Save now with Mommy Deals >

tools: Pregnancy Checklist | Baby Name Finder | Baby Websites | How Big is Baby?

log in | register Track your baby's growth

Your Avatar

Sign up to get FREE personalized newsletters about your baby each week.

Enter your due date or baby’s birth date:

more in Feeding Baby

Find baby registries & websites

Find a couple's baby registry. Enter parents' name here.

Create your own baby registry here.

what's hot around the web

David Fussenegger Dot Blanket

$30 each

Buy Now

Personalized Tee and Tutu Set

$29.95 set

Buy Now

CozyChic Cardigan and Hat

$54 set

$39.99 set

Buy Now

Mary Jane Socks

$29.5 set

$27.49 set

Buy Now

Sponsored Links

you asked...

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

"I'd like to see more info about nursing an older baby and the issues with pumping for an older baby. Anecdotally, it seems that many of us still breastfeeding and pumping start having pumping problems around 9 months." --mommyme

Re: "I'd like to see more info about nursing an older baby and the issues with pumping for an older baby. Anecdotally, it seems that many of us still breastfeeding and pumping start having pumping problems around 9 months." --mommyme

The Bump Expert

A baby's breastfeeding needs definitely evolve over time, and certainly change as solid foods become part of the daily routine. If you're pumping because you are going to be away from your baby, you'll need to do a couple of things. First, build up a supply of milk so that the baby will have enough for the number of feedings you'll miss. Second, bring your pump with you when you are away from the baby. You'll want to pump at the same times the baby would be eating in order to maintain your milk supply. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that moms give infants only breast milk for the first six months after the baby is born. That means no formula, water, juice or solid foods. The AAP also suggests that mothers breastfeed (in addition to feeding the baby solid foods) until the baby is at least one year old. And many moms continue to breastfeed as their kids become toddlers.  The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding, in addition to solids, for two years.

Andi Silverman | June 19 , 2009 2:06 PM

re: Q: Pumping problems?

I left my 9 month old with my husband for a wedding weekend getaway. I brough my pump and pumped when I was away. Now I am trying to pumpfor another wedding (just 1 night away) and I only get about 1/2 the amount of milk I usually pump?? And since I got back from the 1st wedding, my baby prefers cups to nursing and will only nurse (without a protest) in the am.

fourreau | May 23 , 2008 6:19 AM

re: Q: Pumping for older babies?

Same experience here - at around 8-9 months, production slowed way down, but from pumping ONLY. DS can get all the milk he wants, I can even self-express it after the pump seems to have run my dry. I had my pump tested and the company sent me some new parts and it worked fine in the tests, but I went from getting 4-5 oz to 2oz each session. I think we either get used to the suction, or maybe because the baby gets better at it, the boob needs super strong suction to get some milk. Anyone know the real answer???

wanitten | May 27 , 2009 11:34 AM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

I have soooo many friends, and myself, that this happened to. It seems like for some reason you start to have pumping issues around 8-10mths. I contacted La Leche and they said to have my pump checked (it is fine) and that we were probably lucky to have been able to be so easily stimulated by a pump to being with. They said the average for most women pumping is only 2-3 oz and to get more means you have an over abundance of milk. I used to get 8-10 oz every monring and now only get 2-3. My baby is still gaining plenty of weight and I know my milk is still plentiful, so.... I guess the pump just isn't working as well. Kellymom.com has greta info on this and even said it is ok to just give more solids while you are gone and then feed immediately upon returning. I have been doing this, with the exception of when I know I will be gone at bedtime. Then, I pump for 2-3 days prior to make sure I can leave a bottle for him to be given before bed. Good luck! I freaked out at first when this happened, btu now I kind of en like not pumping so often!

autumnhuddleston | January 03 , 2010 10:22 AM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

Hi there! I'm going through this very same problem. At first I freaked out because right at the time I was starting to pump less my DH went back to work and my DD started daycare. Talk about a nightmare! I wasn't able to get enough she needed for day and was starting to get engorged and very uncomfortable during the workday. So I called Medela and had them check my pump (which was working just fine) and the gal told me that your boobs get use to the pump and the way to get it back to the way it was is to pump 5 to 6 times per day. She told me to do this for about a week and a half and if it doesn't work to call back. So far I've been doing this for a couple of days. Not sure if it's working but I'll let you know! Good luck to all and congrats on still bf'ing!! :)

vexyvixen1031 | June 19 , 2010 11:03 AM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

I went through the exact same thing. Went into our hospital to the lactation consultant, pump was fine, got on some supplements as I was going to be away longer during the day than normal for 3 days while working out of town. Those helped (blessed thisle & fenugreek), but I was still having issues w/ getting enough milk when pumping - never having any issues when nursing. Called Medela, they told me that my size was changing and I needed a smaller shield - they sent me a smaller shield (I think just "small") and it worked. I started having let down again, which I wasn't having w/ the larger pump shield. I still only get 2 oz. when pumping. Originally I was giving our daycare provider 3 oz bottles still - just using f/m the freezer supply, but tried just 2 oz one day and he was fine and had no issues. I think the need just goes so far down. I'm 6 weeks til his 1 year! Cross your fingers for me ladies! I have a goal to get to that 1 year mark before we start weaning! Good luck to you all! Kristi

kristiingalls | June 20 , 2010 3:01 PM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

SOOOO Glad to hear that I am not the only one experiencing this. There is definitly a lack of info for nursing older babies. I tried a "nursing vacation" to have the baby help bust my supply, and will be having the daycare supplement with food for whatever I don't have. DD will just have to adjust her nursing pattern to get more from me when we are together. 9 months this weekend, hoping to make it to 12.

lac1418 | September 13 , 2010 1:03 PM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

Holy Cow! It's great to see that I'm not the only one with this issue. I have been freaking out the past couple of weeks. My LO is 9 months old and I just recently seen a significant decrease in my pumping supply. My left breast has always produced less, but now it is WAY less. Where I may get 3-4 ozs out of my right breast, I get 0.5-1 oz out of my left!!! My left breast has almost gone down to pre-nursing size. I really want to make it to one year and don't want to dry up. I think I'm going to try the smaller shield idea (given that I don't already use the small shield--have to check).

katrreid | September 28 , 2010 5:56 AM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

Me, too. Very common... this has occured with my third baby (I'm pumping now and my baby is 9 months)... I think mom's milk supply naturally drops because baby is adjusting better to eating (supplementing) calories with solid foods, and not exclusively breast milk. If you are concerned, or think baby is not getting enough milk when you are away, try increasing the pumping sessions, drink more fluids (water), etc.

Amy0527 | September 29 , 2010 3:16 PM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one that has noticed a drop in pumping results. It happened for me around the 8.5 month mark. I'm lucky I get 1.5oz total when I pump now and trying to pump a 5 oz bottle takes about 5 days. But my daughter seems to have no problem nursing and seems to be getting plenty of milk. Maybe it's just our bodies way of prepping for when we start to ween our babies.

plopat | November 04 , 2010 12:32 PM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

I'm having this issue already at 3 months. I'm worried that when I go back to work I will have to supplement with formula. I really don't want to do this! I'm seeing an acupuncturist to see if she can help. Also, I'm PCOS and may try going back on metformin. Any advice would be very helpful!

sbwalk | January 16 , 2011 3:02 PM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

I am so glad to see that I'm not alone. I have been struggling for a couple weeks now and even went and bought a new pump (I was using an old one). How much milk should the LO be taking at this point? I have read several posts that say they should be taking almost 30oz a day and I don't feel he's getting anywhere near that. We do 2 bottles of 6oz each while I'm working and then he usually nurses 3 times each day as well. Any thoughts on what your babies are taking in each day? I have 12 weeks to till he turns 1. Hope we make it!!!

Stealthottie | May 09 , 2011 12:51 PM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

Hallo ladies, next week i will be away from my DS all day for 2 days mon and thurs. He is 9months and my first time to be away from him for longer period since he was born. I did not pump he will just take formula while I'm gone but i'm not sure what to do when I come back to nurse him straight away. I dont think i can take the pump with me cause I wont have a place to chill whatever i pumped. Does anyone know if my milk will still be good when he didn't nurse all day and I also did not pump? Do boobs still feel engorged if the baby didn't suck or they were not expressed even after 9months?

nhlanhlamlambo | July 13 , 2011 10:21 PM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

My little boy was jaundice so we had to force-feed him bottles when he was only a couple of days old, he never took to nursing. I've had to pump for him ever since, he's now 9 months! The best way to increase your supply is to pump more often (I was at every 2 hours in the beginning!) and to pump for longer (I've been up to 30 min at a time). When you're at the supply you want 20 min is fine and I'm down to 5 times a day. I'm now freezing my extra for when he's at about a year I can stop pumping earlier than that. I was up to about 63 oz a day when I was pumping 6 times a day (6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, and 9pm). I'm now down to 5 times a day (6, 9, 1p, 5, and 9) and supply is down to about 48 oz. When you want to wean off a session you shorten from 20 min a pumping to 15 min for a while and so on. As much work as pumping is, I'm proud to be able to donate my milk. So far I've donated about 3000 oz to the milk bank! Good luck all!!

dplamondon | July 23 , 2011 9:44 AM

Q&A: Pumping for older babies?

@nhlanhlamlambo: You're only going to be away for one day at a time, right? for how many hours? More than 8 hours would make my boobs uncomfortably full; that's happened a couple of times recently and it's not pleasant, but doable. And yes, your milk will still be good even if you don't pump at all. It doesn't go bad while still inside our bodies. :)

baleydyan | January 12 , 2012 12:16 PM

popular questions

recently added questions