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
Hi there!
Thank you so much for all this information! You’ve been a resource to me for many years!
I’m EP for my son who is now 6 weeks old. I pump 56-65 ounces a day and he is eating around 25-30 ounces per day. I have always had an over supply, even with my first child who I also EP for.
I am pumping 7 times a day, 15 min per session with a 20 minute session first thing in the morning and another 20 minute in the afternoon When I can fit it insurgence a toddler and newborn to care for.
Do you think I could drop a pump session now? I’d like to bring my supply down within reason (I have soooo much milk!) everyone talks about limited supply but it’s hard to find resources when you have oversupply and how to manage that. Any help would be appreciated!
Hi Faith! I think you’d be okay to go to 6ppd now! I would up the time to 17-18 minutes. Good luck!!! 🙂
Hi,
I’m a first time mom my baby is just 5 days old! We had a hard time latching at the hospital so I started pumping. I do get 8-10 sessions in a day. After meeting with a lactation consultant and only feeding baby through the cupping and syringe method (which is so tedious) I have been able to put baby back to breast, but I’m not sure if this is what I want. Should I continue to pump 8-10 times in a day to keep milk supply up if I decide to exclusive pump? Thanks!
Congrats on your sweet baby! I would try to pump as much as possible after nursing. Let me link a post on triple feeding that might be helpful!
https://exclusivepumping.com/nursing-pumping-and-bottle-feeding/
I starting eping because of a shallow latch and a case of mastitis. My issue is I can pump for 40 + minutes and my milk is still flowing. I’ll get anywhere from 3.5 to 6.5 oz (both boobs together) per session. Is it normal for my milk to flow that long? How much time in between pumping should I do? Should I stop pumping after 30 min even if my milk is still flowing?
Hi Rebecca! So sorry about the mastitis. Ideally, it shouldn’t take that long for your breasts to empty. I will post a link with some ideas on pumping faster. I hope they help!
https://exclusivepumping.com/pump-breast-milk-faster/
Hi,
I’m a first time mom and my baby is almost 2 months old. I couldn’t breast feed right away at the hospital and my baby ended up getting used to the bottle. I tried to breast feed after but she would get frustrated to me barely having any supply. I tried to pump for a week everyday but I’ll admit I wasn’t consistent and only pumped 4-5 times a day. I barely got even 2 total ounces for the entire day. I’m starting again because I really want her to have breast milk. Today’s my first day pumping again after a month giving up. I pumped 8 times total (15-25 mins each session) and I literally in total for the day got only drops. I didn’t even produce an ounce total for the day. I have the “Madela pump in style pump” which I heard was good. What am I doing wrong? How can I increase my supply? Will my supply increase? I been searching online and haven’t found anyone who produces less than an ounce total a day. Is me pumping useless?
Hi Preet! I think this is actually pretty normal! What you’re doing is called relactation. I’ll post a link for you. Just give it a few weeks, it takes time to see progress!
https://exclusivepumping.com/relactation-pumping-schedules/
Hello 🙂 I’m pumping for my 1 month old . Currently I pump 7 x a Day . Currently pumping 45 oz a Day
2:15 AM
5:40 AM
9:05 AM
12:30 PM
3:55 PM
7:20 PM
10:45 PM
So I have two questions .
1.How bad is it if I missed my 5:40 AM pump I sleep through my alarm :/ but I pumped at 7 AM. Will I loose my milk supply ?
2.Is the 5:40 AM considered a Middle of the night pump ?
Thanks in advance for your response!
And thank you for such great content!
Hi there! I think it will be okay. If you were nursing and your baby slept an extra few hours it wouldn’t be the end of the world, right? So it should be fine as long as you get the pumps and the time in. I think the second question depends on when you go to bed! If midnight, I say yes. If 8pm, I say no. Does that make sense?
Hi, I am a low supply mum and have just started exclusive pumping about 1 month ago after all the trial and error. My LO is turning 4mo. I pumped only about 0.5-1oz per session, 8 times a day. My LO is drinking per day 26-33oz. I understand that it is recommended to pump 10times a day to increase supply. However, I had difficulty in waking up in MTON to pump.Would it be recommended for me to pump longer to compensate for the 10sessions per day? If yes how long should i be pumping? I am currently pumping 15min on each side
Hi Evon! I think that’s a great schedule and that you are doing awesome. I would keep doing what you’re doing. If you want to add time you can but I wouldn’t do it if it’s going to burn you out.
Will it cause a supply dip if I were to skip MOTN pump. I have gotten so wear out to wake up in MOTN. =(
Hi there! I know this isn’t a great answer, but you can’t really know until you try it. Most women just get more milk in the morning, but some do seem to be affected.
Hi! My LO is 8 weeks old and I’ve been exclusively pumping for 2 weeks. I’ve been asking advice of my LC that I used for breastfeeding. I am having oversupply of 40+ ounces per day while pumping 6X per day 15 min each breast (I dual pump w/ spectra). Can I decrease my amount of pumps? Right now I’m pumping every 4 hours (6am,10am,2pm,6pm,10pm,2am).
Thanks in advance!
I would stay there for 2-4 more weeks and then I think it would be fine. Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
I don’t understand if I m pumping right. Because even after I pump for 20 mins. My breast don’t feel completely empty. it’s also not like I have a good flow.
After pumping for half hour to 40 minutes by altering sides I only get 30-40 ml. I am 8 weeks postpartum
Hi Shree,
Here are some ideas that might help you pump faster. Sorry you’re dealing with this!
https://exclusivepumping.com/pump-breast-milk-faster/
Hello Amanda!!
Greetings!
First of all Thank you so much, your website is of great help!
We are blessed with a beautiful baby girl 6 weeks ago.
I am using the Medela Swing. I pump for about 15 minutes each side i.e for a total of 30 minutes (whole session time). I am only getting about 30ml to 40ml of milk and sometimes even less than 30 ml.
Is this normal?
My baby still feels hungry so I have to top feed her. Whatever I do my milk supply is remaining the same.
When I directly breastfeed her, I sit for about 30-40 minutes but still my baby doesn’t seem satisfied and she still feels hungry. My doctor said I have to breastfeed only for 15-20 minutes and if the baby isn’t satisfied by then, it means I am not making enough milk.
What should I do? How much time is ideal for one breast feeding session?? Also how can I increase my milk supply. I have tried everything everybody ever told me but nothing seems to work like drink fenugreek seeds soaked water and other things. I have come to a phase where I just feel like giving up but I am worried about my baby’s health.
Kindly please help!!!
Hi Shree! Congratulations on your brand new baby!
I think your doctor is probably right in this case that you may not be making enough milk. (Sometimes the issue is the milk transfer, but since you are pumping for long enough but not making as much as you’d like, I think it’s your supply.) But that’s okay! There are some things you can try to increase it. I’ll put a link down below with some ideas.
https://exclusivepumping.com/increasing-milk-supply/
Hi Amanda,
Thank you! Will try these!
Also, now that it’s been 6 weeks into postpartum. Do you still think there is a chance to increase the milk supply?? Some told me that with increase in number of days into postpartum the chances of increased milk supply reduces.
I think at 6 weeks you still have a really good chance!
Shree, I just came across this comment and I wanted to ask- are you pumping after you have fed from the breast?
There are a lot of reasons why a 6 week old wants to nurse all the time, and much of it could be for comfort. You need to count wet diapers per day to help gauge milk production. I would recommend that you have a chat with a LLL leader to troubleshoot. If you’re nursing on demand, your baby “should” be getting enough. Pumping afterwards is not a good indicator of how much milk your baby just ate.
And sometimes babies nurse for more than 15-20 minutes. Is your doctor well versed in lactation? Many doctors are not experts in breastfeeding, so you may want to consult an LLL leader or an IBCLC.
Over time, your baby will start nursing more efficiently and you won’t be nursing for 30 minutes at a time.
Hello my baby is 4.5 months and I have had to stop breastfeeding the last 2 weeks. So I’m exclusively pumping now. What do you recommend my pumping routine should be since it’s so late in the game that I start exclusively pumping. I’m not making much milk so I’m really trying to increase my supply but I’m not sure if it’s even possible for my body to do that so late into it?… please help me!
Hi Melissa! 4.5 months is still early enough that you may be able to boost your supply. I would aim for 5-6 sessions per day – here are some sample pumping schedules that might be helpful!
https://exclusivepumping.com/sample-pumping-schedules/
Hello!
My baby boy is three weeks old today and I am exclusively pumping. I am only pumping 5 times a day for 20 minutes at a time and I am producing between 24-28 oz a day. My baby is eating 2oz about every two hours for a total of only about 16oz a day. Should we be feeding him more based on your comment that they should be eating 20oz a day? We tried to bump him up to 2.5oz per feeding and he seemed very uncomfortable after feedings. Also, should I be pumping more? Any help would be great.
Hi Savanah! I think you are doing fine as far as feeding goes – I think it will probably bump up on it’s own over the next few weeks. I would add one additional 20 minute session. Hope that helps. Good luck!
This is great! I tried to exclusively pump for my first born and I didn’t know when to or How to increase my output to Keep up with baby’s demand.
So glad it’s helpful, Becky!!!
Is the 120 mins a total for the combined breadth or individually? I currently only have a single pump so I’m wondering if ill need to double the time when I switch sides.
Also, so happy to have found this site. I have an over supply so latching is difficult for my LO, he gets overwhelmed or refuses because of the hardness of my breasts and it’s painful! He’s 4 weeks now so I am looking at alternatives and hoping my supply regulates.
Hi, it’s for each breast – sorry! I know that’s a lot of time. Do the best you can.
Hello, thanks so much for your page! I am a mom of four who is having to exclusively pump with my fourth who is 3 weeks old. This is a whole different game! I think I’m doing this all wrong. I read that I should be pumping for a total of 120 minutes daily?! I’m sooo confused! Help?
Thank you ahead of time.
Hi Iris! Congrats on your new baby! Yes, 120 minutes a day. I would do 7-8 sessions of about 15 minutes each. Of course, with 3 other kids to take care of, just do your best!
Thank you SO MUCH for this site and all your amazing advice.
I just started EP 2 days ago, I have a 2 week old and just too much pain with BF and difficulty latching.
Question – I notice the pumping sessions are by time. What if at 15 minutes, my boobs are still “spraying” in the lactation mode? Should I stop at 15 minutes or stop when they stop? Sometimes my right boob will never stop after even like 30 minutes! But that long of a pump session is not sustainable for me at every 2-3 hours.
Also, sometimes my right will be producing and not my left (I double side pump with my Spectra S9). Should I unhook one and just keep pumping the other?
I am considering renting a hospital grade pump from my IBCLC. Worth it?
Hi Amy! It’s great to hear from you! I think if you have time at the end of the 15 minutes I would keep pumping. If it seems like it is just taking forever, here are a few ideas:
https://exclusivepumping.com/pump-breast-milk-faster/
What kind of pump were you thinking of renting – a Symphony?
Hello Amanda,
First of all thanks for the great info. I’ve been EP for 3 weeks as I have plain nipple and had a terrible start on BF. I’m still trying to nurse my LO but I’m losing hope, she is currently 4 weeks old :(. (been with nipple shields, sringe suply, formula supply, with a result of sore and cracked nipples and a lot of frustation about BF)
I’m doing about 6 – 7 pumping sessions per day (at night I only wake up if LO wakes, she’s sleeping 5 to 6 hours in a row), and pumping for about 40 to 50 minutes each session. I don’t feel that I’m fully emptying myself despite the long sessions, I also get a wide range of milk, I have gotten from 2oz pp to 8 Oz pp. Most of the times I get between 3 to 4 oz pp for an average of 21 Oz per day.
What can I do to ensure I’m fully emptying my breasts but without adding more time to my pumping sessions? In fact I would like to reduce the pumping time but without reducing the amount of milk I get, as it is a little bit less than I would like to produce.
I have a medela PISA and also using pumping pals (middle), sometimes I use a mechanical extractor avent but I feel it hurts my nipples so bad.
Thanks for your help! 🙂
Hi there! First, congrats on your baby. You are doing a great job!
I feel you – that is a long time to be pumping. Check out this post of how to pump faster –
https://exclusivepumping.com/pump-breast-milk-faster/
If you think it’s a problem with getting letdowns, I would definitely try vibration (like with an electric toothbrush or one of the lactation massagers that’s linked in that post). If it’s just that the milk flows super slow, try lecithin.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
Hi!
I recently started pumping instead of breastfeeding due to being close to going back to work. I don’t have a schedule for pumping, I just pump whenever I feel like I need to. Sometimes doing this can lead to me not pumping anywhere from 4-6 hrs if I’m out of the house or if I’m sleeping and then there are times where I’m pumping every 2 hrs. Is it bad to switch up pumping hrs like that? And will it decrease my supply waiting so long to pump?
Hi! It’s not bad – newborns don’t eat on a strict schedule, so it’s okay if you don’t pump on one! I would just make sure that you’re pumping for about 120 minutes each day and you should be okay.
How do I go from breastfeeding exclusively to pumping exclusively? What’s the process to build up an inventory of pumped milk while maintaining feeding for my baby? Should I pump at each feeding – I currently average 9-10 feedings per day – while giving him formula or should I pump after feeding and just continue this cycle to build up the inventory of pumped milk? What’s the best and most efficient way to transition?
Hi Georgia! This might help:
https://exclusivepumping.com/how-to-start-exclusively-pumping-breast-milk/
Basically, you just need enough for one feeding ahead. You can do formula for that or you can pump after nursing to get enough. Does that make sense? Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you so much for making this site!
I think I might be over pumping, my baby is 2.5 weeks and eating 3oz every 2-3 hours during the day and 3-4 at night. I’m pumping 7 times a day for 30 mins each session so that’s 210 minutes a day. I get about 34-40oz a day. I’d love to cut down to either less pumps or shorter sessions but I have no clue how to start and I don’t want to jeopardize my supply.
Hi Shea! I would maybe cut one session at a time down to 20 minutes and see what happens. Give it a week or so between reducing just to make sure you don’t see a loss as time goes on. Also, I would do breast compressions to see if that helps you get the same amount of milk in less time. Do you think it takes 30 minutes to “empty” or are you mostly empty before then?
So I realized I’m mostly empty by 20 minutes. I think since my pump went for 30 minutes I figured I should be pumping for that long. Thanks for the help! Hopefully I can raven get down to 15 minutes one day.
Good luck! 🙂
Thanks! How much fenugreek should I take a day?
Hi Janet! I would start with 2 capsules 3 times a day! More info here:
https://exclusivepumping.com/fenugreek-for-increasing-milk-supply/
Hi! My baby is 6 weeks old, I’ve been exclusively pumping for about 4 weeeks, he was tongue tied and we got it fixed but I can’t get him to latch correctly yet. I’ve been pumping every 3 hours during the day and take a 5-6 hour gap between pumping at night to maintain my sanity and sleep a little but I’m exhausted. Don’t feel like I can keep going like this much longer. Will I always have to pump this much? And what about when my baby starts needing more and more ounces. Will my body just know to make more milk? I used to be able to get 2 feedings out of a pump session now I’m only getting 1 feeding . I’ve extended my pump sessions from 20 to 30 minutes to see if I can get more but it doesn’t seem to help… my goal is to stop pumping at 3 months but to have enough milk stashed to feed him for 6, unless I can get him to latch correctly which I’m praying I can but staring to lose hope
Hi Janet! Congrats on your six week old! It sounds like you are doing great.
You won’t always have to pump this much. You must be pumping about 7 times per day now? I think you can move to 6. Just keep your total pumping time in a day the same.
I would try eating oatmeal or power pumping or maybe fenugreek to try to increase supply. I hope this helps!
Janet I feel like I just read my own experience word for word! I also have a 6 week old, we had his TT fixed but he won’t latch as he’s so used to the bottle, it’s too painful to put him on the boob! I ended up with mastitis as a result of bad latch. The doctor gave me Domperidone and my milk came back within a matter of days 🙂
Abby
My son is 7 days old.
I try to latch him before every feeding, with varying success. If he does latch it’s for a few minutes. We had to supplement with formula for his health.
I pump 8-10 times a day whenever he feeds (so latch, formula, then I pump). The issue is I struggle to get half an ounce at each session…I take fenugreek, eat oatmeal, etc but still half an ounce or less. It’s so frustrating.
Hi Emi! Congrats on your new baby! You are doing a great job. I can see how that would be sooo frustrating.
How long have you been taking fenugreek? What dose are you taking?
Hi! Thanks so much for this site, so helpful! I want to switch over to BF, but my little 7 day old has not been responsive since the get go. I’ve been pumping since the beginning (trying to latch him here and there when it feels right)
I’m pumping every time he eats(every 2.5-3 hours) for 20 Minutes. I’m just finally starting to get 3ish oz, but sometimes it’s less so we are topping up with formula. He’s eating 3-3.5 per feed. I’m not sure how to increase this? Does this sound normal? I don’t know how I can pump
More frequently with a toddler running around also, and I’m afraid to leave the house and be longer than 2.5-3 hours and it effect my supply.
Hi Joanna! congrats on your brand new baby! HAve you tried power pumping, oatmeal, fenugreek, or any other milk boosting options? Here are some ideas to start – let me know if you have any questions. Your supply might increase naturally at 7 days out if you stick to your schedule (your schedule is great!) but it’s not a bad idea to try some things too! Hope this helps!
https://exclusivepumping.com/increasing-milk-supply/
I have a 8 week old and have been pumping exclusively for about 7 weeks. In the beginning I had mastitis and a my baby had a tongue tie which lead to the pumping. I had a very low supply in the beginning and we had to supplement. But through lots of effort have increased it to now pumping 7 times per day for a total of 45-50 oz per day. I have stockpiled a lot in the freezer already and would also like to get down to 6 pumps per day. I am still pumping in the middle of the night and at about 5:30 in the morning. My problem is If I go close to 4 hours between pumps my breasts feel hard and lumpy. Any advice?
Hi Kelley! Which pumping session do you want to drop – the middle of the night one? If so, here’s how to do that!
https://exclusivepumping.com/drop-middle-of-the-night-pumping-sessions/
Hi! I am 3 weeks post partum and pumping 8-9 times a day for 15-20 minutes a session. I’m only getting about 3 oz per session and 23-26 ounces per day. Is this normal? Will it increase?
I had mastitis in my left boob and that boob is still under producing. I am just hoping I can increase my supply to eventually start a freezer stash and provide enough to feed my baby!
Hi Chelsea! Congrats on your baby! That sounds pretty normal to me. I would say that if you’re not making more around the one month mark and would like to, it’s worth trying some of the strategies for increasing milk supply. Let me know if you need ideas!
I’m so grateful for this website! When I told the lactation consultant I wanted to exclusively pump because baby wasn’t getting latching down and I wanted to know exactly how much he was eating, the consultant made me feel awful. Virtually all support stopped there. It’s so nice to have this website for education and support.
I’m so sorry that happened to you Renee!
My baby is 8 weeks old, I tried at about 5 weeks to switch from breastfeeding to exclusive pumping. It worked for about 2 days then he refused the bottles. Im wanting to try again so I can actually see how much he’s eating. Im wondering if with pumping will my supply increase as his needs do or I’d it just kind of a fixed amount you can pump? Also I was wondering if I could still nurse for the nighttime feeds instead of pumping?
Hi Heather! It probably won’t increase without effort (but his intake probably won’t increase that much from 5 weeks on, either – after a month it’s pretty consistent. But if you need to there are some methods for increasing milk supply that you could try. And yes, you can nurse for nighttime feeds if you want. Good luck!
Hello, just wanted to say thank you for this website. I wish the hospital and or breastfeeding class informed me about EP. So I’ve been all over the place with breastfeeding. I’ve breastfed on both side, then one side and pumping the other side, pumped after breastfeeding and breastfed and supplementing. Now my son is 3 weeks, how do I start with exclusively pumping. Do I give him a bottle(formula) for 1 session, pump, and go from there? I just hope I’m not taking a step backwards. They say babies are more efficient at getting milk than pumps. The pump I have is a Medela Symphony.
Hi Tracy! YEs, that it what I would do!
Some women don’t respond well to the pump but plenty of us do. My supply was a lot higher for the baby I EPed for than the babies I nursed. Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones 🙂
Hi Amanda, your website is so helpful and educational, I have been reading as much as I can since my daughter was born. She lost 13% body weight in the first few days so we supplemented with formula. Fortunately by day 5 my milk finally came in and I have been exclusively pumping ever since. I pump 6 times a day, my schedule is 12am 4am 8am 12pm 4pm 8pm, basically every 4 hours for 30 minutes per session. I know you suggest 7-8 times per day for newborns but I just couldn’t commit to that. my 30 mins per session amounts to 180 minutes per day so hopefully that makes it up. Baby girl is now 3 weeks old, she’s eating on average 600ml (roughly 20oz per day), and I am pumping average 120-130ml per session so about 900ml (roughly 30oz) per day. We use the Glow Baby app to keep tracking of her feeding amount and my pump amount total. My question is are we doing it right? Does this sound like a good plan? At what point can I drop the 4am pump at night? As long as I keep up the pumping 6 times a day for 30 mins each, what are the chances of my milk flow stopping? Thanks for listening.
You’re doing awesome. I think what you’re doing is working great for you and I wouldn’t worry about milk flow stopping.
Instead of dropping the 4am I would push it back so that you still have 6 sessions but they are all during the day. Maybe around the 6 week mark if you can make it that long? If not, do what you need to do to stay sane. Good luck!
Hello! I have a 9 day old. She’s eating 3 oz every 3 hours, cleared to eat every 4 at night because she’s already back up to her birth weight. I’m producing 4.5-6oz. I was pumping every 3 hours, but am wondering if it would be safe to start pumping when she eats/7 times a day. Increasing time from 15 to 20 min. I’d be fine if the 20 min increases my supply but I’m really hoping to get more sleep, since she’s perfectly fine to sleep those 4 hour stretches.
I think that sounds like a good plan!
Hi Ive been pumping since the day I left the hospital with my son because he wouldn’t latch anymore due to him getting congested and me becoming engorged. My son is 4 weeks old and I am producing between 35-44oz. I pump 8-10 times every 2-3 hrs during the day and at night 3-4 hrs. I was wondering when would I be able to drop a pump without it causing me to loose my supply. My goal for now is to reach 6 months.
Hi Linda! I think you could go down to 7 right now and 6 in a few weeks and be okay! Just keep your total pumping time in a day the same.
I am 9 weeks post partum. Baby was born three weeks early. Nursing turned into hell, he hated it due to the effort required after we were instructed at the hospital from birth to give formula, sas he was small. So bottles were introduced in addition to breast. Now, he prefers bottle. Nursing ends with us both sobbing, and him not fed, so I gave up.
Despite, I want him to get breastmilk so I have resisted throwing in the towel. I have managed to get up to around 14oz a day by pumping. I have tried fenugreek, though I don’t think I took enough, no maple bender odors. I pump 8-10 times a day, “power pump” several nights a week in a row, after 9pm. I wake up during the night and pump when baby feeds. I hand express whatever is left after pumping.
Rather despairing as it sounds (via the Interweb’s) like I should be able to produce twice this amount at least. Baby is insatiable and every drop i have passes through his maws at an alarming rate.
I did not pump consistently for the first few weeks after birth. I was really struggling. Am I too far gone to up my supply? I don’t really know what other tricks to try? I have seen increases of a few ounces more a day over the last month, but nowhere close to what I read. Perhaps I get 1-2oz per pump session.
Help.
I’m so sorry Jess! You are doing a great job. I think 9 weeks is still early … I think the things I would start with would be oatmeal for breakfast and the correct dose of fenugreek. If that doesn’t work, maybe you could look in domperidone or reglan? Not as easy to get though.
Seriously, you’re doing great!
I’m doing 15 minute sessions each time
OK great! I might increase that to 20 minutes and see if it helps. Are you getting a second letdown when you pump? I was thinking the extra time might help you get one if not and therefore increase the amount you pump. Let me know if you have any questions!
I have a 13 day old baby. We tried breastfeeding and pumping, and supplemented with formula from when she came home from the hospital. I was initially producing 3oz per session, but now it’s dropped to below 1.5oz per session. I pump 6-7 times per day. IVe been drinking the mother’s milk tea and eating oatmeal. Any other suggestions? Is it normal to reduce so drastically in the first few weeks? Will my supply go up again on its own?
Hi Amanda! Congrats on your baby! It sounds like you are doing all of the right things! I’m not sure what happened there. Maybe your supply regulated really early? I think I would try fenugreek and see if that’s helpful – a fenugreek/blessed thistle combo might be worth a hot. How long are your sessions?
Hi,
I’ve been pumping 8 times a day (occasionally 7) for 8 weeks now. Will my supply have regulated yet? I produce between 1000 And 1200ml each day roughly and my baby currently takes approx 700-800ml so I’m freezing the remaining milk. My intention isn’t to freeze a huge supply so I don’t mind if I produce a little bit less. I’d love to be able to drop a couple of pumping sessions, can I safely do this yet or should I wait until she is 12 weeks old? I try to stick to a set schedule every 3 hours but lookingafter a little one means I often am late with my pumping session… does this matter as long as I am still doing 2 hours of pumping within 24 hours? I read somewhere about a woman who has reduced her pumps to 4 a day but still gets the same amount, I’d love to be able to do that… any advice on where to start?
Hi Cat! Do you feel like you’re leaking less, maybe like your breasts are less hard/full than they were at the beginning? If so, it’s probably regulated. More info here:
https://exclusivepumping.com/when-is-milk-supply-established/
I think you’d be fine to drop to 6 now. Just make sure you increase the length of your sessions so that your total pumping time in a day stays the same. Good luck!
This may sound like a dumb question, but how do you start on “Day 1”? I read the article about pumping after you bottle feed and using the schedule – I dig it, but how do you get started on the first feed if you don’t have a “reserve” from prior feeds?
I’m a first-time mom (due May 2019), so forgive my naivete. I’m just imagining: (1)baby is born, (2)baby is hungry (how soon after birth are they ready to eat?), (3) I have nothing to feed baby because I haven’t had a chance to pump anything. Sorry if that sounds crazy.
Not a dumb question! I wrote a post about pumping from birth that might be helpful:
https://exclusivepumping.com/exclusively-breast-pumping-from-birth/
I would start with formula until you have enough breast milk to feed. Colostrum can be hard to pump, and like you said, you need to be able to get ahead. Good luck!
hi,
my daughter suffered a cardiac arrest at 5 weeks and we have been in hospital ever since.
the down time has caused some brain damage which has affected her ability to swallow. i have been expressing for the past 10 weeks so she can still be tube fed my milk.
i am currently pumping four hourly in the day and was advised to get some sleep and leave it 8 hours overnight (8,12,4,8 and 12). my milk has sustained because i upgraded to an ardo double pump and i express about 100ml a 20minute session.
we are due to be discharged within the next few weeks so i will be solely responsible for my daughter’s care. i don’t think i will be able to fit in expressing every 4 hours at home.
would i be able to express every 8 hours, 3 times a day and still keep up a supply?
i have plenty stored up in the freezer if not but i would just like some advice.
thanks
Hi Lauren! I hope that your baby is doing better and am so happy that you’re being discharged! Regarding supply it’s possible, but it’s hard to say for sure. The big risk is that you’ll get your period back earlier than you otherwise would have (longer breaks between lactation sessions can do that), but it could also be fine. It just depends on your risk threshold. Also, it depends on your goals – if you’re planning to pump for another few months, I would be more likely to say go for it than if you wanted to pump for a full year.
I’m not sure about your baby’s health situation – are you able to hold her while you pump, wearing a hands-free bra?
iam 4 week pp is it possible to pump 7 times in the day and divide that by 120mins its so hard to get that 8th pump in without feeling like my nipples are going to fall off hahaha
Yes! You can do that. 🙂
Hi my daughter was born 2.5 weeks ago and I have been pumping since day 3. I pump 7-8 times a day for 20 mins each and have seen an increase in my supply from just a few ml initially to around 3 oz total (both breasts) per session. I am able to keep up with her needs with this amount, although not by a large margin (I usually have 1 or 1.5 feedings worth of a “stash”). If I keep up this schedule, will my supply continue to increase as she grows and starts taking 3-4 oz at the end of her first month? So far so good but I am worried I won’t keep pace with her. Thank you!
Hi SJ! I think you may continue to see an increase over the next week or two. If not, there are a few things that you could try (eating oatmeal, power pumping, fenugreek) that might get you to where you want to be. Good luck!
Hello my baby is almost one month . I was using nipple shield bc I have have flat nipples but the lactation consultant said to stop using them . My baby doesn’t have the best latch and his sucking doesn’t seem so efficient . He doesn’t seem to sleep so last night we gave him a bottle (breast milk) as slept so peaceful .
I’m glad the bottle helped him sleep!
I just wanted to take a minute and say how thankful I am for your site. I just had my first baby last Thursday. I thought I was fully prepared. I took multiple breastfeeding classes and read multiple books, but all just kind of skipped over pumping. So I went to the hospital with the full intention of exclusively breastfeeding. Plans changed when my baby was placed in the NICU for her first week. Plans changed again when the lactation Consultant noticed she had a posterior tongue tie after she wouldn’t latch, and I was told I would have to pump in order to get her the milk she needed. I was LOST. There were all these parts, and I was in constant pain because I didn’t know what I was doing. Not to mention I was only producing a few drops that some nurses scoffed at when I brought them to the NICU. With this, and not being able to be there full time for my baby, I’ve never felt so overwhelmed. Since then, I am so thankful to say we are now home, but I have still felt very overwhelmed by the whole exclusively pumping concept. Today, I ran across your site and you advice and tips have already helped me so much, and I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your wisdom!
I’m so glad to hear that! Best of luck with everything and let me know if you have any questions!
Hi! My baby is 6 weeks old today. I have been exclusively pumping since day 1. I was producing well and then I got reoccurring mastitis and was on a antiobiotics 3 weeks in a row and still trying to build my supply back up. I’m pumping every 2-3 hours for 15-20 minutes. I pump 7-9 times a day. I’m only getting roughly 15oz-18oz a day and having to supplement the rest with formula. I am taking fenugreek, and I’m on my third batch of lactation cookies and have increased my water. Is there anything I can do to increase my supply?
Hi Nikole! Congrats on your baby and I’m so sorry that you’ve had mastitis! What dose of fenugreek are you taking, and do you smell like maple syrup at all?
Hi i am exclusively pumping and my baby is now 4 weeks. I am concerned about the milk supply if it might increase since my child is aksing for more. I pump 12 times a day each for 15 mins
Hi Ania! It sounds like your schedule is good. What kind of a pump are you using, and have you tried anything (like fenugreek or other herbs or anything) to bring it up?
Hiya
Your site has been a total blessing.
Quick question about pumping 15 mins per session…. should I split that between each breast, or alternate between each breast every other session.
Thnx!
K
Hi Kim! So glad to hear it! It’s 15 minutes for EACH breast, unfortunately. So if you’re single pumping, it would take you 30 minutes. Does that answer your question?
Hiya. Yes it does.
Thank you!
Hi Amanda,
My baby is 3 weeks old and I’m exclusively pumping every 3 to 4 hours for 20min and getting an average of 150ml/5oz for a total of 300ml/10oz from each breast each time I pump, except for those times I find myself falling asleep and waking up 45 min later. When that happens I wake up to the bottles overflowing in my lap, ugh!!! Do you think there is anyway I can reduce the number of sessions I’m doing a day at this point it should I wait longer to give my body time to regulate out how much milk it’s making?
Thanks,
Samantha
Hi Samantha! So you’re doing 7-8 sessions a day for 20 minutes each, and getting 70ish ounces a day? I think you’re okay to drop down to 6 sessions a day at 20-25 minutes with that kind of oversupply. Waiting three more weeks would be a bit safer, but that’s a lot of milk! Obviously, anything can happen, and that’s just my guess.
You might want to consider getting 8oz bottles so you don’t overflow! Good luck!!!
Every 3 hours for about 20-30 minutes. I’m getting about an ounce on each side for now which is progress. Just trying to keep positive and continue. I’m fine with supplementing but I want to make sure he gets some from me.
I am currently having a lot of issues with nursing my 4 week old son. We had his tongue tie released but we still can’t get a painfree latch. I have been fluctuating between nursing and pumping when I can’t tolerate the pain. I have some questions about length of pumping and output. I only ever get one drop at a time while pumping. There is never a stream of milk coming out and only once have I noticed a tiny spraying of milk. Usually by the 15 minute mark I have not produced enough to cover the bottom of the bottles. I have noticed I produce more milk between the 20 and 30 minute mark. Is there anything I can do to speed up the process slightly so I don’t have to pump for 30 minutes 8 times per day?
Hi Audrey! It sounds like you’re not getting a letdown with the pump? That is my guess from what you said. Some ideas to help you get one – warm compresses or the shower, a lactation massager or electric toothbrush, looking at pictures/videos of your baby. More info here – https://exclusivepumping.com/how-to-boost-milk-supply-letdowns/ Hope this helps!
Hello,
My second baby boy was born this past Monday (June 25). I decided beforebhe was born to exclusively pump and have been pumping furiously every since. My question is how much should I be producing at this point (today is June 29)? He’s already eating 3 oz (breast milk and formula) but I’ve only been producing about 1 oz per session. I’m getting frustrated. Is it normal for my milk to come in this late?
Hi Jaime! That is definitely within the range of normal! What does your pumping schedule look like? You’re doing a great job, and congratulations!
Thank you so much! This is really helpful – I’ll definitely give that a go. 🙂
Hi Amanda,
Thank you SO much for your helpful website, it has been a lifesaver as I’ve gotten started with exclusive pumping!
My baby is four weeks old today, and I started pumping from the beginning. The hospital told me to pump 20 minutes, 8 times per day (which is a total of 160 minutes per day) which I have been doing consistently. However, I have a huge oversupply (over 50 oz per day) which is still increasing every single day. I am becoming more and more uncomfortable and less able to last 2.5 hours between pumps without serious discomfort.
A few days ago I decided to drop to 7 pumps per day (increasing to 23 minutes per pump to keep the overall time the same), thinking it might plateau my supply or at least slow it down, however, it has continued to increase and I’m pumping more now than I was on eight pumps per day.
Today I read this article above again and noticed that you suggest 120 minutes across the day – I am currently doing 160. Do you think that without getting mastitis or clogged ducts I could either:
a) keep up my 7 pumps per day, but drop to 17 minutes per side (bringing it to a total of 120 minutes per day), or
b) drop down to 6 pumps per day, of 20 minutes each (still coming to a total of 120 minutes per day)
I don’t want to do anything that would affect my long term supply as I’d like to keep this up for a year if possible, but I’m concerned that the supply is growing so much and I’m in more and more discomfort. Still, if that’s what has to happen, that’s what I’ll do!
Thanks so much!
Hi! I do think you can reduce you total amount of time pumping in a day, I would just do it slowly. So you’re at 23 minutes each, I would drop 3 minutes from one of those sessions one day, and 3 from another the next day, and so on. That way you can keep an eye on your supply and it won’t be a shock to the system to drop so many minutes at once. If you do see a drop and you get nervous, I would just hold steady for a few days and see what happens. Good luck!