What is Breast Milk Pumping and How To Do It
On episode 71 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, I chatted with Brianne Taggart, the owner & CEO of Breezy Babies, a lactation consultant. During our conversation, we discussed when to pump breast milk, how to know when to replace your pump parts, and more!
Curious to know more?
Tune in to episode 71 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, “Pumping 101: How to Build and Sustain Your Milk Supply while Pumping with Brianne Taggart from Breezy Babies | Ep. 71” to learn the details!
Making a Breast Milk Pumping Schedule
If you are exclusively pumping, you should be pumping at least eight times a day during the first months.
Since everyone’s different, you may not be pumping this many times during the day. That’s okay!
How Often Should I Pump If I’m Breastfeeding?
There’s no set limit for how often you need to pump during the day when breastfeeding.
The best thing to do is to find your balance and what works best for you.
Ask yourself:
Do I want to pump during the day/breastfeed at night? (or vice-versa)
What works best for my schedule?
How much does my baby need and how much am I able to produce?
If you’re pumping just to start having a stash on hand, follow these rules:
Pump right after your baby nurses in the morning (breastmilk levels are highest from midnight to noon!)
A good rule of thumb is to pump one time during those early hours to maximize the amount of milk you’ll get.
How Much Breastmilk Should I Pump?
The amount of breast milk that you pump depends on the anatomy of your breast and how much your baby needs!
If you have an oversupply, you don’t need to do any extra pumping, just enough to leave feeds for your baby.
I do recommend pumping until your breasts feel empty, otherwise you could get a clogged duct.
On average, a baby on breastmilk typically drinks no more than 4 ounces a feed. Your milk changes based on your baby’s nutritional needs without changing the quantity your baby needs.
If you’re returning to work, you’ll need to have enough milk for the first day back.
Pumping to Increase Milk Supply
You can do what’s called “power pumping”, but honestly, I would reach out to a lactation consultant if I were you so together you can come up with a personalized plan that works for you!
How Does a Breast Milk Pump Work?
Breast milk pumps help to drain your milk when you can’t nurse.
There are two types of breast milk pumps:
Portable- This is best for an on-the-go schedule. Another word for this is “hand’s free”
Wall Plug-in- These pumps are good for when you’re sitting down and near an outlet.
Now there actually are some hospital grade pumps that can take a battery and don’t need an outlet!
Finding the right pump that works for you is going to depend on your lifestyle.
How to Store Your Pumped Milk
How much milk you put in storage will depend on the amount you produce.
Breastmilk can stay in the fridge up to 4 days and then in the freezer up to 6 months!
If you are exclusively pumping, you might want to use the Pitcher Method!
The Pitcher Method is when you store your milk in a pitcher or a mason jar instead of a smaller container and then the next day the bottles are made from that pitcher while you fill a different pitcher with the milk you’re pump
Breast milk Pumping Recap
As you’re figuring out what pumping methods work best for you, don’t be afraid to tweak the kind of pump you’re using with your schedule (this goes for how often you pump, too).
One of the most important considerations is whether you’re planning to exclusively pump or balance pumping with breastfeeding.
Once you’ve figured out the best style, this will help you develop a plan for pumping breast milk.
Interested in learning how to tackle pumping as a new mom?
Listen to episode 71 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, “Pumping 101: How to Build and Sustain Your Milk Supply while Pumping with Brianne Taggart from Breezy Babies | Ep. 71” to know more!
