How To Wean Off Pumping Fast: What I Learned The Hard Way

I always imagined I would breastfeed my babies until we mutually decided to wean off together. I was always excited about breastfeeding them for a couple of years, and looked forward to the bond we would form and the ability to nourish and comfort my baby in this unique way. However, now two babies in, my experiences feeding my children have been vastly different from my vision. With my first, I learned how to wean off pumping at 5 months, and with my second, I had to dry up my milk at 2 weeks postpartum. Both were very emotional decisions but due to the pain I was in and circumstances, I was not left with any other choice.

My Decision- Baby 1

I breastfed my first baby for 4 months. However, despite being an OB nurse, since it was my first baby, I did not realize that our feeds were not “normal.” Some warning signs that I overlooked were:

I had to make a “breast sandwich” with one hand and hold her head on with the other for the duration of the feed.
She sat at the 1% for weight for the first 4 months. When I went to the pediatrician, they told me that she was just on her own curve, but this should have been a clue that she was not getting enough food.
I would feed her for about an hour each feed, every 2-3 hours. That’s how long it would take her to eat! But I also wasn’t paying attention to comfort sucking and nutrient sucking.
My nipple would look like a “lipstick tube” after feeds.
I had a lot of pain and discomfort and got nipple breakdown.

At 4 months, my daughter just stopped breastfeeding. She would just pull off and scream. Luckily she would take a bottle, but because of this, I was forced to start triple feeding. This means that I would battle with her for about 15-30 minutes, trying to get her to breastfeed. When that wouldn’t work, I would pump for about an hour. And then I would bottle feed her what I pumped, burp her, wash the pump parts, and then begin again. However, after about 3 weeks of this, the pump and flanges I was using caused inflammation and tissue breakdown. I was extremely engorged, in agony, and this situation was not sustainable.

Because it was the middle of C*d, I had a difficult time finding a Lactation Consultant to help. But, once I did, she helped identify my daughters posterior tongue and upper/lower lip ties, and I made the difficult decision to dry my milk up. However, I was currently at my peak milk production, and had not a clue how to wean off pumping.

I started asking other moms, doctors, and google how to stop pumping cold turkey, but found that everybody had different suggestions or else didn’t know. Most women wean after 12+ months when their baby loses interest, or else when their milk naturally dries up on it’s own.

My Decision- Baby 2

With my second baby, I felt much more prepared when it came to feeding him. I had experienced first-hand the warning signs of a bad latch and lack of proper milk transfer. I was now well-versed with infant tongue and lip ties, and I had learned a lot about pumping and how to prevent the pump-induced issues I experienced the first time.

As soon as he was born and I attempted to latch, I knew that he had ties, as he could not even open his mouth wide enough to go on. So I started exclusively pumping on Day 1. Everything seemed to be going great- my milk came in , I was producing enough, he was able to drink my pumped milk from a bottle, he gained his birth weight back… But at 2 weeks postpartum things went downhill fast again.

I again experienced this pump-induced inflammation reaction and was in excruciating pain because I was not getting emptied by the pump. This, along with some delivery complications, seriously affected my mental health, and in order to be the best mom, I knew I needed to dry up my milk as quickly as possible.

How to Wean Off Pumping Despite Your Fears

Getting mastitis
The drying up process taking a long time
Being in so much pain that I wouldn't be able to hold/care for my baby
Bonding issues with my baby

I’ve actually never gotten mastitis, though I’ve come very close many times. With my first baby, it took me 1 month to dry up my milk, since I didn’t know how to stop pumping the right way. But for my second baby, I did it in 1 week! And, as far as bonding goes, if you were to see me with my children now, you would never know that we experienced this hardship, because we are as close as can be :)

Soooo... here's the rundown of exactly what you can do to dry up as safely and quickly as possible- specifically how to wean off pumping for exclusive pumpers and weaning during peak milk production.

Learning From My Mistakes

Having gone through urgently drying my breastmilk up twice, I now know what to do. There were some things I did the first time that prolonged my agony, so I am going to share all of my tips and tricks to make this process as quick and painless as possible!

What To Do

ICE, ICE, BABY!!!
- I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH! Have ice on your check 24/7 if possible! It’s your best friend during this difficult transition. Ice reduces pain, inflammation, and blood flow, which helps decrease milk production. Less stimulation and heat = less milk!
Pump Necessities
- PUMP THE BARE MINIMUM YOU CAN TOLERATE!!
  - This is SOOO important. The first time I dried up, I make a chart and timed each pump and made it really complicated, and the second time I had the help of an IBCLC who taught me this. Only pump enough so you don’t explode, but DO NOT EMPTY or you will continue to tell your body you need to keep producing!
- Make sure you understand how your pump works! Especially stim cycle vs. suck cycle- some pumps switch over automatically and some you need to manually switch once you get letdown
- Make sure you use the proper flange size! This is the plastic funnel part that goes directly on the breast. And yes, they come in different sizes! Most pumps come with 24mm and 27mm flanges, but many women need a smaller size.
  - Flange size DOES NOT correlate to breast size! You could have large breasts but small nipples, therefore needing a small flange.
    - Measure nipple diameter BEFORE pumping, in millimeters.
    - Legendary Milk has an online flange fitting class, and they also have a free printable nipple ruler! You can also get help from a lactation consultant. If you’re in the Milwaukee area, Wisco Lactation was my lifesaver! If you are enrolled in WIC (Women, Infants, & Children), your local department may have these and many more services available for free!
- Use a good pump! I really like the Spectra, because it has a powerful suction and enough settings to find the perfect strength. From personal experience, and from talking with lactation consultants, I do not like the Calypso or Medela Pump In Style. If you are exclusively pumping, you won’t want to use a hands-free pump. These do not have enough power, and are better for someone who primarily breastfeeding and occasionally pumping.
- If the pump you have isn’t working well and you cannot get a different type, you can rent a medical-grade pump from some hospitals. I ended up having to do this with both of my babies, after getting a lot of damage from the Calypso and Medela Pump in Style. You can check with your local hospital’s lactation department to see if they have one you can rent. Some WIC departments also have them available for members.
Drink Sage Tea
- Drink 1 cup at least 2x/day. This was my favorite! Pink Stork No Flow
Make Peppermint capsules and consume 2x/day
- Peppermint essential oil helps dry up the milk, which is why it should be avoided in every form during the third trimester of pregnancy, and when breastfeeding.
- Place 3 drops Peppermint essential oil into Veggie Capsule and fill with Olive Oil
- Stick half of capsule into a piece of bread to keep upright, then use a pipette to fill with the Olive Oil
- Store in freezer to prevent leaking
- Be prepared for your burps to taste & smell really good!
Take an Anti-Inflammatory
- Drying up your milk can very painful, especially if you have been pumping exclusively and are producing a lot of milk. Pain management is important to maintain comfort. Ibuprofin/motrin is an anti-inflammatory that can help with this. You can also take Tylenol. Check with your provider for dosages. I took Arnica with my second child, as it has also been shown to help minimize swelling and pain.
After each pump session/feed, apply the following things to breasts (ALWAYS USE Certified Pure therapeutic Grade Essential Oils):
- Cabocream (way more convenient and less smelly than cabbage!) or Cabbage Leaves (pound leaves down so they are flexible and remove big vein if necessary. Can also cut out hole for nipples- I got blebs, so I cut holes and used Silverette Silver Nursing Cups)
- "Clogged Duct/Mastitis" blend and massage into clogs/problem areas
  - Mix 10 drops each of Purification, Lavender, & Thieves essential oils into 10mL roller bottle, top with carrier oil
- "Milk Reduction"blend and apply to both breasts, chest, and underarms
  - Mix 20 drops Peppermint + 5 drops Jasmine essential oils into 10mL roller bottle, top with carrier
- Ice- I loved frozen blueberries and peas because they were small and covered gently & evenly
Have at least one person who can support you through this.
- It can be very difficult and painful, and you will need lots of reminders that you CAN do this and that it is only temporary! You may need help holding the baby and caring for other children if you are really engorged and in pain. For me, it hurt to even move my arms, and I was unable to hold my baby for the whole week of drying up.

What To Avoid

Avoid hot showers/hot tubs and hot water streaming on your chest.
Hot water increases blood flow to the breasts = increases milk flow. If you need to take the edge off, a quick hand expression can help, but remember ICE IS YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND!
Avoid massaging breasts.
Stimulation = blood flow = MORE MILK. They will hurt, but just don’t touch them!
Avoid tight bras.
Since you will be engorged during the drying up process, and we have a lot of milk ducts, wearing a tight bra can give you clogged ducts on the bra strap line. I live in Target's padded nursing camis postpartum and beyond! Even when I was nursing I lived in these. They are the best because you can fit your nursing pads, cabbage leaves, ice packs, etc in comfortably. I can't speak for the well-endowed, but they provided adequate support for me without constricting ducts!
Avoid sleeping on your side or laying on your stomach.
This was big for me- I got a massage during the drying up period and I paid for it with a week of constant clogged ducts. Also, I would wake up with clogged ducts in the morning and didn't realize it was from sleeping on my side!

Learning How to Wean Off Pumping is Hard Work, But Worth It

Learning how to wean off pumping was not easy, but once you are finished, it feels as if a huge weight has been lifted! It can of course be bittersweet, but each mother needs to make the best decision for her baby, and her mental and physical and emotional health. “Fed is best” was always my motto as an OB nurse, but now that I have gone through this twice, my new motto is:

“Mom’s Mental Health Is Best.”

I am so thankful that I am mentally and physically in a much better place and so much more able to enjoy my baby! I was very fortunate to also have the support to dry my milk up from my Lactation Consultants, but if you do not get that same support, here is your reminder to make the best decision for you!! You have my 100% support!! Just remember- your baby doesn't care how she’s fed- if our babes have a full belly and loving momma, that's all they really need :)

I hope this helps you on your journey in figuring out how to stop pumping. I applaud you for whatever decision you make for you and your baby- whether you breastfeed for 2 years or not at all, you are an AMAZING mother, and your baby is BLESSED to have you. Be easy on yourself, and do what is best not only for your baby but for YOU- especially your mental health. YOU GOT THIS!

Leave a comment below and share any other tips or tricks you used to dry up your milk!

xoxo,

j