When pumping your breast milk, it is important to remove milk during the times your baby normally would feed.  This will help you continue to make milk.  The more you breastfeed your baby, the more milk your breasts will produce.  The same holds true for pumping breast milk while you’re away from your baby.

If you need help to get your milk to start flowing, have one of the following items nearby – a picture of your  baby, a baby blanket, an item of clothing that has your baby’s scent on it.  You can also apply a warm, moist compress to your breast, gently massage your breasts, or sit quietly and think of a relaxing setting.

Begin by replacing one feeding per week at home with a pump session.  Don’t be surprised if you get very little milk initially – your body is not yet used to letting down for a machine, which is different than letting down for your baby.  But, remain consistent.  Your body will adapt to what you and your baby need from it.

You’ll want to begin offering your baby a bottle of breast milk between three and six weeks old.  It is not recommended to offer your baby a bottle sooner because it can interfere with breastfeeding and if you wait longer than six weeks, your baby may refuse the bottle completely.

It’s a good idea to wait until your baby is at least three weeks old before initiating pumping and storing your breast milk.  This gives you ample time to establish a good milk supply as well as feel confident about it.  There is no one particular time that’s more correct than another for pumping.  Your own specific circumstances will dictate when you pump.  Many moms notice that they have more milk during the morning hours.  This is due to the normal fluctuations in their milk-making hormone.  If this is the case, then perhaps pumping one hour after a morning feeding will work for you.

Another option is pumping one breast while your baby is nursing on the other.  The baby’s suckling can actually help you to express more milk with the pump as the baby elicits your let-down reflex.  This releases the milk while he’s at your breast.  If your baby takes a 4-hour nap around the same time each day, you can pump at least one time during that period.  Some moms pump right before they go to bed or in the middle of the night if they wake up with full breasts.

No matter when you pump, it should not be painful.  If problems arise with pumping, be sure to call a lactation consultant for help.  Often times a simple adjustment of the pump or pump parts can alleviate the difficulty.

Many moms new to pumping wonder how much breast milk they will be able to express.  Several factors can determine the amount of milk obtained.  Things such as the time of day you’re pumping, how soon after nursing your baby you pump, the amount of sleep or rest you are getting, your diet, your level of relaxation when pumping and importantly, your baby’s age and strength of sucking can be reflected in the amount of milk you’re able to express.

Make sure you have the correct size breast flange.  Many women need a different size flange than the ones that come with most breast pumps.  Having the correct size flange will increase your milk output, as your breast will be getting the proper stimulation for milk expression.  The size of the flange you need has nothing to do with the size of your breasts.  Rather, it has more to do with the size of your nipples and how they are being pulled into the flange by the pump.  Make sure that your nipples do not touch the sides of the flange while you are pumping and that they are evenly and consistently being pulled into the flange when the breast pump is in use.

Make sure you pump for a full 15 minutes, even if you have stopped getting anything.  The added stimulation will be good for your milk production and may even stimulate another let-down.

Don’t compare what you pump to what you think your baby is getting while nursing,  Your baby is much more efficient at getting your milk out than a pump is – so your baby may get the same amount in five minutes that you can pump in 15 minutes.  Never use the amount you can pump as an estimate for how much your baby gets while nursing.

If you’re returning to work, try to pump at work to help maintain your milk supply and provide for the next day’s bottles while you’re away.

However you’re pumping your breast milk, the award-winning Mother’s Milk Mate Breast Milk Storage System First In – First Out ™ storage rack is the perfect companion for your breast pump, whether at home or at work!  Its unique and simple design allows you to pump, store and feed using the same BPA-free bottle and will make your life much easier.  Plus, our proprietary First In-First Out™ storage rack ensures that your baby always receives the first bottle of milk you pump!

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