Exclusively Pumping

Jaime Donnell

Updated August 12, 2024 17:57

I have decided the best decision for me and my baby is to exclusively pump. How can I be successful and reach my goal of breastfeeding for at least 1 year?

Exclusively pumping is hard work, but determined moms can make it long-term and do very well. It is more mother-led than baby-led when it comes to milk supply. How often and effectively you remove milk will determine how much milk you make.

Effective Pumping

Choosing the right breast pump with good suction will be most effective at removing breast milk and therefore maintaining your milk supply. Using the correct flange size also plays a big role in how much milk can be pumped, and it's common for breast shield (flange) size to change over the course of your pumping journey.

Pumping Frequency

Pump as often as baby eats. Plan to pump every 2-3 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night. This should equal about 8-12 times in 24 hours. Try to keep the amount of pumping sessions consistent in order to keep supply consistent. Usually, pumping for 15 minutes is long enough to empty the breasts when using a double electric pump.

Average Amounts

On average and depending on age, breastfed infants take in between 19-30 ounces of breast milk every 24 hours. Newborns take in smaller amounts more frequently, but as they get older, they take in larger amounts less frequently. After about one month, milk supply no longer needs to keep increasing. Breast milk changes as baby grows, providing them with what they need at that stage of development. So, the same amount is still filling them up as it becomes more fat, calorie, and nutrient-dense.

Even though you are exclusively pumping and bottle-feeding, you can still feed your baby on demand. Most adults do not eat the exact same amount for every meal and snack. Infants are no different. It is normal for a baby to want different amounts at different times. Some babies might take in the same amount at each feeding and stay on a schedule, but this is rare. Click here, for more info on the average intake of a breastfed baby.

Growth Spurts

Keep growth spurts in mind, and consider adding a few extra pumping sessions to your day during these times. This will cause your supply to increase so you can keep up with baby's growing needs. After the spurt ends, and your normal pumping schedule resumes, your milk supply will level out again. Your milk supply does not need to continue to increase (after 1 month). It is becoming more fat, calorie and nutrient dense, so the same amount is still filling up your baby. Growth spurts typically occur around 10 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.

Paced Bottle-Feeding

There are several benefits to paced bottle-feeding. It lets baby control the feeding and decide how fast and how much they drink. Your baby fusses for many reasons, not just hunger, so only offer a bottle when your baby is showing hunger cues. When your baby is hungry they might lick their lips, turn their head, or suck on their hands. This is the best time to offer the bottle.

How To Pace Feed

Sit your baby partly upright and hold the bottle by their lips, but angled partially downward.
When baby starts to draw the bottle nipple into their mouth and suck, angle the bottle upward filling half of the nipple with milk.
When sucking slows or stops, angle the bottle downward again until sucking continues.

This style of bottle-feeding can seem like it takes a while, but it removes the risk of your baby eating too much, too fast. This lessens overfeeding, gas, spitting up, and also helps you keep up with pumping amounts by preventing waste.

Another way to minimize waste is to store breast milk in various amounts. Store no more than 4 ounces in a breast milk storage bag. Some bags should contain only an ounce or two. These can be used for the times baby needs just a little more milk, so that a full feeding doesn't have to be warmed and potentially discarded. Click here for more information on storing breast milk.

Tips to Increase Success

Skin-to-skin contact is great for milk supply, set aside time for this to stimulate those milk making hormones.
Get comfortable and make sure you are nice and warm.
Massage your breasts before pumping.
Try hands-on-pumping during the pumping session.
When milk stops flowing, start hand expressing into the breast pump flange to collect a bit more.
Use a comfortable suction setting. Pumping should NOT hurt and pain decreases how much can be pumped.
Eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water.

Exclusively pumping IS breastfeeding and figuring out what works best for you and your baby so they benefit from your breast milk is an admirable choice! Click here for some encouragement by reading about some little-known, but amazing breast milk facts. Click here for information on our Zoom Support Group to connect with other moms and add to your support network.