So I have recently been using the Medela pump in style pump. I have noticed after pumping for 20-25 mins I will express and milk will still squirt out even though nothing was coming out while pumping. Should I be pumping longer? Am i using the wrong size shield? I pump a very low amount to begin with so every drop literally counts!
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Hmmm... Maybe your breasts need more stimulation? What speed do you pump at? Maybe you could try increasing the speed?
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@NerdBee: Oh I forgot to mention I use the highest speed possible
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if it's possible try a different pump. i found i got barely anything with the medela, but it was a completely different story when i used the avent.
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You might need bigger flanges, but hand expression is more effective than the pump (sadly!) I would try pumping a little longer, but honestly, I could always get more out after I finished pumping.
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@Lindsay05: oh! That's really weird then. I also use the pump in style and never experienced that.
How much milk do you pump in the 20-25 minutes? Does the milk express right away after you've stopped pumping? If so, I would pump longer to see what happens.
How is the suction? Is the suction strong or weak? The suction on my pump got kind of weak recently so I bought new valves and membranes and it improved a lot.
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@bebefly: hmmm interesting. I just paid 400 bucks on this one
@prettylizy: i guess it wouldnt hurt to try bigger flanges. I figured some should still come out but to squirt out must been theres still some pressure in there lol
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@Lindsay05: fwiw, I have the medela Freestyle and loved it. How long have you been pumping for? I found the longer I used it the more used to it my body became. Good luck!!
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@NerdBee: well I pump 2 hours after I breastfeed DD and only get 2.5-3 ozs. My main reason for pumping was to try and increase my supply. It feels like the suction is pretty good. My nipples sure hurt afterwards!
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@prettylizy: I had a cheap pump before and figured I will be mostly pumping from now on so been using it for just a couple weeks now.
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@Lindsay05: 2.5-3 oz is pretty good output if you are EBFing and what you are pumping is just extra. I've been struggling with a decreased supply ever since I got my period again and I can pump only 0.5-1 oz after feeding LO
I have found that the pump is not as effective when the breast shield is too big. But if you have no other ideas, it doesn't hurt to try since they are not too expensive.
Have you tried massaging while pumping? Maybe you have the speed on too high?
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Shield size has a lot to do with output, at least for me. Those standard size that came with the pump were way too small for me. If you are hurting that much after pumping and are experiencing a lot of friction during pumping, you may need a bigger size shield. Here is what Medela has to say about finding the properly fitting shield size: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/13/choosing-a-correctly-fitted-breastshield
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11 comments