Everyone said to start pumping right away.
So, shortly after my daughter was born and we were settled at home, I mapped out a pumping schedule. I would be returning to work in four months and it was my goal to have a freezer full of milk. Lots of milk meant an easier transition, right?
Every morning, I would nurse my daughter until she was full and happy, and then I'd switch to pumping until I felt “empty.” After she nursed, I could usually get another 5 ounces, sometimes more.
A few hours later, I’d feel full again
My daughter would nurse a little, but I could tell she wasn’t super hungry. I’d pull out my pump and express just enough milk to feel comfortable. But my breasts were almost always brimming with milk and I found myself wishing for twins just to relieve myself.
In just a month, my freezer was bursting with bags of breast milk. My husband and I bought a deep freezer for our garage, knowing that with my return to work, ample storage would be necessary at the pace I was pumping.
I always felt full
If my daughter slept through a nursing session and I pumped instead, I could easily pump 10 to 15 ounces. I went through boxes of nursing pads. But I didn’t want to complain or bring attention to my “problem.” Who complains about having too much breast milk?
I didn’t pump around the clock — just once or twice a day, all in the name of building up that freezer stash. My intentions were good, but the outcome was turning out to be more than I could handle. I was pumping myself into an oversupply.
It wasn’t only my pumping schedule’s fault
I’m sure genetics has something to do with it, as well. My mom remembered waking in puddles of milk, just like I did. It seemed I was somewhat predisposed to making massive amounts of milk. Pumping was just adding to it.
By the time I realized the imbalance of what my body was making and what my daughter needed, it was too late. Thankfully, she was always fed. And thankfully, I had modern conveniences, like a great pump and endless nursing pads to manage my outpouring of milk.
After a heavy dose of Googling, I backed off pumping completely for the remainder of my maternity leave to try to teach my body that I didn’t need all this milk.
But I just kept producing
When I returned to work, pumping was obviously essential.
We made do — but looking back, I wish I would have known that it was possible to pump too much. And I wish I would have asked for help. Opening up to other breastfeeding moms may have pointed me in the right direction and reaching out to a lactation consultant would have been really smart.
So, just because you hear pumping a lot helps someone else's milk supply, don't assume it's right for you. Every breastfeeding journey is different and if something feels off, don't wait, just ask.
