How often should you pump each day? It’s a common question for new breastfeeding moms! 

The answer depends on factors like your milk supply, your baby’s feeding schedule, and what feels comfortable for you. 

In this article, I’ll discuss general guidelines for pumping multiple times a day and share tips for finding a pumping routine that works for you and your baby. 

Let’s get started!

The number of times you can pump breast milk daily depends on your needs and goals. It’s recommended for a newborn to pump about 8–12 times per day to establish and maintain a healthy milk supply, as this mimics the frequency of a baby’s feeding schedule.

If you are exclusively pumping, this frequency ensures your body receives enough signals to produce the necessary amount of milk.

If breastfeeding full-time and only pumping occasionally, you might need to pump once or twice daily to build a small milk stash or relieve engorgement.

However, if you combine breastfeeding and pumping to increase your supply or store milk for work or other commitments, you may pump 3–4 times a day in addition to nursing sessions. 

It’s essential to listen to your body and adjust your schedule. Pumping too often can lead to an oversupply, while pumping too little could decrease the milk supply.

Balancing pumping and breastfeeding is about finding what works best for you and ensuring your baby is well-fed.

Frequent and regular pumping sessions are key to increasing your milk supply. Experts often suggest pumping every 2–3 hours daily, which translates to approximately 8–12 pumping sessions in 24 hours. This frequency helps stimulate milk production by signalling to your body that more milk is needed. 

It can also be helpful to incorporate power pumping into your routine. Power pumping simulates cluster feeding by imitating a baby’s natural feeding rhythms during a growth spurt.

To power the pump, pump for 20 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for another 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, and finish with one final 10-minute pumping session. Doing this once a day for a few days can help boost your milk supply.

At 3 or 4 months postpartum, your milk supply has likely become more established, and your baby may be nursing less frequently compared to the newborn phase.

You might pump 6–8 times daily to maintain your supply if you are exclusively pumping. This frequency can help ensure you produce enough milk to meet your baby’s needs without overstimulating production.

If you combine breastfeeding and pumping, you may find that 2–4 pumping sessions a day are sufficient to store extra milk or relieve engorgement.

Remember that each person’s milk supply can vary, so monitoring your output and adjusting your pumping routine is essential.

Pumping every 2 hours is not too much, especially for new moms working to establish their milk supply. Frequent pumping sessions help mimic a newborn’s feeding schedule, typically every 2 to 3 hours.

This consistent stimulation tells your body to produce enough milk, making it particularly helpful during the early weeks postpartum. However, it’s essential to listen to your body.

If pumping every 2 hours feels overwhelming or causes discomfort, you can adjust the schedule slightly while monitoring any impact on your milk supply.

Finally, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how many times you should pump in a day. It depends on various factors, such as your milk supply, baby’s feeding schedule, and personal comfort level.

However, it’s generally recommended that newborns be pumped 8–12 times daily and adjust the frequency as the baby grows and needs change.

Remember to listen to your body and make adjustments as necessary to find a pumping routine that works best for you and your little one.

Happy pumping!