Can pumping more reduce milk supply?
Show your support
It's normal for milk supply to drop in the evenings
If you have issues with breastfeeding, contact a breastfeeding consultant. Our hospital here have a whole team and also do breastfeeding clinics. Check if you have something similar where you are, they can help you identify the issue and fix it.
Initially your milk supply will drop because your emptying them constantly. But it will increase. I pumper for a month for a premature baby in hospital. Look up power pumping. After your baby has finished a fees, always pump more to signal to empty boobs it's not enough. 2am-4am is the ideal time to pump for milk supply, if you don't already have a pumping bra, loom on amazon for a cheap one. You can literally set alarms and nap sat up while you pump. Eat regular and often. However much water you are drinking- up it. Carry a water bottle round, a big one! No advise on nipple shield I'm afraid, but good luck!!!
Thank you @Sally - that was really helpful! How often are you pumping throughout the day? And are you washing and sterilising your pump between uses? I think if I was to keep doing that, I wouldn't have time to do anything else 😅 Definitely think I could be drinking more water so will work on that, and gonna look for a pumping bra now! X
My supply always reduces in the evening, it can be completely normal for some people. 3/4oz is a great amount to pump. Breastfed babies usually only take a max of 4oz per feed If you want to increase your supply try power pumping on an evening, its helped me massively with the dip i usually get on an evening xx
They said the more you pump the more milk you make! I exclusive pump and I try to pump as much as I can, sometimes every 2 hours but sometimes every 4-5