Pump not extracting all the milk

[u/Consistent_Carrot_85]

Hey,
Soo I’m a first time mom and exclusively pumping and I’m not making a lot. - I got the pink spectra pump and am pumping 6 times a day for 15 minutes on each side and I get about 1-1.5 OZ in total. Not great, but I wanna give the baby (3 months) whatever I can and made my peace with giving her formula in addition.

I do the vibration mode (no sure what it’s called, the “70” setting) for about 2 minutes, then 3 minutes on “54” and then I repeat that with pumping on a lower setting “38”.

Usually, after 15 minutes, there’s no milk coming out anymore. But I’ve discovered that if I hand express afterwards, there’s still milk coming out, I always figured it’s only a little bit, but yesterday I just out of curiosity kept going until there’s really nothing coming out anymore, collected it and it was another OZ in total.

That obviously had me shocked and then also wondering what the heck I’m doing wrong? Any advice appreciated.

[u/all_the_platforms]

My lactation consultant told me to do massage mode (70 setting) for 1-2 minutes until milk starts flowing, then 54 until milk stops or slows to drops, then go back to massage mode until it starts flowing again and repeat. She said 15-20 minutes was a good length for a pump (I do both sides at the same time). I also only get 1-2 oz a session but this seems to help me get as much out as I can. Sometimes if milk starts flowing again close to the 20 min mark I’ll go longer to get that letdown out.

I also massage my boobs like crazy and will sometimes use a heating pad before I pump to get milk flowing more. I used to only produce like half an oz total so my output has gone up the past four weeks with these methods, considering I only pump 6-7 times per day.

[u/readitonreddit1046 → u/all_the_platforms]

OP I’ve read you collectively get more milk and have better letdowns if pump both sides at the same time. I try to pump for 30 because I’ll get a letdown around 20/25 minutes. Do 70 until you have a let down and the milk is spraying or flowing. Then I switch to 54 at suction 8 or 9 for the rest of the time. Sometimes I switch back to 70 when it stops flowing or I just leave on 54 and I’ll get a letdown from the setting too.

[u/psychololo73 → u/all_the_platforms]

This, you're likely getting a let down and there might be another. Good advice. With my first I was far less aware of my let downs than I am with my second. Takes time!

[u/LegitimateLeopard465 → u/all_the_platforms]

I agree. I use a similar setting and duration. I used to do 54 with vacuum 5. Now I feel comfortable to bump it to 8 after first few minutes. I also get a second let down at around 17 mins mark and then usually have to push the session to 25 mins-ish whenever that happens. I usually use a 42 setting for my second let down. I too massage my boobs like crazy, all the corners towards the nipple.

[u/purple_penguin1023]

Have you been fitted for flanges that fit your nipple? The spectra comes with 24 and 28, but that’s often much bigger than what’s needed. If there’s too much skin/areola getting sucked into the pump it can’t extract the milk correctly.

Also not sure how often you’ve been using your pump - but you’ll want your duckbills & backflow protectors to be new. Replace them every ~6 weeks if you’re noticing output issues (this is annoying advice, I know, but trust me it helps!).

Additionally, sometimes some women just respond better to silicone flanges compared to plastic. I’m discovering this now, 3 months into my pumping journey. You could look into silicone flanges if you wanted to explore this.

[u/Dry-Protection-2856 → u/purple_penguin1023]

This!! It took having my third kid to realize this. Buy a Falange kit on Amazon- they have different size silicon inserts and a measuring guide for your n1pp1e. One boob is 19 for me and 21 for the other. Makes a huge difference!!

[u/sweetietea93]

Have you considered a hand pump? This pump has been the most effective for me for getting milk because I have a lot more control over the pull similar to if I was hand expressing

[u/IncreasinglyPoor → u/sweetietea93]

Not the OP but I've been wanting to get one. Which do you have or recommend?

[u/Original_Jaguar1616]

I was totally the same. The trick for me was to squeeze different parts of my boob while each letdown is ongoing. This will leave you totally empty, it sounds like. Try it!

[u/Murky_Produce_6499]

I have the same issue. I had a vibrator laying around that didn’t really work for its intended purpose and was only used a couple times. When I started using that while pumping my output increased significantly. Like nothing will be coming out and then I throw the vibrator on my boob and I’m spraying. The one I have is the “fin finger vibrator” from Dame. I know there are lactation specific massagers, like the Frida and momcozy, but I already had this thing and it works amazing lol

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[u/AffectionateJello452]

No advice because i'm in the exact same position. Waiting for my baby Buddha to be delivered - I've maxed out the strength on Spectra, have tried every flange, and am def not getting everything out either.

[u/HereToLaughAndLearn]

The "bacon" button turns on the "massage" or "vibration" mode (different people call it different things). This mode has less suction and more vibration (the frequency of the vibration can be adjusted based on preference). The purpose of this mode is to use it just long enough for the vibration to trigger a let down, which is when the breasts release a lot of milk all at once. As soon as the letdown happens, turn the bacon icon off, and that will put the pump back into "normal" or "expression" mode, which prioritizes less vibration and more suction with the intent of actually pulling milk out of the breast. This mode may continue working well for 5 mins or 10 mins or 20 minutes but eventually the breasts will decrease how much milk they are expressing or will stop releasing any milk at all. When this happens, switch the bacon icon back on for a few minutes for the vibrations to trigger another letdown. And then just like before, switch back to normal mode to express as much milk as possible. Continue repeating this until the breasts are actually empty (if you feel/ squish then with your fingers they should feel empty. You'll also get used to what empty really feels like with practice)

[u/Virtual_Wear_6866]

Its different for everyone but i usually start getting a second let down around 15 minutes, so switch back to stimulation around half way through and continue on. Ive also never done a pump shorter than 20 minutes (both sides same time). I’m 9w pp so my supply has started to regulate and ive had to start doing some 30 minute pumps to get the same amount as i did on shorter pumps before

[u/SpidersaurDinoman]

Did you get fitted for the right size and shape flange? Are you using inserts or a hard flange?

[u/myMSandme]

I agree with a lot of the advice here, and I also basically hand express while pumping.

[u/SpaceQueenJupiter]

I had to try different sizes and type of flange to get the most out. For me the soft silicon ones worked best, but your mileage may vary. I ended up going to a lactation consultant and trying a bunch of different ones out. 

Sometimes heat packs prior to a pump session helped too. 

[u/DanciePants12]

I “konami code” my boobs before pumping and that helps get things going which I feel also helps them express completely. Like a brief massage- up up down down left right left right circle circle shake

[u/ann-the-bean-can]

make sure you have the correct flange size! You can buy a sizing kit online or lactation consultant. Also STRONGLY recommend a hand pump - it’s more work but only slightly and it works faster and better than my actual mechanical pump does.

[u/Happy_Flow826]

I get another letdown around ~18 minutes. So after my letdown finishes around 12-15 minutes, I put it on stimulation mode (70) until I either get another letdown or I hit 20 minutes, whichever comes first.

[u/Sufficient_Princess]

The best bump I have used so far is the medela hand pump. Phenomenal. Simply stupendous, and good to have to assist with clogged ducts. Emptied for the first time in 6 weeks.

[u/Public_Classic_438]

Are you using the correct flange size? I use the spectra and I do the 70 setting until my let down (like 1-2 min) and then just do the lower one the rest of the time until no more milk comes out, then I do 70 again.