Knowing the ideal timing for when to pump helps a lot in maintaining your breast milk supply. It helps ensure that your breasts are never full so that your body will keep producing more.

Many moms wonder if there is some sort of rule that says you need to pump every x number of hours. But is it really time-based, or are there other factors to consider? Let us help you by revealing the best time to pump for supply and the best tools you can use for great results.

Why Timing is Everything for Maximizing Your Milk Supply

Proper timing is essential because it helps your body understand when to produce more milk. Pumping at the right time and frequency helps tell your body to produce more milk, encouraging steady production and preventing supply dips.

To give you an overview of the basics, here are the main factors that you need to understand:

• Supply and Demand - Your milk production will slow down if your body detects that your breasts are full. If this happens often, your body will start producing less and less milk. On the other hand, empty breasts signal that there is a need for more milk.
  
  
• Hormonal Rhythms - You want to pump during the time when milk production is at its peak. This helps increase the yield and increase your daily milk output.
  
  
• Frequency - Frequent emptying of your breasts is important. This is the main factor that signals to your body that more milk is needed.
  
  
  
  

What is the Hormonal Window (Morning Pump) and Why Does it Matter?

The "hormonal window" is the time of the day when the milk-producing hormone is at its highest level. The said hormone is prolactin, and its levels are at their highest in the early morning. Specifically, it is between 1 am and 6 am.

Why does this window matter? It matters because pumping during this time leads to more expressed milk. The more you express, the more your body will think that it needs to keep producing. Therefore, pumping during this window is great for increasing your daily output.

How to Optimize Your Pumping Sessions for Best Results

As we have mentioned above, pumping in the morning is important. But please note that that is just one of the things you can do to optimize your pumping sessions. Here are additional tips that you should know about:

1. Use the Right Breast Pump

Even if you get the timing right, if you can't express milk effectively, it will not lead to the best results. That said, you should choose reliable breast pumps. Also, we recommend opting for electric breast pumps over manual breast pumps.

Momcozy electric breast pumps are a favorite among moms. You can change the intensity and speed level, and you can use them hands-free. That leads to a painless and effective milk expression.

Different sizes of flanges are also available. Therefore, you can change it so it fits your breasts better.

2. Create a Relaxing Setup

Have you ever heard about oxytocin? It is called the "love hormone." The hormone is released during physical intimacy. When you hug or kiss, oxytocin gets released. The thing is that it is also responsible for milk let-down. In other words, it helps milk exit your breasts so your baby can feed.

The problem is that stressful situations inhibit the release of oxytocin. Additionally, pumping means you are using a breast pump and not feeding your baby directly. Physical connection is not there. Fortunately, there are other ways to trigger the release of oxytocin, and there are ways to avoid stress.

One thing you can do is look at pictures or videos of your baby while pumping. That is the most natural way to encourage milk let-down. Other things you can do include listening to relaxing music while in a quiet spot and making sure that the seat is comfortable.

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Breastfeeding and pumping are taxing. A healthy diet is a must for your body to keep up with the tasks.

• Breastfeeding and pumping can lead to dehydration. Remember that milk is mostly water. Therefore, expressing it means you are losing a lot of fluid. You'd often feel thirsty. You should not ignore this sign. Drink a lot of water. We also recommend placing your pumping station near where you can access potable water. If that's not possible, bring a tumbler or pitcher of water to your pumping station before you start your session.
  
  
• Eat healthy foods, like vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains. It helps ensure your body is getting enough nutrients to keep going.
  
  

When to Make Scheduling Adjustments to Prevent Supply Dips

You should be careful when you are adjusting your pumping schedule. You don't want your adjustments to result in a milk supply loss, unless it is intentional. Here are a few pointers to get this right:

Prioritize Your Mental Health

As mentioned above, stress inhibits the release of oxytocin. Here's the problem. Maintaining a consistent pumping schedule can be stressful. So, even if you get the other factors right, you may not see a healthy milk supply. If this is the case, consider making adjustments in your pumping schedule. Make it easier for yourself.

Adjust Gradually

Adjustments in your pumping should be gradual. Significant changes, when done suddenly, may cause engorgement. Your breasts will be full due to your body still producing high volumes of milk. Then, your body will think it needs to produce a lot less milk. It can result in a supply dip. That said, you should decrease your pumping frequency gradually.

Summary

Knowing when to pump to establish a healthy milk supply is a must for all breastfeeding moms. It helps ensure that you can provide your baby with breastmilk without getting it from other sources. Additionally, it helps prevent discomfort from engorgement.

To recap, the best time to pump is during the hormonal window, when milk production is at its peak. That happens to be in the early morning, from 1 am to 6 am. Then, pump every few hours, especially after breastfeeding, if your baby did not empty your breasts. These habits will help you establish a healthy milk supply.