How to decrease milk supply when pumping exclusively?

Understanding Milk Supply Dynamics
For mothers who are exclusively pumping, managing milk supply can be a delicate balance. While many seek to increase their supply, others may find themselves in a situation where they need to decrease their milk supply. This can be due to various reasons, such as an oversupply that leads to discomfort or issues like clogged ducts. Understanding how to effectively reduce milk production is crucial for maintaining comfort and health.
Key Strategies to Decrease Milk Supply
1. Reduce Pumping Frequency: One of the most effective ways to decrease milk supply is to gradually reduce the frequency of pumping sessions. If you are currently pumping every three hours, consider extending the intervals between sessions. For instance, moving to every four or five hours can signal your body to produce less milk over time. It’s important to do this gradually to avoid discomfort or engorgement.
2. Shorten Pumping Duration: Alongside reducing the frequency, you can also shorten the duration of each pumping session. If you typically pump for 20 minutes, try reducing it to 15 minutes. This reduction in stimulation will help decrease the signals sent to your body to produce milk.
3. Skip Sessions: If you find that your supply is still too high, consider skipping a pumping session altogether. This method can be effective, but it’s essential to monitor how your body responds. If skipping a session leads to discomfort, you may need to pump just enough to relieve pressure without fully emptying your breasts.
4. Avoid Cluster Pumping: Techniques like cluster pumping, which involve pumping multiple times in a short period, should beDecreasing Milk Supply When Exclusively Pumping
Exclusively pumping can sometimes lead to an oversupply of breast milk, which can be uncomfortable and inconvenient for the mother. If you are exclusively pumping and need to decrease your milk supply, here are some effective strategies:
1. Reduce Pumping Frequency and Duration
The key to decreasing milk supply is to reduce the frequency and duration of pumping sessions. Start by dropping one pumping session per day, but do not add the time back to your remaining sessions. This signals your body to produce less milk. Over time, you can continue to drop sessions until you reach your desired supply level.
2. Use the Pitcher Method
The pitcher method can help manage an oversupply by allowing you to remove the foremilk (thinner, watery milk) while leaving behind the richer hindmilk. This can prevent your breasts from becoming too full and signaling your body to produce more milk.
3. Avoid Pumping to Comfort
It can be tempting to pump whenever your breasts feel full, but this can actually maintain or increase your milk supply. Try to avoid pumping just for comfort and only pump when necessary to relieve engorgement or when it’s time for a scheduled session.
4. Consider Medications or Supplements
In some cases, medications or supplements like Sudafed or sage may help decrease milk supply. However, it’s important to consult with a lactation consultant or your healthcare provider before trying any of these options, as they can have side effects.
5. Be Patient and Allow Your Supply to Regulate
Decreasing milk supply can take time, so be patient and allow your body to adjust. Your supply may fluctuate during this process, but it should eventually regulate to meet your baby’s needs.
By following these strategies, you can gradually decrease your milk supply and find a comfortable balance when exclusively pumping.

How do you fix oversupply when pumping?

Ideally, pump only when your baby takes a bottle and only the same amount your baby drinks in a bottle. If you are used to pumping really high quantities (over 5oz combined), gradually shorten your pump sessions until you are only pumping to replace your baby’s breastmilk intake, which is usually around 3-4oz.

What is the 120 minute rule for pumping?

The 120-minute rule is a helpful guideline for exclusive pumpers. It suggests spending at least 120 minutes (or 2 hours) each day pumping. How you divide that time depends on your baby’s age. For example, with a newborn, you might spread it across eight 15-minute sessions throughout the day.

What is the 6 6 6 rule for breastmilk?

Or the 6-6-6 rule. Basically, breast milk is good at room temperature for 4 or 6 hours, in the refrigerator for 4 or 6 days, and in the freezer for 4 or 6 or 12 months.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

How to decrease breast milk supply while pumping?

Reduce pumping sessions or length of sessions gradually.
A gradual reduction of overall pumping time is usually best for you too – this gives your body and hormones a chance to adjust slowly, so you can avoid the sometimes-uncomfortable fullness usually associated with stopping cold turkey.

How can I gradually decrease my breast milk supply?

Suppressing milk supply after weeks or months of breastfeeding

1. Start by expressing as many times as you had been breastfeeding, or less depending on your own comfort.
2. Over time, reduce the amount of milk you express each time and/or drop one expression every 3 to 4 days.
3. When you are ready, simply stop expressing.

What is considered oversupply when exclusively pumping?

Some women make only a few ounces of breast milk per day, while others who have a breast milk oversupply may pump 100+ oz. per day.

How to stop producing milk when exclusively pumping?

Tip #1 Gradually reduce the number of times you pump
As you consider how to stop pumping milk, avoid cutting down more than one session at a time. Instead, strategically pick a session to drop first. The first one to go will depend on when and how many times a day you’re pumping.

What is the 120 pumping rule?

The first 12 weeks of your breastfeeding journey requires frequent breastmilk removal, stimulating healthy milk production. Studies show moms who exclusively pump for a minimum of 120 minutes per day can make enough to feed their babies primarily breastmilk.

How to get milk to let down when pumping?

Warming your breasts with heating pads or a warm washcloth before feeding or pumping can help your milk let down. If you are pumping at work, sometimes taking a true break from working and relaxing with your eyes closed can help your milk to flow.