Openai/69456562-7124-8011-b8b7-c73549340c7c

This conversation was exported from ChatGPT

gpt-5-2

User: Why does some internet advice tell you to not pump until 4-6 weeks after giving birth?

Why does some internet advice tell you to not pump until 4-6 weeks after giving birth?

Assistant: You’ll see that advice because the first 4–6 weeks postpartum are when your milk supply is being “set,” and pumping can…

You’ll see that advice because the first 4–6 weeks postpartum are when your milk supply is being “set,” and pumping can change how that process unfolds — sometimes helpfully, sometimes not.

Here’s what’s actually behind the recommendation (and when it does not apply).

What’s happening in your body in the first 4–6 weeks

1. Milk supply is hormonally driven at first

• In the early postpartum period, milk production is mostly controlled by hormones (prolactin + the drop in progesterone after birth).
• Around 4–6 weeks, control shifts to supply-and-demand (how much milk is removed).

Because of this:

• Frequent milk removal (nursing or pumping) tells your body to make more.
• Less removal tells it to make less.

2. Pumping early can lead to oversupply

Internet advice often aims to prevent:

• Engorgement
• Clogged ducts
• Mastitis
• Fast/forceful letdown that can overwhelm babies

If someone is:

• Nursing effectively
• Has no supply issues
• Pumps in addition to normal feeds

…they may unintentionally signal their body to make more milk than their baby needs.

So the advice is often shorthand for:

“If breastfeeding is going well, don’t add extra pumping yet unless you have a reason.”

3. Early pumping can mask latch or transfer issues

If a baby:

• Isn’t transferring milk well
• Has a shallow latch, tongue tie, or low stamina

Pumping and bottle-feeding can:

• Maintain supply but
• Delay identifying the underlying feeding issue

Some providers want to see how breastfeeding stabilizes before adding pumping.

When this advice does NOT apply

Many people should pump before 4–6 weeks, including those who:

• Are exclusively pumping
• Have a baby in the NICU
• Have low supply or delayed milk coming in
• Need to supplement temporarily
• Are returning to work early
• Have painful latch or feeding difficulties
• Are managing mental health and need flexibility

In these cases, early pumping can be protective and necessary, not harmful.

Why internet advice feels so rigid (and frustrating)

Most of this guidance:

• Is one-size-fits-all
• Was designed around an “ideal” breastfeeding scenario
• Doesn’t account for postpartum mental health, sleep deprivation, or real life

For someone postpartum (especially with anxiety, depression, or a history of disordered eating), rigid rules can feel punitive instead of supportive.

Bottom line

The real principle is:

Milk removal builds supply — pumping is just one way to remove milk.

Early pumping isn’t “bad.” It’s context-dependent.

If you want, I can:

• Help you decide whether pumping makes sense for your situation
• Explain how to pump early without triggering oversupply
• Help you ignore bad internet advice with confidence

You’re not doing anything wrong by questioning this — especially as a new mom navigating a lot already.