Weaning from Exclusive Pumping
When it comes time to reduce or wean from pumping, everyone’s body will respond differently. Some parents are prone to plugged ducts and mastitis and must gradually and cautiously wean to avoid them. Some parents must wean suddenly and unexpectedly for medical reasons. In general, a good way to approach reducing milk supply while exclusively pumping is to reduce the time and frequency of pumping gradually. The following are a few possible approaches:
- Gradually lengthen the period of time between pumping sessions.
- Drop one pumping session every few days (or every week if you need to go more slowly).
- Once your body is relatively comfortable with three pumps a day, work on eliminating the one that is most bothersome, such as one that makes you get out of bed before you want to.
- Continue to reduce minutes per pumping session and space them out until you’re only producing a small amount of milk.
- Skip a day, and if you’re relatively comfortable, congratulations, you did it!
Make sure to care for your breasts during this process with cool compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers, if necessary. Although if you are experiencing pain, it is likely you are weaning too quickly. Try giving your body a few days to adjust before further reducing your pumping.
You may have complicated emotions about weaning from pumping. Be kind to yourself and remember to be proud of what you’ve done to keep your baby healthy and fed.
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