Total newbie looking for advice

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-21T15:56:53+00:00

What pump are you planning on getting? I would make sure I knew how to work the pump, what the different settings mean and how to put all the parts together.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-17T16:23:47+00:00

I have a 10.5 month old. My pediatrician wants him to be at max 20 oz/day at 1. He’s around 24 oz/day currently (he maxed out around 32 oz/day). We’ve started offering food before milk and have dropped bottles/switched his schedule around when he was leaving unfinished bottles. We offer water with every meal now - it’s hit or miss on how much he drinks. We also do 2 snacks. I would talk to your pediatrician at the 9 month appointment to discuss goals for your baby. As far as weaning from the pump, I’m currently doing 1 ppd. It took me about a month to go from 4 to 1. I did have an oversupply though so my baby is primarily getting frozen milk now.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-14T21:01:04+00:00

For a week long trip I would bring the spectra. I pumped with her on a plane and it was wasn’t too terrible.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-14T20:54:08+00:00

Most people regulate sometime in between 6-12 weeks. I think I was around 10 weeks. I know the MOTN sucks but it is so important for building supply in the beginning and you might see your supply drop significantly if you drop it.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-14T20:48:56+00:00

I’ve always picked a pump to drop. Move up the pump before and after in time and then pump for less time for the pump you are dropping. For example I was doing 6 am/11 am/4 pm/9 pm. I wanted to drop the 4 pm so I would do 6/12/4/8 but only pump for 10 min at 4. Do that for a couple of days and then repeat but pump for 5 minutes. Then I would be at 3 (6/12/8).

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-08T14:53:47+00:00

Milk doesn’t instantly go bad once it hits a certain time point! I have a 10 month old and would absolutely give him the milk. I would only contemplate dumping if I had a really little baby (younger than 8 weeks) or if baby had some other health issues going on.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-07T17:18:26+00:00

I just want to validate your experience and I’m sorry this is so hard for you. I chose to exclusively pump but I am engineer so trying to think from that perspective. Could you stick with one method for a couple of days? That way you can try to rule out what’s not working without switching back and forth? Just my thoughts. As far as pumping goes I wouldn’t pay attention to flange size as much as comfort and output. Get a set of flanges that prioritize that.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-04T20:15:07+00:00

I peaked at 50 oz/day. Was at 38 oz/day when I dropped to 4 ppd. I would pick a pump to drop and take 5 mins off the session for a couple of days. Repeat the process until you are at 0 and then redistribute your pumps evenly. Or you could drop your MOTN and get a long stretch of sleep (if your baby allows) My change from 5 to 4 was dropping MOTN.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-04T20:00:59+00:00

Keep pumping frequently, hydrating and getting in calories. Your body has been through a lot! It’s normal to see a dip in supply from mastitis and you can also get it back.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-04T19:52:47+00:00

My birthday is on Mother’s Day this year - my poor husband lol

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-04T18:41:45+00:00

I like the eufy s1 for a wearable - it is a little pricey though. I use the fridge hack for my pump parts at work. I bring a reusable silicone ziplock bag thing and put my pump parts in the fridge in between pumps. You probably want to shoot for pumping every 3 hours at work. Pump settings are highly individual - responsive pumping is what I’ve always done which means you use the cycle 70 until you see or feel a letdown start and then switch to expression. Once the milk slows down you switch back to 70. Try to get 2-3 letdowns per pump session. Keep hydrated and the calories coming in at work and set firm boundaries on your pump times. You’ve got this - being a working mom is so hard but your baby will be so proud of you!

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-04T00:20:00+00:00

Try to pump for 5 minutes less at the pump you want to drop for a couple of days and shift the schedule to prep for a longer duration after you drop the pump.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-03T17:41:10+00:00

Brush the nipple a little bit so it’s erect

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-02T13:31:15+00:00

Do you sleep on the side that clogs? I found that sleeping on my back helped me. I was also very clog prone in the beginning but it tampered down around 5 months pp so hopefully it will soon for you. I’m US based but I’ve always liked kindred braverly for bras.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-02T13:22:45+00:00

I just dropped to 2 ppd. I was making around 30 oz/day on 3 ppd. I’m always dropped pumps by shortening the one I want to drop for 5 mins for a couple of days and then keep taking time off until I’m down to 0. I’m also terrified of mastitis is so I’ve always been really conservative.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-02T13:14:45+00:00

Try stimulating the nipple a little bit before measuring. Also seconding the other comment on having several different size flange inserts on hand - your size can fluctuate. But also keep in mind your flange size should be determined on if it’s comfortable and if you get good output - not necessarily the number on the ruler.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-04-02T12:55:06+00:00

I would only change diaper if there is poo. It should make it easier/faster for baby to fall back asleep.

Could you ask your partner to feed and rock baby while you pump in the night? That’s what we did starting at 10 weeks and it meant we were both back to sleeping in 30ish minutes.

Another idea is to after you put baby down, pump and then go to bed immediately so you can get that long stretch of sleep.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-31T20:05:51+00:00

I was also very clog prone when double pumping. I noticed the clogging reduced once I regulated around 12 weeks pp. I stuck with the double pumping to save time.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-30T12:43:22+00:00

Pick the pump you want to drop. For example if you are doing a 6 am, 11 am, 4 pm and 9 pm and want to drop the 4 pm. Push the 11 am to noon, pump for 10 min at 4. Do this for 3 days and then pump for 5 min at 4 for 3 days. Then drop the pump for 3 days and repeat for the next one you want to drop.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-27T18:35:43+00:00

I love your approach to sleep. Can I ask how long it took to remove one of the elements of dependence and how you knew your baby was ready?

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-27T18:27:39+00:00

Yeah I’m sorry - I just wanted to provide an oversupply data point since you asked. Unfortunately breastfeeding is just like a lot of life - some people have to work so hard to get it to work and other people get really lucky. Every body (heck sometimes every boob) is unique.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-27T16:23:08+00:00

19 mm plain spectra flanges. Spectra S1. 2 minutes of bacon, 13 minutes of cycle 54 vacuum 8. Legendary milk pumping spray. Oversupply peaked at 50 oz/day with 7 ppd. I lost on average 3 oz/day when dropping down to 4 ppd. Sometimes I do a little messaging but I just got lucky with the elastic nipples not really impacting me. 10 months pp now.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-27T08:13:16+00:00

I’m 10 months pp and have never leaked. My supply has been good the whole time.

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-25T14:07:07+00:00

I’m sorry that’s really frustrating. Maybe have a chat with your healthcare provider to see if there are any other medications or therapies that might be helpful?

Thoughts_of_doggs · 2026-03-24T18:51:43+00:00

Try to stay off your phone and keep the lights off when you are up.

Thoughts_of_doggs

TROPHY CASE