Strategies for When, Why, and How Much Breastmilk to Pump from Intermountain Health

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Many new moms have questions about breastfeeding and how to do it. Board-certified lactation consultants are uniquely qualified to answer questions, teach different techniques (such as latching-on and different breastfeeding positions), explain how breastfeeding works based on supply and demand, explain how to build and maintain a good milk supply, or troubleshoot any breastfeeding challenges. 

Other common questions new moms ask lactation consultants are about pumping breastmilk and when, why and how much breastmilk to pump. 

“Some common reasons why women choose to pump their breastmilk are going back to work or school after the birth or if their baby has feeding challenges and is in a neonatal intensive care unit,” said Laura Rowbury, a registered nurse and certified lactation consultant at Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital. 

“Others want to share the workload of feeding with their partner or might prefer to bottle feed breastmilk rather than breastfeeding. Some choose to pump in order to manage an oversupply of milk or to help increase a low milk supply,” she added. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages women to breastfeed their baby for up to two years and beyond. The longer an infant is breastfed, the greater the protection from certain illnesses and long-term diseases. If mutually desired by the mom and baby, the longer a woman breastfeeds, the greater the benefits to her health as well. 

“Not everyone needs to pump or store breast milk. Looking at your motivation for pumping and storing milk can help you to know if pumping is the right choice for you,” said Rowbury. 

“Whenever a mom or baby are separated for longer than three hours pumping is recommended, to help provide relief for mom and to help maintain a good milk supply. It’s also helpful to look at a picture of your baby when pumping for better let down,” she added. 

“Typically, we recommend pumping for 15 minutes for every 2-3 hours you are separated from your baby. After two weeks of life most moms typically pump a total of 3-6 ounces at each pumping session.  

By one week of age most babies need 2-3 oz for a total of 15-20 ounces in a 24 hour period. By two weeks of age, the average breastmilk intake is 3-5 ounces at each feeding for a total of 24-35 ounces in a 24-hour period. 

According to the CDC, infants who are breastfed have a lower risk of: 

• - Asthma and severe lower respiratory diseases. 
  - Obesity. 
  - Type 1 diabetes. 
  - Ear infections. 
  - Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).
  - Gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea or vomiting). 

 And mothers who breastfeed their infants have a lower risk of: 

1. - Breast cancer. 
   - Ovarian cancer. 
   - Type 2 diabetes. 
   - High blood pressure. 

“There are trends on social media where moms show photos of how much milk they’ve pumped. Comparing your milk or the amount you pump with friends can unnecessarily create concerns about the quality and quantity of your milk. If you have concerns about if you’re making enough milk for your baby, always check in with a lactation consultant who can evaluate your milk supply,” said Rowbury. 

“Every women has a different amount of storage capacity in her breasts that can't always be determined by size and shape.  Those who don't produce and store as much milk, often have to feed or pump more frequently than someone who is able to produce and store more milk,” she added. 

How to Safely Store Breastmilk 

Lactation consultants say pumped breastmilk is like liquid gold. It’s perfectly balanced for a baby’s nutrition and as their sole source of nourishment for the first six months. 

Properly handling and storing breast milk ensures moms can maintain the nutrition and prevent the containments from entering their milk. The safety guidelines from the CDC for storing pumped breast milk are: 

- Keep at room temperature for up to four hours.  
- Store in a cooler with blue ice for up to 24 hours  
- Store in refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
- Store In the freezer for up to 3-12 months 
- Once milk is thawed from the freezer, it can be stored in the refrigerator up to 48 hours 

According to lactation consultants, storing your milk in a deep freezer extends the length of time and it should never be stored in the door of the freezer. Storing breast milk in food-safe, re-sealable bags, plastic bottles, or glass bottles is also recommended. 

“Many parents ask about freeze drying their milk. Currently doing it on your own with a home freeze dryer is not recommended. However, there are companies who can safely freeze dry your milk and package it so that it is shelf stable for up to three years,” said Rowbury. 

Many health insurance companies cover breast pumps 

According to Rowbury, most insurance companies will provide you with an electric breast pump after delivery. It’s important to reach out prior to delivery to find out the process for getting a pump. 

“You can rent a hospital pump which has a larger motor and is more effective in establishing and maintaining your milk supply if you know you’ll need to be pumping a lot. To find out where you can buy or rent a pump, ask a lactation consultant or women’s health provider to give you options in your area,” said Rowbury. 

“Once milk supply is established a personal electric pump often works great at maintaining milk supply.  It’s important to make sure the pump is sized correctly for your nipples and a lactation consultant can help you measure to find the correct size,” she added. 

Intermountain Health hospitals and clinics offer in-person lactation consultations and telehealth lactation consultations. Visit the breastfeeding support page on Intermountainhealth.org for tips and videos and check with your women’s health provider for specific local breastfeeding resources. 

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.  For more information and updates, please see https://news.intermountainhealth.org or follow us at https://www.facebook.com/Intermountain.