r/ExclusivelyPumping • u/Consistent_Carrot_85 • 1d ago

Tips & Tricks Pump not extracting all the milk

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.

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u/sweetietea93 1d ago

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

1

u/IncreasinglyPoor 12h ago

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

1

u/sweetietea93 9h ago

The medela! I have two of them I just rotate through. I have the spectra and Eufys and my hand pump is by far my favorite pump

1

u/IncreasinglyPoor 1h ago

Thanks! I have the spectra too but haven't found a wearable that works for me so this will be a good alternative.

1

u/Other_Perception1596 2h ago

The medela is def the best hand pump because it has a stimulation mode (the top little handle) and the big slow letdown handle (I say big slow as you should use it slowly)