How to Pump more Breastmilk with Less Stress?

After a lot of frustration and trial and error, the one method that worked best was pumping while the baby was nursing. Placing the baby on a supportive pillow made it easier to nurse and hold the pump on the other side. The act of nursing helps release oxytocin—which can trigger letdown and help milk flow more easily into the pump. It may take some setup, but it can really help.

Using a noisy pump can be frustrating, and manual ones often feel overly complicated. But there’s a simple, effective solution: a hands-free silicone pump that works through gentle suction. No noise, no cords—just easy milk expression while breastfeeding.

Our favorite is the Haakaa from New Zealand It’s high-quality, microwave-sterilizable, and super durable.

And if you’ve tried silicone breast pump but it didn’t seem to work, the issue is usually weak suction. No worries—we’ve created a quick guide to help you get the perfect vacuum seal:

How to Use a Manual Silicone Breast Pump Effectively

After attaching, gently press the center several times to stimulate the nipple and encourage letdown.

Ensure the pump stays firmly attached. If it slips, increase suction; If it causes pain, reduce the suction level. You can also moisten the sides of your breast—it may help the pump stay in place better. Choose the highest comfortable suction level—higher suction yields more milk but avoid pain. If sensitivity is an issue, use the lowest level and add breast massage or hand expression to aid milk flow (see explanation below).

With low suction, you may need to reattach the pump as suction weakens when it fills.

Protect your nipples: avoid painful suction and don’t pump for more than an hour at a time.

Using the pump while breastfeeding works best, but it also functions well alone—ideal for work or travel.

Okay, so what else can we do to make pumping a little easier and more efficient? Check this out:

8 more tips to make pumping more efficient

Pump the fuller breast – contrary to common instinct, when one breast feels significantly fuller than the other, it can be helpful to pump from the full one and nurse your baby from the other at the same time. This often happens in the morning for many moms – especially if one breast wasn’t nursed from during the night for five hours or more. During that first morning feed, one side may feel heavier – that’s the one to attach the pump to while your baby nurses from the softer side. This approach also works if you’ve missed a feeding for any reason: always pump the fuller breast and nurse from the softer one. Then switch sides, letting your baby finish on the pumped breast—they’ll usually extract more milk this way, which helps prevent blocked ducts and mastitis.
Learn how to effectively perform hand expression during pumping – it boosts milk supply and helps prevent mastitis by fully emptying the breast. Here are two videos that demonstrate and teach how to massage the breast for best results: A. How to hand express B. How to combine massage and hand expression during pumping To summarize: During pumping or separately, start with a breast massage without expecting milk. Then, for hand expression, place your fingers in a “C” shape about 2 cm above the areola. Press gently upward into the breast, then inward, squeezing the fingers together. Repeat these two motions: press up, then inward, keeping a steady rhythm. Avoid squeezing the areola, and occasionally return to massage, especially on stiff spots. Note: When using the manual silicone breast pump during hand expression, be careful not to break the vacuum. Hold the cup with one hand or use an old bra with holes to keep it in place while massaging (Take an old bra and make holes the size of the cup, so you don’t have to hold the cup with your hand. This frees up your hands so you can do hand expression and massage while pumping).
Set a regular time – For example, pump at the same time every day. If you consistently pump in the morning, your body will gradually learn to produce more milk at that time.
Drink water 💧 – Just like with breastfeeding, hydration is key. The more hydrated you are, the more milk you can produce – for both your baby and the pump. Quick note: don’t overdo it. Drink when you’re thirsty and keep a glass of water nearby as a reminder.
Breath – Right before you start pumping, take three slow, deep breaths and exhale as slowly as you can. This calms the body and helps release milk more easily.
Warm the breast – A great time to pump is right after a warm shower – you might be surprised how much easier the milk flows! You can also warm your breasts with a hot towel or use a heated pad.
Start by extracting drops of milk – When using a manual pump, begin with small, gentle, and quick compressions. It should feel like a light tickle. Once you see drops of milk, switch to slower, deeper pumps. The same applies to electric pumps: start on a low suction setting until milk appears, then gradually increase to a comfortable level. For silicone breast pumps (as mentioned above), after attaching the pump, gently squeeze the center a few times in quick, gentle pulses to stimulate the breast. Remember—pumping should never hurt!
Turn your pump into a double pump – If you’re using an electric pump, you can attach the silicon pump on the other side. You might even get more milk from the manual side! While pumping, gently massage both breasts to encourage milk flow. Just make sure to support the silicon pump so it doesn’t lose suction. The DIY cut out pumping bra works great for this!

And most importantly – try not to stress about how much milk you get. Whatever comes out is great! We totally understand how tough this can be. And you’re definitely not alone. Many moms struggle with pumping and it doesn’t mean you don’t have milk. It just means it might be hard to release it. We’re in this together, and it does get easier with time.

So – which tip do you feel like trying out first?

Wishing you lots of milk 💛

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