Combining Breastfeeding And Pumping: Reason, Tips, And More

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How to Combine Breastfeeding and Pumping

Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — Written by Catherine Crider on August 24, 2021

Why do both?
Tips
Pros and cons
Further resources
Bottom line

A few tips may help you combine breastfeeding and pumping. These may include breastfeeding first, using your hands, keeping accessories handy, and learning bottle-feeding techniques.

Peanut butter and jelly. Movies and popcorn. Shoes and socks. Some of the best things in life come in combos. But what about breastfeeding and pumping?

If your milk supply is low or you just need some extra expressed milk for bottles, you may be wondering how to combine breastfeeding and pumping, if it will increase your supply, or if there are any downsides to it.

Have no fear: We’ve got answers! Plus we have some tips if you do decide to try breastfeeding and pumping.

Reasons for breastfeeding and pumping

There are many reasons you might choose to do a combination of breastfeeding and pumping. A few common ones include:

Increasing your milk supply. Breast milk production generally works on supply and demand. The more milk is drawn out, the more milk your breasts may potentially make. If you are trying to increase your milk supply, this can be a good first step to try.
Helping with discomfort. This involves clearing milk out of your breasts to help with clogged ducts and mastitis (inflammation of breast tissue).
For bottles. You may want to have some breast milk for bottle feeding if you need to be away from your baby for any length of time.
Breastfeeding difficulties. If your baby has challenges latching or drinking a sufficient amount from your breast alone, it can be helpful to have some extra milk on hand to follow up breastfeeding with a bottle.

Tips for combining breastfeeding and pumping

If you’re considering combined breastfeeding and pumping, here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

Breastfeed first. It’s generally best to pump after breastfeeding. That way your little one can have their fill first, you’ll be able to empty your breasts fully after, and your breasts will have maximum time to refill before the next feed!
Use your hands. Hands-on pumping and hand expression can help to increase the amount of milk you get out of your breasts. Doing these things can also help increase the amount of milk your breasts produce in the future.
Get storage. You may wish to use a Haakaa silicone breast pump or other milk storage container to collect the milk leaking from the breast your baby is not currently using, so this milk isn’t lost before you pump.
Find the best fit. Before pumping, make sure to double-check the flanges to make sure that they fit properly. This can help prevent damage to your nipples and discomfort while you pump.
Keep accessories handy. You may want to place a few baskets around your house near your favorite breastfeeding locations that hold a water bottle, easy-to-eat adult snacks, nipple cream, burp clothes, wipes, and diapers, so you don’t have to get up to look for these items once you start feeding and pumping.
Learn bottle feeding techniques. Use the paced bottle feeding method to help ensure that your baby is more likely to want to continue breastfeeding. (As an added bonus, a 2018 study showed that this may just help to prevent respiratory and ear issues!)
Warm up. If you’re having trouble getting your body to let down with the pump, consider placing something warm on your chest first and looking at videos of your little one while you pump.

What is power pumping?

If your goal is to increase your supply, you may want to consider a technique known as power pumping. Power pumping mimics the more frequent feeding style of an infant who is cluster feeding.

Exact power pumping schedules can vary. Generally, you’ll want to try pumping for 1 to 2 hours per day for 1 or 2 weeks to increase your milk supply.

A sample power pumping routine might look like this:

20 minutes pumping
10 minutes rest
10 minutes pumping
10 minutes rest
10 minutes pumping
10 minutes rest

What are the pros and cons of combining breastfeeding and pumping?

Potential benefits

increasing the amount of milk your breasts produce
extra expressed breast milk for periods of separation or if you become ill
relieving engorgement pressure and helping prevent clogged ducts
encouraging your baby to accept bottle feeding so they don’t rely solely on breastfeeding

Potential downsides

Oversupply issues, such as clogged ducts, engorgement, and mastitis, may occur if the additional pumping increases your supply too much.
Milk can spoil if it’s not properly handled and stored.
More pumping will mean more things to keep sanitized to prevent the spread of germs.
Pumping supplies add additional costs.
Your breasts/nipples may be more tender due to the longer amounts of suction.

You should speak with your doctor or your child’s pediatrician for guidance if you have any specific health concerns or if problems develop when you combine breastfeeding and pumping.

Additional resources for your feeding journey

Making decisions around formula, breast milk, and pumping can feel overwhelming. Being informed can help you feel more confident in whatever choice you make.

There are many individuals and organizations that can offer you advice and resources. A few places you can reach out are:

La Leche League International
a local breastfeeding support group
a private lactation consultant (IBCLC)
your child’s pediatrician
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program
Nursing Mother’s Counsel

The bottom line

If you find that your breast milk supply is lower than you (or your baby) would like it, a combination of breastfeeding and pumping might help. Pumping after breastfeeding sessions can also offer a way to collect breast milk for bottles when you need some extra sleep or have to be away from your baby for an extended period of time.

Schedules for breastfeeding and pumping can vary depending on many factors, so you may want to discuss your situation with a lactation consultant.

If you experience breast discomfort or find that your milk supply is at an uncomfortable level, you’ll want to talk with your doctor or a lactation professional. Their support can help to make your experience breastfeeding and pumping a more comfortable one. It’s important to remember that everyone’s experiences are different!

You may find that you love doing a combination of breastfeeding and pumping, or you might discover just like peanut butter and jelly, it’s overrated to you. It’s OK to feel however you feel. There’s no one right answer when it comes to feeding a baby!

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How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Avital A, et al. (2018). Feeding young infants with their head in upright position reduces respiratory and ear morbidity.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5920104/
Hemmelmayr A. (2016). Power pumping — super stimulation for milk production.http://cdn.website-editor.net/fbecae35f0d04078b90baf90c3032ed5/files/uploaded/EN%20Power-Pumping.pdf
Increasing supply. (2018).https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns–mum/supply

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Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — Written by Catherine Crider on August 24, 2021

Combining Breastfeeding And Pumping: Reason, Tips, And More

Reasons for breastfeeding and pumping

Tips for combining breastfeeding and pumping

What is power pumping?

What are the pros and cons of combining breastfeeding and pumping?

Potential benefits

Potential downsides

Additional resources for your feeding journey

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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