Supporting your baby to feed as effectively as possible – Plan Two

Plan 2 – Builds on plan 1 by introducing additional techniques to boost milk supply

Increasing breast stimulation by expressing your milk

If the steps in Plan 1 do not result in increased milk supply, the next approach is to increase stimulation of your breasts by expressing your milk. At this stage, the priority is to increase both your baby’s milk intake and your own milk production. This may mean limiting your baby’s time at the breast, for now, to free up enough time to express.  Your milk supply will become more difficult to increase as time goes on. This time and effort is an investment. As your supply grows, breastfeeding usually becomes easier and more satisfying for both you and your baby. When things are going well, you’ll be able to return to responsive feeding—letting your baby feed as and when they need.

The health professional supporting you will explain these techniques in more detail and tailor the plan to suit your needs:

• A double electric breast pump, preferably a large “hospital grade” pump, tends to get the best results. These are expensive but can be hired – ask a member of staff for details.
• Use the correct flange size to ensure comfort and effective milk removal. Find more information on flange size here.
• Express milk after each feed, or as often as is practical for you. For maximum effect, you would aim to express 8-12 times in 24 hours (this is the number of times most babies need to feed).
• Use the hands-on pumping technique. Massage your breasts before and during pumping. You might want to make or buy a “hands-free pumping bra” to hold your pump in place. Some women find that they can express lots of milk by hand after they have finished pumping. Find more information on Hands on pumping here
• Have a couple of intensive pumping/feeding days to boost supply. The important thing is how many times you express in 24 hours, as often as you can – it’s up to you when you do it. It’s fine to take a break for a few hours to go out or to sleep! Even if you only have a few minutes, it’s worth pumping. Notice the times of day or night when you can express most and aim to pump more often then. First thing in the morning and in the quiet hours of the night can work well. Experiment to see what works best.
• Try power pumping. Many women find that they get most milk in the first few minutes of pumping. To make the most of this, it can work well to pump very frequently for short periods, stopping and starting as many times as possible. Find more information about pumping and power pumping here
• Don’t worry about how much you pump — the amount isn’t a direct reflection of how much milk your baby gets during breastfeeding. It can take time for your supply to increase.
  • Try covering the collection bottle with a sock so you can’t see it. Frustration about how slowly it is filling with milk can make it even slower!
  • Try visualisation, e.g. a flowing fountain, or milk pouring into a bottle.
  • Try pumping with a piece of your baby’s clothing near enough to smell, or while looking at your baby, or holding your baby skin to skin.

How to feed expressed milk to your baby

Offer all expressed breastmilk to your baby as a supplement, ideally using paced bottle feeding after breastfeeding. This method helps mimic the natural rhythm of breastfeeding and supports your baby’s ability to regulate their intake. Find out more about paced bottle feeding here

There are other ways to supplement your baby, for example at breast supplementers.  Find out more about at breast supplementers here. If you would like help with this, you can ask to be referred to the SCFT Specialist Infant feeding Team

If your baby still seems unsettled after the bottle, it’s perfectly okay to return them to the breast for additional comfort and feeding.  Breastfeeding is more than just nutrition; it is comfort and bonding for both mother and baby.

📍 Visit your local MILK! drop-in sessions

📞 Speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP

Call the National Breastfeeding helpline 0300 100 0212
🌐 Find trusted info on Healthforunder5s.co.uk

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