Are you ready to start a breastfeeding and pumping schedule, but you’re not quite sure where or how to plan a routine that will work for the many different scenarios you have whirling around in your head?

This article will help you fill in the blanks on how to successfully establish a routine around pumping and breastfeeding.

You will also be introduced to some very useful breastfeeding and pumping resources.

I’ll even provide you with free sample pumping schedules and an opportunity to access a free pumping course.

Breastfeeding and Pumping Tips to Establish Milk Supply

It is so important to establish your milk supply as soon as possible!

Building a freezer stash depends on your breast milk regulating to safely over-produce beyond what your little one consumes per day.

Starting a strategic breast pumping schedule right away can make a huge difference in your milk supply later on too.

How to Establish Your Supply Before Milk Regulates

When your milk first comes in, your body pretty much relies on postpartum hormones to produce milk.

Once these hormones regulate, so does your milk supply and then the supply and demand switch turns on.

If your goal is to have an over-supply for the purpose of building a decent-sized freezer stash, you may want to start pumping right away.

I mean, at the hospital!

Whip out that breast pump and use it once or twice per day for 10-15 minutes after you have nursed your baby.

Please note that pumping before 3 weeks postpartum is not usually recommended and I’ll explain why in the next section.

Pumping and Breastfeeding Guidelines for After Birth 

In some instances, a lactation consultant will advise you to wait 2-3 weeks before you begin a breast pumping regimen.

This is because they recommend you let your baby regulate your supply for you to avoid complications that an over-supply may result in.

It is always best to consult with a lactation consultant if you are experiencing any problems.

However, if you are worried about having a low supply, beginning a breast pumping regimen right away may drastically increase your overall milk production.

Below, you will see a sample newborn breastfeeding and pumping schedule to give you a better idea of how to go about implementing a routine. 

You will also find a sample breastfeeding and pumping schedule for moms with an established milk supply who want to beef up their production after the next section.

Newborn Pumping and Breastfeeding Schedule 

Pumping and Breastfeeding Schedule to Build a Freezer Stash

It is generally recommended to use the breast pump for 10-15 min after your baby nurses, at least 2-3 times per day and maintaining this for the first few months.

This breastfeeding and pumping routine will drastically help you build a freezer stash more quickly.

Sadly, I didn’t get this advice as a new mom…

Which for me meant, that my supply was regulated to only produce as much as baby demanded and I struggled as a “just-enougher” with little to no extra milk per day to stash away.

So take it from me, having a freezer stash of surplus breast milk as a back-up would be ideal.

And this why I love and recommend Milkology’s online breastfeeding and pumping video tutorials.

Their number one online class for moms, The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class, shows you how to get the perfect first latch, how to safely store and handle breast milk and how to troubleshoot any breastfeeding issues that may come your way.

For only $19 you can enroll today, watch it in your pj’s tonight and feel so much more prepared and confident about breastfeeding and pumping in only 90 minutes.

Plus, once enrolled, you have the opportunity to get The Ultimate Back to Work Pumping Class at a 20% off discount for a well-rounded breastfeeding and pumping strategy sure to lead you toward your baby feeding success!

Having these awesome online breastfeeding and pumping courses in your new mom resource library would greatly help eliminate most problems you might encounter along your breastfeeding journey.

When you consider the hefty cost of not being prepared, there’s really no good reason not to invest in these risk-free resources.

P.S. I would like to gift you a FREE seat in my pumping and milk supply course with your enrollment in any of Milkology’s online breastfeeding and pumping classes using this link.

***Just contact me once you’re enrolled and I’ll quickly get you all set up!

Breastfeeding and Pumping Schedule to Increase Milk Supply or Build A Freezer Stash

Why You Should Collect Breast Milk while You Breastfeed 

If you haven’t purchased any type of a nursing cup or milk saver yet, make sure you do! I strongly recommend a silicone breast pump for this purpose.

These unique and simple silicone breast pumps will assist to help you effortlessly catch any leaking breast milk from the breast that is not being nursed on.

Instead of letting that breast milk leak out into a breast pad, catch it and add it to your freezer stash. You will be amazed at how quickly these 1-2 ounces will add up with little to no effort on your part!

How to Schedule Pumping while Nursing

Like I said before, if you’re hoping to build a freezer stash, start pumping right away! 

If you’re still nursing your baby, plan to pump after she has fed and is satisfied.

This will begin to tell your body to produce more milk than what baby consumes. It is suggested to start with an additional 10-15 minutes of pumping 2-3 times per day after you’re done nursing.

Pumping and Over-Supply 

Infants can easily nurse up to twelve times per day. Or, basically around the clock.

Ideally, pumping for a short time after your little one nurses is ideal depending on your milk supply goals.

However, there can also be such a thing as too much milk production.

Many mamas with an over-supply struggle with frequent clogs and mastitis.

Moral of the story, you CAN over do it!

Always take time to re-evaluate your pumping and breastfeeding routine to make sure you are not over-doing it. Take note of the health of your breast tissue and levels of engorgement.

Put your health and comfort first and consult with a lactation consultant if you are unsure about what steps to take to correct a perceived issue.  

Breastfeeding and Pumping Schedule for Working Moms

So, what does breastfeeding and pumping look like for the working mom?

Below, I’ve put together a simple to follow breastfeeding and pumping schedule routine that you can easily implement without suffering a decrease in milk supply.

How to Ease the Back to Work Breastfeeding Transition

For many breastfeeding moms going to back to work and maintaining your milk supply is a concern. Pumping at work is uncharted territory for most.

However, you will learn absolutely EVERYTHING you need to know about pumping at work in, The Ultimate Back to Work Pumping Class by Milkology.

Don’t forget to contact me if you enroll in any of Milkology’s courses through a link on this site so you can get another great pumping and milk supply course for FREE! 

P.S. Milkology offers a 20% off discount when you enroll in The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class. Meaning, you can have unlimited access to two of their courses for only $34!

Best Breast Pump for Pumping at Work 

In case you are also curious about what the best pumping set up is for pumping at work, I have a couple recommendations to help make pumping at work a lot less of a hassle and even more productive!

I really love the BabyBuddah Breast Pump for pumping at work because it is compact, quiet and very light weight – making it perfect for storing in your desk and toting it to and from work.

Or, keep this pump at work and leave your larger personal breast pump at home.

If you’re interested in grabbing the BabyBuddha, take 10% off your entire order with this link or with the code LOVEOURLITTLES10 (no email required)!

Best Hands-Free Pumping Kit for Work

In addition to a breast pump for work, you will want to use a pumping kit that is hands-free and even concealable, like Freemie Collection Cups.

I love this pumping kit for work so much because it is the best kit for pumping discreetly. You can slip the cups under your shirt and in any bra you wear (no pumping bra needed)! 

Another totally hands-free and concealable pumping kit for work is the Willow Breast Pump. This pump is an all-in-one discreet pumping system. 

Frequently Asked Pumping Schedule Questions

This next section will hopefully address the pumping schedule questions you may still have left remaining. Such as, keeping track of your pumping schedule, how often to pump, how long to pump for and when to drop pumping sessions.

How do I keep track of my breast pumping sessions? 

I’m so happy to share one of my favorite pumping resources with you!

It’s an app by Medela, called Pump Log and I love it!

Here are all the awesome features it provides.

How often should I be pumping? 

The answer to this question depends on how many months postpartum you are.

If you are exclusively pumping, your breast pumping sessions are basically taking the place of your baby’s nursing habits.

How long do I need to pump at each session?

This answer could be drastically different for everyone. The recommendation for time on the pump is based on how long it takes to fully empty your breasts.

For me, this could take up to an hour! However for others, it could only be twenty minutes.

It is critical to empty sufficiently at every session to avoid clogs and a decrease in milk supply.

When can I drop pumping sessions and still maintain my supply? 

I was exclusively pumping at least eight times a day from four weeks postpartum to four months postpartum.

I dropped my middle of the night pumping session as soon as my baby began to consistently sleep through the night.

When you’re a full time exclusive pumper, it’s best to let your baby’s habits dictate what changes your body can adapt to safely without losing your breast milk supply. Just like if you were exclusively nursing.

In Closing

I hope you will be taking away many helpful pumping and breastfeeding scheduled tips from this read.

Navigating the many new roles we must play as new moms isn’t always black and white and breastfeeding comes with a learning curve.

It’s understandable why we put so much pressure on our bodies to feed our babies, because we are in some cases the only way they are being sustained.

Don’t let yourself go without some form of breastfeeding training before your baby is born or at least while they are still very little.

If you like to learn online and in your pjs, I suggest grabbing yourself a seat in Milkology’s breastfeeding classes. 

Post Recap:

• How to establish your milk supply.
• Schedule a pumping routine that will help you to build a freezer stash.
• Pump after you have nursed your baby a couple times a day, 10-15 extra minutes.
• Get a handy pump log app to keep track of your milk supply and pumping schedule.
• Exclusively pumping is equivalent to a nursing baby.
• Pump until you are empty to prevent clogs and mastitis.
• You can drop your middle of the night pump as soon as baby is sleeping through the night and your supply has regulated (usually around 5 months postpartum)

One last look at my recommendations…

Earlier you were introduced to the two BEST breastfeeding and pumping online courses, both by Milkology.

I know it can be hard to decide which one to go with right now.

I recommend starting with The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class and then using your second purchase discount to later get The Ultimate Back to Work Pumping Class when you are approaching a breastfeeding or milk supply transition.

Read Next: How to Get the Perfect First Latch: Breastfeeding 101

References: 

1. How to Balance Breastfeeding and Pumping – https://www.care.com/c/stories/4419/how-to-balance-breastfeeding-and-pumping/