Exclusive pumping simply means feeding your baby the breast milk you’ve pumped without directly breastfeeding or supplementing with formula. This involves pumping at regular intervals throughout the day (or on demand), with at least one pumping session at night to maintain your supply.

The reality is that exclusive breastfeeding and exclusive pumping occupy two ends of the breastfeeding spectrum. Many people fall somewhere in the middle, and do a combination throughout their journey of direct breastfeeding, pumping, and sometimes supplementing with formula. There are many reasons why you might choose to exclusively pump, and there are many ways you might end up exclusively pumping by accident. If you’re considering—or for whatever reason find yourself—exclusively pumping, here’s how to get the most out of it.

Expect it to take work

Let’s not beat around the bush: Exclusive pumping is a lot of work. (And let’s also acknowledge that no matter how you feed your baby—direct breastfeeding, pumping, making formula—you may encounter challenges. It’s important to give yourself grace in the face of these challenges.)

First, pumping has a learning curve. It can take several tries before you find the right flange fit and establish an ideal pumping environment. You might also need to take some deep breaths and meditate to get into the right mind-set for pump-stimulated milk letdowns. (They aren’t the same as baby-stimulated ones!) 

Exclusive pumping requires regularly cleaning your pump parts and bottles. If your baby has a compromised immune system, you need to sanitize them between each pumping session. Otherwise, you can save yourself a little time and effort by keeping extra parts for your Willow Go and Willow 360. Rinse after each use, and then batch clean and dry them once a day. In between daily sessions, store milk in a refrigerator or  cooler bag with an ice pack.

Exclusive pumping also requires paying close attention to your baby’s hunger cues so you can ensure that you’re establishing a good milk supply alongside a good pumping schedule. That’s because breast milk production is something babies regulate by spending a lot of time at the breast. It might feel like a guessing game at first, but over time, you’ll learn their language—including lip licking, fussing, putting their hands in their mouths, fidgeting, and showing a loss of interest.

Eventually, your pumping sessions should become easier—and mobile and multitasking, with your wearable pump. You can think of it as the pumping version of wearing your baby while nursing.

Set yourself up for success

One of the top concerns about exclusive pumping pertains to bonding with your baby. While direct breastfeeding provides regular opportunities to go skin-to-skin, make eye contact, cuddle, and more, those precious moments can happen outside of breastfeeding—and don’t automatically happen when nursing. 

The bottom line is that bonding is intentional. Try wearing your baby, reading and singing to your baby, and taking baths together, and remember that other people are able to bond with your baby without direct breastfeeding as well!

Another top concern is meeting your baby’s feeding needs. Just remember that the best way to match supply with demand without pumping too much or too little milk is to watch babies’ feeding cues closely and pump every time they take a bottle. (This may require cluster pumping, as well as doing your best to get second and even third letdowns each pumping session to more closely mimic direct breastfeeding and remove as much milk as possible.)

Traveling while exclusively pumping can present logistical hurdles as well. You’ll need to pack your pump(s), cleaning supplies, bottles, milk bags, a stash of milk if your baby is with you, and a cooler with freezer packs, plus find sanitary places to pump. You might need to advocate for yourself and educate others, including TSA agents, about your rights as a breastfeeding traveler.

And while exclusive pumping isn’t necessarily more expensive than combination feeding, it does involve potentially more gear than exclusive breastfeeding. If navigating insurance coverage and FSAs feels daunting, we’ve pulled together a list of questions to ask your provider to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your plan.

Finally, make sure that you’re getting the support you need throughout your pumping journey, including looking after your mental health, advocating for postpartum support, and learning where to go for lactation support.

Enjoy the perks

While exclusive pumping can involve a lot of planning, cleaning, and sheer determination, some say it also has a unique set of perks—like skipping the phase where your baby bites your nipples!

Exclusive pumping also enables you to know—and even track—how much milk you’re producing and feeding your baby, from one session to the next, as well as over longer stretches of time. (Although some parents find tracking their pumped ounces reassuring, Dr. Laurie Jones, a pediatrician, warns that tracking can become a “booby trap” for moms who want to continue breastfeeding. It can lead to accidental exclusive pumping, she says.)

No matter the cause(s) or reason(s) for exclusive pumping, if you find yourself doing it, you can feel proud that you’ve worked hard to give your baby the gift of your milk.