How to drop a pump gradually?

kujess1 · February 2014

I'm back to work and pump 3x/day at work. I've also been pumping at night after DD goes to bed around the same time every night. I mostly started doing that to build up extra freezer stash, and just in case I didn't pump enough at work for the next day. However, I've found that even though my pumping volume at work varies a little day to day, I'm pretty much always pumping at least as much as she's eating, usually more. So I'd like to cut out the night time pump. However, I'm really nervous to do this because a little over a week ago, my older DS was sick and woke up just as I was about the do my night-time pump. I didn't end up pumping, and the next morning woke up with a nasty plugged duct. Tried hard the next 2 days to get rid of it, but it ended up turning into mastitis, which yesterday I ended up having to have needle aspiration done on the lump. So I'm nervous that cutting out this pump is going to cause more issues for me, and I want to do it really gradually. What's the best way to do that and not make my boobs angry (I have an issue with recurring plugged ducts and am taking Lecithin)?

CLLDLL · February 2014

I second what theresa suggested. I also get plugged ducts easily. I cut down from 3x a day to 2x and eventually to no pumps a day at work using this method. Just take it really slow. You could even do 18 minutes for several nights, then 16 for a several, etc. Whatever you feel comfortable doing.

surpriseaddition · February 2014

I agree with the shorter durations, but I would also work back through the night. I know that sounds terrible, but that's what I did. I had begun pumping at 2am when my LO dropped that feeding, so I could store up a stash for work. I kept doing this for the first month I was back at work. When it seemed like I was OK with stash/supply, I started moving the pumping gradually later...2:30, then 3, 3:30 then 4, until I made it to when she usually wakes and feeds at 5am. GL!

OntheWater · February 2014

Agree with dropping a couple minutes at a time. If you are just on a maintenance dose of lecithin, you may want to consider increasing your dose a little until a few days after you have weaned from that pumping session.

kujess1 · February 2014

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies!

OntheWater said:

Agree with dropping a couple minutes at a time. If you are just on a maintenance dose of lecithin, you may want to consider increasing your dose a little until a few days after you have weaned from that pumping session.

@OntheWater What's considered a "maintenance dose?" I believe Kellymom recommends 1200mg 4x/day, do that until you've gone for about a month with no plugged ducts, then slowly start weaning down. So I had been doing that and went 2-3 weeks without a plugged duct, then got a stubborn one that turned into mastitis, so I never have lowered the dose. I'm wondering if staying on that high dose long(ish) term is going to be harmful for me?? The LC I'm in communication with from my hospital recommended to start weaning down slowly to give my body a break from it, but I'm so afraid to since I'm still trying to get over this mastitis and just yesterday had to have it aspirated with a needle. After the Dr aspirated it and felt my breast, he said the lump was gone, but today it there again, maybe smaller, but not sure if it's filling back up.

OntheWater · February 2014

I could understand keeping up with the larger dose then. I took it 3 times a day, then when things went ok,ultimately dropped to 1 as my maintenance. I increase it anytime I see an issue.

kujess1 · February 2014

Hmmm ok, that's good to know! Hopefully I can go long enough without an issue, and slowly start dropping down the dose!

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