Is it true that pumping decreases/dries up your milk supply?

Question

I keep hearing these horror stories from personal friends I know who would pump exclusively and then their milk would stop coming. well I didnt start pumping until 2day I bought a pump only bc I thought it would be a good idea and plus to see out of curiosity how much milk I can pump out (I was going crazy trying to find out if my daughter was getting enough from my milk alone). anyways I am now scared my milk supply will dry up---I pumped with good results for about an hour total. However, I do mostly breastfeed. so as long as I continue to directly breastfeed/ nurse then my milk supply wont dry up right? or am I doomed to have to pump every 2 hours (as well as nurse) in order to keep my supply up?

also a lactation specialist told me this---that once you start pumping you have to continue on a regular schedule or else your supply will decrease. but if I continue to nurse often that wont happen will it? so can I continue to nurse and just pump once a day or whenever I feel like it even if less than once a day?

oh and my daughter is a month old.

Answer 1

Occasional pumping will not decrease your supply - in fact, it will help stimulate more milk production. It is true, however, that exclusively pumping (without any breastfeeding) tends to gradually make your supply get smaller, but if you are nursing as well, you should be just fine!  

Answer 2

I don't believe that!

Answer 3

I bought the Madela pump the mst expensive kind. I pumped exclusively since my son didnt latch on me at all. My milk started to dry up after 6 weeks.

Answer 4

No, that's not true!  Those horror stories are because if you are not nursing, just pumping, you'll really need to pump often and for long enough periods to tell your body to make enough milk for the baby.  Many women don't have the time or patience to do that, so they don't do it often enough or for a long enough period, and that decreases their supply.  Then they notice they're not getting enough milk and they just quit.

Pumping is not as efficient as a nursing child, so you really need to watch how much you are getting if you are just pumping.

However, if you're nursing normally and just pumping occasionally to reduce engorgement or stash a few bottles in the freezer, that would increase your supply a little, but not in any noticeable amount.

If you are nursing normally and pumping often, that will make your supply go up.

Your b*****s work on supply/demand.  If you demand as much as you're producing, your supply will remain the same.  If you begin demanding more (the baby nursing more, or pumping on top of nursing), your supply will increase.  If you demand less (by not having the baby nurse enough - or not pumping enough when you're not there to feed him), then your supply will decrease.

Answer 5

What brand pump? A poor pump can still hurt your supply. But the good ones are reliable: Medela, Avent,Lansinoh, And Ameda.

As long as you feed the baby on cue, you will do very well with milk supply. Try to schedule when the baby eats, and you are setting yourself up for supply problems. When the baby cues, feed him, NOW.

Supply is reduced when people do not remove enough milk so that more can be made. So if you're not feeding or pumping at least 8 times a day, you're not going to keep a good milk supply for very long.

Answer 6

My sister and I both had to pump exclusively (Her daughter had heart surgery at 13 days old & my son was a preemie so both were on feeding tubes) and we were never able to get very much. I was told by my lactation consultant that I needed to pump at least every 2 hours and that it would increase my supply but it didn't work for me. Our mom never breastfed so we don't know if it was something genetic that we didn't produce enough or if it was using the pump.

Answer 7

No, pumping should increase your supply. Some women naturally produce alot of milk and others always have a tough time of it and have ups and downs. That has nothing to do with pumping. I wouldn't pump though unless you have to work and it is entirely necessary. The healthiest and most effective way to increase milk supply and ensure baby is full - is the natural way of having baby help you.  

Answer 8

You will continue to express milk as long as you are delivering a sufficient quantity of milk on a regular basis either breast feeding or with the pump. It is important to keep on a schedule and express a full feeding. If you are away from your baby at feeding time (you're at work,or something) use the pump. The pump isn't entertaining at all so women grow tired of it, miss their schedule and don't use it as long as they should and their body says, "Baby's all grown up - no need for milk anymore."

Answer 9

Pumping will increase your supply not decrease it.  People who are building up their milk supply or who have PCOS are strongly encouraged to pump in order to bring the supply up.  So the people telling you that it will decrease the supply are off the mark.  

Now this being said, the pump is not as efficient at removing milk as the baby is so if it is a matter of who will do a better job tdefinitelytely the baby.  I wouldn't judge how much your baby is getting by how much you are able to pump.  I pump daily and I don't get very much milk but my daughter is thriving on breastmilk just fine.

Best of luck

Answer 10

its supposed to increase milk supply. But i havent used a pump yet so i couldnt tell you from experience. call your lactation consultant! they probably have more correct information about electric pumps.

Answer 11

First of all pumping WILL NOT give you an accurate indication of how much milk your daughter is getting from the breast. She is way more efficient at getting milk then any pump could ever be even a hospital grade pump. You know that she is getting enough of your milk if she is gaining weight, and  has six or more wet diapers per day and if your breast feel full before feeding and less full after feeding. Also if she is always wanting to eat this is usually no indication that she isn't getting enough milk. Breast fed babies usually eat more often then formula fed babies because breast milk is a perfect food and it is digested much faster and easier. Sometimes if you are exclusivly pumping your supply will start to decrease becaus ea pump can not fully empty your breast and after a while it just happens. #1 reason a mother would choose to supplement with formula. But if you mainly breastfeed from the breast then you have nothing to worry about.! You do not have to pump every 2 hours if you are nursing on demand. That WILL NOT make your supply decrease. ANd you said yourself those horror stories are coming from people that exclusively pump. And the lactation consultant was talking about if you pump only. Dont stress you are fine and I saw your other post 4 ounces at one session is great. I could only get like 2 but I kew my kids were getting way more at the breast.