We get a lot of emails about pumping and one of the more common questions is “when do you pump?”. The answer depends on a several factors and will vary with your baby’s age and whether you are nursing or exclusively pumping.
When Nursing…
I’ll start with nursing because that’s an “easier” schedule than EPing. This schedule is really only to build up your supply, pumping is not a necessary step in breastfeeding (unless you are away from baby of course) Here is my pump scheduled when I nursed my son:
Newborn to 3 Months:
Pumped 3 times a day. Right after his morning nursing session (when we were up for the day), once when my husband got home from work and once right before I went to bed. I always pumped right after baby ate to make sure he was getting enough.
3 Months – 4 Months:
I dropped down to 2 pumping sessions a day mainly because I was getting way too full and uncomfortable. I dropped the afternoon session and only pumped in the morning and right before bed.
5 months+:
I was so over pumping and had a great supply so at 5 months I gave up the morning session. I started pumping at night only just to get completely empty before I was off to bed. I will continue to do this until it is time to wean.
When Exclusively Pumping:
Here was my approximate schedule of how I pumped when I exclusively pumped my daughter broken down by age:
Of course, if you ever get stuck or need help with your pumping or nursing schedules, please contact a lactation consultant. These ladies are supportive, knowledgeable and amazing. They can help you with your unique situation and can offer tips that will work for you.
Something I learned and loved was putting nipple cream on before I pumped too and that helped them not get so chapped!
Can you return to pumping after not doing it for a while? I am still bf but have no back up supply.
you definitely can! You may not get a lot from pumping, but keep trying to see if it increases. Best wishes.
Any suggestions for a nursing mom returning to work? How often should I pump while at work?
Good luck going back to work! When I went back I tried to pump 3 times at work…but I had an hour commute so I was away from home for at least 10 hours a day. After about a month I was down to twice a day at work. Hope that helps!
My son is 4 months old. I work 12 hours shifts. I usually pump 3 times a shift (about every 3:30-4 hours). I had it figured out. My son drinks about 20 oz while i'm working. and I pump about 30 oz, so i have some to freeze too!
I'm starting this a week late. How much were you able to pump at each pumping session during the first two weeks? I seem to only get about an ounce if I'm lucky. Are you supplementimg at all during that time?
Hi Marianne! It was NOT much and mainly depended on if baby ate before I pumped. Typically it was about an ounce at first, sometimes even less. I did not have to supplement at all with my son, I did a tiny bit with my daughter. It was very frustrating but you will get more as time goes on. Good luck momma!
Just wanted to update as I've been exclusively pumping this whole time now since my last comment/question!! I'm doing great with output now, making enough for baby to eat AND enough to put away in the freezer during night time when she's not eating. I JUST cut out the middle of the night pump…moved it to 2am and pump for an hour till 3am. Do you think it's necessary to continue doing that? Did you lose any ounces cutting pumps? Your pumping schedule has been a HUGE help to me!
Thank you for updating us!! That is WONDERFUL news! I would start to fade your middle of the night pumping session since you have a good supply built up now. Try not setting your alarm and sleeping through the night=)) You may be super full in the morning but it will work itself out within a week. Your body will adjust to the baby's needs. If baby isn't waking in the middle of the night to eat, you shouldn't have to pump. If baby is waking in the middle of the night to eat, then you may want to continue a pumping session. Hope that makes sense!
How long did you pump for when you nursed?
At first I pumped until I was empty and then an extra 5-10 minutes (whatever baby would let me get away with) so that I could build my supply. Once my supply was established (I'd say around 3 months) I just pumped until I was empty to store any excess milk.
My baby is 3 week old but i was wondering if I can use the newborn schedual to build my supply a bit since i barely make enough to keep him happy. I ep no bfing since he does not suck correctly. Thank you!
Hi Heidi! You can use the NB schedule to boost supply. Another trick would be to mimic your pump schedule with baby's eating schedule. So pump every time you feed him and add 5-10 minutes to your pump time once you think you are empty (this will signal that you need more milk!). You can check out some more of our tips here: http://www.naptimetales.com/2012/10/increasing-your-milk-supply.html
Good luck momma!
This is terrible advice for an exclusive pumper. You should never pump for a set amount of minutes, but just keep pumping until you are empty. Better to have to throw some out or fill up your freezer than to risk losing your supply because you only pumped for so many minutes. If there is any milk left in the breast, this signals the body produce less milk.
Thanks for stopping by! At the end of my post I specifically state "When you are building your supply it is crucial to pump until you are empty every time. No exceptions…it is all about supply and demand. If you are struggling with your supply you can also look into these tips."
I think it is helpful to suggest a time for new moms (as my lactation consultant did for me) because they don't know what that empty feeling is like, especially in those first weeks when there isn't much milk there to begin with.
With very little information out there for EPers I disagree that this post is "terrible advice". Of course, I would encourage any new mom (pumping or nursing) to consult with a lactation specialist with any specific questions.
I actually was told by NICU lactation consultant a set amount of time also. She informed me that if I pump until I get nothing I may never be done pumping. I was continuously getting at least a few drops. I think this is great information.
My daughter is a week old and currently I am exclusively nursing but I think it may be better for my sanity if I switch to exclusively pumping. Would I just follow the newborn exclusively pumping schedule and pump after she nurses? I'm just worried that if I empty myself out with that first pump she won't have enough to eat her next feeding. Also, would I nurse her after the first pump or should I introduce the bottle and pump while she eats that way and continue with that and simply follow the exclusively pumping schedule? I'm a ftm.and the first in my family to attempt to breastfeed so I'm sorry for the rambling questions.
HI Samantha! Good for you for giving it a try. Breastfeeding is the hardest thing I've ever done but SO worth it. You got this!
Have you read our blog on pumping vs nursing? http://www.naptimetales.com/2013/02/exclusively-pumping-vs-nursingpump-it.html
And this one- http://www.naptimetales.com/2013/02/exclusively-pumping-vs-nursingpump-it.html
The reason I ask is because both methods have their own advantages/disadvantages. Make sure you are 100% sure before you make the switch…I wanted to stop nursing and pump so many times and I'm glad I caught myself.
That being said- if you are sure you want to pump, more power to ya! I would feed baby first then pump what you have left. Your body will always produce more, just stay hydrated and pump/nurse often. Some women don't respond as well to the pump so don't get frustrated if you are just getting drops at first. I would do this for a few days before you try to push her on the bottle full time, you may find it takes her some time to get used to. If she seems hungry after a feeding, try giving her expressed milk that you've saved. Hope that helps! If not- feel free to send us an email…this is the longest comment EVER. ;o)
Were you still able to keep up with growth spurts while exclusively pumping? That's my biggest fear.
I was because I produced more than what my daughter needed. So I always had a great stash in my freezer. š
About how many ounces did you pump at each session?
Hi Pam! It really depended on how old my daughter was. At first it was nothing…drops really. I built my supply to be as high as 60 ounces at one point! It all depends on your body and how much/how long you pump, and if you are doing anything to increase your supply.
I can pump around 4 oz every 3 hours. How do I keep up with my baby growth spurts, because she may be needing more milk per feeding soon.
Hi Chelsea! Try increasing the amount of time you pump after you empty- this will help send signals to your body that you need more milk. You may even want to build in an additional pump time (sometimes this means evenings which I know is not ideal) or pump every 2 hours when you know you will have help with the baby. Pumping longer and/or more often should do the trick and then you can back off when you feel like you have an increased supply. Good luck!
Wow I sincerely hope people reading the how to pump when exclusively pumping section do not follow your advice. Only about 5% of women can get away with only pumping for 20 minutes. YOU MUST PUMP UNTIL EMPTY.There are a ton of great evidence based support groups out there. I exclusively pumped for 11.5 months for twins and there are thousands of women who pump for years and they will all tell you to pump a minimun of8-10x a day for 12-16 weeks. And then adjust how you pump. It is hormone based until 12-16 weeks and then supply and demand based. Im sure your intentions were great in out lining this but not all of your information is correct. If I would have only pumped for 20 minutes I would have never made it to 11.5 months.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for stopping by! I do note at the bottom of this post (and in all our other posts involving pumping/nursing and supply) that it is crucial to pump until empty. I think you will agree that there is not much information out there for us EPing moms so any "advice" is worth reading. I state a few times that this was my schedule, of course other mom's schedules will vary. Just like babies…not one of us is the same. š
My baby is 3 weeks old. I have not started pumping yet. I need her to be on full bottles by 5 months. Should I start pumping now to build a freezer supply? I heard to do it after my morning session (8am). Would that be enough or should I do it after my night session also? (7ish).
We're introducing a bottle this weekend. Only doing 2-3 per week to get her used to it and slowly adding more.
Also- once we do bottles should I pump every time I feed her a bottle?
Thanks!
Hey Momma! My advice would be to pump after each feeding. It is a lot but it will help build your supply AND you'll be getting extra for those bottles. If you can't do it after every feeding, do it as often as you can.
Introducing a bottle can be tricky. We had my son taking my milk out of a bottle but didn't do it often enough and he refused at about 6 months old. I would say if you need to eventually move her to bottles then try to give her one at least 2 times a day (Ash W did this and it worked well for her son) then slowly add more as you get closer to "go" time.
And yes, if you feed her a bottle you should absolutely pump for that feeding session. This will help maintain your supply.
Hope that all helps!
I have exclusively pumped for my twins for 6 months now and I am attempting to wean right now. How did you go about drying up your milk?? I have dropped a pump weekly and I am now down to only two pumps a day but the engorgement is killing me. I pumped this morning for about 17 minutes, I wasn't even empty but soft enough and pain free. It is now 12 hours later and I can't take it anymore so I am going to pump for about 15 minutes. I know they say not to empty your breasts but I need some pointers here! Thanks so much!!
Hey Kelli! Weaning my son was WAY harder than with my daughter. You are doing great…the last 2-3 pumps are the hardest to drop I think. Try to reduce the amount of time you pump but still pump 2-3 times a day to help relieve that pressure. Don't pump to empty…just enough to get comfy again. I also drank sage tea and that did seem to help. And I was thisclose to getting cabbage leaves because I read that can help a ton but ended up just toughing it out. š It is NO fun but give it a few more weeks and take it slow so you don't end up with mastitis!
When you nursed did you do both breasts then pump both till empty? I nurse one side at a time so it's a little confusing when pumping till empty I'm afraid I won't fill back up by the time my son is hungry :/
When you nursed did you do both breasts then pump till empty? I nurse one side at a time so it can be confusing when pumping till empty I'm afraid I won't fill up by the time my son is hungry again
HI! Yes–I did! My lactation specialist told me that is how your body knows to continue to produce that amount of milk or more. I had the same fear as you! But it did work=)
I would just like to comment on those that said your advice was bad. I could not get my daughter to latch and I was an exclusive pumper. I had such an awful time finding any kind of advice. From someone who did it for 11 months and went through numerous clogged ducts and and mastitis, I think you are giving sound advice. We need more mom's like you out there!
Thank you for your sweet comment! We are very glad that we can offer support and guidance to moms who have gone through similar issues! Congratulations on exclusively pumping for 11 months!! You Rock!
Im nursing my son and pumping only to increase my supply. I have such a difficult time with letting down during pumping unless my son is feeding off of the other breast. Unfortunately I dont always have the time to do this since I run an in home daycare
How do I get started from birth? I will be having a scheduled c section and I did not bf with my first baby-im nervous on the logistics of this because I will be returning to my office part time very soon after birth so I need this to work…help!
Hi Sarah! I think it depends on whether or not you are going to try to nurse baby to start. If so, just get used to nursing for the first few weeks. Once you feel comfortable I would start trying to introduce a bottle with a little bit of your pumped milk. If nursing is your goal, then pump AFTER baby eats. But if you are wanting to pump right out of the gate, get started asap in the hospital.
Thank you so much for this post! I'm due with my 2nd in about 3 weeks and was feeling so nervous about breastfeeding again. I exclusively pumped with my first, but didn't do it well or often enough and lost my supply at around 4 months. I had no clue what i was doing and didn't quite understand the ins and outs of it all. This is going to help me so much. Thank you!
When did you start pumping, right after you came from the hospital, or later?
I started to pump shortly after I came home from the hospital because I was overproducing and needed to get some relief. This helped me start to build up a supply. After my supply evened out I had a hard time figuring out how to build a supply but by pumping right after I fed my baby allowed me to collect a few ounces here and there throughout the day. Hope that helps!!
Hi! My lactation consultant recommends using on only one side each time versus both breasts at each session. I am trying to pump in prep for return to work as well as for at least one bottle a day now. I am a little confused at pumping since I only nurse one side each round. I've been pumping after my morning session and then when we give a bottle but have only been pumping either the side I nursed on or when giving the bottle the side that was due to be nursed on. Should I be pumping both Breast at the same time each time or
Or should I continue only one side at a time? Unfortunately I'm only getting an ounce to ounce and a half after I feed her in one Breast. She is 6 weeks old. Thanks for your advice!
Hmmmm…I've never been told to only pump one side. Did your LC say that so that you aren't taking away supply from baby since you are still nursing? I always pumped both sides but I also never had many supply issues. It doesn't sound like much but 1.5 oz after a feeding is great! Keep pumping as it triggers your body to make more, I think you'll find that your supply will go up. Slow and steady wins the race Momma! š
Sorry…I meant to say I only nurse on one side each feeding. So I am unsure if I should be pumping both breasts after or just the one I nursed on. And when we do give a bottle should I be pumping both sides at that time or just the side that's due?
So I used to only nurse on one side but I would still pump on both sides….that worked for me=) The reason I only nursed on side at a time was b/c I was trying to build up my hind milk so the baby wouldn't by so gassy. Hope that helps!!! ~Ashley W
Hi!
I am currently breastfeeding my 5 month old daughter. I have some concerns, I work 9 to 6 and sometimes 9 to 8. I get so busy at work I only pump once a day. I produce about 5 to 8 ounces from my right breast and if I'm lucky 3 from my left. I do not want to stop breastfeeding! I have to stock in my freezer so I sometimes have to give her formula, like when I'm running errands and I cannot feed her.
What can I do??? I don't want to lose my supply, me and my siblings were not breastfed and I'm just so happy that I can do this for my baby.
Please help
I have a 7 month old son that I exclusively pump for. … my question is on the 6-9 month schedule. … you are only pumping 10 minutes. … I'm pumping 20 and get milk until 15 minutes in. … do I need to continue on the 20 minute schedule or will my body adjust to the 10 minute pumping?
Hello, i have a 6 week old baby and i have never pumped because i do not know how and i am a bit scared however i would love to stock up for when i go back to college and finish my degree, right now im breastfeeding all during the day and at night i breast feed baby before bed but also give him a bottle so he can sleep 2 or 3 hours straight other wise he wakes up every hour to nurse. I mainly do it so i can get a little bit of rest. I nurse him every hour after that or everytime he wakes up. Can you please tell me if i can start pumping and were to start
Hi Rosa! Sounds very similar to how my little guy was…he wanted to nurse around the clock for a LONG time. š I pumped after I nursed him. Pick a session that's easiest for you- sometimes this is right after you put them down for the night (so you know you'll get to go a little longer than the 1-2 hr stretch he does during the day). Hope that helps!
Im 38 weeks pegnany and plan on brestfeeding. My question is how often do I feed baby on each breast and after feeding I have a double pump so how long should I be pumping? Just worried that If I pump till im empty after feeding baby that by the time he wakes I wont have milk
Hi Shawn! I think you will find that when baby is first born, you won't have time to pump. š I would suggest letting baby eat on demand for the first several weeks. Let baby help you establish a good milk supply and then when you need to start getting on a schedule, add pumping to your routine. I'd start with 2-3 times a day after a nursing session for about 5 minutes.
If I want to start weaning at 6 months, when's the earliest I can cut back on pump sessions?
I would say it depends on your milk supply and how much you want to store. If you have a lot of milk, I'd give yourself a few weeks to cut back and then quit.
I am nursing and pumping for a 4 week old. I only pump in order to have milk for my husband to feed the baby at night so I can get more than a couple hours of sleep at a time. This is my first baby so I am not completely sure about anything, but it seems like my breasts are never empty. After the baby is done eating I still have milk coming out. I pump in the mornings when I wake up because I'm so full from missed feedings at night, and I try to pump until I'm empty but there seems to always be milk coming out even after I've pumped 8 or 10 oz. I pump maybe once more during the day but i only need milk for at night so i haven't done it more than that. My concern is that if my breasts aren't empty after i pump or breastfeed will my supply start to diminish. And is it bad that i am skipping one or two feedings at night? I always pump as soon as i wake up, but I don't want my supply to get cut because of that.
Hi Kirsta! This is a great problem to have, trust me. Haha. I always had a hard time figuring out if I was empty as well. Feel your breasts when they are full- you can feel your glands are full of milk, almost reminded me of little grapes or marbles in there. Then after you've pumped for 15-20 minutes, feel again. Do you feel squishy/deflated for the most part? If so then you are probably good. I don't think it is bad to skip a couple of feedings but I would make sure to pump to empty every time. And keep track of your supply-keep a consistent schedule and if you see a dip in your supply then pump a few minutes longer at each session or build in a session. Hope that helps!
I lost twice all I typed because it asked me to sign in again…:(
My son is 10 weeks old. I could never take a nap during daytime and hence my husband formula fed my son during nights from day 1 so that I can sleep. I didn't pump for first two weeks either.
I started pumping after 2 weeks when i got my medela pump in style pump and pumped twice during nights. I only produced upto 2 ounces per session and i felt shooting pain in my breasts right after which stayed whole day that I had to eat ibuprofen everyday. I ordred medela large flanges but in vain, then i ordered pumpin pal and pain vanished. But i was not producing more, so i ordered fairhaven fenugreek which didn't help. I am now taking their nursing blend along with tea and can produce 3-4 ounces per session. But, My baby is grown up now,,,so 3-4 ounces are not enough.
PlEASE HELP? Will EPing help. I read about lactiful supplemnt and their money back guarantee. I am ready to spend 100 bucks on that if I can be guided on how often to pump and what should be the schedule?
It asks us to sign in again sometimes too…must be a Google thing. š
Have you checked out our increasing your nursing supply blog? Here is the link- http://www.naptimetales.com/2012/10/increasing-your-milk-supply.html.
We hear that a lot of people aren't successful with fenugreek but it turns out that most moms aren't taking enough. Check kellymom.com for dosage, you take WAY more than the bottle recommends. Also drink LOTS of water and pump pump pump! If you are trying to nurse as well, pump after you nurse. Hopefully our other post will help but if you have anymore questions, feel free to shoot us an email at naptimetales@gmail.com. Good luck momma!
I love your blog!! thank you sooo much for all your advice, I have found it extremely helpful and encouraging. My boy will be 8 months old next week! 4 more months to go! I know I can do it, I am just sooooo exhausted and tired. It is a lot of work and inconvenient, especially when going out on family outings. I recently finished nursing my 1st born for about 18 months, so I am truly burned out. I just want to know if you don't mind sharing, words of advice, encouragement, that helped you stay the course. Did you stick to your schedule? I rarely do. I pump but I usually miss my window (hence is probably why my milk is going down…time to pump more). How did stay on track? And what did you do when you went out with family and there was no place to pump? Yours Truly, exhausted and tired momma
You are so welcome, Edith! I know it is so exhausting!!!! I did try to stay on a consistent schedule even though it was hard sometimes. I would pump in the bathroom a lot or even in my car or a changing room if I was at the mall. I hope that helps. Keep on trucking =)))
Hi! I loved your post! I found it extremely helpful, especially for a FTM trying to figure out how to build up a stock while BFing. I do have one question (it might be a silly one :S). I was wondering what you do with the small amount of milk that is pumped at the very beginning when trying to build up your supply. If it's only 1 or 2 oz, in my mind it isn't enough to freeze, so what do you do with it? Do you keep it and mix it with the next batch? I sound completely clueless, but this is all so new to me! Thank you! š
Thanks for stopping by! I saved every last drop…that 1-2 oz is liquid gold! š I always combined it with other milk from another session. You could also save those small portions for other uses like healing diaper rash, clearing up pink eye…etc. Here is a fun article with LOTS of uses for those extra few ounces- http://codenamemama.com/2012/02/20/medicinal-cosmetic-alternative-uses-breastmilk/
Hi,
Thanks so much for the great advice. I came across this on Pinterest and have now changed my mind from wanting to exclusively formula feed. I am due with my second son in 7 weeks and have been feeling discouraged about trying nursing again this time around. I was unsuccessful with my first. This is the first I've read about exclusive pumping. I plan to try it out using your advice.
Question: should I start pumping ahead of time as I approach my due date? Should I pump while in the hospital, or is it better to start with nursing directly while in the hospital and pump when we are home from the hospital?
Hi Dominique!! Your post makes me smile :). I had a heck of a time nursing my daughter (which is why I pumped exclusively with her) but my son nursed like an absolute pro and never took a bottle. Talk about going from one extreme to the other! You might find that nursing your new little guy is a totally different experience than what you went through with your first.
That said, if you want to skip straight to EP…go for it! I would honestly try nursing while in the hospital and maybe even a few days after. If it isn't working for you, then start pumping. At least then your body knows what it needs to do- produce milk!
You may also want to check in with your doctor and get the name of a lactation consultant before it's go time. I would not advise pumping before because sometimes that can induce labor. Even if you decide not to nurse, a lactation consultant can help you decide when you need to start pumping and chat with you about any supply issues and the fit of your pump.
Good luck Momma and thanks for your sweet note.
I'm expecting my first child in about two weeks, or so I hope. I would like to nurse/pump but know very little about it. I've been doing some research and your schedule with pumping had to be the most enlightening article yet. Im someone who likes to plan and have a schedule. I also blessed with being a stay-at-home mom. When you talk about pumping is this after you feed the baby? My husband is currently deployed so he won't be much help. I'm sure my family will help durning the day but I don't want to bother them at night. Also how much milk should I be putting in each bag? I would like to have a large stash and waste little milk.
Hello and thank you for this wonderful and helpful post. I am EPing my 11 day old son due to latch and weight issues and I am on a 3 hour pumping schedule but was wondering if you have any advice about coordinating your pumping and feeding schedules. I am pumping at specific times 3, 6, 9, 12 and currently am waking up my little one to feed before I pump so that I know I will be able to pump, but I don't know if that is what I should be doing? When you were pumping on a schedule when did you feed your little one? I feel like if I don't keep him on somewhat of a schedule I will not get any sleep because I will be feeding or pumping 24 hours a day š Thank you!
Hi Aly! Congrats on your new little guy. š At 11 days old…you WILL feel like you pumping and feeding ALL. DAY. LONG. It gets easier and faster, I promise! š
I actually never got a perfect routine down for the feed/pump balancing act. I started out pumping every 2 hours (if you are getting enough milk at 3 hrs…more power to ya!) and would try to start pumping about 45 minutes after my daughter's last feeding so that when I was finished, she would have fresh milk for the next feeding. Then when my husband was home from work and around in the evenings, he'd feed while I pumped. That helped so much!
After awhile I established enough supply so I just pumped when I wanted to, not necessarily to keep up with baby.
You are still in the early stages, it is rough. I think I felt much more on top of things around the 4-6 week mark. By then your body will have an established milk supply and baby will be going longer between feedings.
Keep up the GREAT work Momma! You can do it!!!!
I have a 6 week old baby in the NICU. He was born at 31 weeks. He initially took my breast milk through an NG tube and they gradually transitioned him to bottles with a few breastfeeding sessions. Since he's been in the NICU I've pretty much been exclusively pumping minus the 1 to 2 breastfeeding sessions. They are moving him to a 3 to 4 hour feeding schedule versus strictly every 3. My question is, do I continue to pump every 2 to 3 hours or can I move to every 3 to 4 to be on his schedule for when he comes home in a week or so? I'm hoping that stretching out the sessions will not affect my supply. When I was pumping every 3 hrs I would still get pretty inconsistent amounts averaging 15 to 20 oz per day. When I stretch the session to 3 to 4 hrs I go longer and am getting almost 4 to 6 oz per session. I do plan to breastfeed when he comes home until I return to work in October in which I would have to add pumping back in. I'm just concerned about my supply if I move to 3 to 4 hours. Sorry if this is repetitive.
Hi!! I feel like my question is similar to Kristen's above. I have been exclusively pumping my 9 week old babe for about 7 weeks now. We tried so hard to get her to latch & finally felt this would be less traumatic for the both of us! I am currently pumping 6x a day and producing an average of 24oz (6oz – 3oz per pump) daily. I wanted to know if you were able to pump less frequently over time and produce more per pump, or will I most likely need to pump 6x daily to keep feeding baby?
Hi there! I was able to reduce the number of times I pumped daily while still keeping up with my same supply. Your baby is still new so it might be several more weeks for you, but you'll get there Momma!!
This is great advise! Thanks for sharing. I recently had to go to pumping and not nursing my 14 week old because I do not produce enough. My left side has always produced less then my right side which I hear can be normal, but it’s consistently only 1/4 – 1/2 oz. š My right side will pump at most 1.5 ounces. I’m going to try your NB pumping schedule and see if I can’t get a bit more though.
Hello Ashley,
Thanks for all of the great info. Your posts are so informative and clear. I am currently 37 weeks prego and I would really like to breastfeed and/or pump milk for my little girl. The only obstacle is that I have to go back to work 2 weeks after I deliver! What do you recommend I do to build up a supply? I can definitely pump at work, I’m just not sure how to start the whole process. Should I just bf and pump 3x a day as recommended for newborns or would you suggest a different approach? Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Hi Hannah! Congrats, you are getting so close to meeting baby girl. š I would suggest trying to nurse only for those first few weeks just to get a hang of things. Baby won’t really be on a schedule yet so it’s hard to say when you’ll have time to pump. A few days before you go back to work is when I’d try to build in 2-3 sessions after you nurse baby girl. At 2 weeks you will most likely still be trying to keep up with her demand, so you’ll have to pump a lot at work. I was still either pumping or nursing every 2 hours for at least 20 minutes until both my kids turned 6 weeks. It is critical that you KEEP IT UP if you want to grow your milk supply- it is much easier to be consistent and diligent about pumping/nursing for the first 6 weeks and get a good supply than it is to try to regain that time when baby is older and eating more. There are other ways to boost supply (naptimetales.com/2013/02/increasing-your-milk-supply-revisited.html) but they won’t work if you aren’t pumping or nursing enough at the beginning. Hope that helps! You can do it Momma!
Came across this on Pintrest and I’m EP after being in to much pain when my little one nurses (was like that with child #2 as well). She’s 3 weeks old and I’m actually doing better pumping every 3 hours instead of every 2. My only question is on the time is that 20 minutes on each side or 20 minutes total?
Hi Jennifer! Congrats on baby #2! š When pumping I had 2 flanges so it was 20 minutes total. If you only have one, I’d suggest 20 minutes on each side for sure! Hope that helps.
Hi! Ok so I am exclusively breastfeeding right now (my baby is 8 weeks). But I need to go back to work in about a month so I need to start pumping to get a supply for when I’m at work. When I breastfeed, I give her one breast at a time… Meaning one feeding will be on the right side only. The next feeding will be on the left side only. Then the next feeding will be on the right side again. Etc… How do you recommend I pump when I am breastfeeding that way? Do I pump only on the side that I just fed her after she is done? Or do you recommend pumping both sides after she is done? I’m just nervous that, if I pump the side she didn’t feed on, that breast won’t be full enough for her next feeding, which will be on that side. Does that make sense?
That does make sense. I always found that baby always had enough. I would probably pump both sides after each feeding. Will she take a bottle? If so- that should offer you some relief if you don’t feel like she’s getting enough when she nurses at your next session. I’d nurse her, pump and if she didn’t get enough warm up a bottle. I say to still pump even if you feel empty because that will signal your body that you (or baby really) needs more milk. If you keep up with that schedule for awhile, you should see an increase in your supply. Hope that helps!
Hello, I am a first time mom. My son is 2 months old. I try to feed him on demand. I pump as much as I can at night to start building up a supply. I have no idea how to tell when I am empty. I can tell that my breasts are smaller and softer after a feeding or pumping session. But not sure if they are completely empty. At this point, I only pump once a day before I go to bed and usually only pump about 4 oz. should I be pumping more or is this enough for a 2 month old? And sorry for the loaded comment/ question.
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for popping over! Such a great question. If you are pumping 4oz that is great. I would recommend pumping for 10 minutes post last few drops. It tricks the body to make more. I would also go ahead and add some supplements such as fenugreek to your daily regimen if you are worried about not making quite enough. And of course, talk to your doctor or lactation specialist for more guidance=) I hope that helps!
When you are pumping while nursing to build your supply, are you feeding what you pump to your baby in addition to the nursing or do you just freeze it in case you might need it later?
Hi Cloe! No, I would always just throw it in the freezer unless I thought I’d need a bottle (which my son never took so I don’t know why I ever thought I needed one lol). If I needed a bottle I’d throw my pumped milk into the fridge first, then freeze later when my son refused to eat it. ;o)
Just wanted to say thanks for this post. I stumbled across it on Pinterest, and if it weren’t for this article my baby would be on formula. I was having too many problems breastfeeding, and was having a hard time finding any positive advice on EPing…then I found this post…hung in there and now my baby is on 100% breastmilk!!
And I agree that the times were helpful…wasn’t till about 10 weeks till I could tell my breasts were empty!
Thanks again!!
Thanks so much for your sweet comment. I’m so glad you found this helpful! Good job for sticking in there, it’s hard work but it is worth it! Good luck to you!
This may have already been suggested as I didn’t read through every comment but I was able to triple the amount of my supply while EPing by renting a hospital grade pump as compared to my Medela pump in style. The supply increase occurred on my first pump and when I tried going back to my own Medela after about 3 months of using the rented pump it was painful and I couldn’t get nearly as much milk out. I am sticking with the rental for the long haul. It is yet another expense but I feel it is worth it to provide breast milk to my baby.
Thank you Jennifer! I have heard the hospital pumps are better but I wonder why? Do you feel like there is more suction? Can I ask how much the rental is for people that may want to look into that option? I realize price may vary but a ballpark is always nice !:) Thanks!
Hello, I have a question about pumping time. I am EPing but have to put my son on at least once a day to relieve engorgement and a continuing clogged duct problem per the advice of a lac consultant. I pump 6-8 times a day from 6am-10:30pm. My 10 week old son eats 4 oz seven times per day. It takes me 40-45 min to pump 4 oz per session to replace what he eats. I am usually not even empty by then either. I have a Medela Freestyle but have to also massage and squeeze to help the pumping along. I am terrified of getting mastitis. How do I lessen my pumping time while still emptying my breasts and replacing what he’s eating and still freezing something for when I go back to work in 2 weeks? I will not have the time at work to pump for that long that often, especially since it’s not really hands free.
Hi Ellie, have you talked to your lac consultant about the amount of time it takes to pump? By 12 weeks I was down to around 12 minutes or so to pump a full bottle. A few things that helped my sessions go quicker were to crank up the suction on the pump and lean forward to help with let down. And of course massaging but it looks like you’ve been doing that. One thing that you might want to look into is taking lecithin if you are prone to clogged ducts. I was and had mastitis 5 TIMES before I started taking it and it worked wonders for me. Hope that helps!
Hi. Thank you for responding. I have talked with the LC about the pumping time. She thought there was no reason I should be pumping longer than 15 min. But she also said I should pump until empty since I get the clogged ducts so frequently. Do you think the lecithin will help the milk come out faster?
I felt like it did for me…but it could have been all in my head. It is very important that you pump to empty, I wish I would have known that sooner than I did!
Hello,
This is a great link for moms who are exclusively pumping and kudos to you for posting this.
I’m a new mom and I exclusively pumped for 2+ months [ every 4 hours once] so naturally I did not establish good milk supply. My baby had latching issues right from birth. I had Cesarean section and was completely depressed with no one to help except my mom. My son used to have 2 feedings per day till then. After 3+ months I joined work and almost stopped pumping. I regretted that decision always but felt my body was too tired to continue that. I always use to feel giddy after pumping[ type 2 diabetic] Somehow after 4 months, my body has recovered well and am started to relactate by exclusively pumping now. I pump every 3-4 hours for 20mins and sleep from 1AM – 7AM continuously. Im trying to change that though. Its almost a week+ and am seeing few thick drops then and there. My question to you is how long does it take to build supply? Am planning to pump every 2 hours now in the morning and 3 hours at night[ not sure how much I would strict to the schedule] Is it possible to avoid this giddy feeling after pumping?my work also demands more from me[ am a SW engineer and work 8-10 hours] After 12AM, I feel am going to pass out and hence avoid extra sessions after that. Kindly advise.
Your website is a great inspiration to me and I daily come and visit here once to get motivated. thanks for posting this info!!!
Thanks for your kind words Padma! In terms of how long it takes to build up a supply, that really depends on your body. IT sounds like you are doing exactly what you need to do pumping wise, just make sure you are 100% empty each time. You might also look into taking fenugreek to boost your supply but with you being diabetic, I would absolutely contact your doctor first. I’d also contact them about the giddy feelings you are having…I never had that and I’d suspect it might have something to do with being diabetic as well. You’ll have to let us know what the doctor says!
Hi, I’ve got a 4-week old who I’m now almost exclusively pumping for, due to latch problems. I have a problem with my left breast. Whenever I pump (I have a Medela Pump In Style Advanced), it takes my left side about 25 minutes of pumping before it starts to actually produce more milk. Before that, it’s very tiny, intermittent drops (my right breast starts producing milk as soon as I turn on the pump). And then, it takes 1 hour to empty the left side (it also makes about 1/3 to 1/2 less then my right side). My baby eats every 2 hours. I pump every 3-4 hours. How do I speed up the process in which my left breast starts producing milk & finally empties? I don’t think I can keep up with this schedule, since my baby is very fussy/colicky, so he is basically crying/screaming while I’m pumping, since I can’t hold him during pumping sessions.
Congrats on your new baby! I have heard of some people having issues with one side or the other, but I’m not sure what the solution is. I would contact your doctor or see if you can find a lactation consultant in your area. I know it is frustrating- good luck Mom!
Found your article on Pinterest. I am an EP that stays home. My schedule is slightly different than yours but still very similar. With my first, I nursed until 6 weeks then pumped the rest of the time for the sake of my sanity. #2, I nursed in the hospital but as soon as I got home started pumping. #3 is coming and planning on doing the same as #2. Since I am able to stay home I was able to get up in the night to keep with my pumping every 3-4 hours. I know a lot of EPers who must pump til empty but if I did that I would pump beyond my bottles (I have 4 10oz ones)! For me even with my time limit I was able to feed my son and 2 other babies who needed milk. Thanks for the article. It’s always good to hear from other EPers.
Hi, my baby is currently 4 weeks plus and I am also exclusively pumping as my baby just doesn’t latch well. I am pumping about 3 hours apart and I yield only about 80ml-100ml, most of the time is on the lower end. I started drinking nursing tea from 3 weeks onwards. Although, I do see an increase in the supply since day 1. I still find it slow as I have difficulty catching up with BB’s feed, sometimes I have not reached my pumping time yet as such I need to give formula instead. I really wish I can totally feed him with expressed breastmilk. He is eating about 2-3 hours apart and at 100ml in order to satisfy him. Otherwise, it will just be 80-90ml depending on my output.
This is my rough pumping schedule : 4am,9am,1pm,5pm, 8pm, 11pm. As you can see, I try to pump at least 3-4 hours apart. Not sure if I am on the right track or I should really stick closely to 3 hours and not any longer apart. My breast are usually emptied (since they feel light). From 11pm till 9am, he usually has 2 feed which I have to feed in full formula since it’s faster and also because I do not have any spare supply to give. Also, if I were to pump before 3 hours, the output will be even lower then 80ml. Which will not be enough for his 1 feed. As such, I always pump at a minimum of 3 hours apart in order to be able to feed him total bm in that 1 pumping session.
Do advise if there is anything I can improve to increase my supply. I am also thinking if I should take fenugreek pills to increase supply but worry about engorement if supply do kick in naturally without the pills and later over supply.
Looking forward to your advice, apologies for the long post!
Hi Caren! I would try pumping every 2 hours for at least 20 minutes during the day…then maybe 3-4 hours between feedings at night so you can get a little sleep. I would also add the fenugreek pills (see Kellymom.com for dosage). You can always start out taking a lower dose of fenugreek or just cut back as soon as you see an increase in milk production. Make sure you are pumping about 5 minutes even after you feel empty as this signals your body to make more. And don’t forget to drink LOTS of water! It’s a lot of work to build a supply but once you are there you can cut back pumping times and it gets much easier. Keep up the hard work- you are doing GREAT!!
Hi!
I have a 4mo who currently strictly BF. I pumped in the first 2 weeks postpartum while breastfeeding and had a freezer stash for times I needed a sitter. But I wasn’t able to keep pumping as I also have a 2 year oldz Now I would like to start the process of weaning her off the breast and EP, but I’m hesitant and don’t know exactly how to start.. any suggestions?
Will she take a bottle? If she does it should be pretty simple to transition and I’d probably just start by switching out a nursing session for a pumping/bottle session. I’d gradually replace all nursing sessions for pumping/bottle and try to mimic the schedule as much as possible.
If she doesn’t take a bottle or needs help in that area- I would take it slow. You can try switching out one session but if she doesn’t take to the bottle you may need to add in an extra pumping session outside of the times you nurse to have milk on hand to practice with. I hope that makes sense! Good luck!
Is it okay to pump during the day and give the milk that way and nurse at night? what would be a good schedule for that? It’s just a lot easier for me to have the bottles ready incase my husband needs to feed her, but I still want to keep up nursing at night.
Absolutely that’s ok! I would probably just mimic baby’s schedule as much as possible when it comes to pumping during the day (try to stay a bit ahead of her so you have a fresh bottle ready when needed) and then go with her flow at night.
Hi, my son is now 18 months old and he has been BF since day 3 as I was sick and when I tried to breastfeed after getting well which was 2 days later, he refused completely. I am now wondering whether I can relactate through pumping. If yes, how?
You can! Aren’t our bodies amazing?! We did a post about this awhile ago: http://naptimetales.com/2013/01/lactation-inductionadoptive-breas.html. There are a few resources there for re lactation but you may put a call into your doctor to see what they suggest as well. Good luck!
I will check that out. Thank you
Hello- I was wondering if you had any advice for pumping while away from baby. I will be out of the country for 7 days and am absolutely not ready to wean my 15 mo š I’m just not sure how the logistics of pumping will work with an 8+ hour flight. This is my 5th child so you would think I would know what to do here but nope! I haven’t needed to pump with my last three and it seems like whenever I try to pump with this new double pump I have I get plugged ducts and mastitis. With my first I worked and had an awesome medela so I don’t know if that is the difference or not. I don’t have a stash built up either so I’m sort of in panic mode right now! He is also not ready to wean and is still nursing g 6-8 times a day š
Hi Rebecca! That can be SO stressful, I’m sorry you have to worry about it at all. First I would make sure you have a battery pack with plenty of back up batteries in case there is no plug in on the plane. Let the staff know at the gate that you are a pumping momma and see if there is a spot on the plane they can put you were you will be comfortable. Make sure you have a cover and plenty of bottles and you may look into some medela cleaning wipes (you can find the link to them in this blog http://naptimetales.com/2013/01/all-about-breast-pumps.html) so you can keep your pump accessories clean. I’d also pack a few gallon ziplock bags for easy storage of your accessories and lots of bottles/storage bags for your milk. You milk that you pump on the plane should be OK at room temp for awhile but anything that you carry on board will need to be refrigerated. While you are pumping- try leaning forward and massaging your breasts (so easy to do on a plane, right? ha!) – that will help empty your breasts faster and also help prevent mastitis. You might also look into taking some lecithin to prevent it as well (see this post, I had it a million times with my son: http://naptimetales.com/2014/07/dealing-with-mastitis.html). Good luck Momma!!!
This link may be helpful as well: http://naptimetales.com/2013/02/traveling-while-nursingpumping.html
Thank you so much! I’m going to try the lecithin as I’m dealing with this yet again š it seems to occur everytime I try to get into a pumping routine. I’m looking for a new pump, I have a Hygia – but am looking to get a Medela to see if that helps š what brand of pump have you used?
I’m a mommy this is exclusively breast-feeding. I’m reading through all these comments and posts and realize that some mommies don’t pump at night. I got mastitis The first month and second month in the left and right breast one at a time from not pumping during the night. I have to pump every 2 1/2 if not three hours or I’m super engorged. I wake up 2-3 a night to do so. My son is 4 months old. How do you guys not pump at night.
I had issues at night too Heather! But the night pumpings were also the first ones to go for me. I would suggest pumping but not to empty at night, just enough to take some of the pressure off. That will eventually signal to your body that you do not need as much milk at night. hope that helps!
Hi!
My baby is almost 6 weeks old and I have been EPing from the get go because of a latch problem. I have been pretty good about pumping every 2-3 hours, but have gone longer at night a few times. I am nervous about lengthening the time between pump sessions because I don’t want a drop in my supply. Right now I’m getting about 40 oz per day. If I notice a drop in supply after lenghthening my time will it pick back up again if I go back to pumping every 2 hours?
Yes! Give it a try slowly and if you see a decrease just pick it right back up.
This is my third baby and third attempt of breastfeeding. So far I have been doing a lot better than the other two times but I am having trouble with keeping up with schedule. Half of the month I am practically a single mom, my husband works away. This makes it hard to just go pump every two hours and then I just forget and then is too late. My supply is ok but Iām worried that it mother less and less. Is it too late at three weeks to get back on track?
It’s not too late at all! Have you looked into taking fenugreek to help boost your supply (check Kellymom.com for dosage)? Also make sure you are drinking lots of water!