Medela PIS issues, need help!!!

[stephbrownthinks]

Hi!
I have a Medela PIS (or POS as I affectionately like to call it) that is pooping out on me all of a sudden.

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Backstory:

This is my first baby/nursing/pumping experience. My son is 12 weeks old. I breastfeed mostly and pump while at work and when he decides to go a long time between feedings.

For the last week or so I've been feeling that the pump suction wasn't as great. I read on here about replacing the membranes (the pump is only 3 months old and I bought it brand new). They seemed to have a tight fit to me but I went ahead and just bought one of those accessory kits that comes with new horns/flanges/membranes and bottles. I thought it'd be nice to have extras anyways.

I also replaced the batteries in the battery pack even though the suction seemed the same (worse than normal) whether I was using the battery pack or using it plugged in.
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Today on my way to work while I was pumping in the car (using the new stuff) after a few minutes the suction got less and less and the pump got quieter and quieter and just stopped working all together. This is the first time it has happened.

I made sure all the tubes were connected, the horns had a tight fit on my breasts etc. Everything was fine, it just wouldn't work! I tried turning it on and off, NOTHING. It was like it wasn't connected to a power supply at all.

I packed everything away and when I got to my desk I tried turning it back on and it worked. YEAY!

Fast forward to my 10am pumping break: the exact same thing happened. After about 7 minutes I started feeling like the suction wasn't as great. Then it slowly got less and less until the pump stopped sucking all together. I flipped it on and off a few times, NOTHING. After I was finished washing the parts I tried turning it on again and it worked (or sounded like it worked) fine.

Any experience with this? How about experience with Medela customer service? I can't really call right now since I'm at work. If they want me to turn on the pump I wont be able to. I'm off for the next three days so I guess I'll be alright, but come Monday I need the pump working!

Aside from what I feed the baby I'm usually able to freeze an additional 12-16oz a day so I'm worried that not pumping for three days will mess that up too.

Thoughts?

[Adaline'sMama]

I have a PIS and I love it, but it has worked so far. I would call Medela when you are off work, becuase they probably will want to go through troubleshooting with you. They are really good about replacing pumps that dont work. After you pump and wash the horns and stuff do you let them dry 100% before using it again?

Personally, I would go get a hand pump continue pumping for the days your pump isnt working. (or continue to use your electric pump until they send you a relialble one). Its good to have a hand pump as a backup anyway (for power failure, broken pumps, quick use in a bathroom or somewhere if you just want to get a little bit out to keep from leaking).

[JudiAU]

I have a lot of experience with a Pisa and never had that happen. Using the car adapter usually increases the pressure. The only time I've ever had either fail was when I tried to use the battery pack and Im inclined to blame rechargeable barreries. Although it did happen twice with different batteries It sounds like there is either a problem with pump or your power supply cord.

I'd contact meddle asap.

[emilysmama]

I have lots of experience with Medela's customer service. It is all positive. Call their 800 number ASAP.

First, ask them to help you trouble shoot over the phone. (I'd tell you what they will say, but it's been a long time, and I might not get it correctly.) That may very well be enough.

If not, then make sure you get a receipt. There is a one year warranty. In fact it is the best warranty I have ever encountered. They don't send you a brand new pump, but they send you a remanufactured pump, which in my experience has been good enough for me. (They only had to send me once, when the pump motor out and out died. All of the other times, we just troubleshot it over the phone to resolve the suction problems.) Plus, and this is why I was so impressed, they make it so easy. First, they sent the replacement pump to me right away, on the honor system. So I think the pump came to me by second day air. It was really fast. So they do not require you to send your pump to them before they will ship it out. (I did send the pump out later that week, but I appreciated that they sent the replacement pump first.) I don't think they paid for return shipping, but I am not certain, but honestly, I didn't care because most companies make you pay for return shipping. So the return process I found was very mindful of the challenges of a pumping mother. (This was 5-6 years ago, however, so I don't know if they are still as friendly.)

One more thing about the pumping in the car. read the adapter very carefully. Does it say 9V or 12 V (or volts)? Then read the front face of your pump very carefully (or you can ask Medela to help you figure out how to find out). Does it say 9V or 12 V? I had a 12V pump, but the 9V adapter. Not enough suction. So I exchanged for the 12V adapter and suction was fine.

Or if pumping in the car just out and out quits, then my husband figured out that the adaptor has a fuse that screws out. We found that the fuse was blown. Quick trip to the hardware store, and bought a fuse of the same amperage rating, and then everything was fine again, for the cost of less than a dollar.