Guide to Power Pumping: How to Boost Milk Supply with Confidence

Power pumping is a method used to increase milk supply if it is dropping. It’s a tried, tested, and safe way to boost your milk supply if you’re facing challenges with low milk supply when breastfeeding. Power pumping models a baby’s cluster feeding technique, which signals the body to make more breast milk.

If you’re sitting there and wondering how to boost milk supply, you’re not alone. Although mothers worry about low breast milk supply, a truly insufficient breast milk supply is quite rare. However, a mother’s perception of their milk supply dropping is far more common and is caused by other breastfeeding issues. This is where the power pumping method can help.

What is Power Pumping?

Power pumping is a technique used by mothers short term to increase milk supply. Like cluster-feeding, power pumping requires consistency. It uses short bursts of pumping over a set period to boost your milk supply. By increasing the amount of times breast milk is emptied from each breast, there is a bigger demand to produce more milk.

Power pumping is also known as “cluster pumping” and is no quick fix. You’ll need to know how to build a milk supply by pumping and set a power pumping schedule to get the best results. And by now, you’ve probably learnt that breastfeeding needs a lot of patience! 

But remember, you’re doing something amazing for your body and your baby. Exclusive pumping and cluster pumping all make a world of difference to your breastfeeding journey, and it will be one to be proud of.

When and Why Do People Try Power Pumping?

Mothers will try power pumping when they start to see signs that their milk supply is decreasing. Common reasons for low supply can be due to the mother’s health, stress, nursing strike, returning to work, or other breastfeeding issues (e.g. poor latch).

Power pumping can help to alleviate these dips in breast milk supply as it creates a bigger demand on the body to produce more breast milk. Mums may want to try power pumping if they are:

• experience a dip in their milk supply

• want to try exclusive pumping

• need to rebuild their milk supply

• their baby prefers bottles or is skipping feeds

• they are pregnant and want to boost their milk supply due to hormonal changes

If your milk supply is dropping, please do not worry. Over your breastfeeding journey, your milk supply will naturally adjust to what your baby needs and as they get older and wean onto solid foods, they will feed less frequently. Decreased milk production can be reversed in most cases.

How to Power Pump: Schedules and Setups

Now that we’ve established breast pumps can be used to increase milk supply, you now need to know how to power pump! Power pumping with a single electric breast pump can be done in tandem with feeding your baby or without. You can modify the example schedule below based on your breast pump.

What Do I Need for Cluster Pumping?

• A clean, sterilised breast pump

• A drink of water

• Breast pads or milk collector* (to catch any drips)

• A comfy chair

• Nutritious snacks (optional but encouraged!)

• A nursing pillow (optional)

*Sign up to receive the latest product innovations in your inbox ~ look out for our next product launch!

Power Pumping Schedule (for both breasts):

• Pump right breast for 20 minutes

• Pump left breast for 20 minutes

• Rest 10 minutes

• Pump right breast for 10 minutes

• Pump left breast for 10 minutes

• Rest 10 minutes

• Pump right breast for 10 minutes

• Pump left breast for 10 minutes

How Long Do I Pump For?

To get the best results, you need to follow your power pumping schedule once every day for at least 3-7 days. The best time of day to start power pumping is in the morning because this is when your milk supply is at its peak and there will be more milk to empty from each breast.

Again, you can do this using a single electric breast pump in tandem with your baby if this fits in with your routine better than power pumping separately from nursing sessions.

Power pumping tips for success

• Use a hands-free bra (a bra that holds your breast pump in place without you needing to hold it)

• Create a relaxing environment with music, warmth, natural or dim lighting

• Have a photo of your baby or a blanket with their scent nearby

• Massage breasts before and during power pumping

• Try out the different settings on your breast pump and switch from stimulation to expression mode to encourage more milk

• Don’t worry if little milk comes out during the power pumping session — it’s about signalling, not immediate volume

What Results Can You Expect?

Do not be discouraged if you do not see an increase in milk supply in the first few days. The best results from power pumping are seen when you have followed a power pumping schedule once a day for a week. 

Every mother’s body is unique and may face different barriers to producing breast milk. It’s important to identify any other breastfeeding issues which could be causing low milk supply, as this can also affect your results and how efficiently your baby nurses.

Each cluster pumping session you do is getting you one step closer to an increased milk supply. Talk about your results with a breastfeeding consultant if you have any concerns, and celebrate the small wins.

Tips for Making Power Pumping Work for You

Take note of these helpful power pumping tips from our exclusive pumping mums:

• Stay hydrated and nourished — your body is working hard!

• Use the time to relax: read, scroll, nap, meditate

• Set reminders and make it part of your routine

• Try pairing with skin-to-skin cuddles when possible

• Get support from a lactation consultant if needed — they can help tailor your power pumping schedule or troubleshoot

Real Talk: What Power Pumping Can’t Do

As fantastic as power pumping is, there are some breastfeeding challenges that cannot be resolved using this technique. Before you start power pumping, look for signs that your milk supply is decreasing and seek advice from a breastfeeding consultant or doctor. Asking for help is not admitting defeat, it’s a way of accessing support and giving you strength through breastfeeding issues.

Breastfeeding issues such as poor latch, medical conditions, and tongue tie could be the root cause of low breast milk supply. If breast milk is not being emptied from each breast efficiently, then the demand to produce more will decrease.

Although easier said than done some days, prioritise your own rest and make conscious nutritious food choices to support breast milk production and maintain a sustainable milk supply. 

Read more: Breastfeeding Knots? Let’s Talk About Clogs, Mastitis, and Other Troubles

We’re Here For You

Breastfeeding can be a tough gig sometimes, and we understand the emotional toll it can have on our mental health. It’s ok to feel tired, frustrated or uncertain - all your feelings are valid. When you feel this way, we encourage you to reach out and tap into resources and breastfeeding support to help you through these phases.

Power pumping is a gentle, structured way to tell your body, “Hey, we need a little more milk here.”! You can slot it into your daily routine and keep the flexibility as long as the consistency is there. 

On a final note, we’re here for you, and if you ever feel unsure, remember you are not alone. Support is just a message or a phone call away.