Suction on the Pump in Style advanced?

[DragonflyMom]

I have been using a Lactina hospital grade pump.

My PIS arrived today in the mail (for reference is the tan bag) and Im having issues.

There is like, no suction...at least not compared to the lactina and after 5 minutes of pumping I had MAYBE two tsp of milk, with the lactina I would have had atleast 2-3 ounces from each breast.

I ended up stopping and switching back to the lactina because I was overdue to pump anyway and was hurting

Do I just need to give it more time or is my pump defective?

I called the hotline and they went through the parts with me but it made no difference in the suction.

[Adaline'sMama]

I found that the flanges that came with my PIS were the incorrect size for my nipples. Your nipple should be pulled straight forward and the milk should squirt out not up or down. If your nipple is going up towards the top of the flange and the milk is going against the flange, then the flange is likely too small and you need the bigger size.

Regardless, its not going to get out as much milk as a the hospital grade pump, but if you were getting 2-3 oz before, Id say you should be able to get at least half that amount with the PIS.

Good Luck

[hildare]

the PIS i have (sorry if you've read instructions and know this already)will do a stimulation for a few minutes to get you to let down and then move to the full suction.  pressing the button bypasses the stimulation mode.  could you be in stimulation mode>?  it won't pull milk out very well, just provide.. stimulation.  if you've already let down, you don't need to do that first.  i think the stim lasts two minutes otherwise.

Edited by hildare - 10/25/11 at 8:20am

[AnkaJones]

If you bring your PIS to the rental station, most of them will test the suction and check your setup for you to make sure you don't have a defective pump.

[DragonflyMom]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

Regardless, its not going to get out as much milk as a the hospital grade pump, but if you were getting 2-3 oz before, Id say you should be able to get at least half that amount with the PIS.
Good Luck

Sooooo...Im exclusively pumping right now due to my son being in the NICU and not being allowed to BF due to needing his milk thickened...Am I right to assume that this means I wont be able to maintain my supply with the PIS??

Originally Posted by hildare 

the PIS i have (sorry if you've read instructions and know this already)will do a stimulation for a few minutes to get you to let down and then move to the full suction.  pressing the button bypasses the stimulation mode.  could you be in stimulation mode>?  it won't pull milk out very well, just provide.. stimulation.  if you've already let down, you don't need to do that first.  i think the stim lasts two minutes otherwise.

I had been using the Symphony when Im at the hospitals nursing lounge and it has the same "expression" mode, I love it...but yeah, thats not the issue with the PIS.

I think my boobs are too used to the hospital grade pump :(

Originally Posted by AnkaJones 

If you bring your PIS to the rental station, most of them will test the suction and check your setup for you to make sure you don't have a defective pump.

Its not a rental though, the Lactina is...the PIS was sent to me by my insurance and is mine to keep.

[Adaline'sMama]

You need to keep the hospital pump if you are EPing. For now, until the Medela is working and getting you the amount you need to express each day. Are you expressing around 30 oz a day right now? You CAN do that with the PIS, but I recommend pumping with the Lactina and then pumping again with the PIS in between pumps and the eventually switching to the PIS when your supply is a little higher. The thing is, its going to take longer with the PIS than it is with the Lactina, and right now you dont want to do anything to risk your decreasing your supply. Congrats on your new baby Hopefully your NICU stay is short and sweet. Good job for doing this extra work now so that your baby can have your milk later. Im sure its not easy, pumping is a PIA.

[DragonflyMom]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

You need to keep the hospital pump if you are EPing. For now, until the Medela is working and getting you the amount you need to express each day. Are you expressing around 30 oz a day right now? You CAN do that with the PIS, but I recommend pumping with the Lactina and then pumping again with the PIS in between pumps and the eventually switching to the PIS when your supply is a little higher. The thing is, its going to take longer with the PIS than it is with the Lactina, and right now you dont want to do anything to risk your decreasing your supply. Congrats on your new baby Hopefully your NICU stay is short and sweet. Good job for doing this extra work now so that your baby can have your milk later. Im sure its not easy, pumping is a PIA.

Its going on three weeks right now and Im getting about 38-42 ounces a day, sometime a bit more sometimes a bit less, but for the past two weeks I have been maintaining at about 38.

[Adaline'sMama]

Dang lady. Thats awesome. Have they given you any idea how much longer you have to stay? It would be nice if when he leaves the hospital, you can be done with the hospital pump, right?

I just realized that I told you what I would do backwards. Id pump with the PIS and then make sure to pump with the Lactina afterwards to ensure you are getting all the milk. If it gets to the point where you are getting the same amount as you are now with just the PIS, then you can stop using the hospital pump. Ive never EPed, but that just seems to make the most sense to me. I would, however, do the nipple check and make sure your pump has the right size flanges for you.

[DragonflyMom]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

Dang lady. Thats awesome. Have they given you any idea how much longer you have to stay? It would be nice if when he leaves the hospital, you can be done with the hospital pump, right?
I just realized that I told you what I would do backwards. Id pump with the PIS and then make sure to pump with the Lactina afterwards to ensure you are getting all the milk. If it gets to the point where you are getting the same amount as you are now with just the PIS, then you can stop using the hospital pump. Ive never EPed, but that just seems to make the most sense to me. I would, however, do the nipple check and make sure your pump has the right size flanges for you.

Right now we are just waiting on him lol, he has to go at least 48 hours with no oxygen de-saturations below 93 for them to consider discharging him, we have gotten there 4 times now and then he ends up de-sating at the last minute.

Im hoping he is home by the end of the week, hoping :(

And Im not sure about the pumping afterwards.

He is on rice cereal to help with reflux (they think thats whats causing the de-sats) and they are cautious about letting me breastfeed...which is depressing :(

Plus Im not a fan of rice cereal period...yuck.

I will try your advice with the pumping, I worked so hard to get my supply established after the c-section and NICU troubles (I did not get to hold him for 5 hours and I was too depressed to pump for the first two nights) that Im terrified Ill mess it up.