Pumping your breast milk allows you to store it so you (or someone else) can feed it to your baby later. Pumping also helps you keep up your milk supply when you're away from your baby. Your health care provider, a lactation consultant, breastfeeding peer counselor, or mothers' support group can offer advice and support as you learn the steps of pumping.
Breast milk provides complete nutrition for babies up to 6 months of age (after that, feed your baby a mix of breast milk and solid foods). Breast milk also lowers babies' risk of getting infections, allergies, and some illnesses. Many of these health benefits last well into childhood.
There are several ways to pump milk. Electric pumps have a motor that plugs into an outlet or runs on a battery. A single electric pump empties one breast at a time, while a double electric pump empties both. A manual pump doesn't have a motor and works by squeezing a lever. You also can express milk by hand if you don't have a pump with you.
When to pump:
- Pump often. For a newborn, pump or breastfeed at least every 2 to 4 hours, or 8 to 12 times a day.
- If you're trying to increase your milk supply, pump right after nursing and/or add an extra pumping session after the first morning feeding.
- If you're returning to work or school, begin pumping 2 to 3 weeks ahead of time. This way you can learn how to pump, start to store milk, and practice bottle-feeding your baby. Keep breastfeeding your baby as usual, but add a pumping session a few times a day right after you breastfeed your baby. It may be helpful to schedule the pumping sessions during the hours that you'll be at work or school so your body can get used to this schedule.
- When you return to work or school, pump at least once every 3 to 4 hours that you're away from your baby. As your baby gets older, you can change the number of times you pump to meet your baby's needs.
Things to remember while pumping or expressing milk by hand:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before pumping.
- To help your milk let down, relax and think about your baby. Have your baby nearby or look at a photo or video of your baby. Some women find it helpful to take a warm shower or put warm, moist towels on their breasts.
- Drink a glass of water every time you pump and whenever you're thirsty so you get the extra fluids you need to help make breast milk.
- It might help to massage the breast while pumping to get more milk out.
To use an electric or manual pump:
- Place the pump flange (breast shield) over your nipple and areola (dark skin around the nipple). The nipple should be able to move freely inside the tube without rubbing against the sides. A good fit helps you make sure there's a good milk flow and prevents pain and irritation. Talk to your lactation consultant or nurse if you're not sure which size pump flange to use.
- Keep pumping for 2 to 3 minutes after you see the last big drop of milk go into the bottle.
- A double pump usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes to empty both breasts. A manual pump or single electric pump takes about 30 to 40 minutes to pump both breasts.
To take care of your pump and containers:
- Be sure all pump kit parts and tubing are clean and not cracked, scratched, or broken.
- Sterilize all parts before the first use by boiling them in water for 15 to 20 minutes or using a microwave sterilizing bag.
- Follow your health care team's instructions for how to clean the parts of the pump that touch the breast or the breast milk. Different ways include:
- washing in the top rack of the dishwasher. Make sure the parts are dishwasher safe.
- washing in hot soapy water for 10 to 15 seconds and rinsing well. Air dry completely before use.
- using a microwave sterilizing bag. Air dry completely before use.
To express milk by hand:
- Place a clean container under the nipple.
- Gently massage your breast. Start at the outer areas and move toward the nipple.
- Put your thumb and first two fingers about 1 to 1½ inches behind the nipple. Form a C with your thumb below the nipple and the fingers above.
- Gently press back toward your chest, then roll the thumb and fingers forward in a gentle squeezing motion over and over again until the milk stops flowing.
- Move your thumb and fingers around the nipple to get milk from all areas of the breast.
- Try not to let the milk touch your hands or breast as it goes into the container.
To store milk:
- Put the date and time of the pumping session on your bottles or bags to keep track of freshness. This lets you use the oldest breast milk first.
- Don't add fresh milk to already frozen milk.
- Follow the "Rule of 5." This means that in most cases you can store freshly expressed breast milk for about:
- 5 hours at room temperature (no warmer than 77°F or 25°C)
- 5 days in the refrigerator (at 32°F to 39°F or 0°C to 3.9°C)
- 5 months in the back of a freezer that has a separate door from the refrigerator door (at 0°F or -18°C)
- If you use a cooler or ice chest to carry breast milk, clean it after each use.
- If your baby is in the hospital or has special health needs, the health care team may give you other storage guidelines.
To give your baby pumped breast milk:
- If you won't be giving freshly pumped, refrigerated milk within the next 3 to 4 days, store it in the freezer in a sterile freezer-safe bag.
- Milk can be given warm or cold. See which way your baby likes it best.
- If you warm the milk, give it right away. Don't store it for later.
- Throw away any milk that's left in the bottle after a feeding. Don't save the rest for later.
To thaw frozen milk:
- Use thawed breast milk within 24 hours. Once you warm the milk, give it right away.
- Don't thaw milk at room temperature (for example, on the counter).
- Don't microwave breast milk.
- Put breast milk in the refrigerator a few hours before feeding or place the bottle or bag in lukewarm water for up to 20 to 30 minutes. Swirling the bag or bottle around can help the milk thaw more quickly. Be sure the water level is below the top of the bag or bottle.
- After the breast milk thaws, don't refreeze it.
