Weaning off the pump

[isabel]

Give me your tips for this. I remember it being pretty painless with DS1, but I’m not sure exactly how I reduced sessions.

I wanted to make it to 6 months, but I think my supply has dropped enough that it just doesn’t make sense to continue. I’m pretty over it anyway. Close enough.

[Mrs.flang]

I reduced the time for the session I wanted to drop, so for example I was doing 15 min sessions and then dropped to 10 minutes, then 8, and then I think I just skipped it.  I weaned off the pump verrrry slowly though and it was weeks in between dropping sessions.  I'd think if you wanted to go faster, just reduce the time on all of them at once, and keep going until you are down to 2 or 3 minutes each.

[y4m]

I've been skipping whole sessions - like going from pumping twice at work to once. My supply also drops right before my period so I use those times to cut a session - haven't had any discomfort or problems.

[thoseareradishes]

I dropped the amount of time I was pumping for each session, then I'd drop one completely. I did that until I got down to two sessions, then I decreased the time on one until I wasn't really getting anything, then I dropped it and did the same for the last pump. I weaned very slowly due to a history of clogged ducts, plus, I was initially pumping for 20+ minutes per session, so it just took me a while.

[azurely]

Are you just weaning from the pump or weaning completely?

I dropped sessions one at a time. Mine was somewhat dictated by school breaks (I'm a teacher). I pumped before work, during my plan, and after school until he was about 6 months. Then I was on summer break and fed on demand, pumping occasionally, until he was 9 months when I went back to school. I pumped in the morning and during my plan until Christmas break when he was 13 months old. Over Christmas break, I didn't pump at all and just went to feeding on demand when we were together.

[pooh8402]

I gradually shortened times that I pumped, while also gradually increasing times between pumps. It took me 3 months to wean off, but I had an oversupply and was prone to clogs. It doesn't usually take people quite so long.