Remember, I am NOT a medical professional, but even if I were, there’s no guaranteed way to drop a pump without losing any ounces, but dropping gradually and trying a few of the tips in this post can help you not to lose a significant amount of breast milk. Even if you’re weaning, dropping gradually will make you less prone to clogged ducts that can lead to mastitis, and less likely to feel engorged and uncomfortable.
I recently dropped from 5 pumps per day (ppd) to 4, so I’m using my own recent and past experience as an example.
Gradually dropping a pump should take about a week. You can slow the process down more if you start to feel too engorged. On the other hand, you can also drop in less than a week, but you may risk losing more ounces. Also, don’t get overly excited if you pump more in your next pumping session right after you drop. Your body takes time to adjust to the change. It may overcompensate at first, but eventually it will (for most women) even your supply out among your other pumping sessions.
How Do You Know When To Drop A Pump?
To put it simply – whenever you’re ready! Read more
