pumping questions

mlc92404

After about 5, sometimes 10, minutes of pumping milk stops coming out.  Is there any benefit to keep pumping after the milk stops coming or should I just stop once its stopped?

anmile

That happens to me too.  But I manage to tap another duct or something and it starts again (but not as long when I started to pump.  I keep pumping through that dry spell, but not sure what I get after 5 mins is worth the extra energy.

Tassie06

they say to keep pumping until the time is up, (ie: 10-15 min) it's suppose to keep tricking your brain to make more come in.. i pump, but im on meds to get it going, it still isn't a lot and i get tired of doing it after 5-10, so I usually stop,

JMB2007

the same thing happens to me and I do just stop pumping once it looks like the milk is no longer flowing out.  However, a few times I just kept pumping till I reached a max of 20 mins even if nothing looked like it was coming out b/c I assumed that since it's based on supply and demand that if I tried to tell the breast that that the demand was there then maybe the supply would flow for next time.  Not sure this is helpful, but wanted to let you know that I at least experianced the same thing and actually had the same question. 

Kara5109

I try to pump for at least 10 minutes,but a LC told me to stop after your milk just comes to a little trickle.

SunflowerMae

If your supply is good, you can stop pumping when the milk stops flowing.  If your supply is too little, keep pumping for 5 minutes after the milk stops flowing and this will tell your body that it needs more milk.

mrs.kapow

If you're using a PISA or other Medela pump, sometimes I will push the let-down button again after it seems I stopped flowing and I can sometimes re-start. Just a thought.

kagjag

I EP and my sessions last about 20 minutes.  I generally have a second let down at 10 minutes and a third around the 15-18 minute mark.  Generally doubles what I get in the first 10 minutes of pumping.  I do have a few minutes with no milk in between the let downs. Wasn't like that in the beginning though.  Must be part of the supply and demand process.  HTH.

CodyGH

kagjag:

I EP and my sessions last about 20 minutes.  I generally have a second let down at 10 minutes and a third around the 15-18 minute mark.  Generally doubles what I get in the first 10 minutes of pumping.  I do have a few minutes with no milk in between the let downs. Wasn't like that in the beginning though.  Must be part of the supply and demand process.  HTH.

This.  I get most of my milk out in the first ten minutes.  Then I have a couple more let downs before I reach my 20 minute mark.  In the mornings I pump for 30 minutes because my breasts are so full since DS STTN.

AMossy

CodyGH:

kagjag:

I EP and my sessions last about 20 minutes.  I generally have a second let down at 10 minutes and a third around the 15-18 minute mark.  Generally doubles what I get in the first 10 minutes of pumping.  I do have a few minutes with no milk in between the let downs. Wasn't like that in the beginning though.  Must be part of the supply and demand process.  HTH.

This.  I get most of my milk out in the first ten minutes.  Then I have a couple more let downs before I reach my 20 minute mark.  In the mornings I pump for 30 minutes because my breasts are so full since DS STTN.

This.  I think 10 minutes is not long enough if you EP or if you don't have an awesome supply.  I pump for 20 -30 minutes with a few letdowns.