Pumping Tips: How Long to Pump Breastmilk for Better Sessions

Hey mumma! You’re holding your pump, watching the milk flow, and wondering, “Has this been long enough?”… In my practice, I’ve seen so many mums feel unsure about how long they should pump breastmilk in each pumping session. It’s something you tend to get a lot of mixed opinions on, depending on who you talk to. The truth is, there’s no universal answer because each mum’s body and situation is different. The main point here is to help you see that your pumping sessions should fit your own unique needs. In this post I’ll go over what affects how long you should pump and share some tips to make your sessions work better for you.

How Long To Pump Breastmilk: What You Need to Know

As a mum new to pumping, you might be wondering, “How long should I pump breastmilk?” The answer is that it varies. Milk flow and the amount of milk in each breast is different for everyone. On top of that, the duration of a pumping session can depend on a few other factors, such as your milk supply, the type of pump you’re using, and your body’s response to pumping.

Why How Long You Pump Matters

It’s really important to know how long to pump breastmilk so that you can keep your milk supply up. If you pump for too short a time, you might not empty your breasts all the way, which can make you produce less milk or give you more chance of getting mastitis. But if you pump for too long, it can hurt your nipples. Not to mention take up your precious time you could be spending with your baby and make you feel frustrated you can’t be doing other things. By finding the right amount of time to pump, you make sure your baby gets enough milk, your supply stays at the right level and you don’t spend more time doing pumping than you have to.

How to Tell If You’ve Pumped Long Enough

1. Check for Decreased Milk Flow

If you notice that your milk flow has slowed down or stopped, it’s a good sign that you’ve pumped long enough. If you want to, you can go for an extra 5 minutes or so to see if another letdown happens and the milk flows some more, but you don’t have to.

2. Make Sure You’re Actually Getting a Letdown

To get the most milk, make sure you’re having a letdown while pumping. A letdown is a reflex that releases the milk from the storage areas of your breasts. Some mums feel this as a prickly/tingly sensation in the breasts, others notice a sudden full feeling and some mums don’t feel it at all – all of these are normal. Lots of mums find their letdown doesn’t happen as easily with the pump as it does with their baby. With no letdown, you might only get 10-30mL of milk, if any, and you might worry that your supply is low and you don’t have enough milk for your baby. The amount you of milk you can pump does not necessarily show how much you’re making, so don’t stress! Instead, check out my free guide about how to tell if baby’s getting enough milk.

You can help a let down happen by relaxing, thinking about your baby, looking at a them or a picture of them or even smelling their clothes. Some mums find that gently massaging their breasts or using a warm cloth can help too. If you don’t feel a letdown, you might not get as much milk, so it’s important to try these tips.

3. Feel Your Breasts

After pumping, your breasts should feel softer and lighter. If they still feel full or heavy, you might need to pump for a bit longer to empty them completely. This is another time you might want to check that you’re actually getting a letdown with the pump.

4. Look at Your Milk Output

Check the amount of milk in the bottle. While the amount can change from session to session and is different for every mum, you’ll start to see a pattern if you’re pumping regularly. Once you see you’re getting a good amount of milk regularly and you know what’s normal for you, this is one way you’ll can tell you’ve pumped long enough.

5. Track Your Comfort Level

Pay attention to how your breasts and nipples feel. If you start to feel pain or discomfort, it might be a sign to stop. Pumping should not hurt, so listen to your body and adjust the time as needed.

These guidelines are the same whether you’re pumping to build your milk supply or to save milk for when you’re away from your baby. There are also some things you can do to make your pump session more efficient and get the most amount of milk you can. Check out this blog post for the tips.

To wrap up, how long to pump breastmilk depends on your own unique needs, not a set time. Check for decreased milk flow, feel your breasts, look at your milk output, and track your comfort level to know if you’ve pumped long enough. Remember, every mum’s body is different, and finding the right balance is key.

If you have any questions or want to share what you took away from this post, DM me on Instagram. I’m here to help you on your breastfeeding journey and I’d love to hear from you!