You’re Pumping Wrong

I hate to break it to you…

But you might be pumping wrong.

Here’s why you’re not seeing more milk:

It’s not that your body’s broken.

It’s not that you “don’t respond well to the pump.”

It’s that most of us were never taught how to pump in a way that actually works with our hormones, our nipples, and our very tired postpartum brains.

Let’s talk about some common culprits:

1. Your flange size is wrong.

The “standard” sizes are not one-size-fits-all.

Too big? You’re sucking in areola.

Too small? You’re pinching tissue.

Neither = good milk removal.

2. You’re skipping stimulation mode.

Let-down reflex = hormonal.

Your baby is really good at triggering it. Your pump? Not so much.

Start with a few minutes of quick, shallow stimulation (most pumps do this automatically) before switching to a slower, stronger rhythm.

3. You’re timing it like a workout, not a letdown cycle.

Milk flows in waves.

Pumping for 10 minutes flat might miss the second wave altogether.

Try 15–20 minutes, or go until 5 minutes after your last milk drip.

4. You’re stressed.

I know. Of course you are.

But cortisol (stress hormone) and oxytocin (milk let-down hormone) don’t play nice.

Try warmth, massage, or even looking at a photo or video of your baby to help the flow.

5. You’re comparing output to your friend’s freezer stash.

Pumping output doesn’t measure your worth.

It doesn’t even measure your supply accurately.

It just shows how much milk a machine can remove at that moment in time.

If you’re pumping and frustrated, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing.

Let’s tweak the technique, not blame the body.