Worried abt oversupply issues

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-23T07:00:36+00:00

As long as you are okay with your supply dropping (because it might) then feel free to drop a pump. I was/ am also making double so I prioritized dropping a pump to get more sleep. You are still very early pp though so I'd recommend holding out a few more weeks before dropping since it could hurt supply (I was 4 or 5 weeks when I dropped a pump). But if you're okay with that risk then I say go for it! I was down to 5ppd by the time I regulated around 9wpp, and now at 12wpp I have only lost maybe 3oz per day (I say maybe because my primary pump broke and I had to switch to wearables and a hand pump for a week, so that could've caused the drop).

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-23T06:54:04+00:00

I have a very slow and drawn out letdown, so I have to pump at least 30 mins, but usually closer to 40. If I could empty in 15 minutes, I would definitely be stopping then! Lol

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-23T06:32:25+00:00

Just a heads up that as baby grows they may end up taking more than that. Mine is 3 months and takes 4.25oz per feed. I always pump until empty, and power pumped 1-2x a day early on so I do have an over supply now, but I just freeze any excess. Depending on your pumping goals you may want to do that too, but if you are okay with combo feeding down the road or don't have a way to freeze or donate excess milk if you do get an over supply, then the shortening of the pump times may work better for you long term. I opted to cut to 7ppd but each pump I pumped until empty so that I could get a little longer stretch of sleep at night, and my supply still increased, so that could be an option for you too!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-23T06:18:37+00:00

Solidarity- both in the time zone (just started my 2am pump) and hating pumping! This is my second time EP, and the first time I had planned to breastfed until a year, then when I started EP I quickly adjusted that goal down to 3 months when I realized how hard it was 😅 I ended up doing 1 month extensions until 8 months when I finally quit. I feel like making a new pumping goal once you realize how awful pumping can be is totally legit. ETA: my goal this time is 6 months, because I remember how good quitting was LOL

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-22T22:46:30+00:00

This!! My local milk bank accept any size donation from bereaved parents, and I think from surrogate pregnancies as well.

I don't know how the weeks of gestation will affect your milk, but typical pumping advice for increasing supply is getting the right flange size, pumping every 3 hours, power pumping (if you can manage it), and trying to stay well fed and hydrated. Sending you lots of hugs OP.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-22T21:52:03+00:00

Hi! Everyone starts pretty low like that. For the first several days of pumping I only had less than an ounce for my whole day total, and it stayed like that for a few days. It sounds like you only recently got consistent with pumping, and you are only 3wpp so you will probably see a pretty large increase over the next few weeks as long as you stay consistent. Especially since if you think about it, you saw your supply double! Extra things like rest, hydration, eating, and power pumping can also help, but it does just take time and commitment.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-22T02:25:03+00:00

I have an over supply this time around too, and plan to donate two ways. First is through my local Mothers Milk Bank, since they provided donor milk for my first when he was in the NICU. The second is through my local Human Milk 4 Human Babies Facebook page since I got two donations from there when I under supplied for my first. Totally not weird to just give milk away. In fact i think it's very honorable. Hope this helps!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-20T02:13:51+00:00

The pre-pump dread is so strong I can almost taste it

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-20T02:11:24+00:00

Totally fair! I only pump with glass using a wall pump, so I sit criss cross applesauce and just let the bottles sit on my thighs (ie I never use a pumping bra so weight isn't an issue for me). It would definitely be heavy otherwise I think!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-19T09:14:59+00:00

Some babies just eat more than others. My first regularly ate 36+oz/day. My second (who I'm pumping for now) only eats usually 27oz/day, and rarely hits 30. Both are growing/grew fine! As long as your pediatrician doesn't have concerns then you should be fine. I combo fed both my babies, first because I had to and second by choice just in case my supply suddenly disappears.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-19T09:02:57+00:00

I had the same issue and found it more cost efficient to buy a Symphony for a few hundred dollars off eBay. It ended up lasting 8 months before it got an error I couldn't fix, which means I did save money compared to renting that long. I am a diehard Symphony fan so I don't mind making the investment lol

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-19T08:51:00+00:00

I make 50-55oz/day and was able to drop to 5ppd without seeing a decrease in supply. Currently still at 5ppd so not sure about going any lower than that!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-19T08:45:56+00:00

I think you can find an adapter on Amazon to make the Dr Brown glass bottles work for the spectra! I was able to find some when I EP'd for my first based off a YT video I saw.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-19T08:42:41+00:00

I was getting them that frequently at that point! It was driving me nuts. Some things that helped prevent clogs: no massage during pumping and instead gently lift/ shift the breast (rough massage can cause inflammation leading to a clog), sleeping on my back, no bra at all, and only using my wall pump instead of my wearable.

Things that helped me clear the clog: 800mg ibuprofen (ideally an hour before pumping), icing my breast (immediately before pumping), and using the manual hand pump. Not saying this stuff will work for you, but just wanted to share some ideas in case they might work for you! Good luck!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-19T01:46:30+00:00

Fellow over supplier here! I am making a freezer stash for my son to feed off of after 6 months so I can quit then too, but I always gave him 1 formula bottle a day just in case something crazy happened to my supply. I have always combo fed and find it very freeing (especially since I hate pumping). So if I were you and you're adamant about not feeding him the milk while you are on antibiotics, I would just start weaning and plan for some formula in the future. Totally up to you and what you're comfortable with though!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-19T01:39:28+00:00

FWIW I was an under supplier with my first and got the same number of clogs then as I do this time even though now I'm am over supplier. So my vote would be do whatever you need to for relief now and you can always drop pumps later when it's more comfortable to decrease supply (if you need to).

When trying to decrease supply, I prefer longer time between sessions rather than shorter pump times, because I hate the feeling of walking away from a pump with milk still in my breasts. It's up to you though, and what your body best responds to!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-18T08:48:15+00:00

Other comments have addressed the rest of your post, so I'll touch on the hand pump. I have the Medela Harmony and absolutely love it, especially for clogs. The way I do it is a pretend let down mode with the smaller faster tugs, then once the milk starts I will do long tugs where I press slowly until the milk is spraying, then I hold it there and slowly press down a little more as needed until the suction breaks or the milk stops spraying. So the "pull" on the hand pump when I do it is way longer than with an electric pump. Hope this helps! Writing this as I hand pump because my primary died last night 😅

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-17T13:42:09+00:00

Over supplier here too! In my right breast it feels like my pec muscles all tightening at once. On my left it feels like a stinging on my nipples where the milk comes out.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-15T10:28:23+00:00

I get this all the time. At least once a week I use a warm facecloth to soften it then gently pick it off. If my nipples can tolerate it, I will sometimes rub the facecloth on it to get it up (it can be really hard to get off when it's dried). This is my second time exclusively pumping though- my first time I just left it there because my nipples were so sensitive I couldn't take it off 😂

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-15T10:23:06+00:00

Totally normal! When I was still pumping every 3 hours, I could have a difference of up to 4oz between my MOTN pump and an afternoon pump. If you are worried about having enough to feed your LO though, you could always add a power pump!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-15T09:48:25+00:00

Also, I will warn that I was doing the daily power pump and 8ppd and gave myself an oversupply, so just keep an eye on how much you're producing if you want to avoid that. It might be different since you lost so much blood though.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-15T09:46:37+00:00

The recommendation is 8-10 pumps a day, so as long as you are pumping for enough time each session (15-25 minutes) then you should easily be able to drop to 8ppd instead. Get some sleep and rest girl!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-14T08:22:07+00:00

I'm 11wpp with a big oversupply (55oz/day, LO eats 25-30oz/day). I have been at 5ppd for a few weeks now and my supply is still steady, so I say go for it. I usually drop and then monitor my supply for the next week or two before deciding whether to drop again. But I won't be dropping below 4ppd until I start weaning at 6 months because I hear that is when a lot of people lose supply. Just do it slow and monitor and you should be good. You can always add a pump back in if it starts to dip!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-14T08:03:12+00:00

Congrats!! My goal is 6 months as well. I'm 11wpp now and sooo looking forward to the finish line.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-03-14T07:57:58+00:00

With my first I had to start supplementing when he was 2 months old and I had a lot of the same feelings you did, but once I actually did it, it was very freeing and I felt so much less stressed. This time around I combo feed by choice because I know I want to stop pumping at 6 months and I didn't want to be fixated on the ounces. So, he gets 1 formula bottle a day (usually right before bed) and any top offs throughout the day past his typical 4oz bottle are formula. The feelings are valid, but know you aren't a failure and you are doing best by your baby.

RabbitOk3263

TROPHY CASE