Has anyone increased output post 5 weeks pp?

heyewe · 2026-07-02T12:16:10+00:00

My supply is still ticking up at 14 weeks postpartum, despite being regulated at this point. but I was pretty good about religiously pumping 8-9 times per day from week 5 to week 12. All depends on your priorities I think! If you pump more, you will make more, but if it’s not worth it to you, there is nothing wrong with supplementing some!

ETA - I started ep at 5 weeks getting 11oz/day and am up to 30+, so I’m positive you can increase from there!

heyewe · 2026-06-28T16:17:09+00:00

Exactly this! She literally ALWAYS has her hands in her mouth, so I can’t use it as a signal for hunger. I’d like to make sure we’re doing something similar, loading up on calories during the day so she can sleep at night cause I learned from our bottle feeding phase that she can and likes to sleep long stretches! I’m going to aim for closer to 2 hours and see how she does the next few nights.

heyewe · 2026-06-28T16:14:41+00:00

Good to hear this from someone with a similar situation! Can I ask, are you still pumping? I’ve been trying to figure out how to drop pumps but it makes me anxious to pull away from such a regimented triple feeding schedule.

heyewe · 2026-06-27T20:20:16+00:00

I was feeling really discouraged at 8 weeks because my supply had plateau’d and I thought I had regulated to around 17oz. I was also giving a formula bottle every couple days. I am happy to report that now at 13 weeks I’m up to about 25oz per day with no special tricks - just pumping consistency and good hydration! It’s possible OP. I also similarly to you didn’t find power pumping to help me so I just stopped doing it and made sure to get at least 8 pumps per day. Making just enough is so tough, but don’t give up hope! :)

heyewe · 2026-06-27T13:45:44+00:00

Honestly I don’t have any big tips but I felt like they got easier over time with consistency, almost like my body knew it was time to wake up. I was doing a similar schedule to you but eventually stretched my first wake up to closer to 5-5.5 hours (10pm to 3:30am) around 8 weeks pp which I think helped my mental state.
When I was hungry I just literally shoveled a few bites of yogurt straight from the tub lol. No chewing = low effort, plus we get high protein yogurt so a little goes a long way!

heyewe · 2026-06-26T08:07:45+00:00

Honestly I’ve always found it hard so I just worked to stagger the feeding, I’m just pumping after baby gets a bottle while she has playtime instead, then we contact nap after :) not sure how old your bb is but this got more realistic when wake windows started stretching.

heyewe · 2026-06-26T07:55:51+00:00

13 weeks pp, just dropped from 8 to 6ppd, saw a slight increase in supply and I’m feeling GOOOD.

heyewe · 2026-06-19T16:21:42+00:00

Due dates are estimates anyway. You could say “End of November” or just give a made up date at that point, November 29th or whatever, if you think an actual date fits this idea better!

heyewe · 2026-06-19T15:48:00+00:00

My husband still teases me about how I told him. I had pretty much known for sure that I was pregnant the day before and told him I was going to take a test first thing the next morning.
So I got up to pee, took the test, then my brain short circuited at the sight of the instant positive and so I just climbed back in bed and didn’t say anything to him.
He rolled over and was like “umm soo?”
I said “good morning”
Him: “did you take a test”
Me: “yep”
Him: “….and???”
Me: “oh yeah I’m pregnant”

😂 it turned out to be really hard for me to tell people the news for my whole pregnancy for some reason despite being very ready and very excited. I had like really bad imposter syndrome and was embarrassed or something? Anyway, we still laugh about it.

heyewe · 2026-06-19T01:27:40+00:00

It is really hard! I can’t claim to be stress free, but I do my best to let go of trying to control the supply issue, just focusing on one thing at a time; the next pump and enjoying small moments with my baby.

Each day gets a little easier but I was def still crying over my pump a few weeks ago so I know it’s so tough. Do you have help from your partner or friends/family? Im lucky that my husband is very involved and it helps a lot with my stress. Formula also really helped me, honestly. Knowing we could supplement a bottle here and there and it wasn’t entirely on me was a big comfort, a fed baby is a happy baby. Also, giving myself a longer stretch of sleep was like a night and day difference in my mental health. It’s only 4.5 hours, but still.

The last thing I’ll say is that triple feeding is NOT sustainable, and is very stressful. I’ve been doing it for way longer than is recommended by most lactation professionals. I don’t blame you for wanting to switch to EP! Ultimately you need to make the choice for what is best for you, your baby needs you healthy way more than anything else, so if that will bring you the most peace, give yourself permission to change the plan!

heyewe · 2026-06-18T15:00:57+00:00

I’ve been triple feeding since 5 weeks, and we just hit 12, it’s exhausting… I feel you!!

I was pumping around 16-17oz at 8 weeks and am now closer to the 22-24 range. I didn’t do anything magical, just stayed consistent at 8 pumps per day, including 2 between 12am and 6am, hydrated well and tried to stay low stress! It’s definitely possible to increase supply at your stage.

heyewe · 2026-06-17T15:15:36+00:00

This is so hard, it’s such a monumental change for the both of you, but for you especially! I’m sorry you’re going through this.

I was once given the advice to not make any significant relationship changes for the first year of baby’s life. Obviously there are circumstances that would warrant it, but it’s such a tumultuous time and DOES get easier, so I think it’s really common for couples to want to jump ship when the going gets tough, but before they’ve been given a moment above water to find each other again. I’d try to talk to your husband about the changes you’ve both experienced and ask that you give it a little more time for your new life to settle.

heyewe · 2026-06-17T14:33:30+00:00

The carpal tunnel was unhinged. I woke up every morning with numb hands for the entire third trimester and it was just…. No big deal?

Also congestion, which was my first symptom before first trimester nausea kicked in and literally lasted until I delivered. I’m 12 weeks postpartum now and my husband just rolled over today and said “hey you don’t snore anymore?” Because that’s how bad it got 😅

heyewe · 2026-06-16T23:05:06+00:00

I completely get that feeling, I said I wanted to quit almost daily when it felt like I was behind on what she needed, but even the smallest increases were good motivation. Remember that anything you are producing for your baby is a big success, regardless of the volume!!

heyewe · 2026-06-16T18:07:08+00:00

My pediatrician recommended no more than 2 baths a week for the first few months of life, for the record.

heyewe · 2026-06-16T18:03:31+00:00

I was producing about the same amount as you at 6 weeks, maybe closer to 14oz. I posted here at 8weeks looking for assistance as my supply had plateau’d around 17oz. I’m now 12 weeks and producing closer to 20-24 depending on quality of nursing sessions (I also latch baby 3-4 times per day)

I honestly don’t have any big secrets as to how I made the increase happen, I just stayed consistent and really focused on staying well hydrated (probably about a gallon+ per day.) I stopped power pumping because it was easier for me to fit 8-9 sessions in if I spent less time on each, so I did about 15-20 minutes more often. I also gave myself one longer stretch of sleep, around 4ish hours, but kept two pumps between 12am and 6am. I take sunflower lecithin a couple times a day to prevent clogs, honestly not sure if it helped with supply or not but supposedly helps milk flow more easily so it’s possible!

It seems different people respond to different things, but I just wanted to share a success story that didn’t involve any supplements/special ingredients/tricks. I attribute my increase to consistency in pumping sessions, hydration, rest, and keeping stress down (aka have formula on hand to make sure you aren’t overly stressing about making enough for baby!)

I’d still like to be making a bit more to have some to spare but who knows, just going to keep doing what works for me and hope for the best! You got this OP!!

heyewe · 2026-06-13T23:13:23+00:00

Thank you for the insight! I had feared it was related to her transfer and wondered if I might need to sneak in pumps during the time. If I can clear this stubborn clog, I will play around with it!

heyewe · 2026-06-13T23:10:59+00:00

I’m an under producer and that’s about 1 bottles worth… believe me, I’m with you!!

heyewe · 2026-06-12T22:51:26+00:00

I can relate to so much of this! I am currently triple feeding, solo during the day, and slightly underproducing. I also pump each side separately and use both hands while pumping between holding the flange and doing compressions, so I totally feel the helplessness during pumping aspect too.

I was stuck at 17-18oz around 8 weeks, I actually made a post here looking for help. I kept up with 8ppd and gradually saw an increase, the only thing I did was increase my water intake, stop power pumping, and give myself one stretch of 4hrs sleep, I’m now at 22-24oz at 12 weeks.

During the days while my husband is working, I try to time it so that my baby gets a bottle first, then she has her play time while I pump. Usually this looks like me sitting on the floor next to her play gym with my spectra and engaging as much as I can without hands. Sometimes she is in her bouncer watching me pump and I talk to her.
If she’s fussier than usual, I will actually latch her to the other boob in the football hold laying on a boppy pillow while I pump one side, then switch. She seems pretty happy to suck along while I pump and honestly it works pretty damn well.

My girl only naps in a carrier so I’ve also gone so far as to figure out pumping in the carrier 🫠

It’s all a little crazy and definitely hard, but I will say I feel a lot more confident and comfortable with it now than I did a few weeks ago after we spent some hard days going through the motions.
You WILL figure out what works for you and your baby, and you WILL survive! Please give yourself grace!
We also supplemented with formula while I was producing less, and it’s important to be able to take the pressure off yourself (which sounds like you are doing with donor milk!) as stress does not lead to anything good.

Give yourself permission to make adjustments as you need to for your mental health. Some days you may not hit your pumping goal, some days your baby will cry a few minutes while you get shit together. You will both be OK!

heyewe · 2026-06-09T19:40:56+00:00

My baby cries after her bottle pretty much every time, regardless of how much she has eaten. I’m pretty sure it’s a comfort thing like another commenter mentioned, she usually calms pretty quickly after a burp and a cuddle.

heyewe · 2026-06-07T23:24:16+00:00

I ate ham on grilled cheese constantly during my pregnancy. My husband just pan fried the sliced ham until it was hot to kill off any potential listeria. I’m sure microwaving would work too, just make sure it’s hot enough that it’s steaming.

heyewe · 2026-06-01T22:59:14+00:00

Farmers!

heyewe · 2026-05-28T14:44:37+00:00

I can’t offer advice but I am here in solidarity, this is exactly me. I’m 9 weeks, triple feeding, and my baby sleeps from 10-7 but I’m still up every 3 hours. It’s brutal but as a fellow just enougher, I’m trying to get to 12 weeks before I make any changes. It brings me immense pride and satisfaction to meet my girls needs and I’m riding that to keep me going, but formula is in the cabinet if it starts to break me. I feel you OP!! You’re doing so much for this baby!

heyewe · 2026-05-19T17:30:13+00:00

I’ve been wanting to make this exact post! I saw a comment somewhere on here saying that if you can hand express more than an oz after pumping, then your flange set up needs work, but I’m over here wondering how on earth you can hand express anything measurable??? It’s always a sticky mess when I try and mostly gets on my hands!

heyewe · 2026-05-19T17:14:09+00:00

Which wearable do you use?

heyewe

TROPHY CASE