Please talk me through day weaning

[scooter028]

I'm a long time lurker who has posted here and there at the old place.  DD is about 10.5 months old now and I'm VERY much looking forward to ditching the pump during the day at work and I could use some advice on how to get to that point. 
Right now, I pump about 10-14 ounces over 4 pumps at work (6-3:30).  DD gets formula at daycare to make up for any additional bottles. Sometimes that's just 1 bottle, sometimes it's 3. 
I don't nurse in the morning as I'm at work before DD gets up. I pump at 6:30, 10, 1, and 3 generally.  Sometimes I end up skipping a pump due to a meeting or something.  Than after work, DD only nurses before bed between 6 and 6:30. 
How should I start weaning from the pump?  Is it too early?  If I start reducing pumping at work, will I diminish my bedtime supply?  Since I don't nurse in the morning, I feel like my morning pump will be the last to go since by morning, I wouldn't have pumped or nursed for about 12 hours. Any advice is welcome, thank you!

[ellabee]

Hi,

Not sure if this response helps much, I'm sorta in the same boat as you, but I just dropped a pump session at work, so I'll write out my before/after schedules. My plan is to maybe drop another pump as DD gets closer to a year (she's almost 10.5 too, 3/28 bday). Then after a year I hope to just nurse morning and night. Pedi approved topping off bottles at ~11.5 months with WCM. I have a freezer stash right now, so even if I pump a deficit I can use that for a bit.


6:30ish - bf 1 side, pump 1 side
9:30 - pump
12:30 - pump
3:30 -pump
7:00 - bf
Total oz: 17-19

6:30ish - bf 1 side, pump 1 side
11:00 - pump
3:00 - pump
7:00 - bf
Total oz: 13-15

I find that because I'm still doing about 4 hrs in between my last pump and our bedtime nursing session DD is still satisfied with my bedtime supply.

Also, DD only takes one side in the morning since I'm super full. So, like you, I assume that'll be my last pump to drop otherwise I'll be really uncomfortable.

[Deleted]

scooter028,
I'd probably try to move the 10am pump to closer to 1030 or 11 and try to skip the 1pm pump, moving the 3pm pump up or down to accomodate. If your schedule allows. otherwise I'd just start to shorte the 1pm pump amt and oz until you ca skip it. then most would probably get rid of the afternoon pump next since the amt of milk they get that time of day is usually less. leaving the morning and lunchtime pumps til last to get rid of.
But there are a bunch of ways to do it, what makes most sense to you based on your current schedule?

[scooter028]

That sounds like a plan. I've been hesitant to drop to 3 pumps until now, but I'm thinking the more slow and gradual the better right? I hope to be able to continue bedtime nursing for a while, so I can always increase the pumping again if I need to. After all this time doing the same pumping schedule, the change is scary!

[mama2a]

Do you think you need to give formula? You seem to produce a very good output and your baby is old enough that I don't think you really need to be supplementing with formula. Is your baby eating solids well? Between the 9-12 month period babies will slowly start decrease their milk intake if the solids are going well and this is normal and to be expected so long as they're getting a few good milk sessions in during the day.

I weaned the 3 pumps (9, 12 and 3) by merging the 9 and noon pump to 10am. I was doing 10am and 3pm, and then when I went down to one pump I pumped around 1:30pm. We did BLW and my DD was doing great on solids that she really helped me naturally wean beginning around 10 months so that made the pump weaning a bit easier. Hope that helps!

[scooter028]

She does already get some formula at daycare if necessary. It used to be 1 4oz bottle but for the past week, it's been more like half and half. There were a few days she drank 22oz in addition to two meals and a snack! I don't know where she puts it bc she's a peanut! She's a big eater but I still haven't noticed any decrease in milk intake or decrease in number of feedings. I told myself I won't stress about the pumping amount and I'll just keep it up as much as I can so I can continue nursing.