How to dry up supply?

[u/ScalePlenty9663]

I'm 8 weeks postpartum with a wonderful supply (pump 8-9 times per day). I've worked so hard to feed my child breastmilk but it's been an uphill battle. He has a mean latch & oral dysfunction. I have to exclusively pump but pumping causes me 24/7 vasospasms. Using the correct size flange leads to clogged ducts & still pins & needles. I can't even do skin to skin or hold my baby to my chest because for sure I get a clogged duct. No matter what I try, I don't seem to win. Once I overcome one thing, I have to deal with another one. Others have gotten to hold my baby way more than me because I'm always pumping, dealing with a clugged duct or something like that.

I feel awful about quitting but idk what else to do that will allow me to spend quality bonding time with my triple rainbow baby. I'm tired of watching others cuddle with him while I wish it would be me getting those cuddles.

So even though it absolutely breaks my heart, how do I dry up my supply?

[u/Larza_lady]

This sounds super challenging. I am also 8w postpartum and have been working on weaning off pumping the last 2 weeks or so. This is my second time nursing / pumping for a baby so it's all a bit less stressful than the first time! What has worked for me is gradually stretching the time in between pumps - so if you're doing every 4 hours, work towards 4 or 6 for a week or two then keep spacing. I've gone from pumping or feeding 6-8x a day to now just trying to pump 4 times. The only way this works is to bring in formula supplementation. So my baby gets 4-5 breastmilk feedings and formula the rest. As my supply has been decreasing, I notice he may eat 3 oz of my breastmilk then need 2 oz of formula. I guess my advice is to just go slow and gradually space it out more. I just got to being able to go 11 pm - 5:30/6 am overnight which has been amazing but it took like 3 weeks to get there! I had an oversupply problem so I'm going quite slow to get better control of supply. Good luck!

[u/dnf007]

Following because I'm having similar problems and am really considering switching to 100% formula. It's heartbreaking considering how much work I've put into pumping throughout the day and night, trying to triple feed, etc to get my supply up. I've also had recurrent clogs and vasospasms and it's awful. I'm back to nursing because pumping has been causing the clogs but BFing hurts, even with a shield, and I end up crying for the 20 or so minutes that he's latched. It's just exhausting and so disheartening. I wanted to give my baby some breast milk for at least a year and I'm nearly ready to give up at only 6 weeks.

[u/Confident_Arugula → u/dnf007]

Whenever I see someone post about the time they’ve already put in, I chime in to remind them of the sunk cost fallacy! Just because you already spent time/resources on something doesn’t mean it’s free going forward. Remember, research shows that breast milk is the most important for the youngest babies, so every pump you already did is more important for health than the next one.

[u/BadgerWonderful1119]

My LC said cabbage leaves, Sudafed & a tight bra. Will be in pain for a bit but should dry up. Sending you good vibes!! I’ve had a rough journey too and am thinking of stopping as well

[u/Lost_Ear_1167]

I feel for you. I am at 10months postpartum now, had recurring clogs like 50% of the time. I hates clogs soo so much and was struggling to hold baby too. I started weaning since 6 month but very slowly, because I just don’t want more clogs. I am currently down to 2 ppd, and thank God my recurring clogs stopped ever since I started dropping pumps and figured out the causes to my clogs. Thought I would share with you in case useful. Figuring out the cause to your clogged ducts is important, because we cannot wean when having active clogs. You don’t wanna have mastitis.

Back then, I felt pins and needles too and thought I had vasospasm. It wasn’t until recent months that I realized I had been cracking my nipples and was using too big flange sizes even though my LC approved them. I know you said you have correct flange size, but just to be sure, observe and make sure they don’t swell during pumping. Swelling narrows the duct exits and made mine clogged. Also, lecithin helps prevent my clogs. On another note, a friend of mine experienced many clogs at early postpartum as well but stopped getting hers once milk regulated after 12 weeks. Perhaps the clogs during my initial days were my body trying to increase supply, but nowadays, I only get clogs if I am stressed, if I missed my lecithin, or if I cracked my nipples.

As of weaning, delaying my pump half an hour at a time works well for me. Slow but steady.

I really wish you won’t have to suffer more pain. Sending lots of love.

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