more.
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  • ohlordyohlordy member

    I am no help since I'm very curious about how to do this, myself! I barely make 20oz per day and DD consumes anywhere from 23 to 30oz per day, so I am afraid to drop any sessions. Some days are hectic and I get 7 sessions in while other days I can get 9 or 10. I was doing 12 for a while to try to increase my supply, but it didn't do much and I was dying for rest, so I aim for 8 to 10. 

    FWIW, I still do MOTN pumps while DD sleeps. My LC told me to never go longer than 5 hours between sessions.

    Im also on domperidone for 13 days so far and have noticed a slight increase. These days, my self worth is directly related to how much milk I pump. Sad face. 

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  • NewMom113NewMom113 member
    I just started with missing the night time pumping session. I normally do 4 times a day. I try to get 5 and sometimes I only get 3. To be honest I just started dropping sessions as my son dropped the amount of bottle feedings. He currently gets 3, 6 oz. BM bottles, 1 6oz formula, then before bed 2 oz formula in his cereal and a 4 oz bottle of formula. My schedule has made a real issue for EP but I work and trying to BF and pump just didn't work. But that is how I did it.
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  • ejs1of3ejs1of3
    I ep but am not an expert but at 12 weeks i went from 8 pumps to 7 and then waited a month to make sure i didnt lose any supply and then went down to six pumps in 24 houra. I have not lost any supply. I still make sure one of those pumps is in the middle of the night. So i would say give it a month between drops and if your supply drops then add a session back in.
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