• You can start breast pumping as soon as you’d like once you’ve given birth.
• Some mothers will begin pumping to kick-start their milk supply, while others will wait until they get into a good breastfeeding routine first.
• You should breast pump as much as you feel comfortable with, and after you feel well-drained.
• Pumping sessions can last anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes, but you’ll find that each session will vary. Try not to watch the clock and find a routine that works for you.

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Expressing breast milk can be especially useful for parents who are experiencing issues with their baby latching, wanting to relieve engorgement, or who would like others, including their partner, friends, or family members, to be able to support them with feeds using a bottle. 

Let’s run through some breast pumping tips, including how often to express your breast milk and how a breast pump can help you maintain a steady breast milk supply throughout your feeding journey.

When should I start using my breast pump?

Once your baby arrives, it’s up to you when you start to use your pump. Parents whose babies are born prematurely, or who can’t breastfeed directly for any reason, are often advised to begin pumping within six hours of birth.

If their child is born full-term and is healthy, some parents get started with pumping right away and use their pump to kick-start their milk supply.

Others wait a few weeks to start pumping and storing breast milk so that they have plenty of time to settle into a steady and comfortable breastfeeding routine with their new baby.

When is it too early to pump breast milk?

It’s recommended that you don’t use a breast pump during pregnancy, but you can express colostrum by hand from around 36 or 37 weeks.

Wait until your baby is born before you use your pump. There’s a risk that using a breast pump too soon can cause the onset of contractions by releasing the hormone oxytocin, potentially causing preterm birth.

How much breast milk should I be pumping?

You’ll find that your early pumping sessions will yield a small amount of milk. But don’t worry, your newborn only needs small feeds at first because their stomach is only around the size of a cherry!

At one month old, a baby’s stomach is about the size of a large egg. As their tummy grows, the amount of breast milk you’re able to collect with each pump will gradually increase until you get into a steady routine of feeding and pumping.

You may not notice a huge change in the amount of breast milk you collect over time, but breast milk is clever stuff. Its composition and calorie count change and adapt alongside your baby’s development over time.

How much milk should I pump per session?

A good breast-pumping session can last anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes, but you’ll find that each session will vary. Try not to watch the clock and instead focus on how your breasts feel.

However long you pump for, you should try to continue until the flow of your breast milk slows and your breasts feel comfortable and well-drained.

If you’re experiencing nipple pain while breastfeeding, hand expressing your breast milk manually or using a breast pump and then feeding your baby with a bottle can help by giving your nipples a break and time to heal.

How much breast milk can you pump per day?

It can help to think of expressing breast milk as a supply and demand process – the more you empty your breasts, the more breast milk your body will produce.

You should try to pump as often as your baby feeds. Frequent expressing as well as suckling from your baby will help your breast milk come in and evolve from highly concentrated colostrum to mature milk.

How much breast milk you can pump in a day really depends on your stage of breastfeeding, your body, and your baby’s needs. There isn’t one “right” amount, but here’s a practical guide:

• First few days (colostrum): You’ll only get teaspoons at a time, that’s normal and exactly what your baby needs.
• By 2–3 weeks: Once your milk comes in, most parents can make anywhere from 700–950 ml per day, if exclusively pumping.
• Established supply: On average, most people produce enough to match what their baby takes, roughly 750–900 ml per day for a full-term baby between 1–6 months.

Some parents pump more, some less. Supply isn’t a reflection of effort, it’s influenced by things like how often you pump, your body’s natural storage capacity, stress, hydration, and rest.

The key is consistency. Pumping as often as your baby would feed (around 8 times a day for a newborn) helps maintain supply.

What should I do if no milk comes out when I pump?

Sometimes you might find that you’re using your breast milk pump, but nothing is coming out.

Don’t worry if this happens now and then. Even if you don’t collect any breast milk on this occasion, the act of pumping on its own sends a signal to your breasts (and brain) to produce more milk ready for next time.

How can I maintain full milk production when pumping

To keep your milk supply strong when pumping, think about frequency, efficiency, and self-care. Here are the essentials:

1. Pump often, not just long

• Aim to pump about as often as your baby would feed, 8 sessions in 24 hours for newborns.
• Try not to go longer than 4 hours between sessions in the early weeks.

2. Empty your breasts fully

• Milk supply works on demand: the more milk removed, the more your body makes.
• Double pumping (both breasts at once) is more efficient and gives a stronger supply boost.

3. Get the fit right

• Make sure your pump flanges fit well, poor fit can reduce milk removal and cause soreness.
• A comfortable, effective pump makes a huge difference.

4. Power pump if needed

• Mimic a baby cluster-feeding by pumping in short bursts (e.g. 20 min pump, 10 rest, 10 pump, 10 rest, 10 pump).
• This can give your supply an extra boost.

5. Look after yourself

• Rest, hydrate, and eat regularly, your body needs fuel to make breast milk.
• Stress can interfere with let-down, so try to relax when you pump (warm compress, gentle massage, or even looking at photos of your baby can help).

6. Store and rotate smartly

• If you’re pumping for bottles, label and freeze/store milk properly so nothing goes to waste.

The golden rule: frequent and effective milk removal is what maintains production.

Remember that each feeding journey is unique, and the frequency of pumping sessions and the amount of breast milk collected varies from one parent to the next.

Try not to compare yourself to others and don’t hesitate to reach out to a medical professional or lactation consultant if you need support.

How much breast milk can I store?

The amount of breast milk you keep stocked up in the fridge or freezer depends on your schedule and lifestyle factors like going back to work or spending some time away from your baby for whatever reason.

There’s no ‘perfect’ amount to store, but once you’re in tune with your baby’s feeding schedule, you’ll be good at judging how much milk you need.

Can I increase my breast milk supply with a breast pump?

Everyone’s feeding journey is unique, but lots of parents find that their breast milk supply increases if they use their breast pump straight after breastfeeding their baby.

Pumping as often as your baby feeds helps your body understand the amount of milk they need.

It can also help to maintain skin-to-skin with your baby or look at a photo of them while you pump.

As we’ve covered, the more your breasts are emptied, the more cues you send to your body to make new breast milk. Some parents find a method known as power or cluster pumping helpful. It’s a technique that mimics a baby’s natural cluster feeds and involves a collection of short pumping sessions with breaks in between.

When should I pump if I’m going back to work?

A breast pump will come in handy if you’ve been solely feeding directly from the breast but are thinking about going back to work soon.

If you do want to use a pump, it’s a good idea to start pumping two or three weeks before you head back. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to build up a stock of expressed breast milk in storage and get used to your pump. Your baby will also have time to get to know their bottle.

Once you’re back at work, you can replace any breastfeeds you miss with pumping sessions to help maintain your baby’s feeding schedule and keep your breast milk supply strong.