Q's on stopping pumping

[mustangchick6504]

It's my busy time at work and I'm sick of pumping six days a week while at work. DS will be 6 months soon so I feel like I gave him a good start. My question is logistically how do you stop pumping? Just pump a bit when I'm miserable? How many days will it take? Can I still BF at night or will my supply go away completely? Also, DS seems to have tummy issues when I eat dairy. Will I have to buy a special formula? TIA

[jlynn62511]

From my experiences only:

I would slowly decreases the Pumping sessions so you are not uncomfortable or get a clogged duct.

You could just try pumping for some relief. I would assume you won't lose your supply right away. I think your body will just have to adjust. The slower you make the changes the better it will go.

As far as formula, I would speak to the pediatrician, you will probably want to transition to that slowly as well!

[rbl]

Like PP, from my experience...

When I decided to stop pumping, I also decided to stop nursing. When I became really engorged I would pump just enough to ease the engorgement. I would not fully empty my boobs. I think it only took about a week to be done pumping completely.

Since i didn't continue to nurse at night, I don't have experience, but my understanding is that if you continue to nurse at night your supply should eventually regulate to produce milk during that time, but not during the day. DS is 21m old, I know moms in his BMB are still nursing and it's only at night and in the morning, so their supply has definitely regulated to just when needed.

[mislogis]

If you want to quit cold turkey you can. Just do it over a weekend. Bc you will be uncomfortable. Get a big head of cabbage, peel and keep the leaves wet and cold in the fridge. Place a leaf in your bra. The enzymes help stop production. And keep cold packs on them. Heat only helps with let down. Only pump off as little as possible.
If you want to continue the nights and mornings, just pump less frequently during the day, and it will equal out within a week.

That's what I did with my previous 2.

[redhorizon343]

When I stopped pumping I would cut down the number of times per day that I pumped, and when I was down to just one or two I started cutting the time down by 5 minutes. They say that cabbage is not an old wives tale, that it really does work, but I didn't need it. GL.

(IDK in regards to the formula. Talk to your doc.)