https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:52:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289722 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 12:59:29 +0000 shopaholic 2289722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the tips! I will call my insurance again and see about renting a hospital grade pump! I forgot about that!</p> <p>@shellio: I never knew you could have your pump tested! Good option! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289371 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 12:28:09 +0000 mrsrain 2289371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could also need to replace the membranes. If they're not fitting well you won't get much suction at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289370 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 12:25:16 +0000 MamaCate 2289370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing my LC recommended was compressions while pumping and sent this video which was really helpful:<br /> <a href="http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html" rel="nofollow">http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289343 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 11:01:26 +0000 plantains 2289343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A hot shower with massage followed by pumping. You could also try again for pump via insurance. Instead of getting reimbursed you order through medical equipment company. You need a prescription from your doctor for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289328 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 10:08:35 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2289328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried compressions while you pump? Sometimes you have to push/squeeze quite hard to get a stubborn spot to come out. I'd also make sure to rubber pieces are in good conditions and maybe try different sized phalanges. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289275 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 08:15:12 +0000 Tidybee 2289275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds a little like engorgement to me. My boobs were enormous and rock hard and pumping did not really alleviate the engorgement or produce much. I found that just massage with wet hot wash cloths and hand expressing in the shower helped the pain and I was able to pump afterward and still get plenty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289261 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 07:32:15 +0000 shellio 2289261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second renting a hospital pump. You can find info through the Medela website and you might find a place really close to home that rents them - hospitals and pharmacies but also sometimes children's stores and Walgreens rent them. Call first and see if they have any Symphonys in stock. </p> <p>When I was pumping for my first, when he was 8 days old my Medela Freestyle just quit working and I was devastated because I thought my milk had dried up. I saw a lactation consultant who had a device to test the strength of a pump's suction. If you've seen an LC or can find one you could have your pump tested by them. </p> <p>Also, one more note - I don't know how your insurance company works but the way mine supplied the pump (different pregnancy than I mentioned above), I didn't get reimbursed, instead I had to order one through a medical equipment company that worked with the ins company. I think they had a couple of options including a Medela, different name but the equivalent to the Pump in Style. When I ordered one it arrived quickly, within a couple of days I think. I like Medela because all my parts still work as you mentioned. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289231 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 05:50:01 +0000 BSB 2289231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no real experience but I was talking to my sister and I told her that I was feeling pain but wasn't sure if it was early signs of an infection or engorgement. I did make a rookie mistake and went 12 hours between a session. Oops. My sister suggested trying to hand express in the shower. Not sure what did it but it helped. Oh, I am using a hospital pump (medela symphony) because my babies are in the nicu and my insurance covered most of my rental.<br /> I do need to get a pump and need to decide between the Medela PISA, Ameda Purely Yours Ultra, Spectra S2 or Hygeia G. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289229 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 05:36:57 +0000 Torchwood 2289229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Though for what it's worth, I never felt likes output matched my fullness early on. I get more now when I feel pretty empty than I did when I was super engorged early on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289228 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 05:24:43 +0000 Torchwood 2289228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try renting a hospital pump. They're supposed to be the best, so you could see if you had better luck with it. If not, you haven't wasted the investment in a new one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289225 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 04:10:42 +0000 regberadaisy 2289225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sometimes if I'm too engorgrd I do need to hand express first.<br /> That being said I used an ameda my first time, Medela PISA the second and will probably go with a different closed system if we have a third. I'm not a big fan of the Pisa. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weakbad-pump-or-engorgement#post-2289223 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 03:24:36 +0000 shopaholic 2289223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm on Day 3 with LO#2 and man am I feeling so engorged! I busted out my Medela Pump In Style to get a little relief and I was surprised at how little I could pump. I only got a few drops on one side and maybe 1-2 mL on the other after 10 min.</p> <p>It brought me back to LO#1 and my lack of pumping. I always had more success and output from hand-expression. I could rarely get more than 2 oz. on each side. My sister had mentioned once that my pump seemed not nearly as good/strong as her Medela and Ameda. I could turn the pressure all the way to max and hurt myself/suction marks, etc. but still not really get much milk. </p> <p>Anyone else experience something like this and find out it was because of the pump? I ended up not getting reimbursed by insurance for my pump last time (despite being told we get the free pump, etc.) and conflicted whether I should try to get another pump from insurance this time. And if I do, if I should try another Medela (I have all the bottles, etc.) or try a different brand? </p>