How Often Should You Pump?

If you’re pumping to provide milk while you’re away from your baby (such as work or school)، you’ll need to pump on a schedule similar to your baby’s feeding schedule، especially in the first six to 12 weeks، says Peluso.2

“After your milk supply regulates، you can try to space your pumps out further، potentially dropping a pump session،” she recommends. “The only way to know if you are able to maintain a healthy supply with fewer sessions is to try to and monitor your output.” If your supply drops as you space out your pumps، that is a sign you need to pump more often، she advises.

How Much Breast Milk Should I Pump at Once?

According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM)، once you’ve established your full milk supply، which is usually three to four weeks after birth، you can expect to produce about 25-35 ounces per day. This amount remains stable for the first six months of your baby’s life، if you are exclusively breastfeeding or pumping.3

If you divide this total number down by the number of times your baby breastfeeds in a day، this will tell you how much milk you should expect per session. Of course، some breastfeeding sessions are longer than others، and some pumping sessions produce more milk، but this can help you calculate an average.4

Dr. Ferry says that most breastfeeding parents pump an average of 3-4 ounces per session when their milk is fully in. The CDC is on the same page here، and advises parents not to store more than 2-4 ounces of pumped milk at once، because this is what you can expect your baby to drink، and you don’t want to waste pumped milk (trust us: no one wants that!).5

What If I Miss a Pumping Session?

Sometimes life gets in the way—especially life with a baby!—and you miss a pumping session. It’s common for parents to feel stressed if this occurs، but there’s no reason to panic، especially if this only happens every now and then.