okay first thing before we get into this question — we have to keep in mind that this is very general information and may not necessarily fit well for you. my CLC education allows me to talk about this with pumping and nursing specifics, but any additional health concerns, i highly recommend you meet with your practitioner or an IBCLC (who can help run further tests + blood work).

i also unfortunately cannot speak for certain about your individual milk supply or situation. i can’t promise that your milk supply can or cannot increase without seeing you further as a client and knowing more about you + your history! if you’re like “hell yeah, let’s go, get me on board as a client” — get started with your 1:1 session here!

IS IT POSSIBLE TO INCREASE YOUR MILK SUPPLY LATER ON POSTPARTUM?

YES, it is entirely possible to see an increase! your body is more adaptable than you realize!

what we do have to acknowledge — it may be harder to increase at a later postpartum date (6+ months) versus increasing in the first 3 months or so. this is due to the way milk supply is sustained. after regulation (around 12-16 weeks postpartum), your milk supply is kept up due to consistent + frequent milk removal.

IT TAKES TIME + EFFORT

when focusing on increasing your breast milk supply, please remember that it is not instant. it is going to take some time to see a shift in volume. i tell my clients to put realistic expectations in their brains — we are all about thinking critically and setting you up for success! there is no single magic wand in lactation, but instead, intentional shifts in little ways.

potentially expect 2-4 weeks to START seeing a difference in your milk volume increase.

increasing milk supply when you are out of the 12-16 week regulation period takes effort. it is making intentional shifts during your pump sessions, trial and error and some experimentation to see what your individual body responds to! your body deserves respect and honor in this process — rushing can put us in a state of stress, which can be completely counterintuitive to your end goal of increasing volume!

i absolutely understand the need for increasing volume like “omg HI, can you give me more volume like yesterday please?” — but we need to have an idea of real body capacity. it is not typical to expect your body to increase volume by DOUBLE in a single day.

when you are navigating social media and what you see being said about specific pumps, equipment and supplements — this is something to please keep in mind. there is no magic when it comes to milk supply.

HOW TO WORK ON INCREASING SUPPLY

ACCURATE FLANGE SIZE —

flange size and shape is such a key component for expressing milk effectively! with close to 90% of my clients, we have to move them to a SMALLER flange size. more than likely, you are using something too large! this can pull on the edge of your nipple, instead of the center, which is needed to express your milk volume.

1. grab your flange ruler measuring tool here, to start pumping at your most correct size
2. blog post — flange sizing: the least sexy part of pumping, but your first step to finding success with breastfeeding
3. book your flange fitting session here! or if you need a complete overhaul of how to best have an effective pump session, book your 1:1 pumping consult with me here!
   
   
   

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before we get too much further, my absolute FAV resource for increasing your supply via pumping = the basics to successful pumping course! this was created specially as an “easy button” for —

• exclusive pumping parents who have nooo idea what they’re doing or got thrown into pumping without a choice (the pump life choses some of us)
• nursing parents who need to be away from baby, or go back to work, and need to be proficient at pumping (and QUICK without trying every recommendation on Instagram)
• oversuppliers who need to empty fully + effectively to prevent mastitis and frequent clogged ducts
  
  

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POWER PUMPING —

this replicates “cluster feeding” from a baby nursing, but using our pump instead! these are a series of shorter, more frequent pump sessions in a set interval. this is such a popular recommendation, and when swapped out for a single session you already have established — this can help support your goal of increasing supply!

BE INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR PUMP CHOICE —

i mean this with as much love as i can offer, truly: if your main goal is to increase supply, and you’re stupid serious about this? you’ve gotta put your wearable pumps away for a bit. you NEED a primary pump!!! your breast pump should not only support your lifestyle, but it should also support your breastfeeding and pumping goals.

not sure what pump you need that is actually going to be worth your money? when there are SO many options out there? like what the hell is the difference between a portable pump and a wearable pump?? omggg i got you! NEW RESOURCE ALERT — the $9 instant download pdf — Engorged to Empty: the no bullshit guide to choosing the right breast pump the first time

not all primary pumps are going to be great (in fact, some are absolute garbage. see this blog post for the biggest example of this), and in the same way, not all portable pumps are primary! check out all the confusing nuances, and my CLC verified check list of breast pumps that i would choose almost every single time — purchase the $9 Engorged to Empty guide here!!!

HAND EXPRESSION —

does this feel a little like you’re milking yourself as if you’re a cow? yes. is it also such an amazing tool to be able to express anywhere, on the go, without the need for a pump (when necessary)? ALSO YES!!!

hand expressing is not only amazing for getting milk out of your body when you need to in a pinch, whether or not you have your pump equipment in your bag. but hand expression has been shown to increase milk supply — when done correctly + effectively it can express that last little bit of milk after a pump session. hand expressing is also a fabulous way to increase the fat transfer into your milk. because when we are hands on, this increases the effectiveness of getting milk out of breasts, which then increases the fat that clings to your milk as it exits! this is as far as my scientific explanation goes, but DAMN it is sooo cool!!!

need help on how to hand express and not just hurt your breasts? check out this video for a slow walk through on how to help get to know your body!!!

THE PUMPING COURSE —

omg i wouldn’t be your lactation bestie if i didn’t plug this resource again because it’s literally sooo jam packed with:

• supply increasing techniques
• how to use your breast pump like you read the whole damn manual
• “hack” your body with more letdowns
• some of my fav tips to make pumping more accessible + simple

instant access to one hour of content to watch, read or listen! there just miiiiight be a 10% off coupon for ya right here for the “basics to successful pumping” course — start pumping like a pro!!!

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related blog posts that i think you’ll seriously love —

• when is the best time to measure your flange size for the most accurate and comfortable pumping experience?
• the ultimate guide to using your wearable breast pumps to keep up your milk supply
• why you need to stop thinking of foremilk as “low-fat” and hindmilk as “high in fat”
• pump review: medela pump in style with maxflow

what have you tried to increase your milk supply?
xoxo, Bethany | Certified Lactation Counselor | Your Overproducing Exclusively Pumping Mama