How long to pump?

[cristeen]

My MW is telling me that there's no point in pumping for more than 10 minutes at a time... that doesn't seem right to me. Sure, I may not get anything after 10 minutes, but wouldn't a 15 or 20 minute pumping session have more benefit (for increasing supply) than 10?

[pbjmama]

I would say 10-15 minutes, if you are trying to increase supply I would do about 5 minutes after the milk stops flowing, provided you have no negative side effects.

[mom_2_carson]

Usually about 2 minutes after my milk stopped flowing I would have a second letdown and then I would continue to pump until it stopped again.

[calebsmommy25]

At times it has taken me 15 minutes for my milk to let down. I agree with the pp, if you are trying to increasing your supply pump for an additional 5 minutes or so.

[mar123]

I pumped for over two years for my oldest two kids. I had to pump for at least 20-30 minutes to get anything of value. Some people are not great pumpers, and I was one of them(even with a super deluxe hospital grade double pump). (MY kids could get the milk out just fine though, LOL). Most women do have two letdowns though, so I would base it on that.

Had I not been so determined, I probably would have been one of those women who would have given up saying I didn't have enough milk. I am so glad I didn't have anyone giving me bad advice about pumping, etc.

[Vegan Princess]

I used to pump for around 10 minutes but now I have a 2nd and 3rd letdown and it can take 20 minutes for it all to come out...though the 1st let down is the most milk. When I was trying to increase supply I think I pumped for 10-20 minutes after nursing. I agree that 5 minutes after the milk stops sounds good bc you are telling your body you need more and it isn't there. It's hard to find time to pump for a long time after a feeding with a new baby though. Hugs!

Cindy

[_betsy_]

I pump at work, 3 times a shift (2 breaks, and once right after). It usually takes 15-20 minutes total, and I usually can get a second let down during the first and sometimes second session if I just keep pumping. If you're looking to increase supply, keeping the pump going for 5 minutes or longer should help.

If you're still getting milk at the 10 minute mark (And I always am!) why would you stop? Sounds like your MW is a little misinformed.

[sparklett]

Originally Posted by cristeen

wouldn't a 15 or 20 minute pumping session have more benefit (for increasing supply) than 10?

Yes. When I was pumping, I typically went 20 minutes or longer. This was to establish and maintain supply. I would think 10 minutes would be the minimum.

If you are trying to increase supply, you might want to pump more frequently, like every two hours or so, if that's possible.

[mambera]

I've also heard to keep pumping 5 min after you stop getting milk. Honestly if I really do that I will pump for ~40 min. On bad days it's taken me as long as 18 min to get my first letdown.

For increasing supply, I heard the best is to do sessions of 10-15 min on/ 10 min off; repeat for an hour so, ideally at least once a day. This is supposed to simulate a cluster feed.