having trouble reducing expressing

So I'm trying to reduce my exclusive expressing which I thought (in theory!) should be quite easy - after all, I don't have DS's demand to worry about!

I'm down to 2 pumps a day (usually about 12 hours apart). I get anywhere between 150 - 300ml per express (that's from both sides). I figure I should shorten my expresses so I'm not fully emptying, and then my supply should drop. But a few times whilst trying to shorten my expresses a bit, I've just ended up feeling so full, lumpy and uncomfortable that I end up doing a longer next express to clear it (i've managed to avoid doing any extra expresses though). But then I get nervous about it happening again, so I think I'm not shortening my expresses enough. Oh and sometimes I just get vague and do a longer express without realising :doh:. Plus I find it very hard to know when I've emptied enough and should stop (I can tell afterwards if I'm empty, but not as easily mid-express).... I because I've gotten into the habit of expressing till empty... hmm I dunno, I'm just not very good at expressing less!

So should I just really shorten my expresses and then just express for comfort (potentially more than twice a day) but keep them really short? Or should I just keep doign my 2/day and shorten them more aggressively than I should be doing? My supply is definitely going down, I just think it's taking too long, and I'm back at work in less than 2 weeks... so I would like to speed things up a bit. I guess I just don't know how much discomfort is normal... should I just put up with it? I've tried using cabbage leaves the other day when I was sore, but I don't think it made much difference? Would love some advice.
Thanks heaps.

Hi,

In most cases our bodies just love making milk. I think you just need to go a little slower - you are at peak production. Mums whose 12mnth olds feed at the breast mind themselves in a similar situation. They feel that they have *nothing* but when their baby stops breastfeeding they find they get full and lumpy.

If you ever feel uncomfortably full, express a little out til you feel comfortable again. As you say, you can feel your supply is reducing - so you are on the right track

Thanks Barb. I'm still going on 2 pumps a day and having trouble dropping to one. I think I find it hard to know "mid-pump" if I've expressed enough for comfort, and I probably err on the side of expressing too much, hence continuing the whole cycle. Fingers crossed I'll manage to get it reduced eventually.

It sounds like you are doing well hun.