https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:49:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-decreasing-pumps#post-1960582 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 21:23:03 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1960582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The safest way to avoid mastitis/clogged ducts is to give it 3 days inbetween between each drop. That way your supply will decrease naturally. You can also decrease the time spent pumping by 5ish minutes and that will also help signal your body to decrease supply. I ignored all of this and pretty much quit cold turkey with just a couple 5 minute sessions a day for a few days and then nothing, and I was fine, but it still took about 2 weeks for my milk to completely dry up. It was only uncomfortable for a few days though. . Good luck momma!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-decreasing-pumps#post-1960110 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 15:24:18 +0000 Becksabee 1960110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm planning on weaning before I go back to work. I'm just wondering how far ahead I should start dropping pumps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-decreasing-pumps#post-1957080 Sun, 23 Nov 2014 20:11:18 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1957080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you feel like your supply is well established you could start by dropping the middle of the night pump and see how that goes. If your output stags the same for 3 days after dropping than you should be fine to try dropping another. Just make sure you wait 3 days at least between each drop to make sure your body has adjusted and that your supply doesnt decrease. If you notice a decrease, you can add one back. You will most likely need to pump longer at your remaining sessions as you start to decrease the frequency. Good luck momma! For me the perfect number was 4 sessions, but everybody is different! It just takes some trial and error to figure oUT what is going to work best for you!</p> <p>ETA: I might have misunderstood your question. Are you wanting to wean? Or just get to a more manageable number of pump sessions? If you are wanting to wean you would still drop one session at a time and wait 3 days for your body to adjust, but you would just keep going to zero. You would also decrease the amount of time you are pumping so that you don't completely empty each time...leaving milk behind signals your body to make less. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-to-start-decreasing-pumps#post-1957056 Sun, 23 Nov 2014 19:35:38 +0000 Becksabee 1957056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,<br /> I've been exclusively pumping for my 4 week old and I'd like to be done before I go back to work the week after Christmas. I'm currently pumping every 3 hours and I haven't yet started decreasing pumps. I'm just curious when I should start. </p>