There is no specific setting for power pumping, as Power Pumping is a technique designed to increase milk supply by mimicking a baby’s natural feeding pattern.
It consists of several short pumping sessions separated by rest intervals, which help stimulate your body to produce more milk. A general rule of thumb for power pumping is to:
i) Start with fast cycle (Speed level 3) with low intensity for stimulation (Intensity level 1-3) about 2-3 minutes or until milk starts flowing.
ii) To mimic the deep, strong-pulls after let-down that drains the breast more effectively, expression at slow speed (Speed level 1-2); and high vacuum Intensity (Intensity level 7-12) of close to your own maximum comfortable vacuum (MCV) Warning: do not increase the vacuum intensity level when you feel pain and uncomfortable. You may do this for 10 minutes.
iii) Rest for 10 mins
A typical power pumping routine is as follows:
Power pumping schedule (1 hour):
• Pump for 20 minutes
• Rest for 10 minutes
• Pump for 10 minutes
• Rest for 10 minutes
• Pump for 10 minutes
Doing this once or twice a day (in addition to your regular pumping schedule) for a few days can help stimulate milk production.
If no milk is expressed during the 20 minutes of pumping, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean your body isn’t producing milk. Power pumping mainly helps to signal your body to increase supply, rather than to collect milk immediately.