When you’re a new mom, you likely have a MILLION questions. 

Wondering if you’re pumping a “normal” amount of breast milk is a common one.  Let’s explore how much milk you should be pumping at one week postpartum.

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First things first, do you really need to pump at one week? 

Unless you’re in a unique situation, we usually recommend waiting to pump until a bit later on to ensure nursing at the breast gets off to a great start. 

Unless baby has trouble latching, you’re separated from baby for some reason, or you’re exclusive pumping, breastfeeding should take priority to pumping at this stage. 

But if you DO pump at one week, read on for what to expect!

Pumping Amounts Vary Between Each Session

Expect the amount of breast milk you pump at each session to vary greatly. 

The exact amount you’ll pump will vary depending on a multitude of factors. (ex: time of day, your baby’s age, your breast storage capacity, how well you respond to the pump, along with many other factors)

Want an easy way to boost how much you pump? Use THIS handy little tool handy little tool to get out more milk each time you breastfeed and pump.

Expect To Pump Less In The Early Weeks

At one week postpartum, your milk production is just starting to build but it is not yet at its peak.  Expect to pump less than you will later one once your milk supply ramps up more.  

At 7 days postpartum, your baby's stomach is about the size of an apricot.  This means that it holds only about 1 ½ - 2 ounces (30 to 60 ml) of breast milk at a time.

As their stomach grows in capacity and your milk supply increases, you can expect to express more milk per session in the next few weeks.  

It is not until about 4-6 weeks postpartum that babies reach their peak feeding volume of breast milk. (around 25-30 oz. per day).

After this stage, a baby’s daily milk intake doesn’t typically change until around 6 months of age, when they may start eating solids.

How much milk should I be pumping at 1 week postpartum?

This is the million dollar question. 

There is a wide range of normal but a quick answer: don’t expect much.

You may only be able to pump ½ an ounce (or less) at a time at this stage. This is completely normal.

Not only is your milk supply not at its peak, but it also takes time and practice to train your body to respond to your pump like it does to your baby. 

With time and practice, it will become easier and the amount of milk you express will increase.

Remember: WHAT YOU PUMP IS NOT A GAUGE OF YOUR ACTUAL MILK PRODUCTION.

How much Breast milk should I expect to Pump later on?

Once your milk supply is established and regulated (around 6-8 weeks postpartum), the normal amount to pump is anywhere between . 5 to 2 ounces (for both breasts) per pumping session.

“Normal” is a range and you may be anywhere in or outside that range of normal and that doesn’t mean anything is necessarily wrong. 

How much milk should I be pumping at 1 week if I’m exclusively pumping?

If you’re exclusively pumping, you’ll want to focus on the amount of milk expressed in a 24-hour period instead of the amount per pumping session. Ideally, you’ll express at least as much milk as your baby eats in that 24-hour period.

Often by the end of the first week, mothers are producing about 500 mLs or 16 ½ ounces of breast milk per 24 hours.

How to increase the amount of milk you Can Pump

Remember: milk production is all about supply and demand. The more milk you remove (by nursing, pumping, hand expressing, etc), the more milk you will eventually produce.

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