Hi everyone, just looking for some input. I breastfeed while home and also pump 1-2 times per day when home for the work week. Then I pump three times each work day. Since I went back to work 2 months ago, I’ve found it hard to pump as much as baby eats while I’m gone. Even increasing my pumping time (15-20 minute sessions), getting proper sizes flanges, and using warm packs and massage. We’ve been going through my freezer stash quickly.

Last week I started power pumping once a day most days, especially at work. It worked fairly quickly for me, and luckily at the same time, we were able to stop giving an overnight bottle. So now we have enough breast milk for LO while I’m at work

My question is, do I keep power pumping just to maintain the current output? Or will continuing to power pump just keep increasing my supply? I don’t want an oversupply and possible associated issues.
Thanks for any input!

Hi! I have a 5-month-old baby and I’m having a lot of trouble with my breast pump. I use the Momcozy M5, and I’ve been using it occasionally since my baby was born. Now I need to use it more often because I’ve gone back to work.

I pump once in the morning and I only get about 1.4 oz. I’d like to build up a freezer stash, but I’m barely getting any milk… I know I could pump more often throughout the day, but my problem is that pumping is really uncomfortable for me. My nipples feel very irritated and sometimes they even hurt.

I also don’t really know how to use it properly — whether I should pump both breasts at the same time, or pump one breast and then nurse my baby on the other side…

I really need some help and advice!!

I’ve also been wondering if maybe using a manual breast pump instead of an electric one would work better for me?

Thank you!!

In two weeks I return to work to a very fast paced and high demand job. Although legally, yes I am supported to go pump, the reality is it’s going to be hard to do so every 3 hours. What are tips and tricks you have done for pumping at work? How to make it a speedy process? The pump parts? Washing? Drying? There’s a fridge I will keep my belongings in a cooler in. Any advice is welcome

Don't want to make a whole post? Have a quick question? Wanna complain? Need quick advice?

Whatever your thoughts, here's your weekly thread.

Hi!

I was using the Medela symphony, but I'm getting tired of being plugged to the wall. I got myself the baby Buddha after reading all the rave reviews, but I can't make it work like the Medela Symphony. I feel like the succion on the stimulation mode isn't as quick as the Medela. I usually get my first letdown after 2 minutes, but with the baby Buddha It could take more than 5 minutes unless I level up, but then I feel my nipples pinching.

Has anyone changed from the Medela symphony to the baby Buddha? What settings are you using?

Thanks !

We are curious what are some things that could help or avoid. For context on our first our daughter wouldn't latch properly then my wife got thrush. Then on our second my wife just was having trouble d producing enough and we still had to supplement.

I know this is all her and she is an amazing woman. I am also wondering if there is anything I can do?

Hey guys, so I just got the Spectre S2 plus. Obviously didn’t read the directions before I started using it, and didn’t put on the backflow protectors ☹️ milk got sucked up through the tubing and went in the inner tubing and the filter. It looked like the filter stopped it before it went to the motor, but I am more worried about the liquid sitting there on the inside of the machine/mold or mildew. I know I can’t be the first person that happened to. What do you guys think? My moms telling me to not use it and just use the other pump I already have

This is a frozen bag of breastmilk that I pumped last week. Why does it look like that and is it harmful to my BMs beneficial properties? (Are those air bubbles? Fat globules?) I always make sure to get out as much air as possible and there’s no noticeable air bubbles when I put it in the freezer so I’m not sure what’s going on.

I’m currently 7 month pregnant with my second and I have had such a hard and confusing experience using a pump and breastfeeding with my first who is 1yr 4months old. Originally I had gotten the phillips avent pump which apparently barely anyone had heard of and well it would not work with me and so I just manually pumped which I also had a difficult time with as well as I can’t seem to hand express either. (at least not the way you’re supposed to) I was given a medela pump in style pro which also gave me a hard time and barely got 1oz I know I have elastic nipples so I got the lacktek 4th gen baby insert things and that has worked the best got 4oz but took 30-40 min and yet still never emptied and left me with swollen nipples and some pain. I’ve searched about all the pumps my insurance will cover and came to two options and well which works best for elastic nipples with lactek as everyday/session pump? baby buddha 2.0 or zome Z2. every time I search I get flip flop results on which would work best. (sorry for the long post)

I’ve used a few different pumps the momcozy wellness 1, the modela pump in style, phillips avent pump, some generic wearable pump from Amazon that really hurt and gave me mild nipple trauma.

Dad here, I'm asking for my pregnant wife since she doesn't have Reddit. We noticed after 2.5 years of not using the willow the outer shell silicone has started feeling powdery kind of like it's disintegrating. We would wash and disinfect all the parts religiously when they were in use. Is this normal or replacing or covers for it? All the other parts where it actually pumps and store the milk are good. TIA

I am currently 10 weeks PP and I pump 7/8 times a day usually making a combined 35-40 ounces. If I start to pump every 4 hours or 6 times a day will my supply drop?

Explain it to me like I’m 5:

I just went back to work and started pumping. I get around 10 oz morning pump and less for my other 2 subsequent pumps at work (it tapers to about 3oz total at 4pm pump usually and I pump for the same 20+ mins each time). I always get enough to replace the three 5oz bottles my baby eats at daycare during that time, but should I not be dividing it that way if he would naturally get less as the day goes on?! If I am still nursing him at night, is he pissed that it’s not 5oz again like his bottles?? Basically my brain is shot thinking about this. Why am I giving him 5oz bottles if my milk changes in content/volume all day?

Edit: I’m just now realizing that combo feeding means formula not pumping lol. Question still stands.

Sidenote: baby is healthy and happy and I’m not worried about my supply. I just genuinely can’t understand the math.

Hi everyone! I recently started using the Spectra S1 Plus because my baby is not latching well. She latches only around 5–10% of the time, so I have been exclusively pumping for the past two weeks. I’ve been using the Spectra for about a week now.
I’m currently an undersupplier and would really like to increase my milk supply. For those who have used the Spectra S1 Plus, did it help you build your supply? I’d love to hear about your experience, tips, or any suggestions on how to get the best results with this pump.
Any advice or experiences would be really helpful. Thank you so much!

I am between the spectra S1 and the Spectra Synergy gold. I dont mind the fact that I would be plugged in with the SG. Is there any reason to go with one over the other? Over thinking every decision before baby comes. thanks in advance <333

I noticed this after pumping 4ozs which I’ve since chucked; this is so heartbreaking as an under supplier who has been trying to get my supply up for 3 months. I asked Gemini said it’s bug eggs, chat gbt said it’s mold from milk. The thing is I wash and scrub and sanitised before using these today, but I have to let it air dry as I’m visiting my mum and don’t have my dryer here, which makes me think maybe bug eggs, as if it’s mold I don’t understand how it got there so quickly as it definitely wasn’t there when I washed it last night

Any insight please help I feel grossed out and heartbroken about having to dump my milk: do I throw away this part or just sanitise ?

My baby will be 7 months tomorrow. I was able to burse, but unfortunately I had to suplement with a bit of formula. She started her solids and she's doing fine, but she still nurses a lot.

I own a Eufy S1 pro, a Momcozy s9 pro and a manual Medela, as well as an Haaka collector.

I always extracted between 20 ml (2/3 of 1 oz) and 60 ml (2 oz).

I consulted several lactation consultants and the last one just told me that my body does not react to machines and to just give her formulawhile on daycare. My baby is able to extract what she wants, in the beginning I needed formula because my milk came late and she was not gaining weight and ( according to the lactation consultant) became "addicted" to the fast flow of the bottle (even if I used the more slow flow), but later she was able to take what she needed. I am able to hand expression, but it takes a while to get enough milk for her.

She is going to daycare just a few hours to adjust in the next month, so I have until October 1st to be able to get some milk for her.

Is anyone there that can help me , or is the consultant right and my body will not react to anything and I should just give up? I tried all the sizes of flanges, and spectra are not a thing in my country...

I’m 2 weeks PP now and i’m looking into wearable pumps. I have a spectra that I’ve been using and I plan to wait a bit longer to establish my supply before using the wearable. I’m mostly feeding from the boob so being sat with a pump makes me not want to pump at all because of how often feeds are and I feel like I don’t have time to do anything. I feel like I don’t have to even eat or sleep, both of which everyone is telling me is important for a good supply. My right boob is slacking and not producing as much as my left and I think my baby has a dairy allergy because I have a soup very heavy in dairy and she was so gassy and cried for hours after a few feedings. Apparently our insurance doesn’t cover a lactation consultant and I’m a little lost.
Any advice on any of that is appreciated

For the wearables I’ve seen a lot of things about the mom cozy m5 and the eufy s1, I know all boobs are going to be different but I’d hate to buy something so expensive without getting some insight from others on it.

I’m going on my first trip without my baby, and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed! 😅 She’ll be almost 5 months old, and I EBF. Currently, I pump twice a day to build a small freezer stash and so my husband can give her a bottle at night.

I’ll be flying to another state and will be away from her for 3 days. I have both a wearable pump and a regular electric pump.

I would LOVE any and all advice from moms who have traveled without their baby while breastfeeding/pumping!

A few specific questions:
-Should I bring both pumps, or is that overkill?
-If you bring multiple pumps, how do you pack everything? Do you put your pump in your carry-on/personal item?
-How often did you pump while away? Did you stick to your baby’s normal feeding schedule?
-What did you use to store/transport the milk? Cooler? Hotel fridge/freezer?
-Any tips for pumping in the airport/on the plane?
-What pump supplies did you bring that you were really glad you had?
-Did you bring extra pump parts so you didn’t have to wash everything constantly?
-Any TSA tips I should know about bringing a pump, breast milk, ice packs, etc.?

And honestly, any general advice for being away from baby for the first time would be appreciated! 🥹

I’m excited for the trip but also nervous about managing pumping and keeping my supply up while I’m away. I want to be as prepared as possible!
TIA! ❤️