Exclusive Pumping Schedule: How Often And How Long
There are so many reasons why you might need to exclusively pump for your baby, either temporarily, or for the long haul—and NO ONE should judge your reasons for doing so.
The truth is, being an exclusive pumping mama is a huge undertaking. And while it’s something a mom is doing out a deep love of her baby, it’s not a job to be taken lightly.
Moms who exclusively pump are heroines, for sure!
If you’re an exclusively pumping mama, especially if you’re just starting out, you probably have lots of questions about how this is going to all work … and how you’re going to keep up with it all without losing your mind.
You’re probably also wondering what your day-to-day life will look like as an exclusive pumper.
You’ll also want some sample pumping schedules to get you started.
Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of exclusive pumping, and how to logistically make it work for you.
Why Moms Choose Exclusive Pumping
Some moms make an active choice to exclusively pump for their baby, but most of the time, they come to exclusive pumping out of necessity—usually because their baby has trouble nursing, or because their lifestyle prohibits at-the-breast nursing.
Again, no mother should be shamed or judged for choosing exclusive pumping.
Breastfeeding at the breast is usually easier for moms and has its own benefits, but exclusive pumping is a valid choice and ensures that your baby gets the fantastic nutrition and disease-fighting aspects of breast milk.
The reasons a mom might choose exclusive breastfeeding may include:
If you have a preemie who is unable to nurse at the breast, you might start by exclusively breastfeeding until they’re able to come to the breast
If your baby has a medical issue that makes breastfeeding difficult or impossible, such as tongue tie, congenital defects, breathing issues, or neurological issues
If your baby has latching issues, you may decide to exclusively pump until the latching issues are solved
If your baby never successfully latched to the breast, you might decide to exclusively pump for the long-haul
If you need to be separated from your baby for a long period, you might exclusively pump
If you have a history of sexual abuse or if breastfeeding makes you uncomfortable for any reason, you might exclusively pump
Sometimes moms just have a personal preference and decide that exclusive pumping is best for them
What To Know About Exclusive Pumping vs. Breastfeeding
Exclusive pumping and breastfeeding are similar in that both of them have the wonderful goal of delivering breast milk (i.e., liquid gold) to your baby. But of course, there are some obvious differences between the two.
Key Differences Between Breastfeeding and Exclusive Pumping:
When you’re breastfeeding, you usually feed your baby on demand, so you watch your baby for cues about when to feed; with exclusive pumping, you usually stick to a set schedule
When you’re breastfeeding, you don’t see how many ounces your baby is consuming at each feeding; when you’re exclusively pumping, you will seeing the ounces as they filled the bottle or receptacle you’re pumping into
When you’re exclusively breastfeeding, hormones are released as you hold your baby close, which can make milk release easier; exclusive pumpers can use tactics such as looking a pictures of their baby or smelling their baby’s blanket to elicit similar hormonal responses
Similarities Between Breastfeeding and Exclusive Pumping:
Both breastfeeding and exclusive pumping require you to empty your breast frequently throughout the day and night
Both breastfeeding and exclusive pumping are time consuming and take commitment
Both breastfeeding and exclusive pumping provide a wonderful food for your baby that is easy to digest, healthy, and full of immunities
How Often Should I Pump If Exclusively Pumping?
When you’re exclusively pumping for your baby, you’ll want to pump at a frequency that matches a breastfeeding baby’s schedule.
The way that breastfeeding works is that the more frequently the breasts are emptied, the more milk your body makes. It’s a supply and demand system. So if you want to pump enough milk for your baby, you need your pumping schedule to mimic a typical age-appropriate schedule.
For newborns and young babies, that typically means pumping every 2-3 hours, or 8-10 times in a 24 hour cycle. This includes at least once in the middle of the night.
As your baby gets older, you may be able to space out the pumping sessions a little, maybe going 3-4 hours between sessions.
However, you have to see how your body responds.
Alternative Exclusive Pumping Schedule
Instead of pumping every 2 – 3 hours by the clock, some moms decide how many times they want to pump every 24 hours and instead track the number of times they pump.
This allows a woman to set her own schedule and have some flexibility.
Note: The number of times you pump is more important than the total time spent pumping, so even if you only have 5 minutes to pump, do it!
The good news is that if you experience a lull in milk output, you can increase your pumping frequency to increase it.
When your baby starts solids and begins to eat full meals (which may not happen until 9-12 months or more), you can slowly decrease pumping frequently, as your baby may need less breast milk.
Want to get more milk out each time you pump? Try THIS cool little gadget!
How Long Should You Pump?
Generally, you want to pump both breasts for at least 15-20 minutes.
If after 15 or so minutes, nothing is coming out, you can take the pump off, massage your breasts, and then try for another few minutes. Sometimes you’ll get another letdown and see more milk!
Related Article: The Smush Method: How To Do Hands-On Pumping To Double Your Output
Keep in mind that pumping length varies from mom to mom so you might need to pump for more or less time, depending on how your body responds to the pump.
What Kind Of Pump Should You Use?
It’s best to use a double electric pump if you’re exclusively pumping. A hospital grade pump may be best if you are pumping for preemies or if you just want the most efficient and comfortable pump.
How Much Milk Will I Get?
Moms usually get anywhere from 2-5 ounces per pumping session. It will vary from session to session as well. Most exclusively breastfeeding babies need about 25-30 ounces in a 24 hour period.
How Long Of A Break Should You Have Between Pumping Sessions At Night?
In general, you should not let more than 4-5 hours go by in the middle of the night without emptying your breasts. Night is actually a prime time for milk production, so it’s important not to skip this, especially when your baby is young.
Sample Exclusively Pumping Feeding Schedule For A Newborn
Everyone's a little different, and everyone’s lifestyle is a little different as well. So schedules will definitely vary.
But if you’re exclusively pumping for a newborn, trying to fit in a pumping session about every 2-3 hours, including once at night, your schedule might look something like this:
Newborn Schedule: 8am, 10:30am, 1pm, 3:30pm, 6pm, 9pm, 12am, 4am
Sample Exclusively Pumping Feeding Schedule For An Older Baby
Again, feeding schedules for older babies usually include more spaced out feedings, but that varies too. A sample schedule for an older baby might look something like this:
Older Baby Schedule: 8am, 11am, 3pm, 6pm, 10pm, 1am, 5am
The Bottom Line
When you first start out exclusively pumping for your baby, you might feel very overwhelmed. That’s totally normal! That’s why it’s important to seek out good information, and educate yourself on how exclusively pumping works.
We offer an online, on-demand class specifically for exclusive pumpers called The Ultimate Exclusive Pumping Class!
It contains short (binge-worthy!) videos answering all your questions about exclusive pumping to make life SO much easier for you. It’s super affordable too! (only $27!) and you get lifetime access and there’s a 30 day 100% money back guarantee.
You’ll feel a lot less stressed and realize that this is something that you CAN do, and how totally rock it as an exclusive pumping mama!