Why Pumping Should Be Rare: Returning to the Baby-at-the-Breast Design

Ashley Strengholt
Nov 10
5 min read

Breastfeeding is one of the most finely tuned biological systems in the human body - a perfect balance of hormones, instinct, and connection between mother and baby. It was never meant to be mechanical, timed, or measured in ounces. Yet modern culture has elevated the breast pump to near-essential status, with many mothers believing they must pump daily, store a large freezer stash, or bottle-feed expressed milk to be “successful.”

The truth is simpler - and gentler. For most breastfeeding mothers, pumping should be rare and used only in specific circumstances. The healthiest and most sustainable breastfeeding relationship happens directly at the breast, not through tubes and bottles.

The Natural Design: Supply and Demand

Breastfeeding works through a dynamic biological feedback system. When milk is removed, prolactin and oxytocin rise, stimulating production; when milk remains in the breast, production slows (Kent et al., 2012). This supply-and-demand loop is precise: the baby signals hunger, the mother responds, and her body makes just enough milk for that unique child.

When a mother introduces unnecessary pumping - especially while also feeding directly - she artificially increases “demand.” Her body may then produce far more than the baby needs, causing discomfort, engorgement, and eventually oversupply. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine notes that excessive pumping can trigger hyperlactation and increase the risk of blocked ducts and mastitis (ABM Protocol #32 2020).

Why Most Mothers Don’t Need to Pump

1. The false sense of low supply

Many mothers worry they “aren’t producing enough” because they see small volumes in a pumping bottle. However, research shows that infants extract milk far more efficiently than a pump ever can (Kent et al., 2012). A pump measures suction, not a baby’s skill, and thus can easily give a misleading impression of low supply. Unfortunately, this can spiral into unnecessary supplementing or “power pumping,” which further confuses the supply-demand balance.

2. Oversupply and its complications

Over-pumping is a major cause of oversupply (hyperlactation). Studies and clinical protocols document that excessive milk production increases the risk of engorgement, recurrent plugged ducts, nipple trauma, and mastitis (Amir & Peters, 2012; ABM Protocol #32, 2020). Babies of mothers with oversupply often choke, pull off the breast, or experience gas and reflux from rapid milk flow (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). The resulting cycle - baby fusses, mom pumps more - can worsen the issue.

3. Stress and anxiety

Modern motherhood already carries heavy emotional demands. Feeling pressured to produce a large freezer stash can heighten anxiety and guilt. A 2021 study in Maternal and Child Health Journal found that mothers who frequently pumped reported higher stress and lower breastfeeding satisfaction compared with those who primarily nursed at the breast (Felice et al., 2021). Breastfeeding is meant to nurture both baby and mother, not become a source of tension.

4. Disruption of natural cues

Direct breastfeeding allows continuous two-way communication between mother and child. Babies cue hunger, comfort, and growth needs; the mother’s hormones and milk composition respond in real time. Pumping can interrupt this rhythm by shifting feeding to a mechanical schedule rather than the baby’s natural pattern (Uvnäs-Moberg et al., 2020). This may reduce skin-to-skin contact, slow milk regulation, and even affect bonding.

5. Potential nutrient and immune differences

While expressed breast milk remains superior to formula, it is not identical to milk consumed fresh from the breast. Studies have shown that freezing and thawing can slightly reduce certain immune cells, enzymes, and antibodies (Goldman, 2014). More importantly, when a baby feeds directly, their saliva interacts with the mother’s nipple, signaling the body to adjust antibody composition to that baby’s current microbiome and exposure (Cacho & Lawrence, 2017). No pump can replicate that exchange.

The Myth of the “Freezer Stash”

Social media often glamorizes images of deep freezers filled with neatly labeled milk bags. But for most mothers, such a stash is unnecessary. Lactation experts emphasize that a small emergency supply - just enough for brief separations or a day or two at work - is more than sufficient (La Leche League International [LLLI], 2023). Building large inventories leads to unnecessary pumping sessions, oversupply, and milk waste (Lactation Room, 2022).

The concept of “exclusive breast milk feeding” (EBMF) is often confused with “exclusive breastfeeding” (EBF). A baby who drinks breast milk exclusively from bottles is indeed a breast-milk baby - but not an exclusively breastfed baby. The difference matters. True exclusive breastfeeding involves the baby feeding at the breast, engaging with their mother’s body, and maintaining that vital hormonal and emotional feedback loop.

When Pumping Is Appropriate

Pumps are valuable tools - but like all tools, they are meant for specific jobs. Evidence supports pumping in a few clear cases:

Separation for work or school: When a mother must be away from her baby, pumping helps maintain supply and ensures milk for feedings during absence (U.S. Office on Women’s Health, 2023).
Medical necessity: If the infant is premature, hospitalized, or temporarily unable to latch, expressed milk can bridge the gap until direct breastfeeding is possible (WHO, 2023).
Maternal illness or medication: When temporary weaning is required for medical reasons, pumping maintains supply until resuming breastfeeding (ABM Protocol #15, 2017).

Even in these cases, lactation consultants recommend expressing only what is needed for the next 24 hours plus a modest buffer - avoiding large stockpiles that can upset regulation or expire unused.

Practical Guidance for Mothers

Feed the baby, not the freezer. Follow your baby’s cues; frequent nursing in early weeks naturally builds supply.
If you feel overly full, hand express briefly instead of long pumping sessions - this relieves pressure without stimulating more milk.
Avoid comparing pump volumes. Each mother’s physiology differs; a pump’s output is not a measure of success.
Watch for oversupply signs: persistent engorgement, leaking, painful let-down, or baby choking at the breast. Seek professional support early.
Maintain perspective. The goal of breastfeeding is nourishment and connection - not perfect ounce counts.

The Heart of Breastfeeding

The breast pump is a modern marvel - but also a cultural symbol of productivity, convenience, and control. Sometimes, those values conflict with the natural rhythm of motherhood. Successful breastfeeding isn’t about how much milk can be pumped, stored, or measured. It’s about a mother and baby learning each other - responding, bonding, resting, thriving.

For most mothers, the best “pumping schedule” is no schedule at all. Baby at the breast, mother attuned, supply meeting demand - this is how the system was designed, and it works beautifully when left alone. Pumps have their place, but they should serve the breastfeeding relationship, not replace it.

References

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). (2020). ABM clinical protocol #32: Management of hyperlactation. Breastfeeding Medicine, 15(9), 575-580. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2020.29172.aba
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). (2017). ABM clinical protocol #15: Analgesia and anesthesia for the breastfeeding mother. Breastfeeding Medicine, 12(9), 500-506.
Amir, L. H., & Peters, K. L. (2012). Breast pain: Causes, diagnosis and management. Women’s Health, 8(6), 677-688.
Cacho, N. T., & Lawrence, R. M. (2017). Innate immunity and breast milk. Frontiers in Immunology, 8, 584.
Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Hyperlactation (breast milk oversupply). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hyperlactation
Felice, J. P., et al. (2021). Pumping, stress, and breastfeeding satisfaction among U.S. mothers. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25(3), 381-390.
Goldman, A. S. (2014). The immune system in human milk and the developing infant. Breastfeeding Medicine, 9(11), 527-529.
Kent, J. C., et al. (2012). Breastmilk production in lactating women: Physiology and determinants. Journal of Human Lactation, 28(4), 458-468.
La Leche League International. (2023). Why breastfeeding parents don’t need a large freezer stash. https://llli.org
Lactation Room. (2022). Why breastfeeding and pumping parents don’t need a large freezer stash.
U.S. Office on Women’s Health. (2023). Pumping and storing breast milk. https://www.womenshealth.gov
Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Ekström-Bergström, A., et al. (2020). Maternal oxytocin: A key component in adaptation of the mother and infant during lactation. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1452.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Breastfeeding and expressed breast milk for newborns in special care units.