https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 04 Aug 2026 01:14:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-pump-with-your-ameda#post-1336015 Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:31:06 +0000 mdf106 1336015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I start with the suction and speed at their highest setting. After I get a steady drip, I lower the speed to a medium speed, keeping the suction at the maximum. When the milk stops coming, I go back to the maximum speed until I get a second letdown, and then go back tot he medium speed until the milk stops. I skip the second letdown if I don't need more milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-pump-with-your-ameda#post-1331644 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:12:34 +0000 danda 1331644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always feel like I'm not doing it right...but I had struggles with hospital Ameda and Medela pumps right after she was born, so I think it's just how I respond. I have it at 100% speed, 30-50% suction then crank to 20% speed, 100% suction after let down. If it has been a long time with no let down, I fiddle with the controls and might alternate 50% speed, 50-70% suction with 100% speed, 30-50% suction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-pump-with-your-ameda#post-1331442 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:24:16 +0000 autumnlove 1331442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-pump-with-your-ameda#post-1331435 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:21:20 +0000 Zbug 1331435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of the time I have the suction and speed at ~75% and just leave it like that. I usually pump while LO is eating on the other side (and don't pump very often), and it's too hard to mess with the dials with all that going on. I used to adjust the speed but never really noticed a difference in output. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-pump-with-your-ameda#post-1331415 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:16:16 +0000 edelweiss 1331415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i start with the highest speed, and turn the suction to about 50-55%. at certain times i have played with slowing down the speed and increasing the suction per the pump's manual, but usually i just keep the initial settings for the entire pumping session (including first letdown, boring gap period, and second letdown). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-pump-with-your-ameda#post-1331325 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 13:56:26 +0000 septca 1331325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I start with the speed at the highest level and the suction at 0. I gradually turn up the suction until I feel it working (about 1/2 way). (I have found that I need to do it gradually to get my nips to "catch" - if I quickly turn up the suction it's not always a good fit.) As soon as I feel my letdown, I turn the speed down to about 1/2 way. When my milk starts to wane, I gradually increase the suction until my milk flow stops.</p> <p>So...<br /> beginning of pump: speed at 100%, suction starts at 0% increasing gradually to about 50-60%<br /> after letdown: speed at 50%, suction increases to about 80-90%, sometimes 100% </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-pump-with-your-ameda#post-1331008 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:31:50 +0000 autumnlove 1331008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you turn up the suction and speed to high and back down to low/medium after a few minutes? </p>