Sign out
Many parents choose to breastfeed their newborns. Breast milk contains all the nutrients your new baby needs to get a healthy start in life. Pumping breast milk helps ensure your baby gets these nutritional benefits even when you don’t feed at the breast.
Pumping basics
If you’re breastfeeding, try pumping milk after 3 to 4 weeks. That’s a good time to introduce your baby to a bottle if you want that to be a part of their feeding options. Try to aim for one bottle feeding a day a few times a week when you start.
A baby's daily milk intake increases from 16 to 20 ounces a day in the first month to 30 ounces a day by 4 to 6 months. If needed, you can add in one daily pumping session to help boost your milk supply. When you first start pumping, it’s normal to see only a small amount of milk. Ideally, a pumping session should be done when it won’t take milk from your baby’s next feeding. Pumping after the last nursing of the night will help stimulate milk production. A 15-minute session should be sufficient for a few days. Work with your care team to help determine if and when to incorporate pumping into your feeding routine.
Keep in mind that your milk supply can decrease even if you’ve been pumping successfully. It might decrease due to:
- Limited nighttime breastfeeding due to a baby sleeping through the night before they are 6 months old.
- Certain medications.
- Dehydration.
- Illness.
- Not eating enough.
- Stress.
- Your menstrual cycle.
- Mastitis.
- Strict feeding schedules.
- Routine aerobic exercise.
Types of breast pumps
There are several types of breast pumps available. Which one you choose depends on your needs, preferences, and budget, along with what your insurance covers.
Electric pumps
Personal-grade electric breast pumps collect milk from one or both breasts at the same time. These pumps are ideal for expressing milk when you want to give a bottle instead of nursing at the breast or if you plan on being away from your baby. You may choose to wear a pumping bra so that you don’t need to hold the pump to your breast the whole time. It is usually helpful to spend some time massaging and compressing the breast to help pump the milk more easily.
Wireless pumps
This type of pump expresses milk from one or both breasts at a time. These portable and lightweight pumps are not connected and can work independently. This is a good option if you want to feed your baby at one breast while pumping the other. It is a good idea to wait until your milk is established and flowing easily before using this type of pump, as the pull on the nipple and areola is very strong and may cause damage in the early days of breastfeeding.
You’ll need to charge the pump’s batteries after about 2 hours of use. This type of pump may not express as much milk as an electric pump. Many people are more successful using an electric pump to maintain or boost their milk supply.
Manual pumps
A manual breast pump requires you to use your hands to pump milk from each breast. Like a wireless pump, it’s placed on one breast at a time. This pump can be moved over to the other breast easily. It is helpful to compress the breast with your free hand to help milk flow more quickly. The hand pump is a great option during the first 2 days of nursing if stimulation and extra milk is needed. Some mothers get a better let-down reflex with a hand pump versus an electric pump. It generally takes more time to pump, however. A manual pump can be a good option for parents that don’t need to pump often or want to toss it in the diaper bag in case they need to pump on the go.
Suction pumps
Silicone suction pumps are very convenient, especially when your breasts are engorged and need some relief. They are also beneficial when you want to pump from one breast while your infant is nursing on the other. It is important to remember that any routine removal of milk from the breast stimulates production. Overuse of this pump often leads to unexpected overproduction.
Hospital grade pumps
A hospital grade pump is usually the strongest and helps ensure a good milk supply. Many Kaiser Permanente facilities rent these pumps to new parents when the baby is not able to establish breastfeeding on their own for the first few weeks of life. This would be in the case of a NICU admission, breast surgery history, latch issues, or oral anatomy issues such as a cleft palate.
Cleaning your breast pump
No matter what type of pump you choose, it needs to be cleaned often. The pump will come with instructions for cleaning.
You should plan on cleaning each part that comes into contact with your breast or breast milk. Separate those parts from the pump itself and wash them in warm, soapy water. It’s best to let them air dry.
Safe milk storage
After pumping, you’re likely to need to store milk for later use. Put away enough to cover any regular feedings you might miss during the day.
When storing breast milk:
- Avoid using standard sandwich bags or bottle liners.
- Use containers that have been washed in warm, soapy water and rinsed well.
- Use plastic or glass bottles.
- Use plastic bags made specifically for storing breast milk.
Store 2 to 4 ounces of breast milk per container. Be sure to label it with the date and use the oldest milk first. Each batch of milk should be cooled in the refrigerator before adding it to any other milk pumped in the same 24-hour period. Never add fresh milk to frozen milk. Milk can be placed directly in the freezer or moved to the freezer after a few days in the fridge.
Babies that aren’t hospitalized can use room temperature breast milk up to 4 to 6 hours after it’s pumped. Alternatively, breast milk will keep in the freezer for up to 9 to 12 months. You can also store some in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. You can freeze milk if you do not use it after 24 hours in the refrigerator. If you’re on the go, you can store breast milk in an insulated cooler with an ice pack for up to 24 hours.
If you’ve frozen your breast milk, you can reheat it by holding the container under warm running water. You can also place it in a bowl of warm water.
To keep your baby as safe as possible:
- Never microwave breast milk.
- Don’t refreeze thawed breast milk.
- Don’t reuse bottles or nipples until they’ve been washed.
- Throw away any milk your baby doesn’t drink within an hour after warming it.
Bottle feeding
Many parents choose to give their baby breast milk in a bottle. Here are some tips for success:
- Wait until breastfeeding is well established before introducing a bottle. This usually takes 3-6 weeks. You'll know when the baby latches easily and you're confident in your milk supply.
- Try differently shaped nipples and feeding times. For some babies, timing is everything when it comes to feeding.
- Have someone other than the breastfeeding mother offer the bottle to decrease confusion for the baby.
- Offer the bottle when your baby is not hungry, possibly after a feeding when they are just interested in sucking.
Waiting several months after exclusive breastfeeding may decrease your baby’s desire to take the bottle.
Remember to be patient with yourself and your baby. You’re both learning a new skill, and that can take time.
Being away from your baby
Being away from your baby for an extended period of time, such as when you go back to work, may require you to pump multiple times throughout the day. It’s a good idea to practice pumping and storing milk in advance. Starting a few weeks ahead of time will allow you to prepare 20 to 30 ounces. Pumping after your first breastfeed of the morning and after your last breastfeed of the evening are simple, convenient options. These times will not interfere with baby’s usual feeding routine and let you enjoy nursing without wondering if your baby has enough milk.
If you’re at work, your employer must provide a private space for you to pump. This could be an empty office, a private conference room, or some other space. Try to avoid pumping in a work bathroom, since it may not be very clean.
Pump around the same time your baby usually feeds during the day. Label all pumped breast milk and store it appropriately until you can take it home. An insulated storage bag with cold packs is an option if a refrigerator is not available or you are traveling.
Be prepared to clean your pump after each use. Microwave sanitizing bags are very convenient and can be used 30 times on average.