All About Pumping Breast Milk

Answers to frequently asked questions about pumping.

By Jessica Hartshorn

Why pump?

Working moms can express breast milk on the job, then bring it home for a caregiver to feed the baby during their next workday. But pumping is also a solution to a host of other issues. It can help relieve engorgement, clear a clogged milk duct, correct an inverted or flat nipple, increase your milk supply by creating a bigger demand, and give mothers of hospitalized babies (such as preemies) a way to give their infants breast milk.

What do I need to get started?

The two main kids of pumps are hand pumps (you move a handle to work the vacuum motion) and electric pumps (a battery or electricity runs the vacuum). Hand pumps are cheaper, more portable, and sometimes more comfortable. But electric pumps can be more efficient, especially if they work both breasts at once. Talk to your doctor or a lactation consultant about your needs, and then ask for recommendations. It's not unreasonable to own one of each kind, if you can afford it.

Does pumping hurt?

It shouldn't. If it does, you can adjust the pump to draw the milk more slowly or with less power. You can also look for pumps with soft shields that fit around your breasts.

What do I do with the milk?

Your pump should come with milk-storage guidelines. In general, pumped milk is good at room temperature for 7 to 10 hours. Put it in the refrigerator and it's safe for several days. Store it in the freezer and it's fine for several months -- just keep in mind that thawed milk should be used within 24 hours.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; La Leche League

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

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Comments

Comments (16)

allison-coughla wrote:

I had a few blood transfusions after the birth of my baby. I was too weak to get her to latch on......I have been pumping and bottle feed her the breast milk it worked for the last 6 months, she have not given her formula ...just note it is time consuming

4/19/2011 08:15:31 PM Report Abuse

ebonymorris22 wrote:

im 36 weeks pregnant with my second child(a girl!!!!) and with my son i did not breastfeed him. i went str8 to formula. he was constipated all the time. ear infections BACK TO BACK. it was terrible. did research and found out that breastfeeding IS THE BEST! after all the youtube videos and reviews i ordered the Avent Isis Iq Duo due to the fact that im a nurse. and have to return to work. wish me luck(:

3/22/2011 11:55:37 PM Report Abuse

angell.lawson wrote:

I am very blessed to have more than enough milk for my little angel. I can pump anywhere from 6 to 8 oz per breast each pumpingand have so much I have been asked to be a milk donor. My family calls me cow because I have so much milk I have to store it at relatives houses. My question is if I pump fewer times per day will I start to produce less? I want to be able to have enough for a year before I stop and my baby is now 2 months.

1/1/2011 08:41:48 PM Report Abuse

crankin124 wrote:

Thawed milk is milk that you have stored in the freezer but you have taken it out to thaw so you can feed it to your baby...

6/10/2010 04:43:29 PM Report Abuse

robert_amandama wrote:

and still lost all my baby weight in 2 weeks.

5/18/2010 02:31:07 PM Report Abuse

robert_amandama wrote:

-drayllih85, yes, (if you can pump enough milk) you can give only breastmilk in a bottle to your baby. -mjaramillo, I don't know if your tea has caffine, but caffine can reduce the amount of milk you produce. I was told not to drink caffine, and drink 6 pints of water per day. Of course make sure you are eating enough. After my daughter was born, I tried dieting while breastfeeding and I wasn't eating enough to produce enough milk for her. With my son, I made sure I ate PLENTY...

5/18/2010 02:30:12 PM Report Abuse

drayllih85 wrote:

I tried breast feeding at first but it wasn't working for me. Of course I was in extreme pain, but more importantly I couldn't tell if my son was getting enough. He wouldn't latch on real well and I would have to fight him for hours. Now I started pumping and was wondering if I could strickly pump my milk and rely on it alone? I know it depends on how much I make, but I was wondering if anybody else had a similar situation.

5/3/2010 05:16:54 PM Report Abuse

mjaramillo28 wrote:

My baby is almost 5 months and although I seem to fill him up when I breastfeed him, I just cannot pump enough milk. I'm lucky to get 2oz out of one breast. Some days less. I'm going back to work in another month and its freaking me out that I won't have enough milk to leave him. I drink teas and take a herbal supplement that are supposedly meant for increasing milk supply but I haven't seen a big change. Any suggestions?

3/24/2010 09:11:48 PM Report Abuse

mandamachado wrote:

it makes me feel alot better reading that i am not the only one that can't get a full bottle worth of milk. when i was pumping with my daughter,my body quite producing enough milk. i ended up need to take supplments to get my milk supply back up just to breastfeed her. pumping didn't work for me at all.

2/19/2010 02:44:44 PM Report Abuse

inxsnut wrote:

i'm going through a time with this pumping thing. At first I was able to get out 4 to 6 oz. at a time( with both breasts). now i'm lucky if i can get out 3oz. my fiance is not helping the situation by jumping on my case about all the time. my schedule since getting back to work has change and it's hard to get a chance to pump as much as I used to. i am doing my best but i'm pumping less and going nuts.

2/4/2010 12:50:34 AM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

If you pump or feed every hour you will begin to produce more milk in three short days. pump after each feeding, so that your breast are empty, this tells your body to produce more milk.

1/1/2010 09:05:40 PM Report Abuse

couavxiong wrote:

I cant seem to pump a full 8 oz bottle is that normal? with both breast im only able to get about 2 oz

12/11/2009 10:57:10 PM Report Abuse

cderosso14 wrote:

i think breastfeeding is great. but i just seem to never have enoughmilk to pump ans store

11/15/2009 08:25:27 PM Report Abuse

jdlkfajldskfja wrote:

I love breastfeeding my baby, but I don't love pumping. Wish I could stay home with my kids. =(

10/13/2009 03:34:50 PM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

Milk that was in the freezer and you thawed it out.