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The Ultimate Guide to Pumping: Everything You Need to Know

Let's talk about pumping

Pumping can be an essential part of your feeding journey—whether you’re building a stash for returning to work, increasing milk supply, or simply allowing someone else to help with feeding. No matter your reason, understanding how to pump effectively can make all the difference.

Today, we’re covering everything you need to know about pumping, from when to start, how often to pump, troubleshooting supply issues, and more. And a huge thanks to Annabella Pumps for sponsoring the webinar I recently did on pumping and this guide!

Why should you pump?

Not everyone needs to pump, but there are many reasons why pumping might be the right choice for you:

  • If your baby is struggling to gain weight or was born early, pumping can help maintain supply while supplementing feeds.
  • For parents who need flexibility, pumping allows others to help feed the baby while you take a break, whether that’s for rest, work, or personal time.
  • Exclusive pumping is also a valid option for those who have latch challenges, medical reasons, or simply prefer it. Additionally, pumping can be a strategic way to increase milk supply when needed.

When should you start pumping?

The right time to start pumping depends on your individual circumstances and goals.

If your baby is healthy, full-term, and breastfeeding well, a good time to begin is around 4-6 weeks postpartum. This allows time for breastfeeding to be well-established before introducing pumping.

However, if you plan to return to work sooner than 12 weeks, you may want to start earlier—around 3-4 weeks postpartum—to gradually build a stash.

If your baby was born early, has difficulty latching, or requires supplementation, pumping should begin within hours of birth to establish and maintain milk supply.

Regardless of when you start, it’s important to introduce pumping in a way that supports your breastfeeding journey without causing an oversupply or undue stress- meaning slow and steady. Consider starting with one session a day and then adding in another if you are returning to work. If you are only giving a bottle once in a while, you will not need to pump as much. You want to avoid over pumping as that can create a mechanical supply and cause colic like symptoms in your baby.

Types of Pumping

Pumping to give a bottle once in a while:

If you want to introduce a bottle occasionally so that someone else can feed your baby while you rest or step away, it’s important to do it strategically.

Start by pumping once a day after a morning feed when your supply is naturally higher.

Don’t panic about volume- remember you are breastfeeding your baby and pumping- it is normal to get 0.5 – 1 ounce after a pumping session. Some will get more and some will get less. Even if your baby wakes up while you are pumping, you will still have milk to feed your baby.

Be sure to introduce the bottle within the first 12 weeks when your baby’s sucking reflex is still strong.

Offering just a small amount daily, remembering it does not have to replace a feed, helps establish bottle familiarity. Consider giving an ounce each day- it is like muscle memory for your baby! If you keep the skill up, it won’t be a huge deal when you need your baby to take a bottle. 

Pumping to return to work

If you plan to return to work, start pumping in the newborn period once breastfeeding is established.

Having a freezer stash can decrease anxiety- but please don’t feel like you have to have week’s worth of milk in your freezer!

A buffer of 2-3 days allows you to have days where pumping does as go as well.

How much milk do you need to have in your freezer stash?

Babies one to six month old consume between 570 – 900 ml of milk each day. You will know your baby is getting enough by watching if they are settled during and inbetween feeds, are maintaining their growth curve and have enough wet and dirty diapers.

To figure out how much milk you need- you need to figure out how long you will be gone from your baby- for example, if you are going to be away 12 hours, and your baby typically feeds 4 times in 12 hours you will need to divide 900 mls by the number of feeds your baby takes in a 24 hour period, then multiply that number by 4 (the number of feeds you will be away for).

So you don’t need to have 900 ml stored x 3 days to have a three day freezer stash.

Pump once to twice per day before heading back to work

While building your stash, start slow and steady. Once or twice per day after you have breastfeeding established. 

A schedule once you return to work

Once you return to work, you will need to ensure you are pumping as many times as your baby feeds. It is a requirement of your employer to provide you a private space to pump (that is not a bathroom!), and the time to do so.

If you miss a session, try to add it in, even if it is close to the next session. If you miss one completely, add in a power pumping session that night when baby is asleep.

Hands on pumping helps too, as does the Annabella Pump feature that mimics your baby’s tongue at the breast, which can be so helpful for extra stimulation. They did a study that showed mom’s pumped up to 50% more milk using their pump.

 

Pumping to increase supply

If you’re concerned about low milk output, pumping after nursing can provide extra stimulation to boost production.

This signals your body to produce more milk.

Let’s talk about triple feeding

If you are reading this and are triple feeding, I see you.

It is not sustainable, and so exhausting. I often see it be the reason people wean – it is just too much.

I am telling you that you can increase your supply by pumping, but consider using The Mama Coach method instead:

  1. Have a plan in place- work with a provider who can help you build a pumping plan that has a beginning and an end (triple feeding forever should not be the answer). We can help you with this.
  2. Switch from triple feeding to giving your baby 1/4-1/2 of what a total feed would be before you breastfeed them. This takes the edge off the hunger and your baby will be so much more willing to stay at the breast longer. This extra stimulation is key!
  3. Then put your baby to the breast. Do dinner (breast one) and dessert (breast two). Lots of hands on breast compression helping your baby transfer milk. Remember, do not watch the clock! Let your baby nurse as long as they will go for.
  4. Then you may have to offer the rest of the supplementation. This step is not forever.
  5. Then pump and store what milk you get for the next session

This evolves from:

  • supplementation – breastfeed – supplementation – pump

to:

  • supplementation – breastfeed – pump

to:

  • breastfeeding – pump

to:

  • exclusively breastfeeding

I have worked with thousands of women using this technique and it works!

Exclusively Pumping

Some parents choose to exclusively pump instead of nursing directly. This can be very sustainable!

To sustain milk supply, it’s important to pump as often as your baby would typically eat—usually every 2-3 hours, including overnight sessions as long as your baby is feeding in the night. If your baby is under 12 weeks and sleeping through the night, consider waking once to pump- this is key for setting up long term milk supply.

You can find a pumping pattern that works for you:

  • Some choose to pump before they give their baby a bottle
  • Some choose to pump afterwards
  • Some choose to pump while their baby is sleeping

There is no wrong answer and you can do a combination of the three. Just make sure you are hands on pumping as much as possible.

Make Sure Your Flange Fits

Most flanges that come with breast pumps are too big!

Measure your flange size by measuring your nipple’s diameter (not your areola).

Your nipples will be larger in pregnancy and postpartum so it is important you measure again after 12 weeks postpartum – this is a reason I see for decreased pumping outputs!

The Annabella pump is handy because the pump flange fits 18 mm – 24 mm. You literally just turn the dial on the pump to fit your nipple size. You can also order a larger size of 25 -28 mm.

 

If you are Struggling with Pumping

Pumping should not be causing you extra stress! You have so much to manage already with your baby, pumping should not be causing you more stress and anxiety.

If you need help, please find a nurse closest to you here. We can walk beside you and help you figure it out, whatever your pumping goals are.

 

Thank you to Annabella Pumps

I really appreciate Annabella Pumps sponsoring my webinar and this post- it allows me to go deeper and provide education that I hope you find valuable.

I do think there pump is great- the innovation of the tongue feature allows for extra stimulation that allows for pumping more milk. They are more than a breast pump!

If you would like to purchase one, you can use this link here to save 15% off- this is an affiliate link.

You can also check to see if your insurance covers the purchase of an Annabella Pump here!

 

Want to watch the Webinar?

I did a full webinar going in depth of all things I talk about here!

If you want to access it- you can do so here! Just make sure you check your spam to ensure it doesn’t  land there.

Thank you for being a part of my community! You are the best thing for your baby, even on days it doesn’t feel like it! I am sending you so much love and support!

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The Mama Coach is a global team of Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners.

Our mission is to guide families through every stage of their parenting journey by providing evidence-informed education infused with non-judgmental support, compassion, and empathy.