WMs who pump...

Ridgebackmom · March 2014

I've been pumping 3x a day since I returned to work in August. I'm ready to drop it to just 2x a day, anyone else have good results with this? I know my body will adjust but I think I'll get about the same amount. SO far I've only pumped 1x today and got about what I would get in 2 pumps...

cecilyandgautam · March 2014

I pumped for a year and I do know some moms who get what they need in two pumps, so doesn't hurt to try, but I found that for me, I can on occasion condense it down to two pumps a day but if I keep that pattern up, eventually I get less, so then I had to go back to three. I tried to get in 3 each day, and allowed myself just two on days when things were really hectic.

Aubs0009 · March 2014

I have had to recently drop to two pump sessions a day. I get about 1 ounce less then I did before. It wasn't a huge drop.

mlee116 · March 2014

I found that when I did this, at first I pumped almost as much as I did before but then it would dwindle as my body adjusted. Once I started noticing my supply was down, I just added the session back until I could drop it for good. Everyone is different though, so you could always try it and see how it goes and add a session back if necessary.

vvvvvfee · March 2014

yes, you should be fine, especially since your LO is a little older.

i did 3x a day from when i went back to work when DS was 12 weeks. i dropped to 2 pumps a day once DS was doing well with solids, around 7 months. my supply had dropped a little and the 3rd pump just wasn't worth it anymore. once he was about 12 months, i cut back to once a day, and at about 14 months i stopped pumping altogether, but i am still breastfeeding mornings/evenings and weekends.

Ridgebackmom · March 2014

vvvvvfee said:

yes, you should be fine, especially since your LO is a little older.

i did 3x a day from when i went back to work when DS was 12 weeks. i dropped to 2 pumps a day once DS was doing well with solids, around 7 months. my supply had dropped a little and the 3rd pump just wasn't worth it anymore. once he was about 12 months, i cut back to once a day, and at about 14 months i stopped pumping altogether, but i am still breastfeeding mornings/evenings and weekends.

So, post 12m you don't pump anymore and you only feed him during those times. Does he have other "milk"? My dh doesn't think I should bf post 12m...ugh...men!!! Give me your details

vvvvvfee · March 2014

@Ridgebackmom
i actually stopped pumping at 14 months, but a lot of people stop at 12 months.

but yes, you can easily continue to breastfeed when you are together even if you're not pumping during the day. DS nurses in the morning, when i get home from work, and before bed (and unfortunately sometimes during the night). on weekends he will nurse once or twice more during the day in addition to the morning/evening/bedtime nursing sessions.

DS gets a cup of whole cow's milk with his lunch at daycare. honestly, though, if you're still breastfeeding, your LO doesn't really *need* to have cow's milk if they are eating a balanced diet.

breastfeeding just gets easier and more rewarding as time goes on, IMO. (especially once you don't have to clean those frickin' pump parts anymore!) here's a great article at kellymom on the benefits of breastfeeding past 1 year.

jesuisfatiguee · March 2014

Aubs0009 said:

I have had to recently drop to two pump sessions a day. I get about 1 ounce less then I did before. It wasn't a huge drop.

Same.

shannm · March 2014

I've only ever pumped twice a day with the exception of runs where my supply was dipping so I would throw in an extra session, usually at home to boost supply.

dashofreality · March 2014

I went to part time BFing with both my kids around 9-10 months. I had been losing supply anyways so it wasn't a big deal when I started dropping sessions. I stopped pumping and did morning/evenings for a few months and loved that.

mlee116 · March 2014

Ridgebackmom said:

vvvvvfee said:

yes, you should be fine, especially since your LO is a little older.

i did 3x a day from when i went back to work when DS was 12 weeks. i dropped to 2 pumps a day once DS was doing well with solids, around 7 months. my supply had dropped a little and the 3rd pump just wasn't worth it anymore. once he was about 12 months, i cut back to once a day, and at about 14 months i stopped pumping altogether, but i am still breastfeeding mornings/evenings and weekends.

So, post 12m you don't pump anymore and you only feed him during those times. Does he have other "milk"? My dh doesn't think I should bf post 12m...ugh...men!!! Give me your details

I stopped pumping at 12 months. DS got water and WCM during the day at daycare (but it was rare for him to drink a whole cup of it) and I nursed at home until 15 months. He nursed when I got home, before bed and occasionally in the morning. He started dropping a session every few weeks until he was weaned.

Ridgebackmom · March 2014

Thanks Ladies!! So, your supply will regulate IF you stop pumping and only feed on demand?

Ridgebackmom · March 2014

Ridgebackmom said:

Thanks Ladies!! So, your supply will regulate IF you stop pumping and only feed on demand?

I meant post 12m...

vvvvvfee · March 2014

yes- I was a little engorged the first day I stopped pumping (I just pumped for a minute or two to relieve the pressure), and by the 2nd day I was fine. still have plenty of milk for all the times DS wants to nurse.

Ridgebackmom · March 2014

Oh good! Another quick question...to all, does your LO drink wcm or another type of "milk"?

Winemama0613 · March 2014

vvvvvfee said:

yes, you should be fine, especially since your LO is a little older.

i did 3x a day from when i went back to work when DS was 12 weeks. i dropped to 2 pumps a day once DS was doing well with solids, around 7 months. my supply had dropped a little and the 3rd pump just wasn't worth it anymore. once he was about 12 months, i cut back to once a day, and at about 14 months i stopped pumping altogether, but i am still breastfeeding mornings/evenings and weekends.

This has been my experience too-minus the 12 months since DS is only 9 now. Once he started eating a lot of solids, he naturally pushed back his nursing and drank less at each session so I dropped to 2 sessions at work. When I had previously tried to drop sessions, my body held the supply for a day or two but quickly dropped so I had to move back up to 3 until DS was eating less.

mlee116 · March 2014

Yes, my supply regulated. I don't remember being super engorged, I guess because I had started dropping session one by one or something. I still had plenty of milk when he wanted to nurse.

And yes, I just did WCM. I never tried the other options mostly because DS never had any problems with regular milk and liked it fine. Also ditto K3am in that it is a healthy choice, so I didn't see the need to try alternatives.

exhibitv · March 2014

I did 3x a day until DD was about 7ish months, then dropped to 2x a day. That lasted until I stopped pumping at 11 months. At that point she was starting to incorporate other milks and more food. I nursed until she was 14 months.

Ridgebackmom · March 2014

Anyone successful at trying to get them to not nurse MOTN....

Ridgebackmom · March 2014

ME too and its back to MOTNN---ugh. DH is useless too, he's like--JUST FEED HIM.

I know he's not hungry. Maybe it's GS or teething. He was up 1 hr after drinking 4 oz and would not roll over and go back to sleep.

Want a personalized experience?

WMs who pump...

Re: WMs who pump...

BFP#1 10/11/11 - DD born 6/6/12;
BFP#2 7/6/13 - Due 3/8/13, MMC at 12w D&C on 8/31/13;

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

WMs who pump...

Re: WMs who pump...

BFP#1 10/11/11 - DD born 6/6/12; BFP#2 7/6/13 - Due 3/8/13, MMC at 12w D&C on 8/31/13;

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

BFP#1 10/11/11 - DD born 6/6/12;
BFP#2 7/6/13 - Due 3/8/13, MMC at 12w D&C on 8/31/13;