Do you have to empty breast

Question

Do you have to completely empty your boobs after each feed with a manual or electric pump or do you just let baby take what he needs and move on?

Answer

The way I look at it, women have been breastfeeding since way before breast pumps were invented and never thought about whether or not they need to empty their breasts after baby nursed. I only pump when I’m away from my daughter and she can’t nurse. 
The only thing pumping after a feed does is send many women into panic mode because they don’t pump much or nothing at all and then they think they have supply issues even though their baby is getting plenty.

Answer

Depends if your goal is to feed baby let them eat what they want and be done. If you are trying to build freezer supply I would pump 1-2x per day till empty.

Answer

Let baby take what they need. If you need to build a freezer stash, pump on the opposite breast of where baby is currently feeding. Draining the breast completely can lead to an oversupply which leads to engorgement & ends in mastitis.

Answer

From what I understand. You just let them eat what they need and leave whatever’s left unless it’s painful or you’re still engorged.

Answer

No you don’t need to empty. I was working with a lactation consultant and she never wanted me to empty. If you do then your boys will just provide more. I was told to pump for 20m any time I pumped. I’m now 7wks PP and when I pump I get plenty without emptying my breasts (at my last pump I got 4oz per breast) and when my son nurses he gets plenty (at my final lactation apt he got 3.5 oz from his feeding). So my point is you don’t have to empty and you can still produce more than enough milk.

Answer

It's not a necessity to empty each breast after baby has finished eating, but many mothers do. It keeps your supply really flowing and it also gives us some to spare.  I know personally there were times I didn't produce an much * I had the flu and strep* and having some extra frozen milk in the freezer helped.  You also may eventually want to go out and have a glass or two of wine. Even though some disagree I always pumped and dumped.  Again .. that extra in the freezer gave me a little more freedom.  It's up to you!

Do you have to empty breast

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