Help! I’m only pumping 2 oz every 3 hours!

Pumping is tricky. You might be wondering if how much breast milk you’re pumping is normal. Let’s explore…

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How much is a normal amount to pump?

First things first… pumping 2 oz. every 3 hours is an absolutely NORMAL amount to pump for exclusively breastfeeding moms. 

It’s actually on the absolute HIGH end of the spectrum of normal!

The normal amount is anywhere between .5 to 2 ounces (for both breasts) per pumping session.

And it’s not unusual to need to pump 2-3 times to get enough milk out for one feeding for baby.

Please don’t assume that not pumping a lot is any indication that your milk supply is low. The pump is simply not as efficient as getting milk out as your baby is.  

Plus - pumping is a learned skill and can be tricky.  It can take time to get used to pumping and to get more proficient at it..

Want to increase how much breast milk you pump?

THIS handy little tool will help you get more milk out each time you pump.

The absolutely BEST way to boost your pumping output is to pump more frequently for a couple of days in a row.

Adding even a short extra session can really help with the amount of milk expressed.

What can affect the amount of breast milk you pump?

After you’ve had some practice using your pump and it’s working well, the following factors can affect your milk yield:

• Your baby’s age. If you’ve JUST had your baby within the last month you’re not getting much milk out when you pump, the issue is probably that your milk supply is still increasing.  Your milk supply doesn’t peak until 4-6 weeks postpartum.

• Whether or not you’re exclusively breastfeeding.  Exclusively pumping moms generally pump more milk at each session than exclusively nursing moms.

• Time of day. You produce the most milk early in the early morning and the amount you produce typically wanes as the day goes on.

• Your emotional state. Any feelings of stress or pain can block your letdown reflex.  So try to relax and zen it out to get your milk flowing. 

• Your breast storage capacity. Women have different storage capacities (or the amount of milk that can be stored in their breast at any given time). Breast storage capacity depends entirely on the amount of lobules in breast tissue, and NOT on actual breast size.

• Your pump quality and fit.  Hospital grade pumps tend to extract more milk than pumps with lower suction levels.

A few tricks to maximize your pumping output

• Warm ‘em up!  Using one of THESE amazing warm packs before (and during) pumping can really help get more milk out.

• Double-check your pump parts. Pump parts like valves and membranes need to be replaced!  Over time these pump parts stop working as well and can affect the suction of your pump.

• Fit your flange properly.  Make sure you’re using the right size breast shields.  Using the wrong size can affect your output.  

• Use vibration to get more milk out!  THIS handy little tool uses vibration to help move the milk through the ducts.

• Know your pump settings.  More suction doesn’t = more production. When pumping, turn the suction up until uncomfortable, then turn it back a notch or two.

• Try for more letdowns!  If you see the milk stop spraying while pumping, you can try for another letdown.  Keep pumping for another 5 minutes or so to see if more milk comes out.

• Use breast compressions.  Use a hands-free pumping bra so you can utilize your hands.  It involves compressing and massaging your breasts while you pump, which helps push out more breast milk.

• Cover up your pump.  Consider putting a blanket or nursing cover over your pump and stop focusing on what comes out.  This may help you relax more, which will help you yield more milk.

• Take advantage of your senses.  Letdowns are a conditioned response.  Many times women get more milk out when they look at videos/pictures of their baby, hear sounds of their baby, or even smell their baby’s blanket or pajamas.

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