Maintaining Your Milk Supply

Your “Magic Number” is the number of times per day that you need to pump or breastfeed to maintain your milk supply. It can be a helpful way to think about how to manage milk removal and keep your supply steady or increase it, if needed. This concept can be especially helpful if you’re returning to work, as it can help you determine how often you’ll need to express milk while you’re away from your baby to continue producing enough milk. 

Key Points to Remember:

  • Full Breasts = Less Milk Production
    When your breasts are full, your body slows down milk production.

    • Think of it like an ice machine: when the bin is full, it stops making ice.
  • Frequent Milk Removal
    If you remove milk often, your body knows to make more.

    • It’s like the ice machine that keeps producing ice as you use it.
  • Baby’s Role
    When your baby feeds, they’re telling your body to produce more milk. This works the same way with effective pumping.

Understanding Storage Capacity

  • What It Means: Storage capacity refers to how much milk your breasts can comfortably hold when they are at their fullest.
    • This depends on your glandular tissue, not your breast size.
  • Low vs. High Capacity: Even if you have a smaller storage capacity, you can still produce a full milk supply.
    • For example, a mother with a smaller capacity might feel full with just 3 ounces and may need to nurse or pump more often than someone with a larger capacity.

When you consider both breast fullness and storage capacity, you can decide how often to remove milk to maintain or adjust your supply.

  • Monitor Removals: If you’re combining breastfeeding and pumping, track how many times you remove milk in a 24-hour period at least once a week. 
  • Transitioning Back to Work: For example, if your baby typically nurses nine times a day, expect to pump at around the same times when you would be breastfeeding, to keep the total number of removals (nursing+pumping) at nine.
  • Adjust as Needed: Keep an eye on how full your breasts feel and how much you can pump. This will help you make adjustments if necessary.
  • Adjust Over Time: As your baby gets older and your milk supply is more established, you may find that you can increase the length of time between feedings or pumping sessions and maintain your supply. Take it slowly and adjust as needed. 
  • Support Matters: A Lactation Consultant can provide invaluable support if you are having difficulty breastfeeding. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need help.

What If I Have Questions?

If you are interested in learning more, these Aeroflow classes expand on some of the topics discussed above:

  • Navigating Maternity Leave
  • Ultimate Breastfeeding Prep
  • Pumping 101 & Exclusive Pumping 

To register for these classes, log into your portal or click here.

Want More Info?

For a directory of Aeroflow’s other Care Guides offering information on pregnancy, baby care, and more, browse our comprehensive list of titles:

https://www.hersourcehealth.com/aeroflow-care-guides/ ‎

References: