How to Stop Breast Pumping

If you're separated from your baby for work or personal reasons, you're probably used to using your breast pump. If your baby is older, or if you'd just prefer to give up the pump, you might be searching for a way to wean from the pump. Weaning from a breast pump takes time, and doing it correctly can save you some discomfort.

Instructions

Weaning From the Breast Pump

1

Drop one pumping session at a time. Weaning yourself from the breast pump will follow a similar pattern to that of weaning a baby. An abrupt weaning can cause sudden hormonal changes and physical pain in mothers, so a gradual weaning from the pump is best. Kelly Bonyata, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant of kellymom.com, says to drop a pumping session every three to seven days. If you pump three times a day, drop the first feeding, gauge how you feel, and drop a feeding when your body is ready, sometime in the next three to seven days. If you feel your body needs longer to adjust, you can take longer if you need to.

2

Gradually decrease the amount of time you're pumping your milk. If a normal pumping session lasts 15 minutes, cut it down to ten or 12 minutes.

3

Increase the time between your pumping sessions, Bonyata suggests. This can be helpful when you're down to two feedings per day. If you normally pump at 10:00 and 2:00, increase the time by an hour or so until you can easily cut out one of the feedings.