https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:35:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410562 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 19:26:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 2410562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: I've never had problems with double pumping- but I also haven't pumped all that much with it. Though there are a few different insurance versions and mine isn't the one everyone complains about so much. </p> <p>@Ash: so weird. Yeah yesterday I just lightly held my finger over it. Prob should have turned the suction down a little too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410533 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 18:56:24 +0000 Ash 2410533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I've had the same problem with mine. I just press my finger on it and adjust the suction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410445 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:15:49 +0000 PawPrints 2410445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the PISA (which is different from the insurance version, that one has a lot of issues apparently) and never had any trouble pumping on just one side. I just do like in the photos Shootingstar posted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410434 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:01:06 +0000 PurplePeony 2410434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: yep, I had the same issue with double pumping being fine but not single. I don't know why. I suspected that little hole but covering it didn't do anything for me. I don't know whether it was the membranes or cleaning under the faceplate that helped...or both...or neither and it just resolved a bit on its own. I agree it seems like a dumb design. I've heard you can call Medela CS and they'll help you troubleshoot, so if it keeps up, maybe try that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410267 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:49:12 +0000 Foodnerd81 2410267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: yes that's exactly what mine looks like but maybe the hole is a bit bigger. Maybe it is worn out? I push it in as hard as I can but the air comes out that little hole in the center. I'm just confused why it's designed like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410253 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:37:25 +0000 ShootingStar 2410253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I found this picture online, is this helpful? </p> [attach=2504/16/o0hvud.600x161.Screen-Shot-2016-01-05-at-2.36.43-PM.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410249 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:33:30 +0000 Foodnerd81 2410249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: no, it doesn't- but that's pretty clever! Hoping the manual one is good enough that when I just want one side I can just use that and not worry about this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410228 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:21:41 +0000 ShootingStar 2410228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On the freestyle there's a way to connect the tubing to itself so it's not pumping air and affecting the suction. The PISA doesn't have something like this? </p> <p><a href="http://www.bestbreastpumpreviewsformoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Medela-Swing-Maxi-Tubing.png" rel="nofollow">http://www.bestbreastpumpreviewsformoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Medela-Swing-Maxi-Tubing.png</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410214 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:13:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 2410214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: in fairly sure mine had it when it was brand new. It looks intentional at least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410187 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:39:46 +0000 MrsSRS 2410187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I don't think mine had it originally. I thought it developed over time? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410173 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:34:00 +0000 Foodnerd81 2410173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: @Corduroy: then why did they put the little hole there?? </p> <p>@PurplePeony: it works fine as a double. It's just that weird plug as a single. But I did just get new membranes so going to replace them anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410168 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:27:41 +0000 MrsSRS 2410168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I cover the little hole with scotch tape! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410157 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:17:25 +0000 PurplePeony 2410157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I had the same issue and replacing the membranes helped a lot. I also took off the faceplate and wiped everything down in case dust or debris had gotten in there. The issue started for me when I had been using it about 10 months, and it never went back to the way it was originally, but doing those two things brought it back to an acceptable--if not perfect--level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2410146 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:07:59 +0000 Corduroy 2410146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I used that pump to pump one side for 10 months with LO1 since I only used one side. Covering the hole worked for me. I would think tape would work but I was too lazy to try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2409812 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 09:40:40 +0000 Cole 2409812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you call medela and ask for a new plug? I use mine as a single because without a pumping bra I can't figure out how to pump both sides and I pump like twice a month so it wasn't worth it for me. I haven't had any issues with suction so it seems like it would be worth a try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2409802 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 09:35:55 +0000 Pirouette 2409802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm trying to visualize this issue with the tiny hole, but it's been a while since i've used the pump! I want to say that I plugged the hole for the side i wasn't using but just lowered the strength of the pump so it wasn't too strong, if that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/using-medela-double-electric-as-a-single-pump#post-2409755 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 09:16:34 +0000 Foodnerd81 2409755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the insurance version of the Medela PISA, a double electric. It works just fine as a double, but I have noticed if I ever try to pump just one side the suction sucks (ha, no pun intended!). There is a little plug you are meant to put in the side you aren't using, but there is a tiny hole in the plug. When I pumped one side yesterday (I wanted to leave one side for the baby when she woke up) there was very little suction unless I put my finger over the tiny hole, in which case there was too much suction. Am I doing something wrong here? </p> <p>I just ordered a manual pump through insurance for this kind of situation anyway so it probably won't come up very often anymore anyway, just curious. </p>