Can I pump more milk using a higher suction level?

Gently massaging your breasts and nipples before and during expression can help increase your milk production.

Make sure you don’t skip stimulation mode at the beginning of your pumping cycle. Stimulation mode is designed to stimulate your nipples like a newborn beginning to nurse, which tells your body it’s time to produce more milk and release oxytocin to help you relax.

Express milk comfortably and efficiently by pumping at your maximum comfortable suction level. This means the maximum level at which you can express milk without feeling pain and discomfort.

To find your maximum comfortable suction level, adjust the suction on your motor unit until you reach the highest level you can stand without pain, and then lower it one to two levels from there.

Your maximum comfortable suction level varies with each pumping session and time of day (especially between daytime and nighttime), so make sure to adjust your settings if you feel any pain or discomfort.

The best time for pumping can be after breastfeeding or after any form of breast stimulation, as this supports the release of oxytocin, which helps with milk flow.

Many mothers think their milk supply is depleted after nursing, but milk is continuously produced. Pumping after breastfeeding can help to express remaining milk and may support ongoing milk production through continued milk removal.

If you experience significant pain or soreness in your breasts or nipples, consider waiting before pumping or consult a healthcare professional.

By feeding and pumping frequently, you’re naturally telling your body it needs to produce more milk.

We recommend expressing milk as often as your baby normally feeds, which is usually every 2–3 hours, or around 12–13 times total within 24 hours, especially in the first few weeks after giving birth, to help build your milk supply.

However, it’s very important to make sure you’re relaxed and comfortable during feeding and pumping sessions, as pain and stress lower milk production.

Check out our “How to pump” video below, search for our "I’m feeling pain or discomfort while pumping” troubleshooting article on this website, or consult a healthcare professional to learn how to have a relaxed, productive pumping experience.

Learn about the buttons and light indicators on your Natural Care Hands-free Wearable Electric Breast Pump.

Your Philips Avent electric breast pump remembers your last-used settings.

For new pumping sessions, the pump starts softly and then slowly increases to your last-used suction level in the stimulation and expression modes.

Remember that your maximum comfortable suction level fluctuates, so you should still consider adjusting your settings manually on the breast pump, especially if you feel any pain or discomfort when pumping with the last-used settings.