How should I prepare to pump?

First, read your pump instructions. Wash your hands well. Find a place to sit where you can relax and have good support for your back and shoulders.

If you are pumping with a dual milk collection kit, see the photo for how to dual pump using one hand. Center the breast flanges over your nipples. Press them lightly against your breasts to make an air seal. Then start your pump.

How can I get the best results with my pump?

First, the strongest pump suction does not always pump the most milk. Set your pump at the highest suction that feels good… and no higher. Pumping should not hurt.

Pumping milk is not like sucking a drink through a straw. With a straw, the stronger you suck, the more you get. When pumping, most milk comes only when a let-down, or milk release, happens. Without a milk release, most milk stays in the breast. What is a milk release?

• Hormones cause muscles in the breast to squeeze and milk ducts to widen, pushing the milk out.
• Some mothers feel tingling. Others feel nothing.

A milk release can happen with a touch at the breast, hearing a baby cry, or even by thinking about your baby. Feelings of stress, anger, or upset can block milk release.

While breastfeeding, most mothers have three or four milk releases without knowing it. To get more milk with your pump, you need more milk releases. But you may need some help at first until your body learns to respond to your pump like a baby.

To trigger more milk releases, use your mind and senses. One or two senses may work better than the others, so try them all to find out which work best for you.

• Mind: Close your eyes, relax, and imagine your baby breastfeeding.
• Sight: Look at your baby or at your baby’s photo.
• Hearing: Listen to a recording of your baby cooing or crying. If you’re apart, call and check on your baby.
• Smell: Smell your baby’s blanket or clothing.
• Touch: Apply a warm cloth or gently massage your breasts.
• Taste: Sip your favorite warm, non-alcoholic drink to relax you.

If using an electric pump, check to see if your pump has both SUCTION/VACUUM and CYCLE controls. If so, use your senses as you adjust the controls to get more milk faster. Watch your milk flow as you pump and use it as your guide.

• Set SUCTION/VACUUM to the highest setting that’s comfortable.
• Set CYCLE on the fastest setting.
• When milk starts to flow, turn CYCLE down to near the slowest setting.
• When the milk flow slows to a trickle, return to fast CYCLE and use your senses.
• Repeat, using fast CYCLE to trigger milk releases and slow cycles to drain.
• If using a manual pump, you can do the same by using both fast and slow squeezes. Again, watch your milk flow and use it as your guide. Change breasts every 5-7 minutes for a total of 20 to 30 minutes.

How do I know if I’m using the right size breast flange?

Some mothers do well with the standard size. You need a larger flange if pumping hurts, even on low suction. If the standard flange is too small, a larger flange may feel better and pump more milk.

To check your flange fit, check your nipple during pumping. If you see space around your nipple, you have a good fit. If your nipple always rubs against the sides of the flange, it is too tight (see drawings below).

How long should I pump?

Talk to your healthcare provider. In most cases, 10-15 minutes per breast is long enough.

When should I pump?

If you are at home with baby and fully breastfeeding:

• Pump in the morning. This is when most women get more milk.
• Pump 30-60 minutes after nursing and at least an hour before nursing. This should leave plenty of milk for your baby at the next feeding.
• If your baby wants to breastfeed right after a pumping, go ahead. Some babies are patient and will just feed longer to get the milk they need.

If you are pumping for a baby who is not breastfeeding, plan to pump 8-10 times each day. Until you are pumping a full milk supply (25-35 oz. per day), go no longer than 5 hours between pumpings. After that, if you can sleep eight hours without too much breast fullness, go ahead. With a full milk supply, most mothers can pump 6-7 times a day and keep up their supply.

How much milk should I expect to pump?

This will vary, depending on your baby’s age, time since last breastfeeding or pumping, time of day, pump quality, how much practice you’ve had with your pump, and whether you’re relaxed or stressed. But, on average, if you are fully breastfeeding:

• When pumping between feedings, expect to pump about half a feeding.
• When pumping for a missed breastfeeding, expect a full feeding.

Baby's Age	Average Feeding
First week (after Day 4)	1-2 oz. (30-60 mL)
1 to 3 weeks	2-3 oz. (60-90 mL)
1-6 months	3-5 oz. (90-150mL)

Babies often take more milk from the bottle than you pump in one pumping session. This may not mean your milk supply is low. The faster, steadier flow of the bottle may cause some babies to take more than they need. A slow-flow bottle may help a baby to feel full with less milk.