Pumping Tips

For most women, breast pumps are less effective than their baby at emptying the breast. In order to maintain your milk supply you will want to pump at a minimum of every 3rd hour you are away from your baby for 10-20 minutes. If you already have a low milk supply you may need to pump more frequently and for longer periods.

If you are exclusively pumping, you will need to pump for 10-20 minutes 8-10 times every 24 hours. Refer to our Infant Feeding Guide to see if you are pumping enough milk for your baby.

Why do I have so little milk?

Make sure that you are pumping for 10-20 minutes each pump session. Many mothers think that they have finished pumping once the initial milk flow stops. This is not the case. If the milk stops flowing after your first "let down" keep pumping. It may take up to three minutes of dry pumping to produce another milk ejection.

It may seem like a little milk, but since most babies require small, frequent feedings it is only natural to produce a small amount of breast milk when your baby is still young. To compare your milk yield to the amount of milk your baby requires based on his or her weight, refer to our infant feeding guide.

I'm pumping every 3 hours when I'm away from my baby, but I still don't produce enough milk. Why is this happening? How can I drive up my supply?

Please see our page on increasing your milk supply.

Why isn't my milk white?

Expressed milk is often colored based on what the mother is eating. Foods rich in beta-carotene such as carrots, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe can give milk an orange hue. Foods such as spinach, broccoli or cabbage can give milk a green hue.

What is the best way to build up a store of milk while I am at home with my baby?

Once your pediatrician has confirmed that your baby is gaining weight appropriately, you can begin to pump your breast milk for storage. We find that pumping on one side while nursing on the other is an easy way to collect milk quickly. We recommend starting out once a day and working up to the number of sessions you feel you need to produce the amount of milk you wish to store each day. Keep in mind that if done daily, this will drive your supply beyond your baby's requirements and if you have a day when you miss a few pumping sessions you may end up engorged.

Disclaimer: BreastfeedingWorld.com would like to remind you that any actions taken as a result of information obtained from this site are done so at the risk of the reader. It is recommended that you discuss your plans with your doctor and your baby's doctor before taking any actions. Please read our legal page.

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