From the Guidelines
Women typically start pumping and storing breast milk around 2-3 weeks after birth, once breastfeeding is well established, as this allows the mother's milk supply to regulate based on her baby's needs 1. When considering the timing of pumping and storing breast milk, it's essential to prioritize the establishment of a stable milk supply to avoid oversupply issues. The benefits of pumping and storing breast milk are numerous, including:
- Providing flexibility for mothers to be away from their babies
- Allowing others to feed the baby
- Maintaining milk supply during separation
- Ensuring milk is available if supply issues develop
- Creating a backup for emergencies Stored breast milk retains most of its nutritional and immunological properties, especially when properly refrigerated or frozen 1. It's crucial for mothers to use clean equipment, label milk with the date, and store it in specialized breast milk storage bags or clean containers. Pumping sessions typically last 15-20 minutes per session, with most women pumping 2-3 times during an 8-hour workday. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months after birth and continued breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods, as long as mutually desired by mother and child for 2 years or beyond 1. Overall, pumping and storing breast milk can be a valuable tool for supporting breastfeeding and ensuring the best possible nutrition for infants.
From the Research
When Do Women Typically Start Pumping and Storing Breast Milk
- Women typically start pumping and storing breast milk within weeks of delivery, with some starting as early as a few days after giving birth 2.
- A study found that 29% of participants had already initiated pumping or intended to initiate within the subsequent few days, and 69% intended to start within weeks of delivery 2.
- Primiparae (first-time mothers) were more likely to report having already started pumping at the time of the interview 2.
Benefits of Pumping and Storing Breast Milk
- Pumping and storing breast milk allows mothers to keep up their milk supply, which is the most common reason for pumping 2.
- It also helps mothers to overcome latch difficulties and increase their milk supply 2.
- Pumped breast milk can be fed to infants by other caregivers, allowing mothers to share the burden and bonding of feeding 3.
- However, it's worth noting that consumption of pumped breast milk may not provide the same benefits to infants as feeding at the breast 3.
Importance of Early Pumping and Storage
- Early pumping and storage of breast milk is crucial, especially for mothers of preterm infants, as it helps to establish and maintain an adequate milk supply 4, 5.
- A study found that baseline milk output was predictive of milk adequacy at week 6 postpartum, highlighting the importance of early intervention to promote an adequate milk supply 4.
- Another study found that high-intensity pumping mothers had greater daily and cumulative pumped milk volume than low-intensity pumping mothers, emphasizing the need for optimal pumping behaviors in the first week postpartum 5.
Experiences and Challenges of Pumping
- Mothers may have both positive and negative experiences with pumping, including feelings of additional control over breastfeeding, painful experiences, and frustration with inconsistent provider advice 6.
- Pumping can interfere with other nurturing activities, such as touching and bonding with the baby 6.
- Clinicians should assess a mother's experience with pumping shortly after initiation and provide further management and counseling as needed to avoid barriers to successful breastfeeding 6.