Whether you’re a new mum, heading back to work, want to share the load with your partner or need to be away from your baby, pumping breast milk is an effective and efficient way to keep bub happy and fed. There are so many reasons why you might be considering pumping, so here’s a few tips and tricks to kickstart your journey and get you breast pumping like a pro.
Why should I consider pumping?
- You might be going back to work
- Your baby may not be latching properly
- You might want to share the feeding with your partner
- You may have a premature baby and need to keep your milk supply up
- You may need to be away from you baby
- Your milk supply may not be adequate
- You may have an oversupply of milk
- You may want to donate milk
- You may have mastitis and need to drain the breast
- Your milk may have been contaminated by certain medications or alcohol
- And the list goes on…
Pros and cons of pumping:
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Cheaper than formula | Expensive (pumps, bottles, sanitisers) |
| Can work to a schedule | Time consuming:· pumping takes time· feeding also takes time· cleaning up the bottles |
| Can go back to work or be away from your baby | Lack of bonding with your baby |
| Your baby is still getting breastmilk and all the proper antibodies | Stored breast milk can have less antibodies than direct breastmilk |
| Can increase milk supply | Can lead to engorgement |
Choosing the right breast pump
Think about how often you’ll be pumping. Will it be just occasionally, or will you need to pump every few hours? This will influence the type of pump that’s best for you. Where will you be pumping most often? If you’ll be pumping at home primarily, portability might not be a major concern. But if you plan to pump at work or on the go, a portable pump will be much more convenient.
Consider how much discretion you need. If you’ll be pumping in public settings, a quieter pump might be important. Finally, there’s your budget. Manual pumps are the most affordable option, but if you’ll be pumping frequently, an electric pump might be a worthwhile investment.
Do some research on popular brands and models to see what features they offer. Reading testimonials and reviews from other moms can also be helpful in making your decision. Here’s an important note: since breast pumps are considered medical equipment, you can’t legally buy them secondhand or resell them yourself.
Types of Breast Pumps
Breast pumps come in two main categories:
- Flange-based pumps: These are the most common type and come in three varieties: manual, electric, and hospital-grade electric. Manual pumps require you to squeeze a handle to create suction, while electric pumps do the work for you. Hospital-grade pumps are typically stronger and more efficient, ideal for frequent pumping or mothers with low milk supply. All flange-based pumps use a flange, a funnel-shaped piece that fits around your nipple to create suction and collect milk.
- Wearable pumps: These are a newer option that fit inside your bra and offer hands-free pumping. They are generally quieter and more discreet than traditional pumps, making them convenient for on-the-go pumping. However, they may not be as powerful as some electric pumps.
Finding the best breast pump for you
Wearable breast pumps offer a fantastic perk: freedom of movement! You can walk around the house or office while pumping, maintaining some privacy at the same time. However, it’s important to remember that these pumps can be bulky and add a couple of cup sizes to your typical size.
If you only pump occasionally, a hand pump is a great choice to start. It allows you to control the suction for comfort, which can be especially helpful for women who might feel overwhelmed by electric pumps at first. Remember, relaxation is key for efficient pumping!
Planning to exclusively bottle-feed? Investing in a good quality electric pump with a hands-free pumping bra is a worthwhile option. Electric pumps are more efficient, allowing you to pump faster and free up your time for other tasks.
Wearable pumps, which fit inside your bra, offer another option. However, you might need to adjust your bra size to accommodate them comfortably. A larger cup size or a stretchy multi-fit bra might be necessary to fit both your breasts and the pumps.
Not sure if pumping is right for you? Many hospitals and good pharmacies offer breast pump rentals. This allows you to try it out before committing to buying a pump.
Choosing the Right Pumping Bra
Choosing the right pumping bra is crucial for a comfortable and efficient pumping experience. Here’s why:
- Support: A good pumping bra provides proper support for your breasts, preventing them from sagging and ensuring optimal milk flow. This can help you express more milk in less time.
- Comfort: Pumping sessions can last for 20-30 minutes, so comfort is essential. A well-fitting bra prevents discomfort and irritation caused by tight straps or digging bands.
- Convenience: The right bra allows for easy access to your breasts for flange placement and pump attachment. This eliminates the need to constantly adjust or remove the bra during pumping.
- Hands-Free Pumping: Some bras are designed for hands-free pumping, allowing you to multitask while expressing milk.
Recommended Bras for Different Pumps
| Type of Pump | Bra |
| Flange-based pumps | LotusPumpkin |
| Wearable pumps | Cotton Candy Rock Candy Popping Candy Ribbon Candy Lotus Note: Add 2-3 cups sizes to your size when selecting these styles to accommodate the size of the pump. |
Looking for a pumping bra that offers both comfort and functionality? We’ve got you covered! Here’s a breakdown of our most popular styles to help you find the perfect fit:
Lotus Hands-Free Pumping Bra:
- Multi-tasking made easy: This versatile bra allows for hands-free pumping, freeing you up to get things done while expressing milk.
- Perfect fit for all: Available in a wide range of cup sizes (including petite and busty) and featuring a multi-cup fitting system, the Lotus bra provides a comfortable fit for most body types.
- Flange or Wearable Pump Friendly: This bra works seamlessly with both traditional flange pumps and wearable pumps. Note: When using with wearable pumps, choose a size 2-3 cups larger than your usual size for optimal comfort.
- Easy to Use: Follow the instructions in the video above for a quick and easy setup.
Pumpkin T-Shirt Pumping Bra:
- Comfort and Convenience: This comfortable T-shirt style bra features discreet zippers that hold your flange securely in place.
- Adaptable for You: The adjustable zippers allow you to customize the flange placement based on your individual nipple position for a comfortable and efficient pumping experience.
- Simple to Use: Here’s a quick guide:
- Open the zippers enough to comfortably place the flange over your nipple.
- Close the zippers to secure the flange in place.
- Attach your bottles and pump apparatus.
Wearable Pumps and Stretchy Bras:
Wearable pumps are a great choice for on-the-go mums who desire flexibility. To ensure a comfortable and safe pumping experience with wearable pumps, it’s crucial to choose a bra with a stretchy, multi-size fit. This prevents any discomfort or potential harm to your breast tissue. We offer a wide range of seamless bras perfect for wearable pumps, including:
We encourage you to browse our full selection to find the bra that best suits your needs and preferences!
How to know when to pump:
It’s best to avoid pumping when you’re engorged as this can lead to further engorgement. Pump either at the end of a breastfeeding session to increase supply or when you would usually be nursing your baby instead of feeding them. Make sure they are still getting their feed though.
How often should I pump and for how long:
Often pumping will extract the milk much quicker than if you were breastfeeding. Although with some mamas, only their bubs can make the milk come out.
Don’t ever pump until the breast runs dry or stop immediately when it does. You don’t want to overdo it.
You can also pump to limit your supply. To do this, just pump a little with a high amount of flow and then stop. Your body will only remake what is used up.
How much should I pump?
It’s not a matter of quantity, but rather time. You might get super excited that you are able to and start filling up satchel after satchel, but this is a sure-fire way to encourage an oversupply, which could lead to problems when you’re trying to reduce your flow down the line.
Try to pump only when you would normally be feeding your baby. If your aim isn’t to increase your supply, try pumping at even intervals, like if you were breastfeeding bub.
Feed from one side and pump from the other. Then after your baby has finished, you may be able to pump some more from the breast they’ve just fed from, and vice versa.
A general rule of thumb is not to overdo it.
How should I begin pumping
There are many ways to start and it all depends on why you’re pumping. Learn how to hand express first so you understand how your milk and breasts work.
- If you’re pumping to sub and feed, try to nurse from one side and then pump from the other. As your baby is already nursing from one side, the letdown should be easier to establish for pumping.
- If you know you’re going to be away from your baby and will skip a feed, it’s best to try to pump before you are without your baby. Do a practice run first to make sure you know how the equipment works as you don’t want to be flustered when the moment arrives.
- Pumping for the first time when you have a premature baby can make you feel very much like a machine and it’s even harder if you don’t know what a baby’s latch feels like. I would grab a cup of tea and a photo of my baby and get as comfortable and relaxed as possible. They recommend you double pump to save time, but I found this would restrict my flow. Work out what works best for you.
- If you’re pumping to increase your milk, you should pump each breast immediately after your baby has finished feeding. The more milk that is taken from your breast, the more will be remade by yours truly. Please remember that your baby’s needs will change and what you make on one day may be too much the next. There are also growth spurts to remember and cluster feeds that can spike your milk production.
Over supply can lead to engorgement and this is not a fun time as it can then lead to blocked ducts, mastitis, and lots of pain. Engorgement can also lead to stretch marks and sagging later in life.
Learn to hand express
1. Start off in a warm shower or apply a warm compress (warm washer) to your breast. If you are nursing your baby on your other breast, the milk may flow easier.
2. Massage your breast with one hand (if you are holding your baby with the other) or two.
3. Massage from the outside inwards with steady pressure directly towards your nipple.
4. Squeeze and press your fingers towards your chest. They should be on, or on the outside of your areola.
TIPS:
- It’s not like milking a cow. You don’t want to pinch your nipple – keep your fingers a firm distance apart and push gently towards your chest.
- Relax and think about your baby.
- Exhale and release your shoulders.
- Lean forward if you are having difficulty.
Learn to pump
Remember the tips from hand expressing. When you first start off using the pump, try from the opposite breast that you’re feeding from. Bub will already have the milk flowing. Then when you are ready to change breasts, your baby should be able to feed some more from the breast you’ve just pumped from.
If you don’t want to pump while breastfeeding, start off pumping just before you feed. This way, you will have a more ample milk supply.
1. Relax (I know, easier said than done when you’re pumping for the first time).
2. Position the cups — this part is all trial and error. Try positioning your breast inside the cups so that your nipple is at the centre. Don’t push too much flesh inside the cups, the pump will do this for you. Make sure you have a good seal around the edges. If you need to reposition the cups, break the seal first with a finger and then gently remove the cup and try again.
3. If you’re using a mechanical pump, start off with a slow setting and only do it for a short amount of time. 10 minutes on your first day is perfect.
4. Don’t pump for longer, even if you’re able to! If you are having success and can pump a full 150ml, your body will then make a lot more. This can quickly lead to engorgement and other problems. So, it’s best to do the pumping routine with slow and gentle increments.
5. If using a hand pump, slow and steady pumping is okay and once again, only for 10 minutes. In 3 days, increase to 15 minutes. After 7 days, increase to a full pump. Then after 10 days, progress to pumping both breasts if you need to.
6. The way that you start pumping should also be the way that you finish pumping. If you are pumping continually every day and then you suddenly stop, the milk flow can change dramatically and once again, you may end up with engorgement. If you decide to cease pumping for any reason, wean yourself just like you would for breastfeeding.
Note: When you’re pumping your breasts may increase in size if you over do it. It’s best to make sure you are fully supported and wearing comfortable pumping bras to ensure that you’re not damaging your ligaments with the extra weight of your breasts. Damaged ligaments are the main cause of sagging.
Learn to pump hands-free
Pumping hands free is easy if you’ve got the right bra to do this. There are many different hands-free pumping bras out there that come in many different sizes. Choose one that’s right for you and your situation.
Many of the archaic hands-free pumping bras are not meant to be worn during the day, but only for the task at hand, instead of your nursing bra. So, a change of bra and top may be required if you have the time. Usually if you’re wanting to be hands-free, this means you don’t have the time. Catch 22.
Things to consider:
- Will you be at work and need to be discreet?
- Will you be one off pumping throughout the day or multiple times?
- Will you be happy to change your bra, or would you like a pumping/nursing bra?
Basically, attach the flanges, attach the pumps, and turn on the pump. Go about your daily routine as you normally would. Some women find this difficult to do, as they are not relaxing and focusing on the task at hand so the amount they pump is reduced.
When you are breastfeeding, it’s hard to ignore your baby suckling from your breast and the oxytocin that encourages let down is released. To increase milk flow when pumping, focus on your baby and relax your shoulders to encourage a greater flow and supply.
Exclusive pumping
There may be reasons why you want to exclusively pump such as:
- Your baby may not latch properly to your breast
- You may not be with your baby most of the time
- Adoption
- Infant anomalies
- Paternal choice
- Mental illness
- Back to work
- Shared parental or family responsibilities
- Daily schedule required or wished for
How often do I pump if I’m exclusively pumping
As a rule of thumb, the following guidelines should be applied. This will all depend on the health of your baby, and of course every mama is different. Speak to your health care professional to ensure you are getting it right.
- Newborn — every 3 hours.
- After 6-8 weeks — every 4 hours.
- After 6 months — every 4 hours during the day but not during the night.
Breastmilk storage guidelines
Remember that the longer you store your breastmilk, the less likely it is to be suitable for your baby. Even though it will last 9 months, your baby will be 9 months older and the milk you make is perfectly suited for your baby at that specific time.
Even a month can make a difference to your concoction’s suitability. Whether your baby is sick, thirsty, hot, or hungry — you make the milk specifically for them at that time, so keep this in mind.
If you are pumping in summer and feeding this milk to your baby in winter, the milk will taste very different to that from your breast at the same time.
Store your milk in either a BPA free plastic or glass food grade container or special food grade milk storage satchels, these are great for convenience, and you can mark these with the date collected.
These are not, however, so good for the earth as they are disposable and hard to recycle due to their contents.
Tip: If you’re adding fresh pumped milk to other frozen milk, this is fine if the fresh milk has been cooled in the fridge first. This avoids the frozen milk defrosting in sections.
How long can I keep breast milk
- Fresh milk — 4 hours at room temperature
- Refrigerated milk — 48 hours
- Frozen milk — 9 months
- Thawed milk — 24 hours in the fridge (don’t refreeze)
How to use pumped breast milk
If frozen, defrost in the fridge the day before you need to use it, then with the thawed milk or refrigerated milk, heat up in either the bottle you intend to use or a glass or BPA free food safe container. This can be heated in the microwave on low or in a bowl of boiled water.
Make sure the contents are well distributed (stirred) prior to feeding to your baby as there can be hot sections and cooler sections. Check the temperature on your wrist – it should not feel hot or cold as it should be the same temp as you.
Once heated, this milk cannot be reused – so if not all fed to your baby, please discard (or give the dog a little booby treat).
When not to pump
- When you are overtired.
- When you have just fed from both sides (unless trying to increase your milk supply).
- If you don’t have clean equipment (if you’re planning to use your milk, not pump and dump).
When you’re dehydrated or haven’t had enough water during the day — when you’re breastfeeding you should be aiming for 3L a day, as opposed to the usual 2L. It’s a lot, so go and have a glass now.
Overall tips and advice
Make sure you are getting enough sleep and rest, plenty of water and good nutrition. When you are breastfeeding, you will burn on average an extra 500 calories a day, and the same rules apply to pumping, so make sure you are ready for the journey. At the end of the day, fed is best, and a healthy happy mama is what is required. Happy pumping!
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Disclaimer: Cake does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
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