I've looked around a bit and can't find an exact answer to my question, so I hope you'll bear with what might be a duh question.
For a variety of reasons, I stopped nursing my newborn at the breast when my milk came in and started pumping and supping heavily with organic formula. After much deliberation, I decided to only pump 3 times a day (again, for various reasons), and although it has only been 5 days, I have seen my supply increase. I've gone from a high of 3 ounces combined (at the morning pump) to 5 ounces combined. I'm getting about 10-11 ounces per day from 3 pumps.
I'm not currenlty pumping overnight.
Question 1) Will my supply continue to increase if I empty my breasts at each pump or will it eventually level off? I'm also taking fenugreek, blessed thistle, and placenta capsules.
Question 2) If my supply does continue to increase, will it become too painful (especially overnight) to continue pumping so infrequently?
I don't have any ambitions to EBF, but I would like to give her as much as I can for as long as I can on this schedule, though I would be willing to squeeze in some comfort pumps if it become necessary.
Any thoughts about what I can expect? I honestly expected that I might just start drying up pretty soon, but luckily, that doesn't seem to be happening.
Thanks in advance
ETA: I know I probably don't have to say this, but I'm not looking to be converted or shamed. There are plenty of reasons why I chose to do this but I don't want to discuss them because I know that none of them will be good enough for some people, and I can respect that we have different viewpoints. My whole family is very happy with our arrangement, and that's all that matters to me. I simply desire information.
For a variety of reasons, I stopped nursing my newborn at the breast when my milk came in and started pumping and supping heavily with organic formula. After much deliberation, I decided to only pump 3 times a day (again, for various reasons), and although it has only been 5 days, I have seen my supply increase. I've gone from a high of 3 ounces combined (at the morning pump) to 5 ounces combined. I'm getting about 10-11 ounces per day from 3 pumps.
I'm not currenlty pumping overnight.
Question 1) Will my supply continue to increase if I empty my breasts at each pump or will it eventually level off? I'm also taking fenugreek, blessed thistle, and placenta capsules.
Question 2) If my supply does continue to increase, will it become too painful (especially overnight) to continue pumping so infrequently?
I don't have any ambitions to EBF, but I would like to give her as much as I can for as long as I can on this schedule, though I would be willing to squeeze in some comfort pumps if it become necessary.
Any thoughts about what I can expect? I honestly expected that I might just start drying up pretty soon, but luckily, that doesn't seem to be happening.
Thanks in advance
ETA: I know I probably don't have to say this, but I'm not looking to be converted or shamed. There are plenty of reasons why I chose to do this but I don't want to discuss them because I know that none of them will be good enough for some people, and I can respect that we have different viewpoints. My whole family is very happy with our arrangement, and that's all that matters to me. I simply desire information.
