By Summer, RNC, BSN, Breastfeeding Educator

When you envisioned motherhood, you probably never saw yourself connected to a breast pump. But, what could be more empowering than producing the perfect food for your baby? Collecting it! Breast pumps have come a long way in recent years, and you no longer need to sacrifice style or convenience. Studies show that pumping reduces stress and releases endorphins, the chemicals that regulate feelings of love and happiness. You may even find yourself looking forward to your pumping sessions. Whether you are pumping to initiate milk or maintain an established supply, use these tips to work out the kinks and pump like a pro.

When to start pumping? 

Recent research suggests that it can be very beneficial to begin pumping while initiating supply. To produce breastmilk, your body must get the message that you need it. Your baby sends this message every time he/she latches to the breast.  If your baby latches every 2-3 hours for 15-20 minutes, then your body will probably get the message. But if the two of you are still working it out (poor latch, NICU admission, etc), you may want to consider pumping after feedings while initiating your milk supply.

• Breast pumps look intimidating.  We suggest taking your pump out of the box and setting it up immediately. Don't wait until you need it to try and figure it out. If you find this to be less than intuitive, you are not alone. Watch a Youtube video demonstration on your specific pump, and if you still need help, make an appointment with our IBCLC!

• Bring your pump when you go in for the delivery of your baby. The nursing staff will help you master your pump to be confident and comfortable using it.

• Hand expression is a great way to get in touch with the milk ejection process. Hand expressing before each feeding has been proven to bring milk faster with a significant increase in supply, in fact, 50% more! Hand expressing before pumping helps to trigger a letdown more naturally. Check out Leva’s article over the importance of hand expression.

  How often should I pump in a day?

Your pumping routine should mimic your baby’s feeding schedule. Have you heard about the supply and demand analogy? This is how it works: your body produces breastmilk from the nutrients in your blood supply with the help of prolactin. Empty milk ducts send your body the message to release prolactin and make more milk. Residual milk in the ducts actually sends the opposite message - it prevents your body from making milk.  Routinely emptying your breasts every two to three hours is the key. This means either with direct breastfeeding, or pumping if baby is not transferring or feeding well, or if you are separated from the baby. Mothers who pump exclusively will want to aim for 8 to 10 pumping sessions a day. The following tips will help make your pumping sessions a bit easier:

• Keep the pumped breastmilk and the pump parts itself in the fridge. This time-saving tip eliminates the need for washing after every pumping session. Make sure if you’re doing this, that you’re cleaning/sterilizing at the end of the day.

  (Find CDC Guidelines here: https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/childcare/breast-pump-cleaning-FAQ.html#:~:text=If%20you%20choose%20to%20refrigerate,a%20clean%2C%20disposable%20paper%20towel. )

• Do not skip nighttime pumping sessions. Don’t be fooled by the additional milk you pump after sleeping through the night. Although you may yield more in your morning pumping session, you have sent your body the message not to make milk all night long. It’s important to continue that supply and demand including any overnight feeds.

 How long should I pump in one session?

A good rule of thumb is to pump until the breasts are empty and then for about two minutes after the last drop comes out. On average, a pumping session will last about 20 minutes, which is also the average feeding time for a baby. However, this will differ depending on your situation:

• You may not even collect one drop when pumping to initiate a milk supply. The focus here is to stimulate milk production.  It is important to note that even though you may not collect any milk, you should still pump for a full 15 - 20 minutes.

• Use a moist warm compress before pumping (briefly). This can help with engorgement prior to emptying the breasts. Ice between sessions also helps to decrease inflammation in the breasts.

• Pump immediately after showering while your breasts are still warm to take advantage of the stimulating heat, and relaxation. Better yet, hand-express in the shower!

 How often should I pump to increase my milk supply?

It’s simple, increase demand, and you will increase supply. But, squeezing in a pump session or finding the time to pump after nursing could be complicated. These tips will get your stockpile started: 

• Milk production increases during the night. Take advantage of this and pump after nursing in the morning.

• Milk production measures highest between 1 am and 4 am. Keep your pump at the bedside, set your alarm, wake up, pump, and sleep.

• Power pumping is quickly gaining popularity. Essentially power pumping is an effort to mimic cluster feeding, creating an on-again, off-again rotation for a couple of hours. For example, you can pump for 10 mins, rest for 10 mins, pump for 10 mins, rest for 10 mins, and so on for an hour. Again, the goal here is stimulation. Don’t bother looking at the bottles, as you may not see much output.

• Increase skin to skin. Increasing this special time with baby on your bare chest not only facilitates bonding, but also increases your milk supply.

 What is the most effective way to pump?

Every drop counts when you are talking about breast milk. Maximizing results while minimizing efforts is always the objective.  

• Double pumping or simultaneous pumping of both breasts simultaneously has been proven to increase prolactin levels when compared to pumping each breast separately.

• Hands-on is 'hands down,' the most efficient way to pump. Decrease the time you spend pumping and help by manually removing the milk ducts so they can fill up again.  

• Use a Hands-Free Pump.  With technological advancements, convenience, and tracking abilities, you can control pumping and monitor your collection all from the touch screen. Like any new product, be aware that it will have design flaws, and don't rely on this pump for exclusive pumping.

Summary

In conclusion, remember that routine stimulation and milk removal are essential to building your best milk supply. And although pumping to collect it may become tedious, every minute that you spend with your breast pump will be worth its weight in liquid gold!