Breasts Don't Feel Empty after Pumping? Here's What to Do (2024)

Are you struggling with not feeling empty after pumping? Here’s what you can do to empty your breasts as much as possible when you pump.

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What does it mean for breasts to be empty?

You might think that you want to pump until your breasts are “empty,” meaning that you’ve removed all of the milk in them.

However, it’s not possible to truly empty your breasts because they are always making milk.

One analogy that I like from Kellymom is that just like it’s impossible to fully empty a running sink (because water is always coming into it), it’s impossible to completely empty a breast. More milk is always being made and flowing into it.

So what most people mean when they talk about pumping until “empty” is to get the majority of the milk that’s in your breasts out.

Why do you want your breasts to be empty?

Making sure that you remove as much milk you can when you pump has multiple advantages.

1. Get more milk

This one is obvious. The emptier your breast, the more milk you’ll collect for your baby.

2. Maintain/increase your milk supply

When your breasts are full, milk production may slow down. When your breasts are empty, milk production may speed up.

Therefore, removing as much milk as possible also may help you produce more milk, thereby increasing your milk supply.

3. Avoid mastitis

Consistently and frequently removing all of the milk in your breasts can help you avoid clogged ducts and mastitis.

How do I know whether my breasts are as empty as possible?

In general, if you gently shake your breasts after pumping and they feel mostly soft and there’s no heaviness of milk sitting in them, you’re probably more or less “empty.”

What about when your milk stops spraying?

It does NOT mean your breasts are empty when the milk stops spraying when you’re pumping.

Your milk usually lets down shortly after you start pumping (or nursing). Once the letdown finishes, you might notice that your milk output slows to a dribble.

This does not mean there’s no milk left. If you keep pumping, your milk may let down (and start spraying) again. I usually got about one-half to one-quarter in my second letdown as I had gotten in my first, which isn’t insignificant.

What do you do you if you’re struggling to get as empty as possible?

Here are some things that you can do if you can feel a lot of milk still in your breasts when you’re done pumping.

1. Replace pump parts

Make sure that your breast pump parts don’t need to be replaced.

They stop working as well over time, and sometimes just replacing a valve or membrane can make a huge difference in suction.

2. Check your flange sizes

Make sure you have the correct size breast shields. If either too much or too little of your nipple is being pulled in, milk production won’t be optimal.

3. Do hands-on pumping

Use breast compressions (also known as hands-on pumping) when you pump to push milk out of your milk ducts.

You can also try doing hand expression at the end of your pumping session (more on how to do this here).

4. Consider lecithin

Consider using lecithin – many lactation consultants recommend it to prevent clogged ducts because it may make milk less “sticky.”

Some people find that it also helps them empty faster (more on lecithin here).

5. Check your settings

When pumping, use the highest vacuum level setting that is comfortable for you (a higher suction that causes you pain will not help).

6. Try to get additional letdowns

After your first letdown finishes, see if you can get another letdown by putting your pump back in massage/letdown mode.

7. Consider vibration

Try using vibration – it seems to help some women keep the milk flowing.

You can try it with an electric toothbrush or whatever else you have that vibrates. If vibration helps you, you could consider investing in a lactation massager.

Check LaVie’s warming massager out here.

Have you struggled with feeling empty after pumping? Share your experience in the comments!

References

Bonyata, Kelly, IBCLC. “Frequently Asked Questions about Milk Production.” Kellymom https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/milkproduction-faq/