Pumping your breast milk can provide you with additional freedom as you return to work, travel or need a more flexible feeding schedule for you and your baby. Just as learning to breastfeed your baby requires time and practice, learning to pump your breasts can take time and practice as well. By establishing a regular breast-pumping routine, you may find milk expression easier to accomplish. However, if you experience insufficient milk production, you should always notify your physician or lactation consultant.
Step 1
Maintain specific times you engage in breast pumping. Your body can become accustomed to pumping at similar times, and knowing that you have a breast-pumping session coming up can help you mentally relax and prepare for it.
Step 2
Create a few elements of a routine that you perform before starting to pump. This can be as simple as drinking a certain beverage, listening to music to relax or reading before you start to pump. You also may want to massage your breasts to stimulate your let-down, or milk-expression reflex. These activities can relax you, which tends to improve your milk-ejection reflex. Also, if you choose enjoyable activities, you may be more likely to maintain your breast-pumping routine.
Step 3
Notify your partner, family members and/or other caregivers of your breast-pumping schedule. Knowing when to expect you to be pumping can help others be ready to watch your baby or otherwise accommodate your schedule.
Step 4
Listen to music or watch a favorite television show while you are pumping. Focusing on one enjoyable activity can minimize distractions while you pump, which makes you more likely to maintain your pumping routine. Looking forward to the same television program coming on every night can be effective in helping you keep a schedule.
Step 5
Pump for a similar length of time every night to keep you in your routine. If you are utilizing a single pump, this may take about 15 to 20 minutes per breast. A double milk collection pump should take between 10 and 15 minutes to use. Knowing about how long to expect your pumping session to last can help your body acclimate to a routine.
Tips and Warnings
- Always inspect your breast-pumping equipment to ensure it is working properly. If you have not had breast-milk expression difficulties in the past but you begin to experience problems with pumping, it's possible your equipment may be to blame.
Things You'll Need
- Breast pump
