https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 08:21:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1446101 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:52:30 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1446101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, just a disclaimer...by the time I stopped pumping I was only doing 4 times per day. So for me it may have worked differently...but this would be my suggestion. </p> <p>Frist I would drop the middle of the night one. If you wake up and feel engorged, go ahead and pump for 5 minutes or so, but I would stop that one ASAP. </p> <p>After that (when you are ready drop another) I would try to go every 3.5 hours instead of every 3. So if you wake up and pump that first time at 5:45, maybe don't pump again until 9:15, and so on. So it might look something like this. </p> <p>5:45 AM<br /> 9:15 AM<br /> 12:45 PM<br /> 4:15 PM<br /> 8:00 PM<br /> 11:00 PM</p> <p>Then when you are ready to drop another, space them out 4 hours, then 4.5 hours, and so on until you are done. I would give each drop 2 -3 days so that your body has time to adjust to making less. I would also make sure that when you pump you only pump until the flow slows down...For me it was about 5-8 minutes. </p> <p>Again, I am only repeating what I would have done if I was in your situation. I actually stopped pumping cold turkey after 2 days of doing shorter pump sessions (only to relieve engorgement) and after that 2 days I just hand expressed in a hot shower every evening before bed. I didn't have any issues at all and my milk started decreasing after a couple uncomfortable days, and was completely gone after 2 weeks. But if I had issues with clogged ducts and mastitis this is the route I would have gone instead. </p> <p>Good luck momma!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445909 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:59:44 +0000 Cchoi4 1445909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped over the course of 2 weeks. I also had problems with constantly plugged/painful ducts so I decided to do it very slowly. Instead of the usual 3-4 hours between pumping sessions, I did 4-5 for one to two days. Then upped it to 5-6 hours between sessions and held that until my body was used to it...another day or two. And so on and so forth. And only pump to relieve the pressure.</p> <p>I've heard you can put cold cabbage leaves on the breasts when you want to lower supply. People swear by it to reduce engorgement. </p> <p>Other than that, I have a heatable rice bag that I used to put against my breasts when I wanted to 1) get get rid of clogged ducts or 2) to help pumping (it gets the milk inside nice and flowing)</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445890 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:53:38 +0000 citymouse 1445890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: Maybe this is why I am tripping myself up. I haven't ever really established a "schedule" for pumping. I basically have been doing it whenever I can and it averages to about every 3 hours. Some days I am able to get 10 sessions in, but its mostly only 8. This is what I pumped the last 24 hrs...</p> <p>12:15 PM<br /> 4:30 PM<br /> 6:30 PM<br /> 8:30 PM<br /> 10:30 PM<br /> 2:15 AM<br /> 5:45 AM<br /> 8:30 AM<br /> 10:30 AM<br /> 12:30 PM</p> <p>What would you suggest for dropping? I asked my MW if I could drop a night pump so I could sleep more (DH and I have been taking shifts so he would feed DS), and she said that was fine. But, Im confused as to how to drop one and re-space the others so I don't go too long in between. </p> <p>Ill try the thumb thing!! No Hands Free Bra... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445277 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:59:54 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1445277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@citymouse: I would just stick to 8 for a day or two, and then try 7 for 2 days, and so on...but make sure you adjust the timing. So if you normally pump at 8, 10, and 12, when you drop one change it to 8 and 11. That way you avoid your breasts getting too full. </p> <p>Do you have a hands free bra? That was the only way I was able to do massage. I used my thumbs to press from the outside in, as if I was trying to push the milk out. I would start in one spot and move all the way around until I ended up back where I started. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445234 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:48:09 +0000 Maysprout 1445234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@citymouse: I'm not sure. When my LO would drop nursing sessions at night I would still wake up to pump. But I would just pump enough that I wasn't getting engorged. That still sends signals that your breasts aren't emptying so your supply should start to decrease without dealing as much with engorgement. I only dealt with night so I'm not sure what the best strategy is for all of the sessions. But I know I'm more likely to get mastitis when I get engorged </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445197 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:40:23 +0000 citymouse 1445197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: 8-10. I find it hard to massage while pumping. My breasts are small, and the clog was on the lower left side of my left breast. </p> <p>@Maysprout: Just decrease the pumping session Im ab to drop? Was reading on Kellymom and it said drop sessions every few days or decrease all pumping sessions every few days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445153 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:31:14 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1445153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many times per day are you pumping now? I don't think the plugged ducts will be an issue unless you decrease pumping dramatically. Also do you massage while pumping? That helped me avoid plugged ducts I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445148 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:30:16 +0000 Maysprout 1445148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pump for less time during each session before dropping the session completely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1445139 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:27:46 +0000 citymouse 1445139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: I guess Im scared with dropping a session that will increase my chance for another plugged duct. But the only other option is to decrease pumping time at each session right? Gosh, this is all so hard! We really tried to make BF work (tinctures, herbal supplements, skin to skin, etc... And my supply just never increased. :-( Thank you for your encouragement!! </p> <p>@edelweiss: thank you! I really am afraid of another plugged duct! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1444262 Sun, 23 Feb 2014 19:54:41 +0000 edelweiss 1444262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i agree with what mrs. lion said (it may seem like it's not lessening your supply but it can take a few weeks), and with you on wanting to avoid mastitis and plugged ducts! i haven't tried sudafed but i have seen that mentioned elsewhere. best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1444162 Sun, 23 Feb 2014 19:01:34 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1444162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would drop one session every few days. If you already have a low supply, you should be okay that way. I would also only pump to relieve fullness...so stop when the flow slows down. It took me about 2 full weeks between my last pumping session and when there was really no more milk at all. Good luck momma! Take care of you so you can take care of that precious little one! These decisions are so hard. &lt;3 Hugs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-off-pump-and-avoiding-plugged-ducts#post-1444137 Sun, 23 Feb 2014 18:25:23 +0000 citymouse 1444137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am slowly recovering from Mastitis and a stubborn plugged duct. Its a long story but we have decided to exclusively move to formula as soon as this is all taken care of. DS is almost 3 weeks and I havent been in a healthy way since birth. I know its taboo, but I have really low supply despite desperately trying to increase it and now the plugged duct/mastitis. Anyway...</p> <p>My question is how to wean without giving myself another plugged duct. I have been EP. I think that drying out my milk along with a slow wean is my best option. Thoughts? Advice? Ive read about Sudafed/Benadryl, Sage and Peppermint Tea, cabbage leaves... Anything else that dries up milk? </p> <p>Im terrified to get another plugged duct/mastitis, its been hell the past 4 days. </p>