Hello! My first post here I've been a silent stalker for a while now. I have some questions that my local breastfeeding association doesn't have answers for, so I'm hoping anyone here can help.
DD is 5mos now and I've been pumping (quite) religiously that I've built up a decent freezer stash. I even had to donate some of them. My pumping routine is just every 3-4hours. I'm away from her typically 12 hours everyday, 7am-7pm (or more if traffic is extremely crazy). She takes bottles of expressed milk while I'm away (I leave out 4 4oz bottles for the caregiver) and she's been introduced to bottles too early (my bad, I know) because of my working circumstances and earlier latching on problems. She nurses pretty well now tho, so far no signs of nipple confusion but I am fully aware of the possibility and is willing to e-ping.
My qns are:
1) My schedule is now not as rigid as before, because I'm on the go a lot. Sometimes I only pump 5 times in 24hrs (one session every 4-6hrs). Will this have a detrimental effect on my supply? I typically produce about 20-35oz per day depending on how many times I pump, and DD only takes 16-18oz, never more.
2) At this point, can I reduce my pumping schedule to one session every 4-5hours but pump for a longer session (say 30 mins each side)?
3) When can I pump wean? (Too early now I know, I just want to look forward to something). DD typically nurses every 3-4hours at night when I'm with her.
I must add that this is a 24/7 schedule. I do not have whole weekends where she nurses the whole day.
Thankyou for answering I wish we have a local LLL chapter![]()