In short, you should pump until milk isn't coming out any more. Or, if you're trying to boost your supply, pump a little while longer after the milk stops flowing.
Increasing your milk supply will take time, so don't give up. Even dry pumps (when you pump but nothing comes out) sends a signal to your body that more milk is needed on tap, so it's getting the work done even if there's no output to show for it right away. Stick with it and you'll see the results after a few days.
Simply increasing the number of times you pump in a day can help increase your milk supply. For example, you can simply pump between breastfeeding sessions to try and stimulate milk production. Or, you can try power pumping, which means pumping every five minutes for an hour or so.
“The standard advice is to pump for 15-20 minutes. Even if you don't have milk flowing that entire time, you need to pump that long to get enough nipple stimulation. Also pumping at least 5 minutes after your milk stops flowing will tell your body that you need more milk; thus increasing your supply.
Why it happens: Low milk supply can be the result of not pumping enough, pumping too soon after a feeding or not nursing between sessions. You may also have a low supply if you're not pumping long enough, if you're using the wrong type of pump or you're not drinking enough liquids.
Using breast compressions and massage while pumping is essential for many mamas to get the most milk out of their pumping session. Here's how you can incorporate breast compression and massage into your pumping routine.
It's called re-lactation. It's possible for the female body to come back from “drying up” and produce milk again. In fact, many mothers of adopted children are able to pump and use several methods in order to stimulate their bodies to produce milk, even if they haven't given birth!
For the first two weeks, pump every 2 to 3 hours during the day and at least once during the night. This is as often as your baby would breastfeed, about 8 to 10 times per day. The number of pumpings per 24 hours is most important, not the amount of time between. Each pumping signals your body to make more milk.
Increase pumping frequency
Generally, moms should be pumping every 3 hours. Pumping more often can help stimulate breasts to produce more milk. Moms can try pumping both breasts for 15 minutes every two hours for 48-72 hours. Then moms can return to their normal pumping routine.
It's also normal for this amount to fluctuate from day to day. It's normal to see pumping output fluctuate from session to session as well. FOR MOMS WHO ARE PRIMARILY DIRECTLY NURSING THEIR INFANTS, TYPICAL PUMPING OUTPUT CAN RANGE FROM 0.5 oz to 2 oz. PER SESSION.
The first few days: Your breast milk coming in
Around day three after your baby's birth, your breast milk 'comes in' and your breasts may start to feel noticeably firmer and fuller.
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.
Even if milk production doesn't start out well, however, don't get discouraged–many moms will see an increase (even as late as 9-15 weeks after birth) if they continue with regular pumping.
How do I know whether my breasts are empty? There's no test or way to know for sure. In general, though, if you gently shake your breasts and they feel mostly soft and you don't feel the heaviness of milk sitting in them, you're probably fine.
Massage Breasts to Increase Milk Supply
There are two steps to stimulate your breasts for lactation: Using your fingertips, very lightly massage from the top of your breast down and over the nipple. Then press firmly on your breast and massage in a circular motion to encourage milk towards your nipples.
Making milk creates denser tissue in your breasts. After breastfeeding, both the fatty tissue and connective tissue in your breasts may shift. Your breasts may or may not return to their pre-breastfeeding size or shape. Some women's breasts stay large, and others shrink.
Many moms assume that having a pump with a higher suction strength will automatically mean that they will be able to pump more milk, but in fact, pumping at too high of a setting can actually inhibit your milk production.
A few ways to replenish your milk supply
Even if your baby isn't hungry, pumping every two instead of three hours for a few days will rev up the body's supply and the “demand” process and produce more milk. Pumping consistently should rev up the body's "supply and demand” process and produce more milk.
With no feedings overnight, their milk supply starts to drop. The level of prolactin (the hormone that signals the breasts to make milk) is also higher during night feedings, so the lowered overall prolactin can also contribute to a drop in milk.
Understanding the Role of Prolactin
Interestingly, prolactin levels have a typical 24-hour cycle — just like the human body's circadian rhythm. Prolactin peaks in the early morning hours around 2-5 a.m., while the lowest prolactin levels happen in the late afternoon to early evening.
Drinking water is one of the simplest ways to ensure that your body can produce plenty of breast milk for your baby. While breastfeeding, you should drink even more water than the required amount. 7 This is because breast milk is 87% water and during the postpartum period, your body is losing more water than usual.
Sometimes breast engorgement is not caused by breast milk and increased blood circulation alone. Other fluids can add to the pressure in the breast causing oedema or swelling particularly in the first week or two after birth.
For people who are pumping in the early days and weeks after giving birth, it's good to know that you will likely produce only a few milliliters of colostrum during each pumping session. Once your milk comes in, it's still expected that you'll pump maybe only an ounce or so at a time.