https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:39:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918092 Mon, 10 Aug 2020 08:47:00 +0000 foodiebee 2918092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: I didn't have this trouble, but I read that if your baby rejects your frozen milk, you should gently scald the milk before freezing to help. I believe it has to do with the lipids in the milk? </p> <p>As for if my supply dropped in a predicable way, I would say that once I began, my body was ready and it went faster than I had guessed that it would. It was predictable in that I knew which times of day my body produced more and would therefore take more time to decrease. But keep in mind that my supply was much lower than yours by the time I went to wean. I was only pumping around 12 oz. a day total by then, and I always had a low supply and was taking supplements to help with it, so my body was ready to stop. You know your body, and if you scale back the lowest pumping sessions first, you will be able to see how your body does and go from there. I'm going to guess with your supply that you'd be able to decrease and hold out until her birthday just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918087 Mon, 10 Aug 2020 07:20:27 +0000 karenbme 2918087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: Thanks for sharing your experience! I hadn't even thought of going cold turkey. I'm making a bit more than you were so I might want to taper a little before stopping, but at least it would give me control over when I drop to zero.</p> <p>@JennyPenny: @Chuckles: @foodiebee: Thanks for sharing ladies! Did it seem like as you were dropping your supply went down in a predictable way? My ideal would be to drop until I'm making 20-30 oz per day (I've been pumping 45-50+ oz per day most of her life) and then hold there until around her first birthday, but I just don't know if I'll be able to maintain at a lower level. Maybe the answer is to cut pumping volume rather than dropping pumps?</p> <p>@IRunForFun: Thank you! I know I don't need to be worried about volume, but I am... DH convinced me to try giving her some frozen milk this afternoon to prove that she'll drink it and it'll be fine (I read somewhere that some babies reject frozen milk). I am looking forward to not needing to pump all the time, but I want to know that she has enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918079 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 19:29:32 +0000 IRunForFun 2918079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went through this (my daughter is 11 months now.) When she hit 10 months I dropped from 4 pumps per day to 3. In order to do that I started gradually moving my 3rd pump of the day (it was late afternoon) later in 30 min increments and decreasing the amount of time I pumped by 5 mins. When it got so that the 3rd pump was only about 90 mins away from the 4th pump and only 10 mins long, I dropped it. That first week I’d sometimes have a letdown/leak around the time I’d normally pump, but I wasn’t too terribly uncomfortable. Shortly after I dropped that pump I got my period back and my supply dipped, and I decided it would be a good time to cut back to 2 pumps per day. Since my supply had gone down I wasn’t as committed to following a schedule for weaning that pump; I ended up just cutting it shorter by 5 mins at a time for a few days and then dropped it. I thought I’d stay at 2 pumps per day until she was more than a year old but my supply really tanked after about a week - I was only getting 1-2 ozs per 30 minute pump. It wasn’t worth it to me since I have enough frozen to give her exclusively breastmilk to 1 year and then give her some for a couple more months. I dropped to pumping just once midday and hand expressing in the shower, and I just kept gradually shortening the pump. After about a week of that, I moved to just hand expressing in the shower for a few days. Now it’s been 5 days since I’ve even hand expressed. I’ve had minor discomfort but managed to avoid any engorgement or clogs. </p> <p>I think if you just do it gradually and don’t put pressure on yourself to be done quickly or by a certain date, and you’re not worried about making enough (which it sounds like you don’t need to be!), you should be okay! </p> <p>Oh, I also wore sports bras for that week where I was trying to stop completely, just for the compression, and I took Benadryl a few times since decongestants can dry you up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918078 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 15:55:34 +0000 foodiebee 2918078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP'd. When I went to stop, I also had gotten my period and my supply was naturally going down on its own, so I took advantage of that. What I read instructed to pick a session and decrease the amount of milk you pump by 1-2 oz. per week. I dropped one pumping session a week doing this, so that the impact was gradual and I wouldn't be in discomfort. (I was only pumping a few ounces each session already because of my supply dropping.) The last pump was the hardest one to drop, but I just kept taking less and less milk until I went a day without pumping at all. I ended up needing to pump a couple ounces to relieve pressure about two days after that, and then I was fine to drop pumping completely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918073 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 23:20:59 +0000 Chuckles 2918073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply wasn't great to start with, but when I started weaning from EP'ing, I started spacing out my pumps more, so instead of pumping every 3 hours, I went to 4, then 5. It was a good gradual way to get my supply to decrease. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918070 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 16:37:37 +0000 JennyPenny 2918070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn’t EP, but I mostly pumped except for the first and last feeding of the day. With DS2 I also had a significant oversupply and ended up dropping pumping sessions so I could just use frozen milk and not have to pump anymore. I started dropping sessions around 9 months. I just dropped one at a time, and waited a few weeks in between to watch what happened to my supply. It worked great and I was able to quit pumping and still give breastmilk until he was ready for cows milk. Each time I dropped a session I would get a bit more during the others for a bit, but then it would go back down and then I’d start dropping the next one. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918066 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 11:20:12 +0000 annem1990 2918066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to stop abruptly at 9 months due to a medical condition. I went from pumping 24ish oz/day to nothing the next. I was slightly uncomfortable for about 24 hours and then I remember waking up the next day and it was all gone. Super easy and basically painless. </p> <p>When I had my second I decided to go straight to formula so I was not going to do any pumping/breastfeeding from the get go. My Doctor told me to just push through and resist the urge to pump to relieve pressure. It was about 5 days of pure agony and so much pain. Worse pain than the recovery from getting my gallbladder surgically removed a couple of months later. I couldn’t hold my newborn or sleep. After a few days I started taking Sudafed (the one you have to ask for behind the pharmacy counter) which has been shown to help reduce milk production in some studies. Not sure if that helped or if it just went away on its own. </p> <p>I know your milk production immediately after birth is much different than 9 months in so hopefully you won’t have the pain. Even after the second time, I’d still just do it cold turkey so you can be done faster and just get it out of the way. I wasn’t prone to mastitis, but maybe if you are you’d be more concerned about doing it cold turkey. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/epers-what-was-weaning-from-the-pump-like#post-2918065 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 09:58:00 +0000 karenbme 2918065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi, I’ve been EPing for my daughter, who is 9mos but was 5 weeks early. I have a significant oversupply and have ~3500 oz of frozen milk and am still making extra milk every day with four 30 minute pumps per day. I’ve donated milk and was thinking about starting to taper this month, but then I got my period back last week and my supply crashed. It’s mostly back, but it spooked me in the sense that I feel like I’m going to have less control over my supply as I taper. If you EPed how did you decide it was time to stop and what was your experience dropping pumps like? Did you feel like your supply dropped in a predictable way? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/milk-stash-tracking-app#post-2908640 Sun, 19 Jan 2020 17:22:04 +0000 karenbme 2908640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use baby tracker for all things baby (pumping, feeding, diapers, growth). It keeps a running tally of how much I’ve pumped and automatically subtracts any tracked bottles. The only drawback is that sometimes the measurements on the Medela bottles I pump into and use to track don’t match the measurements for the same milk in the Avent bottles she drinks from (ex. 4 oz pumped, but only 3 3/4 in the bottle because you can’t get every last drop out). Every now and then when I’m organizing milk I manually reconcile to account for that, but it’s never been too far off. Overall it’s a good free app, totally recommend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/milk-stash-tracking-app#post-2908637 Sun, 19 Jan 2020 16:05:39 +0000 Clementine12 2908637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have any recommendations for a good free milk stash/pumping tracking app? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882849 Wed, 01 May 2019 19:30:27 +0000 periwinklebee 2882849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: Thank you, good to hear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882810 Wed, 01 May 2019 14:24:06 +0000 nana87 2882810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've taken a manual in the past when my los were just nursing mornign/night and just used it for comfort, it was totally enough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882796 Wed, 01 May 2019 13:47:38 +0000 periwinklebee 2882796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: @maddyz: Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882721 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 22:54:07 +0000 maddyz 2882721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Take the hand pump because you might still be making more than you think and could be surprised. Also, with the pregnancy your supply might dry up. I nursed over halfway through my second pregnancy but away some point there really was nothing left and lo asked for a bottle at bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882706 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 20:48:45 +0000 Iced Tea 2882706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have about the same situation, but I believe I still make a decent amount of milk, considering she’s almost two now. I just went on a four day trip, and I just hand expressed (turned out pretty easy since they were full) once in the middle of the trip. I was ready to get a manual pump at target if needed, but it wasn’t necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882516 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:16:00 +0000 periwinklebee 2882516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: @graceandjoy: Thank you all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882514 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:59:23 +0000 graceandjoy 2882514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly I wouldn't even; for two days I feel like you'd be more than fine. So with that mindset, a hand pump would more than suffice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882507 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:40:35 +0000 cake2017 2882507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Manual pump should be fine especially if your supply diminished. I did the same thing until LO was 18 months and I was pregnant(8-9weeks). He would nurse at night because he loved it. I had barely any milk. I didn’t pump at all during the day so bring one just in case you get uncomfortable but you probably won’t. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-away-from-bf-toddler-okay-to-just-bring-a-manual-pump#post-2882505 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:35:18 +0000 periwinklebee 2882505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to be away for work for two days later this week. Currently I am nursing at morning and bedtime, LO otherwise drinks cow milk. He loves to bf but I think he's getting very little milk. I'm currently pregnant (&lt; 6 weeks) and have been limiting his time on the breast since it makes me nervous from a loss perspective, but he loves it so much I just didn't have the heart to take it away for a pregnancy that I have no idea if it's viable anyways. </p> <p>So my question, do you think using a manual pump for a short time on each breast twice/day would be enough to maintain whatever limited supply I have for a couple days away? Or should I bring my double electric? I will be dumping whatever I pump. I have no desire to haul along or use my spectra, and just don't want to completely dry up if it can be avoided... </p> <p>Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2879067 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 12:31:20 +0000 nicollette1189 2879067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Might be a thrush/yeast issue if cortisone helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2879007 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 15:30:23 +0000 jennlin821 2879007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I agree with using some kind of cream, I used lanolin when I was having this issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2879002 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:50:41 +0000 lindseykaye 2879002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: That is a good idea. I think I'll bring some of my nipple butter with me to see if that helps like your coconut oil did. I only used it for like the first week while BFing and haven't really needed it since but this could make things a lot better.</p> <p>If not, then I'll try a smaller flange size because checking the charts I think I'm right on the edge of mine being too big or just right. I'd love not to have to buy new ones but I doubt I can live with this for the rest of my time pumping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2878996 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:30:19 +0000 peaches1038 2878996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this and know for sure I had the correct size flanges. I put a little coconut oil on the irritated skin before pumping and it acted as a lubricant so the skin would glide better. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2878991 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:19:14 +0000 Mrsbells 2878991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lindseykaye: I have the same thing and I pump exclusively. I also assume its friction from pumping. I have tried various flanges even tried pumpin pals and no luck with finding a flange that works better than the current one I use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2878985 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 13:34:04 +0000 bees_knees 2878985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @jennlin821 ...sounds like the wrong flange size. You may need a different size, even if that is the size you used for your last baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2878984 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 13:20:52 +0000 jennlin821 2878984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you measure your nipples? Breast size has nothing to do with nipple size. What you are describing sounds like irritation I had when my flanges were to big. My breastfeeding boobs were Size D-DD, but I needed extra small flanges (18mm) I think. Look online how to measure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/skin-irritation-from-pumpingflanges#post-2878978 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 12:41:39 +0000 lindseykaye 2878978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been back at work for a little while now - part time for about a month, and now full time for two weeks. For a couple weeks now (I can't remember exactly when it started) I noticed some skin irritation on my breasts that I think may be from pumping and my flanges. </p> <p>The skin above my nipple, particularly on one side but it's starting on the other now, is itchy and has a sort-of raised texture along horizontal lines. Cortisone cream helps to calm the itching and redness that is associated with it.<br /> Also, possibly related, I am very easily prone to hives from environmental factors (like vibration, skin scraping, cold temperature, and other fun things like that). This does NOT look like hives, but I figure that it might be why I'm experiencing this irritation. </p> <p>Has anyone experienced something similar? Are my flanges the wrong size? I have smaller breasts (Size A even when BFing) and am using the standard 24mm size that came with my pump - same size I used last time I was pumping several years ago with LO1. I'm using a Spectra 9 pump and am happy with it in general. Throwing this out there to the boards as a long shot that someone has had something similar happen and found a way to relieve it or prevent it. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrowam-i-remembering-all-my-pump-stuff#post-2877300 Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:14:03 +0000 LCTBQE 2877300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: :meh: NOT IDEAL. Does your classroom door even have a lock? I pump in a supply closet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrowam-i-remembering-all-my-pump-stuff#post-2877276 Tue, 19 Mar 2019 12:56:37 +0000 mediagirl 2877276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pump in my office with the door closed and usually lock it but forgot my key was IN the door. Totally got walked in on yesterday by our receptionist. Heeeey..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/back-to-work-tomorrowam-i-remembering-all-my-pump-stuff#post-2877275 Tue, 19 Mar 2019 12:54:01 +0000 mediagirl 2877275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: I banked a bunch of milk the first week I was back to work full time (I'm on week 3 now). It was stressful that she wouldn't eat but she got there. We found one bottle that worked and stuck with it (Avent Natural). I hope you continue having pump success! </p>