Best Guide to Breast Pumping For New Mothers 

Introduction

Being a mother is a blissful experience, but new mom challenges like finding the right kind of breast pump can be daunting. Before choosing any type of breast pump, you should consider whether your milk supply is well established, how rarely or often you are away from the baby and how many hours in a day.  

If you are a new inexperienced mother unsure if you need an electric breast pump, a lightweight pump or a double pump, don’t worry. We have you covered. In this blog, we look at how to use breast pumps, various kinds of breast pumps and their benefits to help you decide which type of breast pump is best for you.  

What is a Breast Pump?

Breast pumps allow mothers to stimulate breast milk production and store it in a container by pumping their breasts with a manual or electric pumping device¹. A typical pumping session lasts 10 to 15 minutes a breast².   

All breast pumps come with breast shields, which are cone-shaped cups that fit over your breasts and nipples³. Larger or replacement shields are often available with manufacturers if the standard breast shield is too small. Maintenance parts of a breast pump like tubing and duck valves also need timely replacement. 

Selecting the correct flange size is essential to prevent nipple pain, ensure thorough breast drainage, and maintain an optimal milk supply⁴.

It is important to store breast milk appropriately after expression. Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable. 

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Benefits of a Breast Pump

Breastfeeding mothers like using breast pumps for their ease of use and accessibility, efficiency, ease of cleaning, and affordability. But breast pumps are a motherhood necessity for several other reasons, such as:   

• If the baby is unable to suckle or latch well onto the nipples (due to issues like tongue-tie), or reject the breast, lactating mothers can use a breast pump and feed the breast milk in a bottle⁵. 
• Breast pumps can help lactating mothers feed their premature babies who are still in incubators and require breast milk supply⁶.
• Breast pump can facilitate feeding in conditions like breast engorgement by preventing breast fullness or in flat/inverted nipples by drawing them out⁶. 
• Working mothers or stay-at-home mothers with outdoor chores can express and store breast milk for all-day accessibility and convenience⁶.

How to Use Breast Pumps?

Depending on which type of breast pump and how many rounds you make to express breast milk, pumping can take about 10 to 20 minutes. Since the body produces more prolactin at night, milk supply tends to be at its highest during this time⁷, but you can use a breast pump at any time of the day. Here’s how you can use a battery-based or electric breast pump.

• Wash your hands and clean the pump before using².
• Center the nipple in the cone-like part of the pump². 
• Lean forward slightly and turn the pump on². 
• Keep the pump at low suction slow speed².(Using high suction can lead to nipple damage or painful cracking.) 
• Pump for some time even if no milk is flowing, it is completely normal for there to be a delay before you see any milk, so try to relax and give it a little time².
• Massage the breast all around⁸. 
• Pump again and feel free to stop whenever it starts to feel uncomfortable or the milk flow slows down⁸. 

Never store breast milk in disposable bottle liners or plastic bags that are not intended for storing breast milk, instead always prefer to use breast milk storage bags or clean, food-grade containers to store expressed breast milk.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.

Types of Breast Pumps Available

While searching for the best breast pumps for new mothers, you might come across terms like closed-system pump, open-system pump or overflow protection. To help you understand, here’s what these terms stand for: 

1. A Closed-System Pump

This comes with a barrier that prevents milk from getting into the machine, that is, the overflow protection feature⁹. These hospital-grade breast pumps are most hygienic, but their tubes and small pieces can be difficult to sterilize. Closed systems are suitable for multiple users (like in NICU)¹⁰. 

2. Open-System Pumps

These don’t have any barriers and let you transfer milk flows through the tubes and other parts into the bottle. Since the milk can come in contact with the pumping mechanism, it can be less hygienic. Open systems are strictly for single-user use as they cannot be fully sterilized^9,10.

When shopping for a breast pump, you should consider certain factors, including your pumping frequency, whether you use the pump outdoors or indoors, the noise level, weight and replacement parts of the pump and the cost.  

• Electric breast pumps, especially double-electric models, are typically the most powerful and quickest of all breast pumps. Single breast models are cheaper, but choose a double-electric pump if you can splurge a little. 
• Battery-operated breast pumps that tend to be smaller and more portable than electric pumps come in both single and double models and are perfect to use while travelling.   
• Manual breast pumps may not express as much milk as a battery-based or electric pump, but they are portable, lightweight and inexpensive³.   

You can find any of these breast pumps at the nearest drugstore, department store, maternity store and online retailers selling maternity products. 

Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, in the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.

What to Choose?

Your choice will depend upon the duration and frequency of your time away from the baby, whether your milk is already established or not and if there is any medical necessity like preterm birth etc.  

A single-breast manual pump will usually suffice if you are away from your baby only occasionally and for a few hours. But if you’re joining work full time and might not be available for breastfeeding throughout the day, an electric double-breast pump is quick and efficient. If you choose to pump both breasts simultaneously, make sure the breast pump comes with two breast shields¹¹. You can also try a hands-free breast pump that fits inside your bra, allowing you to pump discreetly or at work.  

For infants in the NICU or those born preterm, hospital-grade electric pumps are the preferred choice to effectively establish and sustain milk supply¹².

It is best to buy the pump until after your baby is born, as you’ll know better about your milk production and pumping needs. But if in case of high-risk pregnancy or expected NICU admission cases, breast pump can be purchased beforehand. Lastly, it is important to store the expressed milk safely in a refrigerator in an airtight hygienic container.  

Note: If you experience ongoing nipple pain, a sudden drop in milk supply, or frequent clogged ducts and mastitis, it is important to seek professional help. You should also consult a lactation specialist or doctor if you notice persistent blood in your milk. Getting expert advice early can help you resolve these issues quickly and keep your breastfeeding journey on track. 

Also Read: Can You Increase Your Breast Size Naturally? Here’s What Doctors Want You To Know

Conclusion

Choosing the right breast pump depends on your unique lifestyle, whether you need a portable manual option for occasional use or electric pump for returning to work. By prioritizing a proper flange fit and following safe storage guidelines, you can successfully maintain your milk supply while ensuring your baby receives vital nutrition. Ultimately, having the right tools and knowledge empowers you to navigate the challenges of new motherhood with greater confidence and flexibility. 

References

1. Pumping breast milk [Internet]. CDC Infant and Toddler Nutrition. 2025 [cited 2026 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/breastfeeding/pumping-breast-milk.html 

2. Using breast pump [Internet]. Fda.gov. [cited 2026 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-pumps/using-breast-pump 

3. Types of breast pumps [Internet]. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA; 2023 [cited 2026 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-pumps/types-breast-pumps 

4. Jones LE, Amir LH, Shi En Chew N, Yun Low S, Yu Ting Woo V, Fok D, Peng Mei Ng Y, Amin Z. Do Lactating Mothers’ Descriptions of Breastfeeding Pain Align with a Biopsychosocial Pain Reasoning Tool? A Qualitative Study. Brain Sci. 2025 Oct 8;15(10):1087. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12563564/ 

5. Rosenbaum KA. Exclusive breastmilk pumping: A concept analysis. Nurs Forum. 2022;57(5):946-953. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9546173/  

6. DOH – WIC – breastfeeding: Pumping & storing breast milk – SD WIC [Internet]. Www.sd.gov. [cited 2026 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.sd.gov/wic?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0041208&sys_kb_id=2ed0400e1be28a50ff55631ee54bcbc6&spa=1 

7. Infant and Young Child Feeding: Model Chapter for Textbooks for Medical Students and Allied Health Professionals. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. SESSION 2, The physiological basis of breastfeeding. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK148970/ 

8. Venturacounty.gov. [cited 2026 Jan 13]. Available from: https://hr.venturacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Pumping_Primer.pdf 

9. Reyes SM, Allen DL, Williams JE, McGuire MA, McGuire MK, Rasmussen KM, Hay AG. Pumping and hygiene practices are associated with bacterial load and microbial composition in human milk expressed at home. J Transl Med. 2025 Aug 21;23(1):947. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12372358/ 

10. Liberty A, Rubin ES, Bullard KA, Au K. Human Milk-Expression Technologies: A Primer for Obstetricians. Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Jun 1;139(6):1180-1188. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35675617/ 

11. Choosing a Breast Pump [Internet]. Fda.gov. [cited 2026 Jan 13]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-pumps/choosing-breast-pump 

12. Ru X, Huang X, Feng Q. Successful Full Lactation Achieved by Mothers of Preterm Infants Using Exclusive Pumping. Front Pediatr. 2020 Apr 24;8:191. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7192965/ 

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