Breast Pump Efficiency:
Reaching Full Milk Production With A Breast Pump
Using a breast pump is the second best way to establish and maintain a good milk supply. The sooner you begin pumping, the sooner you will reach full milk production.
Best Practices For Reaching Full Milk Production With a Breast Pump:
- Start pumping as soon as possible after birth, one to six hours after birth
- Plan to pump 8-10 times every 24 hours
- Double Pumping (both breasts at once) will save you time and may increase production faster
- Don’t go more than 5 hours between pumping
- Pump 10-15 minutes per breast per pumping session for the first few days
- Pump 10-20 minutes per breast per pumping session after the first few days
You should reach full milk production (25-35 oz or 750-1,050 ml) with a pump within 2-3 weeks. Once you have reached full milk production and are ready to simply maintain your supply you can:
- Decrease the number of pumping sessions per day.
- Discontinue pumping during the night, pump once before bed and first thing in the morning.
- Pump for shorter periods of time, for most Moms 10-15 minutes is long enough.
- Once a week add up the amount of milk you pump in a 24 hour period, keep a log of your totals from week to week- this will help you identify increases or decreases in your milk supply.
Having Trouble Reaching Full Production?
If you are having trouble reaching full production, you may want to make sure that you are using the correct flange size for your nipple. Nipple sizes vary and can change during breastfeeding. To ensure that every mom can find the right fit for her, Ameda created the CustomFit Flange System that has seven different flange sizes. Changing your diet while breastfeeding can sometimes be a factor in your milk supply. Learn more about your diet when breastfeeding.
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