Are you brand new at exclusively pumping, and not sure what exactly you should be doing? Here are some common questions about exclusively pumping for a newborn baby, including how often to pump, how long your pumping sessions should be, when you should be pumping, and how to make exclusive pumping easier.
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When I started exclusively pumping, I had no idea what I was doing.
For example, I didn’t know that you were supposed to take the pump parts apart to wash them. I had no idea why my breasts dribbled milk sometimes and sprayed milk sometimes. And I wasn’t sure what speed I was supposed to set my pump to.
Here are the basics that I learned over time about how to exclusively pump with a newborn baby to build and maintain a milk supply, so you don’t have to bumble through it like I did!
How often should I pump when exclusively pumping for a newborn?
It’s important to pump frequently when your baby is a newborn in order to establish and maintain your milk supply.
Generally, in the first few months, I would recommend aiming for somewhere 7 to 10 pumping sessions per day.
How many sessions that you want to do within that guideline depends on your particular circumstances. For example, if you find you’re not pumping as much as your baby takes, you might want to be on the higher end of 9-10 sessions per day. However, if you have twins or older children and are completely overwhelmed, 7 might be what you can manage.
As your baby gets older, you can drop pumping sessions and pump less frequently.
How long should I pump for?
If you are exclusively pumping, you should be pumping for two hours or 120 minutes per day as a minimum guideline. (Much more on this guideline here.)
So, to determine how long you should be pumping for during each pumping session, divide 120 by the number of times that you’re pumping and set that as your goal. For example, if you’re pumping 8 times per day, you should pump for 15 minutes at a time.
(It’s okay to pump for more than 120 minutes, too. You might just want to make sure you’re not getting burned out.)
You should pump for your full pumping time even if milk stops flowing, for two reasons:
- Your milk might let down again, allowing you to pump more milk. (Here is a full explanation of letdowns and how they work.)
- The nipple stimulation may help protect your milk supply long-term.
Tip: If your pump doesn’t have a timer on it, set one on your phone so that you can see how long you’ve been pumping and how much more time you have to go. It’s easy to forget when you started pumping or overestimate how long you’ve been hooked up to the pump.
When should I pump?
There are a few different ways to manage when you should pump:
- Pump whenever baby eats
- Pump on a schedule, at designated times every day
There are advantages to both methods. Pumping on a schedule means that you know when you’ll need to pump and can plan accordingly.
On the other hand, pumping when your baby eats is an easy way to ensure that you are pumping frequently enough, as it mimics nursing. It also gives you blocks of time in between pumping and feeding where you can get out of the house, sleep, etc.
When my son was a newborn, I pumped whenever he ate – my routine was to bottle feed him, change him, and then lay him down on my lap while I pumped. He would fall asleep, and then I would transfer him to his bassinet once I unhooked. Later, when life became more predictable, I switched to a more consistent pumping schedule.
(If you want help figuring out you schedule, I have a workbook that walks you through it step by step. Use EPUMP30 for 30% off.)
Do you need to pump at night?
If you can manage pumping at night, I would recommend it for the first three months or so, until your supply regulates.
This is both because frequent milk removal is important for establishing supply, and because many people tend to have a high output at this time. (This may be due to higher prolactin levels at night.)
How much much milk should I be producing?
Ideally, at each pumping session, you would get enough (plus maybe a little more!) for baby’s next feeding. However, it sometimes doesn’t work out that way. The amount that exclusive pumpers produce can vary quite a bit – some people will get 4 oz for their newborns, and others will get a few drops.
However much milk you pump, you are doing a great job.
How much breast milk will my baby need?
On average, most newborns will drink 1.5-3oz per feeding, or 20-25 ounces per day.
I did a survey on this topic a few years ago, and you can read more about the results here. The average for 0-1 month olds was 22.3oz; 1-2 month olds averaged 26.3oz.
(My son was huge and was up to 30oz by one month of age, so this can also vary quite a bit.)
If you don’t make enough breast milk and find that you need to supplement with formula, here are some tips for doing this.
What settings should I set my pump to?
Pumping settings can be a little confusing. There are usually three different things to pay attention to:
Most breast pumps have two modes – letdown/massage mode (light and fast) and expression mode (higher suction and slower). Many breast pumps automatically switch from letdown mode to expression mode after a minute or two.
When you’re pumping, you should set your vacuum strength to the highest speed that is comfortable. Slowly move it up to a higher suction until you start to feel discomfort, and then dial it back one setting. That’s the perfect suction for you.
There’s no “correct” setting to use for cycle speed, and some pumps (such as Medela pumps) don’t even have that setting. It’s best to just experiment and see what works best for you.
Much more on breast pump settings here.
How can I make this easier?
I think there are a few things that make exclusively pumping more manageable:
- Routines/systems. For everything related to pumping – pumping, feeding, washing bottles and pump parts, freezing extra milk – figure out a schedule or system for managing it so you don’t have to think about it.
- Help. If you have a partner or family member that can help, ask for help. Remember, you’re making the baby’s dinner every night, there’s no reason that others can’t help with the dishes.
- Products. There are a few products that can really make things easier, such as a hands-free pumping bra, extra pump parts, etc. Here are some things you may want to consider.
More on making exclusive pumping easier here.
I’m struggling with the emotional aspect of exclusive pumping. What can I do?
This can be really hard – it’s a loss, and it’s okay to grieve it. I did a short IGTV about coming to terms with this grief that might be helpful for you – you can watch it here.
Do you have any questions on exclusively pumping for a newborn? Ask them in the comments!
Want help putting together the perfect pumping schedule for you that saves your sanity AND your milk supply? Check out the Exclusive Pumping Playbook! Includes cheat sheets for setting up systems and routines to make things easier. Use EPUMP30 for 30% off.
Comments & Chitchat
My baby is 5 weeks old. They started him on formula In the hospital because he couldn’t latch. Short tongue and I have flat nipples. I also had a very complicated c-section that I am still recovering from. Long story short, recovery has impacted the amount of times I am able to pump and my milk has still not come in fully. I am lucky if I get 8 oz pumped in a day – usually about an ounce combined each session. With the exception of one or two bottles of breast milk, he is eating formula.
I am so frustrated and heartbroken. I am trying lactation cookies, fennel oil, lactation herbal supplements. Drinking a ton and trying to get rest. I have not been able to fully step back from work so that has added stress.
I don’t know what to do at this point. Is it still possible to increase my supply this late in the game?
Hi Amy! I’m so sorry you’re going through this. You are doing a great job! You are a great mom.
I think 5 weeks is still okay, time-wise. For the lactation herbal supplements – what have you taken, and what dose? Have you considered domperidone or reglan as option? Thanks!
When you divide the 120 minutes by the 8 pumping sessions and get 15 minutes, is that 15 per a side or total? I am just wondering because I currently do pump about 15 minutes per a side and I have oversupply of at least 12 oz a day. Our freezer just seems to be running out of room because of all the frozen milk. I wasn’t sure if I was just overdoing it then or what.
Hi! The 120 minutes assumes that you are double pumping (versus doing only one side). So it sounds like you’re fine!
Will the supply still increase if I breastfeed at first and then supplement to fill her up? I mean I’m still breastfeeding 8 times a day but sometimes the supply is so low she gets fussy quickly and I have to switch to the bottle. Should I still pump even if very little comes.
Hi! Your supply will probably go up as long as you pump, yes. If you supplement without pumping, then it won’t. So if you want your supply to increase, you should pump even if you don’t get much at first.
Hi, I have a 1.5years old and a 3 week old. I find it extremely hard to find time to pump 8 times a day. I pump 3 times (9am, 3pm, 11pm) a day longer sessions (30-40 mins each). I am wondering if this way I still will be able to produce whatever the baby needs.
Hi! It’s possible! I’m a little worried your supply might not have regulated yet and you may see a drop when that happens. I also would be a little concerned about your period returning more quickly than it otherwise would (which can impact supply). However, you have to do what you have to do! Three sessions a day is still great. If you could squeeze in one or two more per day, that would increase the chances of you being able to produce what she needs long-term, but if not, three is good!
Hi there
This site is so helpful and I have found reading the questions and relies very insightful.
I am a FTM to a baby girl who is just over 2 weeks old so I know it’s only early days and my milk hasn’t regulated yet. We are EPing for various reasons but my breasts need help!
The milk supply is plentiful. I was expressing till “empty” then enforment set in and I’m unsure of how much/long to pump for now. At the moment my daughter takes 70mL each feed every 3 hours. She should be back to her birth weight by now.
I was expressing in excess of 100mL per pump in the last few days but it just seems like the fullness (and pain!!!!) come back with a vengeance within 2 or so hours. I’ve dropped back to expressing about 70-80mL each pump with a double electric pump after manually expressing to soften the aerola every 3 hours if I can hold out that long. The breast is still quite full and I’m trying to make it more comfortable without emptying the breast.
So my question is, will this help reduce the engorment and discomfort without dropping the milk supply too much? And if it will, how much longer should I realistically expect this to “settle down”?
Thanks in advance for your reply!
– Mei
Congratulations on your baby! It should settle down in the next month or so. Maybe empty completely every other session? I’m just worried you might get a clogged duct or mastitis if you never empty. At this point, I would try cabbage leaves (put a leaf in each side of your bra) when you start to feel engorged and see if that helps.
Hi – I’ve been exclusively pumping for my 7 week old daughter since she was born. I currently pump 8 times a day, for 15-20 minutes each time, and am averaging 50 oz a day. I pump every three hours, with one four hour stretch at night and then one two hour stretch during the day. I’m desperate for some more sleep at night, and would love to only pump when my daughter wakes up, but I’m worried about going too long without pumping. Do you think waiting until she wakes to pump would greatly damage my supply, especially if she goes for a 5+ hour stretch? And if I only pump when she wakes up, should I pump extra during the day so I’m still getting in 8 pumps? At what point would it be safe to drop to 7 pumps a day?
Thank you! I really appreciate all your insight.
Hi Cat! No, I would go ahead and do that. (Think of it this way – if she were nursing and she went that long at night, you would be too!) I would make that change, see how things are, and then drop to 7. Good luck!
Hi,
I am exclusively pumping for my 3.5 weeks old baby due to difficulty latching – tongue tie and he gets very upset with it.
My supply initially was brilliant – up to 26 oz per day. Unfortunately I had mastitis and since then, my supply had gone downhill. I was admitted to hospital and the midwife advised me to pump 8-10 times a day. I used to pump 3-4 times a day.
I have been pumping 7-8times a day , about 30-45 mins each sesssion. I am only getting 2-4 oz each session from both breast combined.
My baby feeds 3oz every 2 hourly. We had to top him up with formula as I don’t produce enough everytime he nurses and sometimes I missed a pump session.
Questions:
1) I had tried fenugreek. After 2 days of taking this, I get engorged and painful left breast with hard lumps. I wonder whether this is secondary to fenugreek?
2) will my supply increase with time? I am really hoping I am able to take baby off formula top up.when is it likely to take place?
3) this is the second time I get engorged/ mastitis. Do exclusively pumping mums get these more easily than breastfeeding mums? How can I avoid this?
Regards
Rachel
Hi! As for #1, yes, that might have been unrelated to the fenugreek, especially if you’ve had mastitis twice. It might just be that you are prone to it. It might be worth trying one more time, if you’re up for it? As for #2, it may increase a bit with time at the 3.5 week mark. Once you get to 6 weeks, if you want to increase supply, I would definitely suggest to you try herbs or something. For #3, as long as they stick to a schedule, no. Individual women are more prone to this than others, but it’s not an EPing thing. I only got mastitis with the babies I nursed and not with the baby I EPed for.
Hie, I stopped breastfeeding my baby at 9days after doctor recommended I stop for 2 weeks because he suspects she might be lactose intolerant,its 4 days later now and I have only managed to purchase an electric pump now, is it too late to start pumping, has my milk already run dry? Cannot take any medication as I was already on breast milk stimulating meds that I reacted to…
I think you could try and see? It will definitely be uphill after four days of not lactating, but worth a shot. Good luck!
I have a 8 week old who is gassy and a fussy breast feeder! Since day 1 I have always felt like he wasn’t satisfied by the amount of food he was getting while breastfeeding. On average I bf for 45min-1hr and he is still fussy- then I give him 2oz from a bottle of pumped milk and he downs it. The past day I just gave him bottles and he seemed so much happier. He takes 5oz during the day and 6.5 at night. He’s always hungry!!! I want pumping exclusively to work!!! So pumping every 3 hours- is it realistic to make 5oz everytime? I am also going back to work in 4 weeks and need a stash as well (I work 12 hours days 3x a week)- not ideal.
Yes that is realistic! Everyone is different but that is definitely within the range of normal.
Hello I loved this article it was super informative. I have a 13 day old and I am having issues with supply. I have seen a LC and she said breast feed every three hours followed by 15min pump session and then top him off with formula if he is still hungry after all that. Well of course he is still hungry and I am having to Supplement with formula. I am also power pumping twice a day per LC recommendation. My supply has started to go up over the last two days. I am still only getting about 1.5oz per pumping session but that’s if I don’t breast feed. I am so over breast feeding every three hours, he gets frustrated with latching I get frusturated and it just seems like an endless cycle. I have started fenugreek about four days ago. I feel like that is what helped bring up what I am pumping out. Do you have any other recommendations?
Hi! That’s great that fenugreek is working! Sometimes Blessed Thistle can work well with fenugreek, maybe that would be worth a shot? I think oatmeal can also be really helpful and I think the power pumping is a really good idea.
Hi ! I exclusively pumped for my son and just had my second son 10 days ago . He was in the Nicu so I started pumping and since 4 days old I’ve been producing so much milk . Every time I pump I’m getting almost 8 oz out of each side and then an hour later I’m extremely full and uncomfortable again . Do you know if it will level out soon ? It’s almost too much milk ( which I would have killed for with my first but this isn’t what I imagined )
Hi! Congrats on your brand new baby! So your supply might level out when it regulates (probably somewhere around 3-6 weeks) but it also might not. I would use cabbage leaves when you start to feel uncomfortable and see if that will help you stretch the time until you pump again. I hope that helps!
Hello!
I am only on my third day pumping (nursed for about the first 5 weeks with an oversupply then the latching issues started taking their toll). The past two days I have pumped 9 times a day for about 20 minutes per session which I see now is more than you recommend! I have gotten exactly 28 ounces each day. I know I am still very early in the game but was wondering if you had any suggestions for dropping to 8 pumps per day. Would this hurt my supply? Would I need to pump longer? Just started fenugreek yesterday to help increase supply too. Thank you!
I think you’d be okay just dropping to 8 20 minutes a day – that’s still a lot of pumping. Good luck with the fenugreek! Definitely look into the dose if you don’t smell like maple syrup in a few days!
What about BEFORE you bring the baby home? I am having a c-section so I will be in the hospital for 3 days probably. How soon after the baby is born do I try pumping? How often should I try when my milk has not come in yet? Should I bring my own pumping supplies?
Congrats on your pregnancy! I would start pumping in the recovery room as soon as you can (like once you’re able to sit up and someone else is holding the baby, etc.) as much as you can, up to every 3 hours or so if you aren’t too exhausted. Usually the hospital will having what you need for pumping but you could call and ask to confirm or just bring your own stuff. Good luck!
Hi I am six weeks into exclusively pumping due to difficulty with breast-feeding. I’m making about 29 to 33 ounces of breast milk a day and my daughter tends to only drink about 23 ounces so luckily I get to stash the rest. Taking care of her gets in the way of pumping sometimes as I have very large breast and can’t wear the hands-free bras. So I can’t really take care of her while I pump. This being said I’ve gone from pumping eight times a day to pumping six times a day. Do you think that that will have a negative impact on my supply in the long run? So far I’ve been at six times a day for a week and I’m still getting 29-30 something ounces.
Hi! I think at 6 weeks you should be okay as long as you upped the length of your sessions so that your total amount of pumping in a day stayed the same. I wouldn’t go down again until 10-12 weeks though.
My baby was born at 30 weeks and I have been EP since day 1 with no formula to supplement. She is now 35 weeks and I’m pumping 6x per day and producing 1000-1200 or more per day. I would like to build a one year supply and stop pumping at some point. How much do I need to store in order to do this? I currently have a freezer full of milk as she is only taking 48ml per feeding and gradually increasing by 2 ml per week per feed. I am probably overproducing now but figure I can save my supply. I also sleep about 6 hours a night and then my boobs wake me up, but I need the sleep since I also have a toddler to take care of.
I think what I would do is get a milk supply app like Milk Maid where you can track the total amount of milk that you have. Then I would estimate what you need by taking your baby’s intake for each day, adding a few extra ounces for wasted milk (it’s easy to waste frozen milk because you can’t reuse it), the multiply that by the number of days you need. Then you can stop when you have that much.
Have you given your baby frozen milk yet? If not, I would try it just to make sure you don’t have a lipase issue. If you do, it’s fine, but you have to scald the milk before you freeze it.
My baby is a month old. I have exclusively pumped for the last 3 weeks due to his inability to latch correctly. My son lost almost a pound from birth weight at first, so the pediatrician recommended we feed him every two hours during the day and three at night. We have to keep this schedule until his two month appointment. The lactation consultant told me to pump every 2 hours for 20 minutes. My question is how to keep this up! I am frustrated because I feel I can never leave the house and keep my pumping schedule. I get nothing done during the day because I am constantly attached to my pump. I feel like I miss time with my son. I pump between 2.5 and 4 oz each pumping and total around 30 oz a day, and seems to constantly be increasing. This keeps up with my son’s needs for now. Any advice on how to keep this up long term would be great!
I think you’d be okay with going a bit longer in between sessions – 2.5 or 3 hours even during the day. Do you have a hands-free bra you can use? If you do, you can multi-task pumping with feeding your baby or getting him back to sleep?
Thank you for this information. I will be donating some milk to a friend who can not produce any due to a radical mastectomy. I am wondering how many oz should I store at a time for the first few weeks after the baby is born. I have been reading that their stomachs can only hold a table spoon or so after they are first born, so I want to make sure I give it to her in portions that would lead to the least amount of wasted milk. Thanks in advance
Hello
My baby is 3 and half weeks old. I am pumping exclusively 7 times since day 4 and get about 45-50 oz per day. Is this a good supply? Will my supply increase if I continue the same frequency for another 4 weeks?
It’s a great supply! And I would say *probably yes* but it’s impossible to know for sure.
Hello!
Just wanted your thoughts on this. I am currently pumping 8x a day for 20-25 minutes each pump. I usually pump about 26-28 ounces per day. My baby is 5 weeks old.
I am going back to work in 2 weeks and won’t be able to pump this much at work. So I was thinking of going down to 7 pumps (25 minutes each) next week and then the following week (8 weeks) drop to 6 ppd.
Thoughts?
Thank you!!
Amanda
I think that sounds like a great plan!
Hello! Thank you so much for all of this information, it is super helpful! I have been EPing since my daughter was about 1 week old. I pump 8 times a day for 15-25 minutes each time. Right now I am averaging a total of 1 oz/hour (so if it has been 3 hours, I get 3 oz total from both breasts). My right breast will make 2 of that and my left will barely make the last ounce. Is that normal? My daughter is a month old now.
I drank the Fenugreek drink from Milkspot yesterday so am waiting to see if that helps, but I think there is something wrong. I accidentally overslept just now and it looks like i will only have 4 oz (though it was 5 oz in between pumps). I also am on Diflucan for yeast- could that be impairing my supply?
Hi Amanda! YEs that’s pretty normal!
I am not sure about Diflucan, but it is normal for milk supply to vary by a few oz from day to day. Hopefully it swing back soon!
Hi, my baby is 2 weeks old and I haven’t had success at lathing him due to my inverted nipples. I used a shield but that worked the fist week, not anymore , don’t see milk coming.
I was about to give up and started formula , but came across bread pumping in this blog.
I wanted to know how many times and for how long should I breast pump for it to be effective ? For how long baby’s months can I exclusively breast pump? A friend of mine started to breast pump as well and my 1 month her milk supply was 0. Don’t want that to happen to me, this is my last resource before formula, thanks
Hi Karen! I would do what I outlined in this post – 7-10 times a day for 15 minutes to start. A lot of women pump for a long time – I did it for 14 months. Good luck!
Hi my baby is 8 days old and has really struggled with latching on to breast feed so I have been pumping whilst I continue to encourage her to latch on. I don’t feel like my milk is increasing even though I’m pumping 6-8 times a day, 15-20minutes on each breast. One is also producing more than the other (normally 40ml/10ml in total each session). Any advice or pointers? I’m feeling so frustrated and really don’t want to keep topping up with formula. I’m also really struggling for guidance on how much my baby needs at a time – I’m worried about her not getting enough vs over feeding from using a bottle. Thanks for your help, Claire
Hi Claire! It sounds like you’re doing everything right. (Totally normal to get different amounts from each side.) Have you considered fenugreek for supply?
https://exclusivepumping.com/fenugreek-for-increasing-milk-supply/
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! I have inverted nipples and my baby has a small mouth and tongue-tie, he also loves to just sleep on my breasts. We had 4 different consultants at the hospital all gave us the same tips to keep him awake. We did it all and stubborn fellow would give up and sleep. We had to supplement due to weight loss the bottle nipples are smaller and fit his mouth better. I thought it was over and I failed until I found this site and decided I would pump to a bottle. This is very encouraging. Really helped me. Question I have though I’m getting almost an ounce per session but mostly my right side. It is also gets lighter, my left side isn’t getting lighter after it and not as much comes out. Will this improve with time the overall output and the left breast production?
Hi Danielle! It’s totally normal to get different output from different sides. Do you feel like you have milk that’s not emptying, or there’s just less milk there? If you think you’re not emptying, you could try a warm compress before you pump and see if that helps. Good luck!
Thank you so much for this article. I think I have made the decision to EP for my 7wk old daughter. She is my 3rd and breastfeeding has been a struggle with each one. She is not effectively nursing and after trying multiple different strategies just can’t get her to transfer enough milk through the breast. I am currently pumping 8x/day about 20 min each. I’ve been getting right about 24 oz total. We have to supplement right now in order to help her gain weight (she still hasn’t hit 9 lbs). Once we can stop supplementing will this be enough to feed her? Would I be ok dropping a pump after 12 wks assuming my supply doesn’t drop any? With 3 kids at home I’m trying to find out how to both make EP work and being there for my older 2, but I’m afraid of losing my supply
Hi Kristy! Congrats on your 7 week old! How much your baby will need is pretty individual – 24 oz can be enough for some babies but not others. About how much formula is she taking now? I think you should be okay dropping a session at 12 weeks, yes. Good luck! I’m super impressed that you’re doing this with two older kids!
Hi Amanda! Question: as you said, in the beginning, aiming for 120 min pumping a day — 8 times a day, that’s 15 min per session. Is that per breast/side (i.e., 15 min left and 15 min right)? Or combined (7.5 min per side)? Is it better to double pump? Or focus on each side?
Thanks!
Hi Mara! That assumes double pumping – so per breast/side. 🙂 I would suggest double pumping – saves a ton of time!
Hi Amanda! I’ve been poring over your site the last day or two and am so glad I found it! I have an 8 day old son and we are just starting our EP journey. We tried to BF but had a multitude of issues that made it too difficult – he has a tied lip, is a lazy/sleepy eater, and I have flat nipples that required the use of a nipple shield that seemed to only get in the way more. We had a couple sessions with a lactation consultant, but after an atypical session where he did actually stay awake, he took in only 1.5 oz of milk in 50 minutes. She recommended pumping and supplementing with bottled milk after each feeding, but I couldn’t bear the thought of spending 45 minutes trying to get him to nurse with no idea how much he was getting and subsequently hooked up to the pump for another 20-30 minutes. Repeat that every three hours and I’d have no time for anything but trying to feed him! Because he took so well to the bottle and we were finally confident he was taking in food, my husband supported my decision to turn to EPing.
I do have a couple questions as I’m new to this and my son is still so young.
1. I’ve been pumping every three hours and I spend 30 minutes hooked up each time. From 12-9 am today, I’ve already spent 2 hours pumping! However, my milk is still going when I stop. I’ve started to mess with suction/speed to see if that makes a difference, but I don’t think I’ve ever fully drained my breasts in a session. However, it’s overwhelming to think I might have to spend 45 minutes hooked up to the pump every 3 hours. Any advice?
2. I’m only getting about 2-3 oz total in each session. That’s barely enough for one feeding for my son, and at this point we’re still feeding him on an every-3-hours schedule because we have to wake him to eat almost every time. Will my supply increase at some point?
3. Lastly, because I’m spending more time than I expected on each pumping session, and because I’m still trying to catch up on sleep (I try so hard, but I’ve never been a napper so I need my nighttime sleep!), I’ve asked my husband to handle nighttime feedings and diaper changes so I can pump and minimize the amount of time I have to be awake so I can be more alert during the day. He agreed, though I sensed it may have been a bit begrudgingly. What kind of arrangements did you have with your partner or have you heard of working for others? I want us both to feel we’re pulling our share of the weight and not come to resent each other.
We’re new to EPing, but I want this to work and can feel myself getting a little discouraged already. I appreciate your thoughts!
Hi! Congrats on your brand new baby! So happy for you! I’ll try to answer your questions below:
1. Yeah, that’s way too much pumping! How many letdowns would you say you’re getting? Is the milk spraying when you stop or dripping? To speed things up, you could change the suction to the highest speed that’s comfortable. You can also try a warm compress and massage while you pump.
2. Yes, if your baby is 8 days old, I would definitely expect a gradual increase over the next 3 weeks.
3. The sleep thing is the worst. What we did is I would go to bed at 7pm and the baby would be his until midnight, then I was on duty the rest of the night. This helped me get a four hour block of sleep which helped me stay sane (and then 2 hour blocks after that), and he got about 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It also meant we barely saw each other during the week for the first six weeks, but it worked okay. I think with a baby that young it makes sense to split the nighttime stuff so that both people can get a solid block at some point of the night. Again, just my experience.
Thanks so much for your reply! Everyone’s situation are different, but it’s so helpful to hear what’s worked for others! I’m mostly getting a drip while I pump – when I massage, I’ll get a spray every so often. Massaging has helped speed things up (and made my breasts feel better when I’m done!) and I’ve tried turning up the speed some, so I’m doing about 20 minutes max now. I usually still have a drip going when I stop, though. Near as I can tell, there’s a steady drip the whole time, so I think just one letdown. I’m up to at least 3 oz each pump session, so I’m feeling like there’s positive progress!
Why do you have to pump 120 minutes per day? can it be longer?
Yes, it can be longer! 120 is a minimum guideline.
Hi there!
So after poor latching, weight loss and mastitis, I’ve made the decision to exclusively pump. My daughter is not pulling enough from me when she latches and is very fussy so I’m not emptying as I should. I’ve started pumping and giving her my milk and so far I’m not making enough to give her only breast milk. She’s 4 weeks and I’m pumping about 2-2.5 oz combined every session (I pump for about 25-30min). She usually drinks about 3 oz every 3 hours. I’m already taking fenugreek and I eat oatmeal almost every morning. Not sure if it will gradually increase but I’m not sure how my body will know if she’s not directly feeding. Also, as she gets older I know the composition changes. Will my body know that from pumping long term?
Thanks in advance, your site has been incredibly helpful!
Hi Gina! It sounds like you’re doing a great job – you’re doing everything I would recommend. How often are you pumping?
In my experience, supply tends to gradually increase during the first six weeks even without directly feeding – I’m guessing it’s hormonal. I’m not sure what drives the changes in composition (hormones or saliva), but they aren’t big enough changes* to be very concerned about. After all, you can feed your baby six month old breast milk from the freezer, and formula fed infants drink milk that doesn’t change the whole first year.
* Note that I am not a doctor or LC and you should take what I say with a grain of salt – this is just my perspective as a former EPer.
Makes sense to me. I was pumping 5-6 times a day because I was trying to feed her from my breast and not pump at night. Do you think 7 or 8 times would help? Or more? Also I make much less at night. Probably only an ounce combined. Is this normal!
If you think she’s taking milk at night, then it might be okay to not pump – but if you’re not sure she’s getting much I would still pump at night (if you can swing it, I know it’s hard).
Hi! I’m new to breastfeeding, although this is my 3rd child. The first 2 were bottle fed, but with this baby I really, really wanted to try to breastfeed for the baby’s sake.
She is 7 days old now and although I have been breastfeeding her since she was delivered, it’s not going well. She cries a lot and gets her little angry face on when I offer her the breast. She is SO content when she gets the bottle (I have been supplementing with formula). I just think she doesn’t like breastfeeding! 🙁
I wanted to try pumping and then just bottle feed her my milk. I’ve been really discouraged so I haven’t been pumping much in the past 48 hours….and now my milk supply has gone down! When I pumped this morning I barely got an ounce combined from both breasts! What can I do to increase this? Is it too late?
I think at 7 days out, it’s probably not too late, but you should get on a 7-8 pump per day schedule ASAP. Try to give it a week even if you are discouraged by the amount you get. You’re doing great!
Hi! I have been exclusively pumping from the start and I can tell my milk is coming in. My baby is 5 days old. My breasts are very large and hard and pumping doesn’t seem to release that pain/pressure. I noticed one breast is producing a lot less milk but when I just pumped now I only got a few drops from the left side and 1.5 oz from the right. Should I be concerned? Also any recommendations on helping with the pressure or helping it pass it’s been going for about 36 hrs. I do pump every 2-3 hours. Thank you!
Hi Kristin! I’m wondering if you’re getting a letdown. Have you tried using a warm compress? What kind of pump are you using? Does it have a letdown phase before the expression phase? How is the suction?
It’s normal to get different amounts from each side. That part isn’t a problem at least!
My pump is a medella brand that I got through my insurance. It does have the letdown phase first on it. The suction I think is pretty good it covers my entire nipple. Any other suggestions
Do you ever see the milk start to squirt out? Or does it just dribble? Odd question, I know. Has your milk ever leaked on its own, when you weren’t pumping?
Hi Amanda! My newborn is 6 weeks old and I’m currently pumping around 675-700 ml/day (pumping 7 times per day). It’s stressful to get all 7 pumps in each day, but I’m concerned about my milk supply and would like to bring it up. My goal is to get 900-1000 ml/day. I am doing fenugreek (again) and oatmeal daily. My schedule is that I pump once during the night, but then anywhere from 1-4 hours throughout the day. (My daughter has a lot of therapies so our schedule is pretty hectic). Usually at night, I pump closer together (1 hr in between) because her therapies are in the morning and afternoon.
Do you think I could try to drop to 6 per day or is it too soon especially since my supply isn’t where I want it to be? Is your milk supply established around 8-12 weeks?
Do you think an erratic schedule is a problem in establishing my milk supply?
Do you think a power pump session each day would help?
Thank you!!!
Hi Rebecca! I think that it would be optimal to wait a few weeks (when you get to 8 weeks maybe) to drop to 6, BUT you have a lot going on and it’s totally fine if you’re really stressed out to drop now! The reason I suggest waiting is the possibility that your supply hasn’t regulated yet – that combined with your goal of increasing supply.
I do not think an erratic schedule will cause issues – newborns nurse on erratic schedules (sometimes every hour, sometimes every six hours) and most nursing mothers still build supply without a problem so I wouldn’t worry too much. Pumping a regular AMOUNT OF TIME per day is important for supply, but when it happens is less of a concern. (However, I think a regular schedule is important if you are prone to clogs/mastitis.)
I do think a power pumping sessions would help! How is the fenugreek going? Do you think the oatmeal helps?
Hi Amanda! I am so glad that I’ve come across this site. I’m currently nursing my 4 week old baby girl with no physical issues, however, I’m feeling as though I am fast tracking towards ppd due to the anxiety that I am having pre and post partum in regards to feeding. I can’t describe why I am so emotional about breastfeeding, but I found myself crying through half of our feedings today. I have a great supply and have started pumping, but my issue is that she is very uninterested in the bottle. Any suggestions on transitioning baby from breast to bottle to make ebf work for us?
Hi Jackie! Congrats on your sweet 4 week old! I’m so sorry that you’re feeling anxiety. I would definitely recommend talking to your OB – I had terrible anxiety with my first and got help and it was a whole new world.
I would keep trying the bottle. I know it’s super frustrating. Can you have someone else try? That might help her get used to it. Maybe your partner (if you have one) could do it while you are in another room?
Hi Amanda,
I am so confused and in pain. So with my first daughter I produced more than plenty of milk for her and it became an issue and I didn’t understand what to do. Well 8 yrs later I am having the same issue again with my 2nd.
I had to start pumping immediately because my son is a preemie and they said I had to use supplemental formula in the hospital and after having the bottle he would never latch as much as I tried.
Since the day I got home I pump every 3hrs for 15-20min and I get 6oz. I think if I were to sit there longer I could probably pump more. I get engorged literally an hr after I pump. My breasts are only tender and soft for literally 30 min. after I pump. Then they start to burn and turn hard as bricks and get very very large. I do everything I can to hold out pumping every 3 hrs. I was told in the hospital that to relieve engorgement you have to pump more, but then in the same breathe was told if I pump more I will tell my body to produce more…I am so confused!! I don’t want to have to be attached to my pump, but I want the pain to stop! I don’t want to give up so soon again, but I am getting very discouraged.
Hi Sarah! How old is your baby? It gets better over time, so if it’s super early (like within the first four weeks), I would try to keep doing what you’re doing and maybe try some cabbage leaves and Motrin when you get engorged. Things are a little more complicated your baby is older though.
Thank you!
He is 10days old…so very beginning of everything. I am trying not to give up though.
I actually just got some cabbage today, so I am hoping that will help!
Amanda,
My baby is 8 days old and I have been breastfeeding the entire time but am ready to transition to pumping exclusively. How would you suggest I do this? Do I just pump every 2 to 3 hours or should I still be offering my baby girl the breast? I do not want to mess up by doing this but I am beginning to feel very overwhelmed because no one else can help with feedings right now. Do I just start pumping and give her the bottle? I have spoken to a lactation consultant but feel no support to swapping over.
Hi Nichole! If you want to transition to EPing, I would not offer the breast anymore – I would just bottle feed her whenever she’s hungry and build a schedule for yourself that works (try pumping every 2-3 hours during the day and every 4 at night). You can always keep trying to offer the breast a few times a day to see if it starts working for you and pump the rest of the time. Hope this helps!
Currently my baby is 9 days old. I pump every 4 to 6 hours pumping for 10 to 15 min. Each pump session I’m getting between 10 and 14oz of milk. I try to feed baby every 3 hours sometimes she takes down and oz and other times 4oz. Sometimes I feel like she isn’t eating enough. I notice she sleeps a lot. Should I adjust my pump schedule since I’m producing so much milk. With my last child I was pumping 26oz of milk every 4 hours and would only be hooked up 15 min.
Hi Christy! I would not reduce your pumping time just yet because your supply is being determined by hormones now and not supply and demand feedback. Once the switch flips there, you might make a lot less milk. I would definitely wait to at least the 6 week point to make these changes (and would try to do every 4 hours for at least 15 minutes at this point if you want to pump long-term). Hope this helps – good luck!
I was told by a lactation consultant that I needed to rent a hospital grade breast pump for to establish and maintain my milk supply. Baby is 3 weeks old and I rented the medela symphony and am debating on how long to keep using it. It’s a monthly charge to rent. Otherwise I have the medela pump in style. Any advice on the use of a regular double electric versus hospital grade? I am pumping about 25oz a day with about 5-6 25min sessions. Baby takes 4oz every 3-4 hours. Thanks!!
Hi Liz! I didn’t find the hospital grade that much more effective than the PISA. I would try using one one day and the other a second day and see if you get roughly the same. If you do (and I think you will), you’re fine to get rid of the symphony. Good luck!
Hi, my baby is 9 days old and I started nursing him in the hospital however we were told he was at a level 14 for Jaundice. They told us he needed to feed more often and my husband and I became concerned that he wasn’t getting enough while I was nursing. I decided to start pumping to be able to see how much he was eating but the doctors also said we needed to supplement him with formula as well. The last couple of days I’ve only been getting less than an ounce of milk and decided to stop pumping because I was barely producing milk and thought my milk was drying up but now I’m having second thoughts and would like to try again. Can I try to still pump and increase my milk supply or is it too late?
Hi Lisa! At 9 days out I think you might be okay to start pumping again. Try taking fenugreek, I think it will help. Make sure you have the dosage right: https://exclusivepumping.com/fenugreek-for-increasing-milk-supply/
Hi! Thanks for the article, very informative!
I’m trying to decide which pump to buy. I want to be an exclusive pumper and I’ve read that for that the best options are: Ardo Calypso®, Spectra S1 or S2, Medela Pump In Style®, Ameda Purely Yours®, and the Hygeia EnJoye®. There is no Spectra nor Hygeia here in my country, so those are out of the question. I’m between the Ardo Calypso double pump and the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. There are a lot of bad comments about the Ameda and I have read a lot of great comments on the Ardo one, but a few that say that the pumping stop after a few months. I also read that Ardo and Amela are now the same company?? But the medela one is more expensive and difficult to find here in Chile (But if you think it’s better, the price is not a problem). Please help me! I’m so confused.
Thanks!
Hi Marcela! The only one that I can speak to is the Medela PISA – I’ve used it and really liked it. I will say that I did a survey of exclusive pumpers a while ago and did not notice any significant difference in output with regard to the pump that was used. I think you will probably be fine with the Ardo if that’s the easiest to get. Good luck!
Thank you!! I have a question about the PISA, is there any problems with the condensation in tubing? I’ve read that could be a problem. Is it too noisy?? (for example, at nights can it wake up the baby?).
Thanks for everything! I really want to decide before my C-section this tuesday!
There can be condensation but I’ve never found it to be an issue at all! Pumps can be noisy but they won’t wake the baby – babies love loud white noise (it sounds like being in the uterus) so they might actually help. If you are worried about it though you can just put a blanket on top of it to muffle the sound.
Hey! I was wondering what you think of exclusively pumping for only 4-5 times a day instead of 8? My baby is only 4 days old, and so far I’ve been pumping less than 8 times per day. I caught up to my baby’s milk demands yesterday, and was pumping about 60 mL per session, and we only had to supplement her milk a few times with formula while I slept and my husband took care of her. My supply seems to double each day, and today I’m up to pumping 120mL per session, which is over 4 times more than she requires at this time! I was wondering what would happen if I continue to pump about 4-5 times per day, since I’m quickly outpacing her needs. Would I begin to produce less? Or would the amount continue to increase at each session? Also, would my boobs eventually stop hurting by doing this? They seem to get sore right before I start pumping right now, but aren’t quite as sore as they were yesterday.
Hi Brittany! Congrats on your brand new baby! That’s a great supply for 4 days out! I think I would aim for 6-7 sessions a day at this point even if you’re meeting her needs and then some. The worry is that your supply will regulate – that is when your body starts using demand (instead of hormones) to determine how much supply to make. If your supply is still awesome 6 weeks from now, I think you could drop back down. And yes, your boobs will stop hurting. This time is rough – they will get used to the pump and stop being so crazy with milk. Good luck!
Hi,
Further to my above query, i read about putting pump parts in the fridge & can be reused within 12 – 24hrs. Does it include the milk bottles too that is used to store the expressed milk? Can we just pump into the bottles again without transferring to milk storage bags?
Thanks!
This is a good question. I don’t see any reason why this wouldn’t work, but for some reason it kind of weirds me out and I don’t do it. I also feed my baby fresh milk rather than frozen though, so I am used to bottles being “used” rather than just collecting milk. So again, I think this *should* be fine, but have not done it myself and can’t be sure.
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for your advice! I am too silly to keep feeding frozen milk by first in first out rule.
Yes, I should start giving my baby fresh milk slowly if possible. I guess in order to maintain the supply, I will still continue the routine pump hours but schedule the midnight hours just before her feeding time. I will store the balance.
Thanks again for the great advice!
No problem! Good luck! And you’re not being silly! 🙂
Hi,
I am a first time mom.
My baby is 1mth+ & i started exclusive pumping since day 1. My supply now is around 140ml or 4oz+ per session. I try keeping a 3 hourly, 15 – 20min sched per day. I don’t pump near my baby’s feeding time.
My concern is:
1. I have been freezing & thawing my expressed milk. Is this the correct way? Will nutrients be lost etc? The thawing process needs additional effort & my baby is quite impatient at times.
2. Now, i am thawing breastmilk that is around 2 weeks ago. Should I start giving my baby fresh breastmilk instead?
3. Is it better to offer fresh ones during one of her feeds and freeze the balance? Any suggestions?
Tks!
I think it’s easier to just offer fresh rather than freezing and thawing. Either will work, but fresh is probably slightly better than frozen nutrient-wise and saves you money in freezer bags (plus the extra effort). If you have a system that works for you, that’s fine, go for it – but there is no reason to not just give fresh milk.
Hi Amanda, my daughter is 10 days old. I decided to EP when her bilirubin levels landed us back in the hospital where a wonderful nurse helped us figure out that I have a massive oversupply and a ridiculous let down which certainly explained why I was constantly repositioning during bf and we couldn’t get past 5 minutes when my milk came in. I want to make sure she gets enough so we bottle feed and offer the breast sometimes.
The past few days I’ve been pumping 3-4 times per day (roughly 30 minutes each time) and get 4-6oz from each breast! She has been taking 60-75ml bottles every 3 hours. She is only 10 days old, I know I’m producing more than enough milk for now but my concern is when she gets older. The lactation consultant at the hospital said to pump every 3 hours like clockwork but I just can’t. There’s not enough room in the fridge/freezer for that bc when I was pumping after every feeding I was still getting 4oz per breast! any advice?
It sounds like you have a great supply! What if you pumped for 15 minutes every 3 hours instead of 30?
Aly – just curious if you’ve noticed any drop in your supply after a few weeks? I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE – forceful let down, had to bf with a shield (flat nipples) and it was a disaster – plus oversupply so all he was getting was formilk and no hind milk, he can never empty my breast fully. Plus lots of air which gave us lots of gas & spit up. Nightmare. So, I switched to pumping exclusively after he was 3 weeks old. I pump 3-4 times a day and get on average 32 oz a day… he’s 8 weeks old and every blog i read says to pump at least 8-12 x a day. There’s no way I can do that either. I have this fear I’m going to lose it all/drop at 12 weeks! Just curious (&hopeful) since you’re a few weeks ahead of me if you had any luck keeping to just pumping 3-4 x a day with no drop??
My son is going to be 2 months old.During the initial days I was not able to breastfeed him due to a variety of reasons.I was forced to start him on formula feed. I just hoped to recover soon and start breastfeeding again.But he has got used to bottle & is not ready to feed from the breast.Finally I gave up n thought of atleast giving him expressed breast milk thru an electronic pump.But my milk supply has become very low since breastfeeding wasnt continuous since birth.I have also got my periods at 1 and half mmonths.Already on lactare capsules but no use.Heard of many side effects of domperidone & metoclopramide.Pls help.Im so worried.im pumping every 3 hrs & the output is roughly 15 ml including both breasts each time.Is is possible to increase breastmilk production from 2 months time after birth ? Started on shatavari tablets & powerpumping in the morning.It increased to 30 ml & now again it has come down to 15 ml per pump.
Have you tried fenugreek at all?
Hi my baby is 2 months old now, I started pumping from when he was a week old. But my supply has been going down since he was a month old and now i just get about 5 ml on each side or sometimes a few drops. Any suggestions as to what i can do to increase the supply?
Hi my baby is 2 months old now, I started pumping from when he was a week old. But my supply has been going down since he was a month old and now i just get about 5 ml on each side or sometimes a few drops. Any suggestions as to what i can do to increase the supply?
Hi I’m 2 months post partum and have been pumping since first week. I’m pumping 8x per day with 30mins every session. Tried all the galactogue but don’t seems to increase the supply. When they said supply will regulate by 12 weeks does it mean my supply will be the same from 12 weeks onwards? Now I’m only getting average 3-4oz per pumping session and that’s hardly catching up on my baby’s need. I’ll start working soon hence I hope there’s other way that can help to increase supply? And by 12 weeks I can start dropping pump without affecting my total output per day? It means I’ll be able to get more during each session?
Hi Waikee, I think you could probably drop down to 6 or 7 pumps per day at 8 weeks and be okay. 🙂
My baby was born five weeks early and spent a week in the NICU; there he was introduced to the bottle with formula and eventually my milk. Due to health reasons and c-section recovery, I wasn’t able to breastfeed until he was a week old and was only able to give him my milk via bottle. We’ve been home a few weeks now and I’m starting to struggle with keeping up with him – attempts to breastfeed have been good and bad, he just does better on a bottle.
I’ve been told that taking him to my breast will help my milk but I just don’t see any difference. Is there any truth to this advice?
Hi Kimberly – I don’t think so. A lot of times LCs will say that because some women’s bodies don’t respond as well to the pump as they do to their baby – but if your baby nursed effectively, you wouldn’t need to exclusively pump in the first place. It’s worth a shot in addition to pumping (because over the long haul nursing is easier), but not if it’s stressing you out or taking too much time.
Hi! My baby is 1 week old today and I decided to pump exclusively bc she is tongue tied and her latch was making breast feeding extremely difficult. Currently I pump every 3 hrs (8x/day) and am producing 2 oz/session (16 oz/day). Is this a normal, average output for 1 week postpartum? When should I see this amount increase?
Hi Ashley! I think that is pretty normal for 1 week pp. I think you should see an increase over the next week or two. (Since this reply is a few days later, you might already have seen it. If you don’t see an increase by 2-3 weeks, I would try fenugreek and see if that gives you a boost.
I currently pump every 4 hours and get 2 ounces all together each time.. my baby is 6 days old.. when woukd or should I start producing more?
Hi Heather! I think it should tick up over the next few weeks. If your baby is only 6 days old I might try pumping a bit more often during the day if possible to bring up your supply (every 4 hours at night is fine). Good luck!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Having struggled to breastfeed my eldest and subsequently giving up at a week old I was determined to try again with my second. He is tongue tied (as I now believe his older brother was) and we’re awaiting separation consultation so I was advised to pump and bottle feed. I’m in the UK and whilst the support is much better than it was when my eldest was born and I tried to exclusively pump there’s not really much advice for exclusively pumping Mum’s other than the offical tag lines of drink plenty of fluid and pump at least 3 hourly. Your website has given Mr a raft of advice and tips and reassured me no end. I’m so very grateful to of stumbled upon you and will recommend you to anyone in the same position! Thank you again!
I am currently pregnant with my second child. Breast feeding and pumping did not go well with my first child. So I made the decision to exclusively pump this time. I understand the pump while feeding model, but I am confused about how you begin. How soon after the baby is born do you begin pumping? Do I give formula until my milk production begins? Thanks!
I would start pumping right away, but plan on giving formula until your milk comes in because colostrum is hard to pump. Good luck!