Power pumping is a structured pumping technique designed to mimic a baby’s cluster feeding pattern , which can help signal the body to produce more milk【1】. This method involves repeated pumping sessions with short breaks , similar to how a baby nurses frequently during a growth spurt or when trying to increase milk supply through cluster feeding【2】.
While power pumping can be beneficial for some , it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach . Before beginning, it’s important to work with a lactation professional who can evaluate your flange fit, pump settings, and overall milk supply needs to ensure power pumping is a safe and effective choice for you【1】.
Who Should Power Pump?
Power pumping may be recommended in specific situations where increasing milk supply is necessary. You might benefit from power pumping if you:
✔️ Have noticed a true decrease in milk production – This could be due to stress, illness, changes in feeding patterns, or a sudden dip in supply【3】.
✔️ Are exclusively pumping or separated from baby – If your baby is premature, in the NICU, or unable to nurse effectively, power pumping can help maintain and build supply while away from baby【3】.
✔️ Are preparing to return to work – If you're trying to build a freezer stash before going back to work or want to ensure continued supply for pumping sessions during the workday, power pumping can be an effective tool 【1】.
✔️ Are trying to relactate – Power pumping may help reestablish milk supply for those trying to return to breastfeeding after a break【2】.
✔️ Struggle with low supply due to hormonal changes – Some parents may find power pumping useful if they experience milk supply dips due to menstruation, hormone imbalances, or postpartum hormonal shifts 【3】.
However, it’s important to distinguish between perceived low supply and actual low supply —many parents worry they aren’t making enough milk when their supply is actually just regulating. Working with an IBCLC can help assess whether power pumping is truly necessary 【1】.
Power Pumping: How to Do It Correctly
Power pumping is not meant to replace regular nursing or pumping sessions but is instead a temporary, short-term strategy to give your supply a boost【3】. A typical power pumping session follows this format:
⏳ Pump for 20 minutes ⏸ Rest for 10 minutes ⏳ Pump for 10 minutes ⏸ Rest for 10 minutes ⏳ Pump for 10 minutes
This one-hour cycle is usually done once a day for a few days or up to a week. Some parents notice an increase in supply within 3-7 days , while others may need to continue for up to two weeks before seeing results【1】.
Key Tips for a Successful Power Pumping Session:
✔ Use a high-quality pump – Hospital-grade or double-electric pumps work best.
✔ Check your flange fit – An incorrect size can cause pain and limit milk removal 【2.
✔ Stay hydrated – Drinking water and electrolytes can support milk production【3】.
✔ Relax and stimulate oxytocin – Watching baby videos or practicing skin-to-skin contact can encourage letdowns.
✔ Massage and compress – Using breast compressions while pumping can help remove more milk【1】.
Power Pumping Is NOT for Everyone
While power pumping is a popular strategy, it should not be used with a plan of care and support in place . In some cases, it can lead to:
⚠ Oversupply – Pumping too frequently can cause an excessive buildup of milk , leading to painful engorgement, clogged ducts, or mastitis 【1】. If you struggle with engorgement after power pumping, Legendairy Milk’sSunflower Lecithin can help reduce the risk of clogged ducts by keeping milk flowing smoothly.
⚠ Nipple trauma – Over-pumping with improper flange sizing or too-high suction settings can result in soreness, bruising, and even cracked nipples【2】.
⚠ Unnecessary stress – Not everyone responds to power pumping, and if it's not working, it may add emotional frustration and anxiety around milk supply【3】.
If you are unsure whether power pumping is right for you, consult with an IBCLC to create a personalized plan 【1】.
Get Expert Guidance with Legendairy Milk’s Free Virtual Pumping & Flange Fitting Classes
One of the biggest challenges when starting power pumping—or pumping in general—is ensuring you're using the right technique, settings, and flange size. Did you know that over 50% of pumping parents use the wrong flange size? An incorrect fit can lead to discomfort, poor milk removal, and even supply issues【2】.
💡 That’s why Legendairy Milk offers FREE virtual classes to help guide you through the pumping process, flange fitting, and milk supply strategies!
✨ Free Virtual Pumping Class
Learn how to optimize your pump settings for maximum comfort and output.
Discover the best techniques for power pumping, milk storage, and letdown stimulation.
Get expert answers to common pumping challenges.
✨ Free Flange Fitting Class
Learn how to measure and find the perfect flange size for your comfort and milk flow.
Understand why size matters—and how an improper fit could be holding you back.
Since power pumping can feel time-consuming and frustrating , having a positive mindset can help keep you motivated.
🍼 "My body is capable of making exactly what my baby needs." 🍼 "Every drop of milk I produce is valuable and enough." 🍼 "I trust my body, my baby, and the process of breastfeeding."
🍼 "My body knows what to do, and I am patient with the process."
🍼 "I am doing my best, and that is more than enough for my baby."
Conclusion: Trust the Process & Your Body
Power pumping can be an effective tool for increasing milk supply, but it’s not a magic fix—it’s one part of a bigger picture that includes proper flange sizing, hydration, relaxation, and overall breast health. Working with an IBCLC and utilizing resources like Legendairy Milk’s free pumping and flange fitting classes can make the process smoother and more effective. Trust your body, be patient, and give yourself grace—you’re doing an amazing job providing for your baby. 💛
My supply has decreased significantly and I am wondering if power pumping will help increase my supply? A little back story: I have never produced a lot and am only breast feeding at night into the early morning. So now exclusively pumping during the day. ——— Legendairy Milk replied: Power pumping is a way to boost milk supply by replicating what babies do when they are “cluster feeding” (such as during growth spurts). Since after the first few weeks milk supply is determined by supply and demand, the idea is that more rapidly emptying the breasts will signal your body to make more milk!
It’s important to remember that power pumping is meant to be used as a temporary boost to milk supply (think cluster feeding due to growth spurts) and not a long term solution. If we use power pumps multiple times per day, or daily for long periods of time, our body can become used to it and rely on a power pump in order to produce! Email us at info@legendairymilk.com and our team will be happy to help provide more tips!
What time of day works best for this? Is it best to do it earlier in the day when you’re more likely to have a greater amount of milk? Or the afternoon/ evening when supply naturally dips? ——— Legendairy Milk replied: Great question! It depends on whether you are exclusively pumping, or pumping and nursing.
If you are exclusively pumping, you’ll want to find an hour in the day when you can pump uninterrupted, ideally early in the morning prolactin (the milk-making hormone) is typically at its peak/highest from 1-5 a.m. so doing a power pump within that window really gets a good boost.
If the goal is to pump while also nursing to create a stash or increase supply, the best time to pump is AFTER nursing in the morning. Even though prolactin is at its highest from 1-5 a.m., some increased prolactin is still there if you pump in the later morning hours.
Will my milk supply dip back down after I stop power pumping? Been working 4+ weeks to up my supply and I’d hate to finally get it up just for it to disappear again 😩 ——— Legendairy Milk replied: Everyone responds different, and this depends on how long you have been power pumping. If you have been power pumping daily for 4 weeks, then your body may have become reliant on the power pump for production.
If so, you will likely see a dip in supply initially while you body regulates without the power pump, but after consulting with our IBCLC, this is encouraged. Power Pumping should be done 1 time per day for no longer than 7 days, and no more often than once per month.
For more information please email our team of Certified Breastfeeding Specialists at info@legendairymilk.com.
Does power pumping 3-4x a day help with increasing? How many times is it recommended a day? ——— Legendairy Milk replied: Great question. Power Pumping is typically only done once a day, but some parents do choose to do it twice a day. Power pumps are meant to be used as a temporary boost to milk supply (think cluster feeding due to growth spurts) and not a long term solution. If we use power pumps multiple times per day, or daily for long periods of time, our body can become used to it and rely on a power pump in order to produce.
With a Spectra, I change the settings every time to mimic what the baby does. So I try with the first shorter massage mode, then switch to the longer expression mode after 2-3 minutes or when I see a good let-down. (Sometimes I do the Baby Buddha method on the Spectra, switching back & forth every 30s or so for the first few minutes until you get a letdown. Baby Buddha has 12 short pulses, then one long very strong pull in its massage mode and cycles through that until you switch to expression mode.) ——— Legendairy Milk replied: Hi! Thank you for sharing what works best for you!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
