Tips and Advice to Help Increase Your Milk Supply

When your baby cannot breastfeed, using a breast pump is the next best way to establish and maintain a good milk supply. A quality, electric breast pump is essential since you will be pumping around the clock. Start pumping as soon as you can after birth to help your milk come in sooner (ideally within one hour, but no later than six hours) and give yourself the best opportunity to make enough breast milk for your baby. Pump at least 8 times a day and by the time your baby is 2 weeks old, you should be making 25-35 ounces (750-1,050 ml) per day.

From Birth to Day 4

• If you can, start pumping within the first six hours after birth.
• As soon as possible, pump at least 8-10 times every 24 hours. This is how many times each day your baby would be breastfeeding. In most cases, the more times each day you pump, the more milk you make.
• Plan to double-pump (both breasts at once). This saves time and may boost production faster.
• Until your milk comes in on Day 3 or 4, pump at least 10-15 minutes per breast. Then remove and place the breast flange under your breast to collect the milk you hand express which helps to better drain your breasts. (Drained breasts make milk faster.)
• Pump at least once during the night. Don’t go longer than about 5 hours between pumpings. (Full breasts make milk slower.)
• Expect to pump just a little colostrum (the first milk) at first. But even a few drops are important to your baby.
• Pumping often now “puts in your order” for later. It sends your body the signal to make more milk.

From Day 4 to Full Production

When your milk increases from drops to ounces on about Day 4, make these changes:

• Pump longer—two minutes after the last drop of milk or 20-30 minutes, whichever comes first.
• Focus on the total number of pumpings each day (8-10 times per 24 hours), not the time between pumpings (that is, every 2 or 3 hours).

Many moms find it simpler to focus on their daily total. And it is this daily total that seems to be most important to your milk production. Rather than trying to pump at the same set times each day, instead think: “How can I fit in my 10 or so pumpings?” If you find you can’t pump during one part of the day, pump every hour when you can.

Remember – do not allow more than one 5-hour period to pass without pumping during your baby’s first two weeks of life when you are establishing your milk supply.

Tips and Advice to Help Increase Your Milk Supply

When your baby cannot breastfeed, using a breast pump is the next best way to establish and maintain a good milk supply. A quality, electric breast pump is essential since you will be pumping around the clock. Start pumping as soon as you can after birth to help your milk come in sooner (ideally within one hour, but no later than six hours) and give yourself the best opportunity to make enough breast milk for your baby. Pump at least 8 times a day and by the time your baby is 2 weeks old, you should be making 25-35 ounces (750-1,050 ml) per day.

From Birth to Day 4

• If you can, start pumping within the first six hours after birth.
• As soon as possible, pump at least 8-10 times every 24 hours. This is how many times each day your baby would be breastfeeding. In most cases, the more times each day you pump, the more milk you make.
• Plan to double-pump (both breasts at once). This saves time and may boost production faster.
• Until your milk comes in on Day 3 or 4, pump at least 10-15 minutes per breast. Then remove and place the breast flange under your breast to collect the milk you hand express which helps to better drain your breasts. (Drained breasts make milk faster.)
• Pump at least once during the night. Don’t go longer than about 5 hours between pumpings. (Full breasts make milk slower.)
• Expect to pump just a little colostrum (the first milk) at first. But even a few drops are important to your baby.
• Pumping often now “puts in your order” for later. It sends your body the signal to make more milk.

From Day 4 to Full Production

When your milk increases from drops to ounces on about Day 4, make these changes:

• Pump longer—two minutes after the last drop of milk or 20-30 minutes, whichever comes first.
• Focus on the total number of pumpings each day (8-10 times per 24 hours), not the time between pumpings (that is, every 2 or 3 hours).

Many moms find it simpler to focus on their daily total. And it is this daily total that seems to be most important to your milk production. Rather than trying to pump at the same set times each day, instead think: “How can I fit in my 10 or so pumpings?” If you find you can’t pump during one part of the day, pump every hour when you can.

Remember – do not allow more than one 5-hour period to pass without pumping during your baby’s first two weeks of life when you are establishing your milk supply.