https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:21:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2294415 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 05:24:49 +0000 Alba4 2294415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped and supplemented with formula for my son due to his tongue-tie. Despite clipping his frenulum, he never fully latched. I would pump for @20 minutes. I remember I would get more milk if I massaged my breasts while pumping. You don't need an hour, and you will drive yourself crazy pumping for an hour just to get s few extra drops. iMO, those minutes are better spent cuddling your baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2294371 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 01:41:53 +0000 BSB 2294371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abmamma: thanks for asking this question. I'm a new mom to twins and right now just pumping because the babies are in the nicu. I was a bit lax on pumping in the beginning but I'm still trying to increase my supply, so I do usually pump between 30-45 minutes (whenever my rented hospital pump turns off). The babies are coming home soon, so I'm thinking that my supply will increase when im feeding the babies on demand.<br /> I was thinking that emptying my breast will tell my body to make more. In my case, I would think that is what I want since I have twins. But the LC said 20 minutes is fine. I should ask the LC again.<br /> I have heard of power pumping and that is pumping short times repeatedly over a certain period. Maybe I'll ask the LC which is better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2287888 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:00:05 +0000 MamaCate 2287888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abmamma: Sorry for the belated reply about getting back to nursing. I EP'd for most of the first five weeks due to tongue tie and latch issues. I wanted to try nursing one more time before getting up and planning to pump the rest of the year. He had gotten back to birthweight and we were in a good routine. So I decided to commit to a week where most feedings were nursing followed by pumping and giving him a bottle of expressed milk. On about day four seems like it clicks for him and he has been able to nurse and transfer effectively. He is now two months old and we are nursing five times a day and pumping twice. I have been going to weekly breast-feeding support group which has been helpful for encouragement and to weigh him to reassure myself he is gaining. Whatever you decide to do I'm sure it will work out but I was worried I would never be able to nurse again and I'm so thankful we were able to figure it out. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2286114 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 20:16:27 +0000 Charm54 2286114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abmamma: Walled you :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285732 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 13:41:01 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2285732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was EPing, I had to pump for 25-30 minutes each session. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285651 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 12:25:20 +0000 rosegold 2285651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abmamma: agreed that 20/30 minutes is GREAT. the milk flow and letdown become more consistent as times goes on. i was used to having one letdown in the beginning but became curious after a while when it felt like i was able to make more. after hand expessing more milk, i would then have a second letdown. my 15min pump sessions then turned into 30min but that was max. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285644 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 12:21:11 +0000 abmamma 2285644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: I think he may be going through a growth spurt. When he starts crying after only 2 hours, we try the pacifier, swaddling and white noise first to make sure he's actually hungry. But he's continued crying and been a very active eater when offered the bottle so I think he's legitimately hungry. I'm hoping all the feeds/pumping will result in an increase in supply eventually. Right now, I'm getting less at each session- I guess since since pumping more? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285603 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:43:45 +0000 lady grey 2285603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@abmamma: I think 3-3.5 oz should be plenty for his age! Babies have a really strong suck reflex so you maybe you could also offer the binky (or your pinky finger) more and try more soothing techniques. I'd be really surprised if he needed to eat more the 3.5oz per feed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285423 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:56:21 +0000 abmamma 2285423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: I am definitely going to take you up on your advice offer!! I have been feeling a little discouraged the last couple days given how often DS has been eating- hard to keep up and my output hasn't been quite as good (only got 2.75 oz this morning and he's routinely eating 3.5 now). I've been playing around with flange size so wonder if that is messing with things. Am also wondering whether I should try a schedule rather than going with whenever he eats? </p> <p>I appreciate everyone's encouragement/advice!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285409 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:44:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2285409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you just have to decide when to stop too; I think if you pump that long, most likely you had more than 1 letdown. I agree that it's a bit long when you're also dealing with your newborn! I'd probably rather pump more often than for so long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285382 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:23:54 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2285382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great job! </p> <p>You are never completely empty. I just had to gauge when I wanted to stop because it was just a drip and not really worth it. Other times, going to that 20-25 minute point would get me that second let down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285348 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 07:38:00 +0000 Charm54 2285348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow - first of all, that's AMAZING that you are getting that many pumps in, especially with 30+ min sessions! I EPed DD and am gearing up to EP LO #2 in a few weeks when he or she makes their appearance.</p> <p>I agree with PPs, your breasts will never be completely empty. I would continue to drip well past my let down. For me, after my let down around 15 min (sometimes 20) I stopped the pump and it was sufficient to build and maintain my supply. You gotta keep your sanity, too. 3oz that early, with that many pumps a day is awesome!!</p> <p>Those first few weeks of EPing are so so tough - but it does get better, trust me! Feel free to wall me if you ever want to chat about EPing more. I ended up really enjoying it and it was a great fit for our family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285347 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 07:37:18 +0000 abmamma 2285347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Portboston: @lady grey: @Adira: @PixieStix: @catomd00: thanks, ladies. I feel like there is so much conflicting info out there! Several EP sites seem to suggest it could take close to an hour to pump til empty but I don't think my boobs could handle that! I will try sticking to 20-30 minutes. </p> <p>3oz seemed pretty good to me too until DS started wanting to eat every 2 hours- I tried upping the quantity to 3.5 oz but still seems hungry. So I'm concerned about getting enough to keep up with him. I may try power pumping today. </p> <p>@Torchwood: I have a hard time know,ing when I let down. I have never been able to feel it - and I haven't really noticed when subsequent let downs occur after the initial one. </p> <p>@MamaCate: It would be great to be able to BF some too but I'm not holding out much hope at this point. Partly because I'm a little scarred from weight gain/transfer issues with my first- I like knowing exactly how much he's eating! I'm also concerned to really get him back to breast will take a lot of time (nurse, pump and bottle) which may be too much for me with 2 LOs. If I can get him EBF through pumping, that might be good enough for me at this point. How did you get your LO back to nursing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285329 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 06:52:18 +0000 catomd00 2285329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your beasts are never empty. I would pump until flow stops and no more than 20 minutes so you don't ruin your nipples. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285321 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 06:40:01 +0000 PixieStix 2285321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also not an EPer but I heard the same as @Portboston from a very respected consultant in my area, and 3 oz. sounds great. for your LO's age. :) Another tip I heard from the LC was to hold the bottle more horizontal so that the baby draws the milk from the bottle like he/she would a breast, that way LO doesn't eat too fast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285319 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 06:37:25 +0000 Adira 2285319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't an EPer, but I've pumped a TON because I'm a WOHM and I had to pump after feeds with my first to keep my supply up.</p> <p>Totally agree with @lady grey: pumping 30 minutes tops should suffice. Your boobs will never be truly empty. I always tried to pump until after my second letdown (which was around the 20 minute mark with my first and around the 8 minute mark with my second). Utilize the letdown button if you have it on your pump. And once you're done pumping, hand express to get any extra drops out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285310 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 06:09:34 +0000 lady grey 2285310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would suggest just pumping 20-30 mins and then hand expressing at the end to see if you can get a little more. @Portboston is right, your breasts are never truly empty, so I would cut your sessions a little short to save your sanity. </p> <p>Do you have a medela pump with a "let down" button(has the little drops picture on it) by chance? You could press that button toward the end of your pumping and see if you get another let down, and then stop after that.</p> <p>Also do you know about that tip to keep all your pumping stuff in the fridge betwen pumping? If you do that then you only need to wash them once per day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285307 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 05:49:11 +0000 MamaCate 2285307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP'd for several weeks at the beginning and only pumped 15 minutes at a time. I could definitely see my output slowing down and felt much less full, so that seemed good enough for me. I feel like if I had waited for empty I would have been there forever. At 3.5 weeks I think I was getting around 3-4 oz a pump too?</p> <p>I was able to get LO latched again and actually transferring between 5-6 weeks old and he is now actually nursing successfully! So you may not have to pump long term... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285294 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 04:21:01 +0000 Torchwood 2285294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pump 30 minutes, because I usually get at least one more let down towards the end of that. Can you tell when you get a let down? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285292 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 04:13:59 +0000 Portboston 2285292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not an exclusive pumper but multiple lactation consultants have told me pumping for 20 min is plenty &amp; your boobs are never really empty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-until-empty#post-2285289 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 03:54:17 +0000 abmamma 2285289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all- I'm currently EPing my 3.5 week old due to latch and transfer issues and am likely going to EP for the long haul. I'm trying to do whatever I can to keep up with his needs (I think he's going through a growth spurt) and build a good supply. Right now I get about 3oz per session- sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less (I pump every time he eats so usually 8-9x a day). Everything I read talks about pumping until empty but, dumb as this sounds, I don't always know when that is! I pump 30-45 mins and usually there is still some milk drops so I wait until they are pretty sporadic to stop. I also rely on whether my boobs feel softer/more empty. But even with that, I sonetimes finish and am able to hand express a little which makes me think I'm not empty! But I don't know if I can pump more than 45 mins at a time, especially with a baby that wants to be held all the time. Any advice from seasoned EPers? </p>