Me or the pump?

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

I've been a pumper since right after Molly was born. I had a Medela Symphony in her room at the NICU and I rented one for home. Last month I needed to turn it in because insurance had reached it max for covering their percentage. So I got a PISA. Ever since I got the PISA, I'm getting ml's not oz's. I know there is milk in there. I haven't nursed on the right side for 5 hours (over night) yet I got 2 ml's. I'm using the same flanges, so that shouldn't be the problem. (I did get new tubes also......darn dog) I turn it up all the way and it's not uncomfortable in the least. Maybe I've become used to a higher setting? (picture frantic mom w/ baby in NICU ready for her first feeding and mom praying for milk to drip w/ pump cranked, lol)

So......is it me or the pump? I need ebm.

[Sunnie]

My guess would be the pumped. :(

[minxs]

pump.
I have a comparable problem. At work i can easily have 3 let downs per pumping session (Avent Iq duo). At home where i use the isis manual i can't get a let down to save my life. (With DS1 i only had the isis and managed fine for a year while working full time).
I have to use compression to get milk out (i have little BBs, so that is doable). The other method is nipple stimulation till I get a let down and than pump.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

Oy vey! I want the symphony back. :cries:

This morning I did massaging followed by warm washcloths while I pumped.

[Nipple_nectar]

I'm sorry:( I am a firm believer that the hospital grade pumps are stronger and designed for all day use, how often are you pumping? You can try looking at babys picture or even a tape recording of Molly crying, that worked for me, like a charm!

[whitnessforhim]

I say it is the pump. I went from pumping exclusively with the Medela Symphony to the Medela FreeStyle with zero difference in my output. The FS has been a fabulous pump. I wonder if something is wrong with the pump?

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

I pump about 3 times each day. 2 of those time are on one side while she nurses on the other. So 2 of those times I look right at her. The other time is before I lay down to sleep and she's in her bassinet sandwiched against my bed so I see her then also.

Now, please don't hate me when I say this, but Molly doesn't cry unless she's hurt. She fusses alot, but for her to cry, well something must be wrong.

See I thought maybe something is wrong with the pump too, but I'm not sure. Why oh why must it cost so much to rent that awesome pump.

I don't have a freezer stash at all any more. She's definitely allergic to soy, and to eggs, so all of my stash just went to the milk bank. She has a pedi appointment tomorrow, and unless she's finally gained something, I'm almost positive he'll want to fortify a few feedings each day. I can't do that if I can't pump.

Now I'm stressing. :(

[KerryS]

Have you changed the white membranes recently? They should be replaced every 3 months.

[3girls2luv]

Yes if those membranes are not intact you won't get enough suction. I hope things improve for you PEM.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

I changed them Jan 1. But I'll change them again now.

[3girls2luv]

Make sure they are on there correctly because they can be super sensitive and if they are slightly off then they won't work %100.

[whitnessforhim]

I would think that it is the pump when you say that you turn it all the way up and there is no discomfort. I know women are different with how much suction they can handle but I can't imagine it being at the highest setting and not causing discomfort.

I can only up my FreeStyle up one level from the default level, otherwise I start to sense some real discomfort.

[KerryS]

FWIW, I use a PISA and I always have it at the highest setting and I feel no discomfort whatsoever. The suction at the highest setting is still less suction than what my baby can do. Once in a while, it takes about 30 seconds for the suction to "kick in" - it's hard to explain, but I would say that a good portion of the time, when I first turn it on and start using it, no vacuum is initially formed. It takes about a minute to get the vacuum formed, and I really have to squeeze my breasts and cram my nipples in there to get the suction formed.

Perhaps PISAs just kind of suck. Or not suck. If I wasn't at the tail end of my pumping career (hope to be done in the next 6 weeks), I'd rent a Symphony and see if I notice a difference.

[whitnessforhim]

WoW Kerry I'm sorry but that is a sucky pump.

The power on my little handheld FS pump seems just as amazingly strong as the Symphony. I pumped at the same setting on the Symphony as I do with my FS and feel the same force of suction. Just like with the FS, if I turned the Symphony above the default setting I experienced the same level of discomfort.

Anyway possible to get another pump?

[KerryS]

Honestly, it never really occurred to me that the pump would be bad. It's a brand new PISA, why would it not work the way it's supposed to? I only used a Symphony in the very first week when he was in the NICU, and my milk was delayed in coming in so when I was using it, I was only getting mL, so I didn't really have a way of comparing the performance of the two pumps the way PEM has.

[whitnessforhim]

I remember one poster in the general boards (I think Jodibug) bought the same pump I'm using (FreeStyle) and when she got it out of the box it didn't work at all. There is a possibility that the pump is defective. Not likely I am sure but just a thought.

[KerryS]

It's a brand new PISA, why would it not work the way it's supposed to?

To be clear, the question above was my hypothetical thought process inside my brain, it wasn't directed at you. I know that it's definitely possible that a brand new pump could be defective.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

Ok.....new membrane correctly intact, I'm about to start pumping.

Kerry I have brand new Symphony tubes if you want to test your theory. I'm just guessing you'd have access to a Symphony at work.

I know what you mean about it taking time to work. I'm cramming my nipples in too.

[KerryS]

Thanks, PEM. I have the Symphony parts from my NICU stay. We don't have Symphonys at work, alas (we're getting some in a few months, though). We have one really old, crappy Lactina.

[KatieLou]

* finger crossed* that the new membranes make a differance PEM.

I had major pumping issues with Brody. I pumped very well with my PISA when I was at home and pumping every day. Then I stopped pumping at home because I had no need for it. After that when I was out, like at a wedding or something, I could not pump but a tiny bit, even though the milk was obviously there.

Maybe your body is just so used to the suck of the other pump?

[whitnessforhim]

To be clear, the question above was my hypothetical thought process inside my brain, it wasn't directed at you. I know that it's definitely possible that a brand new pump could be defective.

Sorry.

* finger crossed* that the new membranes make a differance PEM.


Me too!!

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

Well I pumped for 15 mins & got 25 ml's (less than 1 oz). I was going to pump for 20, but Molly woke up. So she latches on & I hear gulp, gulp, gulp. I've pumped 3 times already today & have 2 1/2 oz total.

Will I adjust or am I going to need to get another Symphony? I'm too leary to purchase a freestyle in case I get the same result.

[KatieLou]

Will your insurance not cover the other pump at all?

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

They covered 100% while she was in the NICU, and 50% for 6 months. They will cover a hand pump to purchase.

Hmmmmmmm, If Molly needs fortified ebm again, I'll ask her ped to write a pump rx & maybe they will extend coverage. Keep in mind our insurance co probably shrieks when they here Molly's name. We have case manager, so I'll check w/ her on that.

It's $160 for 3 months.

[zediseot]

I've had the symphony, pisa and the freestyle. I got rid of the pisa after I stopped pumping with ds-- I never liked it. I'm currently renting the symphony. The freestyle is now my backup pump. I definitely get more from the symphony but it's not a huge difference.

[Meredith]

Just out of curiosity, are you using a battery pack, or is it plugged into an outlet? I have an old PIS, and it made a big difference in suction when I had it plugged into an outlet.

[RaisingThemLeft]

What worked for me, when I used an Avent to pump, was to get the milk going manually with my hand, and then start pumping. If I just put the pump to my breast without squeezing a stream out first, nothing would come out, or it would take forever for it to come out. Using that trick, I could get 8 oz on one side.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

Merideth - It's plugged into the wall.

RTL - I'm going to try that.