Updated March 27, 2015.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Pumping can help you to create, maintain or increase your supply of breast milk. By using a hospital grade or strong electric breast pump, you can fully drain the breast milk from your breasts while providing breast stimulation. This will encourage your body to produce more breast milk. 

Situations When Pumping Is Helpful

An Issue At Birth: If you have to be separated from your baby right after delivery because your child is born with an illness or other issue that requires special care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), pumping will allow you to begin building your milk supply as you wait to put your baby to the breast.

A Premature Baby: Depending on how early your preemie arrives, you may not be able to breastfeed for a while. Pumping will help you to build up your supply. Plus, once your baby is able to tolerate feedings, the milk that you pump can be given to your baby through a feeding tube or in a bottle.

Adoption: When your body does not go through a pregnancy and delivery, it doesn't know that you need breast milk. Creating a milk supply to breastfeed an adopted baby can be a challenge. Pumping along with the use of medications or herbs will help you to get better results.

Separation: If you need to be away from your baby for a short period of time due to a hospitalization, a buisness trip or a vacation which requires you to temporarily wean your child, you should pump in order maintain your milk supply until you can breastfeed again.

Relactation: If you have stopped breastfeeding completely and then decide that you want to begin nursing again, pumping can help you to rebuild your breast milk supply.

Hormonal Problems: Conditions that affect your hormones, such as hypothyroidism or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), can cause a low milk supply. You should see your doctor for the proper treatment of these conditions and put your baby to the breast as often as possible. In addition, using a breast pump after or between nursing sessions will help to stimulate your body to make more breast milk.

Breast Issues: If you have hypoplastic breasts or if you have had a previous breast surgery and you want to try to produce as much breast milk as you possibly can from the healthy breast tissue that you do have, pumping may be helpful.

Returning To Work: When it's time to return to work, you can pump to help maintain your milk supply. Many working moms breastfeed their children in the morning and again at night. While they are at work during the day, they pump. If you pump at work, you can collect and store your milk so that your child's caregiver can provide your child with a bottle of your breast milk during the day.  
 

Tips for Pumping To Build or Increase Your Breast Milk Supply

• Use a hospital grade pump or a good quality electric breast pump. A hand operated pump or a small electric or batteried powered pump is ok for occasional pumping by women who have an established supply, but it is not strong enough to build and maintain a healthy supply of breast milk.
   
• Make sure that the pump you are using is working properly.
   
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use the pump correctly.
   
• Before you begin pumping, wash you hands and choose a breast milk storage container that fits your needs.
   
• Be sure that the pump flanges, the part of the pump that goes over your breasts and nipples, fit you properly in order to avoid breast issues such as sore nipples or damaged breast tissue.
   
• Place a glass of water or juice and some healthy food within your reach so that you can have a snack and a drink while you're pumping.
   
• Make yourself comfortable.
   
• If your baby will take the breast, nurse your child first and then pump after you have finish breastfeeding.
   
• If you are exclusively pumping, express your breast milk as often as possible to stimulate milk production. Try to pump every 3 hours if you can.
   
• Studies show that kangaroo care, which is spending time in direct skin to skin contact with your baby, can increase the amount of milk that you're able pump. If your baby is in the hospital and cannot breastfeed, talk to the hospital staff about using kangaroo care as often as your baby can tolerate it.
   
• If possible, pump while you are near your baby or holding your baby.
   
• When you are pumping away from your baby, try to relax and think of your child. Looking at a picture of your child, listening to a recording of your child's coos or cry, and/or holding an article of clothing or a blanket that carries your baby's smell may help to stimulate your let-down reflex.
   
• Apply warm, moist washcloths to your breasts to help bring about the flow of breast milk.
   
• Pump for about 10 to 15 minutes on each breast. A double pump is more convenient. It will save you a lot of time, especially if you are pumping exclusively.
   
• If you are pumping one breast at a time, switch back and forth whenever the flow of breast milk slows down to a just a few drops or stops completely.
   
• When you are pumping both breasts at the same time, you can pump until the flow slows or stops, rest for a few minutes and then start to pump again.
   
• Massage or stroke your breasts while you are pumping.
   
• Ask your doctor or lactation consultant about galactagogues. Pumping along with the use of certain medications or herbs can help to increase your milk supply. It's important to note that the use of medications and herbs on their own will not help very much. Breast stimulation and the removal of milk from the breasts is necessary in order to see results from galactagogues. Make sure that you keep on pumping very often.
   
• After you have finished pumping, properly store any of the breast milk that you have expressed. You can use the milk that you pump as a supplement for your baby, if a supplement is necessary.
   
• Keep the pump, breast flanges, tubing and breast milk storage equipment clean. After each use follow the manufacturer's instructions for wiping down and cleaning the pump and tubing. Wash your breast flanges and breast milk storage containers in hot, soapy water. Rinse them well and allow them to dry completely before using them again.
   
• Try to eat a well-balanced diet, get enough daily calories, drink plenty of fluids and get an adequate amount of rest.
   

If you have any questions about your milk supply, breast pumps or pumping, talk to your doctor, a lactation consultant or a local breastfeeding support group such as La Leche. These resources can help you to decide on the pump that is right for you based on your specific circumstances, budget and needs. They can also provide you with additional help and support as you work on building and maintaining your milk supply.

<sub>Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics. New Mother’s Guide To Breastfeeding. Bantam Books. New York. 2011.

Ferber, S. G., Makhoul, I. R. The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact (Kangaroo Care) Shortly After Birth on the Neurobehavioral Responses of the Term Newborn: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Pediatrics. 2004. 113(4): 858-865.

Lawrence, Ruth A., MD, Lawrence, Robert M., MD. Breastfeeding A Guide For The Medical Profession Sixth Edition.  Mosby. Philadelphia. 2005.

McGuire, W., Henderson, G., Fowlie, P. W. ABC of Preterm Birth: Feeding the Preterm Infant. British Medical Journal. 2004. 329(7476): 1227.

Newman, Jack, MD, Pitman, Theresa. The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers. Three Rivers Press. New York. 2006.

Slusher, T., Slusher, I. L., Biomdo, M., Bode-Thomas, F., Curtis, B. A., Meier, P. Electric Breast Pump Use Increases Maternal Milk Volume in African Nurseries. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2007. 53(2): 125-130.</sub>