Pumping at 3 Months Postpartum???

Awesome job, mom! Yes, I cut back around 8 weeks to 4 times a day. I was able to keep up her my little one's demand. She is 8 months now and I just went down to 3 times a day. So far, so good. We are cutting it close so I may have to supplement a little but I think I am managing to produce what she needs each day. Every one is different so just try and see what you get. Either way, you are doing a great job! :)

You can cut back, but know that your milk supply will decrease along with decreased pumping. Supply and demand, so to speak.

I only fed my daughter every 4 hours during the day at that age, and not at all at night. My schedule was 6am, 10am, 2pm, and 5:30pm, and she was able to get all the milk she needed during those feedings. So in theory I would say yes, you could cut back on pumping - but the thing I noticed about pumping vs. breastfeeding was that the baby was always more efficient than the pump at getting milk out. However, if you've both adjusted well to the pump and then bottle feeding, then I'd think your body will adjust to a different feeding schedule. I'd assume you'd want to make the change gradually though, rather than all at once, so your body adjusts more easily.

Kudos Amy for pumping that long! I know exactly what you are going through. I pumped for a year with both of my boys and with my 2nd boy I ALSO donated over 5,000 ounces to 3 different babies.

Since life is changing up things for you now is probably a good time to change your schedule. As another posted commented I would begin taking fenegreek. You can take a few of them a few times per day to help increase supply. I would definitely suggest you do that for a few weeks to maintain your supply. You can find it at a health food store and probably at other places. I got mine at GNC.

As someone else mentioned drink lots of water. There is also a Mother's Milk tea. It can be found at Wal-mart and Kroger, among other places. It is with the hot tea/hot chocolate at the store. I'm not sure it really helped me increase supply from the tea, but it had me drinking water, which I think is what helped.

Keep a log of your output for a little while and make sure it is enough to satisify your daughter. When it is enough, then you can back off of the fenegreek., but do keep drinking the water.

Another suggestion, although quite difficult, is to get up in the middle of the night to pump. Also, you need to set a pretty strict schedule and adhere to it during the day and night if you pump then. In addition, you may want to purchase a car adapter and a cover to pump in the car. And the cover will come in handy at work, just in case someone pops in on you while pumping! (I had the technology guy and my assistant principal come in - with their key!)

Feel free to message me if you want me to help answer any questions or discuss a schedule for you. I'm right down the way in Conroe!

Good luck !!! You can do it!!!

First off, kudos to you!!! I too pumped due to latch issues and made it 13months! It can be done! Food job on the 3 month mark!!! What I started doing was pumping once in the night and then every 3 during the day. My last pump before bed and my first pump in the morning were my longest pumps with lots of milk. I would. It out a might pumping and see how that goes. You don't want to cut back too much or your milk supply will slow down.
Good job in what you are doing! It is time consuming and it does get old but so good for your little one and you!

I have no idea - I just want to give you props for pumping for 3 months! I wanted to rip my boobs off after doing it for a week, and that was with the first - no other kids running around. Holla!

Yay for you Mom, and yay for your baby! You are doing a very good thing! I pumped for 8 months with my second. It is for the determined, to be sure! I'm sure you've been told this since you've worked with so many lactation consultants, but I was told that the early, early morning pump was key to getting the most milk and keeping the supply up. NOT what I wanted to hear!! I had major supply issues (sounds like you don't...yay!) and I faithfully got up a 3 a.m. to pump even while the baby was able to sleep in. Barbara P. below gives some great advice that I followed as well..herbal supplements and a strict schedule, etc. You can try cutting back, then adding in if the consequences impact your supply too much. I definitely had to supplement with formula because of my supply. But I gave it my best and my son did just fine. You will NEVER regret what you are doing for your little one. One day, you may even look back on it happy that you were able to hang in there and earn another "mommy stripe"!! Best wishes to you!

You can use fenugreek or other herbs to your scheduling advantage. When I was taking fenugreek to increase my milk production, I kept track the first couple days of how much time was between taking the pill and the milk let down. Then I was able to schedule a fenugreek-induced boost to my milk when needed. I took it at a specific time so that I would be full enough to feed my daughter in enough time to leave the house. Make sure you drink a lot of water with the herbs.