The 120 minute rule is that, generally speaking, when you are exclusively pumping, you want to spend at least 120 minutes (2 hours) per day pumping. How many sessions you would spread that 120 minutes across depends on how old your baby is. With a newborn baby, you might want to do eight 15 minute sessions.
Trying not to go more than 4 hours without pumping/nursing is a general breastfeeding rule while breastmilk is being established. It's best to wait until after the first 12 weeks to start eliminating pumping sessions.
Ultimately, if your baby has reached its birth weight and you're pumping enough milk during the day, it's okay to sleep eight hours without pumping at night. Keep in mind there is an adjustment period for your body as it begins to acclimate to the decrease in overnight milk removal.
The average pump session lasts 25-40 minutes.
This time-span norm is in part due to the notion that more prolonged pumping will damage breast tissue, the fact that some pumps have built-in timers that stop the pump at 30 minutes, and because babies tend to eat for about 30 minutes between both breasts.
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Once your milk supply begins to increase from drops to ounces, you may want to pump longer than 10 minutes. Many women find that pumping for about two minutes after the last drop of milk is an effective way to stimulate more milk, however, avoid pumping for longer than 20 - 30 minutes at a time.
Some mothers say the milk never stops flowing while they pump. Typically, you should not pump longer than 30 minutes, even if the milk is still flowing.
Can pumping decrease milk supply? Pumping itself does not decrease your breast milk supply. In fact, it can help boost it. But if you are having trouble with low milk supply, the first step is to check that you are using the right breast pump.
To put a number on it, it usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes after feeding to generate enough milk for your baby, and about 60 minutes to replenish fully. The more often your baby feeds, and the more they empty your breasts, the more milk your body will produce.
Many moms assume that having a pump with a higher suction strength will automatically mean that they will be able to pump more milk, but in fact, pumping at too high of a setting can actually inhibit your milk production.
How do I know whether my breasts are empty? There's no test or way to know for sure. In general, though, if you gently shake your breasts and they feel mostly soft and you don't feel the heaviness of milk sitting in them, you're probably fine.
In most cases, a drop in supply between four and 12 weeks is totally normal. 3 Most of us make more milk than our babies need at first, and then things even out, and we make the amount that our babies demand.
Do I need to pump in the middle of the night? Most women do not need to pump during the period of time that their baby is sleeping at night. However, some women may find that long stretches without breastfeeding or pumping can result in a lower milk supply.
Some moms notice the morning milk has more volume and lower fat content, while the evening milk may have more fat but be lower in volume. By pooling your breast milk, you ensure baby receives nourishment that is more uniform and consistent.
These sessions don't need to be evenly spaced, but you should be nursing/pumping at least once during the night in the first few months or anytime you notice a decrease in supply. Avoid going longer than 5-6 hours without pumping during the first few months.
Double-pumping is exactly what it sounds like: using a breast pump that allows you to express milk from both breasts at the same time.
Letting your baby sleep for longer periods during the night won't hurt your breastfeeding efforts. Your growing baby can take in more milk during the day — and that, in turn, means longer stretches of sleep at night. Your milk supply will adjust to the new routine.
The infant is often able to remove larger volumes of the milk from the breast compared to an electric breast pump [3, 6] and fares better at maintaining milk production in the long term.
Pumping Positions
You don't want poor posture during breast pumping because it may lead to irritation. Instead, sit or stand upright with your shoulders open, back straight, feet flat on the floor and arms supported. Try a pillow or armrest to help hold your bottles or milk catcher steady while pumping.
On most pumps, the initial letdown cycle lasts two minutes. Pump for 6-7 minutes after that and then push the button to go through the letdown cycle again and pump for another 6-7 minutes. Check your flange size.
The CDC and most breast pump manufacturers recommend cleaning pump parts thoroughly after every use to help protect babies from germs.
Adequate hydration also is important for breast milk production. The amount of liquid you put into your body affects how much breast milk you can produce. I encourage women to carry a bottle of water for themselves in their diaper bag.
If your baby wants to breastfeed right after breast pumping, let them! Some babies are patient and will just feed longer to get the milk they need.
It is normal for pumping output to vary from session to session and day to day. Having an occasional low volume day is not unusual. During a growth spurt, don't be surprised if baby drinks more expressed milk than usual, making it harder for mom to provide enough expressed milk.
Why it happens: If your breasts feel full but you're not getting much milk when you pump, you may be struggling with your let-down reflex. As nifty as your pump is, there's no comparing it to the smell and feel of your sweet baby in your arms.