Exclusive Pumping Schedule: Follow One To Make Pumping Easy

If you have chosen exclusively pumping for your baby, it might get a little overwhelming with time. Well, there are ways to overcome it as well. Moreover, it works best if you create an exclusive pumping schedule for yourself. But there is a catch as well, you have to fix the schedule depending on the age of your baby.

No matter what reason is behind this, choosing exclusive pumping is a great commitment and requires following the routine to maintain the supply. Therefore, adjust the schedule as your baby grows. 

But What Is A Good Pumping Schedule?

Moreover, a good pumping schedule takes care of these four factors to begin with.

• The number of weeks or months you have come after delivering your baby.
• How much milk you pump in every pumping session.
• Along with that, what is your pumping goal?
• Additionally, the amount of time you can dedicate to pumping.

The first thing that you have to think about is how far you are at your postpartum. This affects your milk supply. For the first three months, the milk supply is mostly hormone-driven. After that, the milk supply mostly depends on supply and demand. 

Every woman pumps a different amount of milk in every pumping session. Therefore, it varies from woman to woman. Moreover, this happens because some of the women have a larger capacity to store breast milk and also have more milk ducts. If your storage capacity is short, then you have to pump more frequently than other moms. 

What Is Your Pumping Goal?

Well, I have heard a lot of women say that their pumping goal changes with time. I once heard a mother say, “When my little one was just a newborn, the goal I had in my mind was to get her enough breast milk. But after the 9th month in postpartum, I changed to supplement food.”

Additionally, the goal eventually changed to pumping three times a day rather than getting them breast milk for all their meals. However, if pumping three times a day could not keep her full, then try shifting to supplements or formula after that. 

Just make a balance of breast milk and formula, and when you find the right time to make the transition from breast milk to formula completely, or give them solid food, then stop pumping.

What Are The Benefits Of Having An Exclusive Pumping Schedule?

Most women choose to have a pumping schedule when they are exclusively pumping. This helps best to maintain the milk supply and does not let things leak. The benefits are listed below:

• A schedule helps you in establishing and maintaining the milk supply.
• This way, you train your body to refill the milk supply at the correct time.
• Additionally, letdown becomes easier for some mothers when they follow a schedule.
• Moreover, this also prevents leakage when you have not pumped for a long time. 

The Disadvantages Of A Pumping Schedule

Well, everything has a good side and a bad side. Similarly, maintaining the schedule also has some disadvantages. Read below:

• Dealing with a newborn is always chaotic. Your baby might be needing you while you are pumping; you might need you to hold them, but you might be busy.
• Your partner or your family members might also not be available at the time, and the baby might cry to sleep.
• Moreover, you might have to adjust the pumping sessions depending on the work schedule you have, what errands you have to run, or you might have some other arrangements.

We Have Listed A Few Pumping Schedules That Might Help You

The schedule works if you are a mother of a single child or a mother of twins.

Exclusive Pumping Schedule For Your Newborn

If you are a newbie mom and just had a baby, and have chosen exclusive pumping, then maintain this schedule. Pump ten times a day for about 4-6 weeks.

Pumping session	Time
1	6 AM
2	8 AM
3	10 AM
4	12 PM
5	2 PM
6	4 PM
7	6 PM
8	9 PM
9	12 AM
10	4 AM

Pumping Schedule For Your 2-Month-Old

When your child becomes 2 months old, strategically, you should pump 8 to 10 times a day.

Pumping Schedule For Your 3-4 Month Old

By the time your baby reaches 3-4 months, they are a little older. However, this is the time you can try experimenting if you want. Try to pump 7 times a day, and check if you are meeting the needs.

Pumping session	Time
1	6 AM
2	9 AM
3	1 PM
4	3 PM
5	6 PM
6	10 PM
7	2 AM

Pumping Schedule For Your 5-6 Month Old

The pumping schedule for a 5-6 month old depends on your milk supply as well. Most women pump pump for 6 times when they reach this stage.

Pumping session	Time
1	6 AM
2	9 AM
3	12 PM
4	4 PM
5	8 PM
6	1 AM

Pumping Schedule For Your 7-8 Month-Old

Try the schedule out, and check if your milk supply is getting impacted in any way. You can always add a session back if you think it is needful.

Pumping session	Time
1	6 AM
2	9 AM
3	7 PM
4	5 PM
5	10 PM

Pumping Schedule For Your 9-12 Month Old

If you want to have a constant supply, then by this time, you should be pumping 4 ties at least till the time you want to wean off pumping.

Pumping session	Time
1	6 AM
2	11 AM
3	4 PM
4	10 PM

A Few More Pumping Tips

I believe the exclusive pumping schedules are going to help you out in your journey. But you are getting yourself a few things that are going to be of help additionally. Get a good pumping bra and stay comfortable when you are pumping. Get some protein powder because you will need it to stay healthy. You have to take care of yourself as well.

Read the comparisons between breast pumps, like Elvie vs Willow, Spectra vs Motif Luna, Spectra vs Medela, and others, and figure out which is the best puck for you. Make a postpartum care box and keep all the necessary items handy so that you dont have to look around the house when you want them.

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