What is power pumping, and how can it help you increase your milk supply? How to power pump, and what to keep in mind before you start? We break down all the answers for moms.If you’re trying to increase your milk supply, but other methods aren’t working, power pumping may do the trick. Show
Power pumping is different from standard pumping patterns, as it mimics baby’s most active feeding patterns to encourage your body to produce more milk. It consists of short pumping sessions and rest periods, timed one after the other. How to power pump, and what to keep in mind before you start? We break down all the answers for moms. What is power pumping?Power pumping involves pumping breastmilk in a pattern that mimics cluster feeding – baby’s most active feeding patterns. Baby naturally starts cluster feeding when they’re going through a growth spurt, to stimulate your milk production when they need more nourishment. It’s all about supply and demand! When they cluster feed, they’ll feed more frequently – in “clusters” of several shorter feeds concentrated over a 2-3 hour span. And as they feed more often, you’ll produce more breastmilk because your breasts are emptied more frequently. Pumping in a similar pattern to cluster feeding – several shorter, more frequent pumping sessions "clustered" together within a given timeframe – will have similar effects. Your body will notice the breasts are emptied more often, and will think that baby needs more milk. So, the demand that power pumping creates will cause you to produce more breastmilk. There’s a reason why power pumping is also called “cluster pumping!” Since it mimics a natural feeding pattern, power pumping can increase your milk supply fairly quickly, and without the need for supplements. When to power pump? When not to?Only power pump if you're having trouble maintaining milk supply. If you already have a good supply, power pumping could lead your breasts to become too full. This could lead to swelling and engorgement, and cause baby to have trouble breastfeeding. And if baby is currently cluster feeding, you probably won't need to power pump. The cluster feed works the same way and should increase the supply by itself. So, it's better to take advantage of baby's natural desire to cluster feed. If your milk supply is low, power pumping is one way to help remedy the low supply. But you might decide to try other methods to increase supply first --- it's up to you. How to power pump?Power pumping simply means alternating several shorter pumping times with several short rest intervals, one directly after the other. This means: pump, then rest for a bit, then pump again, then rest again for a bit, then pump one last time, then stop. For best results, you'll need to power pump 1-2 hours daily for at least a week. But that doesn't necessarily mean power pumping for the whole hour or two at once. How long each individual power pumping session lasts is up to you, as long as it includes 3-4 pumping intervals with rest times in between. The most common power pumping session looks like this:
(Once or twice per day ) Or, for a shorter power pumping schedule that you'll repeat more often, you could try:
(Up to 5 times per day) Certified lactation consultant Andrea Tran, RN, BSN, MA, IBCLC, shares other types of power pumping schedules, plus more tips: One power pumping session replaces one "standard" pump time, if you've already been pumping. Stay consistent with your pumping schedule, and pump normally during any sessions that don't get replaced by power pumping. And of course, keep nursing (or bottle-feeding pumped breastmilk) as often as baby needs. Tips for power pumping
------------------------------- All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your baby’s health. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. See the FDA Peanut Allergy Qualified Health Claim at the bottom of our homepage. How long does it take to increase milk supply with power pumping?You can expect power pumping to take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks to truly increase supply. Following the power pumping set is far more beneficial than extended pumping sessions, don't pump for an hour non-stop as it can damage your breasts and isn't as helpful to increase supply.
Will power pumping once a day increase supply?The length of time you'll need to power pump depends on your body. So while some mothers might have great results with single 1-hour sessions after a couple of days, other mothers may need to power pump for 2 hours a day for at least a week to see an increase in supply.
How often should you pump to increase supply?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.
How many times a day should I power pump to increase supply?How often should I power pump? Once per day is great. If you want to do twice and you can manage it, that's fine, but make sure that you don't pump so much that you get burned out and miserable. You are worth more to your baby than a few extra ounces of breast milk.
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