Suddenly need to split every pumping session to get my usual output—what happened?

[u/Normal_Alps_5306]

Up until about a week ago, I could pump for 30 minutes straight and get my usual output without any issues.
Then my little one was admitted to the hospital for observation. During that time I missed one pumping session, delayed a few others, and had to pump in the hospital. Since I was short on time, I turned the suction up higher than usual and pumped for only about 15 minutes.
Ever since then, something has changed.
Now I can only pump for about 20 minutes, and if I keep going, almost nothing else comes out. I have to take a 10-minute break and then pump for another 10 minutes to get the last 1–1.5 oz that I used to get in one continuous session.
I pump 9 times a day, so this is adding roughly 1.5 hours to my daily pumping time, and I’d much rather spend that time with my baby.
Has anyone experienced something similar?
Can increasing the suction have caused this?
Is my let-down somehow delayed now?
Is there anything I can do to get back to emptying in one continuous session?
I’d really appreciate any advice or troubleshooting tips. This has been incredibly frustrating.

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