Have you ever wondered how to increase milk supply by pumping? You’re not alone! There are some mothers who prefer to increase their milk supply simply by pumping. How is this done? Can it be done? What are some tips to help a mother be successful in doing this? In this article, we will discuss these topics and give you answers! Are you ready? Let’s get to it!
Can You Pump To Increase Milk Supply?
I was a mother who suffered from low milk production. My body was only producing about 1oz of milk combined for my baby, which, obviously, was not enough. Since my baby had refused to nurse from me, I was forced to exclusively pump.
So can this be done? Can a mother increase her milk supply by pumping? Simply put, yes! A mother can increase her milk supply by pumping. However, if you want to really help your body to produce more milk, you will need to do more than just pump. Take my free class “3 Secrets To Boosting Milk Supply” to learn the other elements of increasing milk supply!
What Kind Of Pump Should I Use?
When it comes to choosing a breast pump, it really depends on what best fits your routine and comfort level. If you are a working mom, you may benefit more from a wearable pump. If that is not allowed, you might enjoy one that plugs in.
There are manual hand-operated pumps that first time moms, traveling moms, or moms who need a back up pump (in case theirs brakes) would love.
To learn what kind of pumps are out there, read my article Best Wearable Breast Pumps. Don’t be fooled by the title. The article is about wearable breast pumps, but I also discuss the other types of breast pumps out there.
Whatever type of breast pump you choose, be sure to choose one that you will love. If you are unsure of what kind of pump you will love, ask your girl friends and see what they recommend!
Also, remember, a newer breast pump will work better and more efficiently than and older breast pump. If you think it’s time to upgrade, click the button above to see what kind of breast pumps are available and what kind you think you will love.
You can also reach out to your insurance and ask if they will send you a new breast pump for free!
When Should I Pump?
If you are a breastfeeding mother who wants to use her pump to increase milk supply, there are certain times you should and should not pump. For example, you should not pump right before breastfeeding. This is because the pump may take the fore-milk and your baby won’t get enough. The fore-milk is what keeps your baby hydrated! You want to ensure that your baby is getting enough water and not just the good fats and proteins to help them grow.
Another reason not to pump right before you need to breastfeed your baby is because your body may or may not be producing just enough milk to meet your baby’s needs. If you are wanting to increase your milk supply, that means your body is either producing just enough for your baby or a little more or a little less. You don’t want to take milk away from your baby in order to store “extra” in the fridge. Does that make sense?
After A Nursing Session
So when should you pump in order to increase your milk supply? There are a few good times to do this. First, you can pump after your baby has had their fill. What this does is ensure your baby is getting the milk they need. They are staying well hydrated with the fore-milk, and well nourished with the hind-milk. Secondly, what this does is it increases the demand on your body for breastmilk. Increasing the demand on your body for more breastmilk will help tell your body to up the supply.
Ok, now you know you can pump after nursing session. Is there any other time of day you can pump to increase milk supply? Yes!
Before Going To Bed
Pump right before you go to bed. This is a safe time to pump because your baby is ready to sleep. Depending on how old your baby is, they may be sleeping for longer periods at night without needing a feed. Pumping right before bed is a safe time for you to increase that demand for more milk.
Between Every Feeding?
Should you try increasing your milk supply by pumping between each and every nursing session? This is a great question! If you check online, many people will tell you to do this. However, for a couple reasons, I will suggest NOT doing this.
Reason 1: You will exhaust yourself. You are already breastfeeding several hours a day. Each session takes anywhere from 10-40 minutes about, right? If you try to pump between nursing sessions, you will be exhausting yourself even more.
Reason 2: It’s not needed…that much! Yes, one way to increase your milk supply is to increase the demand on your body for milk. However, this demand will be increased simply by pumping after a nursing session (Not after every single one. Maybe after 1 or 2 nursing sessions a day.), and by pumping before you go to bed. No need to go crazy and exhaust your poor self even more.
Reason 3: My highly respected, experienced and knowledgeable lactation consultant advised against pumping between every nursing session. So, this may not mean like much to you, but the lactation consultant I see for my babies is the head of the breastfeeding coalition in my county. She has decades of experience, has helped hundreds of mothers be successful in their breastfeeding journeys, and is highly loved by the mothers in my county. So if she says not to pump between every nursing session to increase milk supply, I trust her 100%!
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What Else Do I Need To Know?
There are several other tips that will help you increase your milk supply! Pumping is just one of several ways to boost milk production. Check out the related articles at the bottom of this page to learn more. You can also take advantage of my free class “3 Secrets To Naturally Boosting Milk Supply”. I teach you things that I do not cover in the related articles below. Be sure to fill out the form above to watch this free class!
Leave A Comment!
What did you learn from this article that you are wanting to try? Leave a comment below telling us what it is! We would love to hear from you!
Want To Know More?
Want to learn more on booting milk supply? Check out these related articles below!
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The Secret To Using Essential Oils To Boost Milk Supply
This One Simple Thing Helped Me Produce 1-2oz More Milk Per Feeding!