Stopping pumping

[isabel]

I think I'm ready to be done. I wanted to go a full 12 months, but I'm pretty over it and am feeling comfortable with the idea of just nursing in the morning and before bed.

I currently pump on my way to work, around 6:30am, at 10:00am, and at 2:00pm. I have done only one pumping session around noon several times due to meeting conflicts. I start to get uncomfortable around then, but it's definitely do-able. Should I switch to just pumping at noon and slowly do less time? Continue with two pumping sessions during the day and slowly cut the time back? I feel comfortable dropping the one on my way to work altogether. DS usually nurses around 5am, so it's generally unnecessary and has just been a way for me to get some extra milk for him. Any advice for weaning off the pump?

eta: One more question. Can I continue to nurse him on the weekend when I would normally be at work? Or do I need to give him formula during that time so that I don't confuse my body? I realize I may not produce enough for this to happen anyway, so perhaps it's a moot point.

[sookie]

I probably did it wrong, but it didn't hurt too bad since I wasn't pumping a ton of output in general. I dropped a midday session, then a week or so later quit the whole thing. DD still nursed in the morning and then as soon as we got home, plus maybe once or twice before bed.

[Deleted]

I EP and only pump 3 times a day now (my son is 10.5 months)

So yes, I think you'll be fine pumping at just noon. Play it by ear and do one more if needed.

[linz]

I would drop 1 session per week. So drop 630 am but keep other 2. Then following week go to just noon at work for 1 week. Then drop that all together. You will be very full the first couple days but it evens out quick. 

[AmyRI]

I think your plan is good to basically combine 2 pumps into 1 pump in between the previous 2 times. Give yourself a week on the new schedule, or longer if you still get engorged before that session, before dropping the next. I don't advise going faster than 1 session a week.

So I'd go to 6:30 and noon, then the following week something like 1 pump at 10ish AM. If you get too uncomfortable, pump another time but just pump less volume and ideally under an ounce, just to relieve pressure.

[isabel]

Dec 29, 2015 13:15:05 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

I think your plan is good to basically combine 2 pumps into 1 pump in between the previous 2 times. Give yourself a week on the new schedule, or longer if you still get engorged before that session, before dropping the next. I don't advise going faster than 1 session a week.

So I'd go to 6:30 and noon, then the following week something like 1 pump at 10ish AM. If you get too uncomfortable, pump another time but just pump less volume and ideally under an ounce, just to relieve pressure.

I like this plan. Thanks!

[VillainV]

I would drop one session per week. You can do more if you feel comfortable. I was pumping twice a day, and went down to zero in about a week because it went fine.

Congrats on pumping this long :-) You did great!

[isabel]

Dec 29, 2015 14:48:50 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I would drop one session per week. You can do more if you feel comfortable. I was pumping twice a day, and went down to zero in about a week because it went fine.

Congrats on pumping this long :-) You did great!

Thanks! I was kind of anxious about it, but I was on vacation last week and realized how amazing it was to not pump for more than a couple days. I'm feeling really good about this decision and feel like I stuck to the 'don't quit on a bad day' thing.