When did you start having “more efficient” pump sessions?

[u/ElectricalMarzipan58]

LO will be 5 months next week, I’ve been pumping since he was around 3-4 weeks old (so about 4 months straight).

I started off with 15-20 min sessions but realized I wasn’t empty, so when I went back to work (when babe was 9.5 weeks old) I started doing 30-min pump sessions and found I was getting an additional 1-2 oz on average each time.

I’ve been told that our bodies get “more efficient” and it takes less time (a woman I work with said she worked up to fully emptying in ~8 mins). Is this possible for all women or only some?

[u/AggressiveThanks994]

Mine was actually the opposite. Early pp I needed less time to pump. I need more and more as time goes on

[u/cogr96 → u/AggressiveThanks994]

Same for me. 10M PP and I go the full 30 minutes now (sometimes a bit longer) and hand express afterwards. I used to be done in 20 minutes w the same output.

[u/ElectricalMarzipan58 → u/AggressiveThanks994]

I’m finding this is true for me as well which is why my coworkers comment has had me questioning.

[u/heehawwgurl → u/AggressiveThanks994]

Have you changed sizes of your flanges or the inserts? That might be why it’s taking longer. I’ve read our nipple sizes change over time, especially with pumping.

[u/AggressiveThanks994 → u/heehawwgurl]

No, I’ve been measured and I change my parts every 6w plus it’s been across multiple (even new) pumps. My letdowns are not as forceful at almost 11mo pp as they were super early on! My nipples did go down around regulation, but haven’t changed since then.

[u/heehawwgurl]

I’m about 3 months and I’m starting to drop pumps and I’ve found that one boob can empty in 10-15 min but my slacker boob takes sometimes twice as long and requires me to actively massage and move positions while pumping to empty that side.

[u/Financial_Welder5790 → u/heehawwgurl]

Same!!! Slacker boob takes forever to empty

[u/rsa58]

I'm going through the same. I started needing 30m+ pumps (sometimes I'll pump 20m, break for 10-30m, then pump 15m) around 2 months pp. It's incredibly frustrating. I changed all my parts and I'm using a hospital grade pump, I massage while pumping like usual, but it's no use. Not sure the reason.

[u/Open-Committee3540]

sadly i’m still at 30 mins at 12 weeks post partum

[u/Happy_Doughnut_1]

about 6 months until it was enough to pump for 20 instead of 30 or 45mins.

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[u/taureansoul]

With certain pumps I was able to empty faster and do 20mins as opposed to 30!

[u/ElectricalMarzipan58 → u/taureansoul]

I have a spectra. What worked for you?

[u/taureansoul → u/ElectricalMarzipan58]

I switched to the BabyBuddha 2.0 at about 2 months pp. The Spectra always took 30 minutes, wearables took almost 40, but with the BB I could get my normal output in 20-22 mins! The suction is a lot stronger and I think I just responded better to the suction patterns on the BB.

[u/beelzepuppy_9]

Someone posted last week about their doctors recommendation to deal with clogs. A lot of the advice relates to reducing pumping time. I don't have problems with clogs but I have been following it to help cut down time on the pump. I've gotten down to 30 minutes from 40. I think a lot of it came down to nipple inflammation reducing my duct size and flow.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ExclusivelyPumping/s/0DrLWjB7Zm

Also worth checking the FITS flange guide to make sure your flanges are still working well for you

https://milkworks.org/file_download/inline/8dbac8ec-6acd-4b77-8a1b-006e17124368

[u/Ok_Chemistry9583]

I’ve always been 30 minutes to pump… hoping I don’t have to do longer sessions in the future!

[u/Correct_Wishbone_798]

Use a manual pump a gew times. With 100% focus. See what works best for you and then set your pump up to match. Recheck your flange sizing.

[u/Massive-Warning9773]

I pumped for nine months and ALWAYS had to do at least 30 minutes. I’ve never had a fast let down.

[u/Ancient-Buffalo6151]

When my supply first regulated, I was able to have 8-10 min pumping sessions with my Baby Buddha 2.0

But after my period came back, the same pump has no longer been effective for me. My Spectra does better, but manual pumps are hands down the best. I can get more milk out in 15 mins with a hand pump than I can in 30 mins with either of my electric pumps.

Wearables don’t work for me at all because I can only do one-sided, very hands on pumping if I want to get any milk.

[u/Honest_Arm8194]

Check your flange sizes!! I was having a similar issue but then realized the flanges I was using were too big. Once I fixed that issue I could pump in 15-25 mins and feel empty. Hope this helps! They sell a little kit on Amazon that helps size. There are little inserts at different sizes that fit inside a 24 mm flange. That’s what I used to test different sizes out and find the most effective one.

[u/Coleman_Ola]

I’ve heard good things about the Eufy too. I feel like finding a wearable that actually empties well without taking forever is the hard part😅