“i’m 5 weeks pp and i’m an oversupplier, can i drop my MOTN pump?”
“i’m pumping 70 oz a day and i’m so exhausted, how do i cut this down?”
here’s what i need to preface before we dive into what it looks like to wean and start cutting pump sessions — we have to keep in mind that this is general advice and may not necessarily fit well for you. my CLC education and specialty in oversupply + pumping allows me to talk about this in general! but remember, i am not your CLC (unless you’ve booked your session to see me).
i also unfortunately cannot speak for certain about your individual milk supply or situation. i can’t promise that your milk supply can or cannot be impacted without seeing you further as a client and knowing more about you + your history! if you’re like “hell yeah, let’s go, get me on board as a client” — get started with your 1:1 session here!
so let’s dive in and chat cutting pump sessions (and especially if you’re working with a significant amount of milk as an overproducer) —
SUPPLY REGULATION
around the 2-4 month mark (typically about 12 weeks) is when your supply will start to be dictated less by lactation hormones (prolactin + oxytocin, although they are still the main characters in your breastfeeding journey). and instead is when supply is controlled MORE by consistent milk removal. another reason why your pump schedule for exclusive pumpers is truly so important!!!
sometimes i see oversupply to be very evident (and common) in these first few weeks. and due to this, some parents may choose to cut pump sessions out early!
during this regulation time period you may experience a decrease in milk supply. this usually isn’t waking up and realize you lost 5oz! but instead slowly over a period of time. this isn’t an absolute during regulation, and it certainly depends on so many factors like your supply, how you’re feeding, your pumping equipment, and how effective your sessions are.
i don’t typically recommend cutting pump sessions before regulation — because this impacts your foundation for the duration of your breastfeeding journey. we find that those who cut sessions early can experience a larger than average dip in supply, and not pump or nurse as long as desired.
while this is completely up to you, and you know your body + lifestyle best!!! weaning early can decrease the duration + longevity of your breastfeeding journey. before you make any decisions, finish this blog post because i promise you’re in the right place.
LIKE A POLAROID PICTURE
it can be more common to have an oversupply in the beginning few months, immediately after birth! your body is learning how to create what your baby needs, and this can look like creating milk in more significant volumes.
i like to say your milk supply is a snapshot in time. like a polaroid! i wish i could say that you can expect to have an oversupply for the rest of your breastfeeding journey, but that’s not alway the case! and ya girl is a realist and definitely can’t lie worth a damn. we have to talk about realistic expectations and how to set you up for success, depending on what your breastfeeding goals look like.
your body can fluctuate and shift on the milk supply spectrum. i kinda envision it to look something like this:
|———— UNDERSUPPLIER —————— PERFECT PRODUCER —————— OVERSUPPLIER ————|
just because you’re an oversupplier NOW, doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be one in the future! and i knowwwww it brings a massive amount of anxiety, especially if you want to keep your oversupply. or maybe even more if you’re an undersupplier supplementing with formula. the pressure is so real 😭
but can i tell you something i’ve found after working with and talking with a lot of moms producing a lot of different milk volumes? there are anxieties on losing supply, no matter if you’re creating 3ml, 3oz, 30oz or even 80oz daily — it is a protective measure for our babies!!! it doesn’t make those feelings any better, but i promise it’s not just you with those concerns and fears. it’s biologically normal to feel this way.
YOUR MOTNP
more than likely, this is going to be the session you cut out first. (MOTNP stands for “middle of the night pump”) and in the beginning, getting up for a middle night pumping or nursing session is one of the most impactful things you can do to protect your milk supply and set you up for success!!!
the biggest reason this can be one of the best sessions to cut, is SLEEP. like omg obviously you’re exhausted, i know it and i feel it too (currently Corran is almost 1 year and is still waking to nurse in the night). but please remember that if you decide to cut out especially your MOTNP, you can expect to experience a drop in volume. how much? it’s hard to say how much — this will depend on how many months/weeks pp you are, your supply, how often you’re expressing milk, literally SO many factors.
in fact, any kind of cutting pump sessions, typically will result in a decrease in breast milk volume. you may not experience it in the long run, but it is not realistic to continue to drop sessions and expect to keep the exact same volume.
CUTTING PUMP SESSIONS
if you’re ready to start cutting pump sessions early (prior to regulating around 3-4 months pp), and you understand that volume may decrease — like omg let’s get to it!!! how do you actually start dropping pump sessions without putting your body into shock? aka getting hit by the mastitis truck and feeling like you’re on death’s doorstep. like ew, David…
that’s where i come in!!! before we go on, i have to highlight my “no more mastitis” weaning course — if you wanna chat more on this and really get down and dirty about weaning, like methods to keep up your supply while cutting sessions, the exact strategy that i use with my clients that have allowed moms making 60-80 oz to wean without getting mastitis or suffering clogged ducts. i literally teach alllll about this so you can wean with intention and peace. snag your free lesson inside the course HERE⚡
YOUR FIRST STEPS TO DROPPING PUMPS —
- focus on decreasing one single pump session at a time — a big mistake i see parents making is trying to do too much at once, when your body needs little shifts instead! choose one session to decrease at a time.
- cut a few minutes from this focused pump session for a few days — once you feel like you can handle pumping for less time, cut a few more minutes. keep an eye on any inflammation, discomfort, or not being able to make it to your next scheduled session. continue until you can cut this pump session completely out!
- you may need to shift your pump sessions around — after cutting out one pump session, you’re more than likely going to have a “gap”. take some time slowly moving your pump sessions further away from each other to accommodate your personalized pumping schedule.
ANOTHER RESOURCE THAT MIIIIIIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR YA —
$9 instant download: milk stash magic — your guide to storing breast milk like a damned pro! this is geared towards oversuppliers, but we still talk more in depth about the pitcher method, the fridge hack, how much breast milk your baby will need if you’re prepping to be away from them, and freezing your milk!
related blog posts that i think you’ll seriously love —
are you gonna start weaning from pumping? how do you tell when you’re ready?
xoxo, Bethany | Certified Lactation Counselor | The Oversupply Mama
