Breastfeeding is a skill that, for many new moms, needs to be learned, and pumping adds a whole new level to that skill. There are times when pumping on a schedule can work with the body’s natural rhythms to increase milk production or just to stay comfortable.
Pumping basics
No matter why you need a pumping schedule, there are a few guidelines that can help any pumping schedule run more smoothly. First, just having a consistent schedule is important. This is because it’s a lot easier to push back or skip a pumping session during a busy day or tired night than it is to forget to feed a crying baby at feeding time. Having a schedule means having time, at least theoretically, set aside for pumping, which can make a huge difference when it comes to making sure the pumping process goes smoothly. More than that, your body works better with routines, which means that establishing a pumping schedule can help ensure that when you do have (or carve out) time to pump, it’s a productive pumping session, and not one that leaves you feeling discouraged.
Before you start a consistent routine make sure:
- Your pump is in good working order with fresh parts when needed
- Your flanges fit well
- You’ve learned some hands-on techniques for massage/compression
- You feel comfortable experimenting with settings
If you’re not 100% comfortable while pumping, it’s important to get support from a flange fitting or pumping expert before you start a more regular or increased pumping routine. Pain, swelling or damage from pumping is not normal.
Exclusively Pumping
Whether you choose to exclusively pump or have it fall into place out of necessity, it’s extremely important to set a pumping schedule.
During the first 12 weeks:
- 8 pumps in 24 hours (at least twice overnight)
- 30 minutes of pumping per session
- Primary pump is preferable, wearables can be used for occasional convenience
Those with a very high supply may be able to adjust the frequency and length of time spent pumping. However, those with a lower supply may not benefit from more pumping time. This is because our bodies also need rest, and pumping every 2 hours, for example, is simply not sustainable for most folks. When supply is low, expert support can help make adjustments and dig into possible causes.
Pumping with a newborn in the NICU
Pumping with a newborn in the NICU can be very emotionally challenging, but it can have immense rewards, both for mom and baby. Breast milk is considered so important for premature babies, that donor milk is now offered in most hospitals if you cannot breastfeed or until your own milk is available. It can help premature and sick babies fight off illness, and pumping can help parents feel more in control of a tough situation. Just like exclusively pumping to feed any newborn, a schedule of pumping times should mimic those that are above. However, after giving birth to a premature baby, it can take extra time for your body to start producing a full milk supply. This can make pumping feel discouraging or useless at first, but it is an investment in the milk that will come in the following days and weeks if you stick with it.
Hospitals generally have pumps you can use, and the hospital is a great place to start to get the hang of pumping, since you’re right near nurses and lactation consultants who can help walk you through the process and offer any help you might need. You may want additional privacy, so it never hurts to pack a nursing cover to use while pumping. Although you may not need to carry your personal pump back and forth, feel free to do so if it works better for you than the hospital pump.
Pumping to prepare for returning to work
Often, just as breastfeeding has become smooth sailing, parents wonder when and how they will start to store milk for their first days back at work. It can feel really tough to find a time during all of those frequent feedings to add in pumping. The good news? With about 4 weeks of preparation, most people can slowly but surely store the milk they need in addition to nursing around the clock.
- Calculate how much milk you need. This is generally done by adding commute time to work hours, the ballpark of exactly how long you’ll be apart from your baby. Multiply this by 1.5 and it gives you an approximate amount of needed milk per work day. Most babies drink about an ounce per hour, but almost everyone wants a buffer. Truly, you only need enough milk for your first day back, since you’ll be pumping to replace what’s used, but many folks like to then multiply by 3 for an additional stash.
Example:
8 hours at work + 1 hour commute = 9 x 1.5 = 13.5 x 3 = 40.5 ounces total
- Over 4 weeks, or 28 days, this means you’d need to collect less than 1.5 ounces of extra milk per day to directly freeze. Most moms can do this by pumping with an electric pump early in the morning for a short time. As long as you have a healthy growing baby, this small daily amount going to the freezer shouldn’t impact your baby negatively at all.
If pumping every morning isn’t your preference, you can also collect milk using a hand pump or passive collector at several feeds throughout the day. However you do it, consistently storing small amounts adds up before you know it!
Pumping at work
Depending on where you work, you may have the legally protected right to unpaid time and a private space for pumping throughout the first year of your baby’s life.But even whenyou’re legally entitled to this time, scheduling it into a workday can be tricky. On the other hand, some employers go above and beyond the legal minimum they’re required to offer – in either case, it’s important to talk to your employer, manager or HR representative ahead of time, to find out what time and space you’ll have for pumping at work.
Current regulations in the US say that most companies with 50 or more employees are required to give you the time and space to pump in order to feed your baby. This is generally unpaid time. State laws may be better than federal law, so it’s a good idea to look into any possible benefits in your state.
A sample pumping schedule for the mother of a baby under 6 months in a 9-5 workplace that guarantees the chance to pump might include:
- Breastfeeding your baby right before commute/work
- A 30-minute break to pump around 10
- Another pumping break around 1, during lunch
- A final pumping break around 3
- Breastfeeding after work on-demand
This schedule might then reduce down to two, and then one pumping session during the day over the first year.
If you work for a company that is not required to offer pump breaks and will not support you, things can get tricky. While most employers understand the benefits of breastfeeding (maybe they have a personal experience or just know breastfed babies get sick less often), it’s possible to encounter roadblocks. If lunch is the only significant amount of time during your workday for pumping, it’s especially important to nurse or pump directly before and after work. If a long commute gets in the way of doing so, you may be able to pump during your commute or immediately when you arrive at work (even a short pump is a win). Some folks will nurse at daycare drop off and pick up as well. Be sure to reach out to other employees who may have been in a similar situation to see if they have creative solutions for you.
Pumping to increase supply
Needing to increase supply can be very stressful. The closer you are to when you gave birth, the easier it generally is to increase supply. However, even if you’re 6 months postpartum, it’s still possible to try and see results. This is especially true if you’ve always had enough milk, but experienced an illness or other disruption that was short and temporary. Keep in mind that once you start a consistent pumping schedule, it can take up to 2 weeks to see results.
If your baby is successfully nursing, stick with your nursing sessions and consider adding in scheduled pumping in addition to those sessions.
Breastmilk making hormones are highest at about 2 am. This means that if you pump around 2-3 am and/or into the early morning hours, you’re more likely to collect milk and give a better boost to your overall supply. If you’re already nursing frequently around these times, consider some short post-feed pumps or
other strategies, like pumping the breast your baby isn’t feeding from, or hand expression after feeds.
Many folks have heard about power pumping and are curious if that can help. The answer is maybe. Power pumping involves about an hour of your time pumping for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off over and over. It’s a big chunk of time that may be doable for some folks short-term. In situations where supply had been great previously, power pumping may help restore milk volume – like after a short illness. But for others who have yet to achieve the supply they’re looking for, a more regular and sustainable pumping schedule may be preferable because when you stop power pumping, the benefits may disappear.
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Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Breast-feeding and pumping: 7 tips for success.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, April 8 2015. Web.
- “Providing Breastmilk for Premature and Ill Newborns.” HealthyChildren. American Academy of Pediatrics, November 21 2015. Web.
