Do I need do decrease pumping sessions?

[Ruby2]

Dd is almost 6 months old. I've been pumping every 2 - 2.5 hours at work to get 12 - 14 ounces of milk per day. For the last month or so, dd's intake has decreased from 12 ounces to only 6-8 while I'm at work. Is this normal? I remember reading something a long time ago that said breastfed babies' intake doesn't necessarily increase as they get bigger, the nutrients in the milk just change depending on what they need...but I'm nervous.

Also, because I'm used to pumping so often at work, weekends are confusing for my milk production! Dd doesn't nurse that often, so I'm engorged a lot. I need advice! Should I slow down on the pumping at work? I'm worried that if I do, my production will go down and then dd's needs might suddenly increase again...

[mom2happy]

Originally Posted by Ruby2

Dd is almost 6 months old. I've been pumping every 2 - 2.5 hours at work to get 12 - 14 ounces of milk per day. For the last month or so, dd's intake has decreased from 12 ounces to only 6-8 while I'm at work. Is this normal? I remember reading something a long time ago that said breastfed babies' intake doesn't necessarily increase as they get bigger, the nutrients in the milk just change depending on what they need...but I'm nervous.

Also, because I'm used to pumping so often at work, weekends are confusing for my milk production! Dd doesn't nurse that often, so I'm engorged a lot. I need advice! Should I slow down on the pumping at work? I'm worried that if I do, my production will go down and then dd's needs might suddenly increase again...

I think you should keep pumping and freeze the extra.
Your milk will slow down if you don't and he could need it later.
Maybe intro to foods have made him want less milk?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Shy0717]

Keep pumping!! I work full time 3 nights a week out of the home and used to pump at home and at work. I cut down to just pumping at work months ago and now ds is 11 months and I've blown through my stash. Now I'm having to start up pumping at home to keep up with him. I say keep going

[DCMama01]

Keep pumping but you might not need to pump as often to yield the same milk. I definitely agree with stashing some milk. My DD has almost doubled her intake during the day because she's sleeping more at night, and fortunately, I've been fine because I kept pumping extra milk at work just in case.

[Ruby2]

Good advice everyone, thanks. I'm very hopeful that DC Mama's scenario will happen to us too...that sounds lovely! Just in case, I'll keep it up.

Mom2happy - no, no food yet, just the very occasional fruit in one of those cool net thingies...that's why I'm so confused about the decreased intake. I don't think she's reverse cycling because she doesn't seem to nurse more when I'm home. She weighed over 16 lbs at her 4 month check up and I would guess she's up a couple more since then, so it's obvious she's not starving...

[LindsC]

I dropped one pumping session at that age because I was putting 30-40oz a week in the freezer and I did notice a drop in how much I pumped, but did not have any problems at home. I am just now breaking into my freezer stash at 11 months old, but that is only because I have dropped down to 1 pumping session a day as I get ready to wean myself from the pump altogether. I'm going to continue nursing her morning, evening, nights and weekends and send whatever pumped milk is left in the freezer to daycare until it runs out (approx. a 2 months supply).