Can you lose your milk if you just pump ?

Question

I just had a baby and my milk came in but my baby breastfeeds for like 4 hours and its easier and faster for me to pump and then give it to him. Could i lose my milk if i continue to just pump?

Answer 1

YES. i don't care what anyone says- h**l yes you will dry up eventually. i pumped like crazy because my daughter hated the boob, and i dried up within 3 weeks. i even got up in the middle of the night to pump. my daughter was already sleeping through the night at 2 weeks old, and i couldn't even enjoy it because i had to get up and tend to my aching, leaky b***s! lol, but in all seriousness, the only way to keep your milk in is toat leastt breastfeed once a day, then pump for all other feedings. as long as you have the baby stimulating your breast, if even for just 30 minutes a day, your milk supply will never run out. there are women who still breastfeed their 5 year olds. anyways, hope this helps you and good luck!  

Answer 2

Yes you can. A pump doesn't empty your b*****s as well as a baby can so you will eventually dry up. Efficient feeding (emptying your b*****s fully) is what keeps your milk supply up. If they're not drained fully, your body will think it's not needed so your supply will drop. Eventually it'll be gone all together.

I had the same problem with my son nursing for so long. Your baby might be falling asleep while nursing without you even realizing it (that's what my son did). Once is seems like your baby is just sucking, switch sides. When it happens again, switch again. That way the baby is forced to stay awake to eat and will finish fast. I did that with my son and it worked GREAT. After a few times of doing that, my son stayed awake long enough to eat and went from taking 1 1/2 hours to eat to about 20 minutes to eat.

Good Luck!!

Answer 3

You have to really stick to it. Pumping atleast every 2 hours in the first few weeks and once or twice at night. In the next few weeks after your supply is established, you can do it every 3-4 hours but it is very time consuming. Some women do lose their milk because no pump is as efficient as a suckling baby. I have been successfully pumping for almost 8 months. My baby wouldn't latch properly, so you can count yourself lucky that your baby did. I pump every 3 hours, except at night. I still have to supplement with formula too. Good job for wanting to stick with breastmilk!

Answer 4

Nope. Women who have premies pump them milk for awhile and they keep making milk. Something about premies not being able to latch on. Don't remember but as long as your b*****s are stimulated to make the milk they will keep on doing it.