Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Pumping

Hi All. I started pumping on Sunday 4/25, and I know it's still early, but I'm worried about one thing. I rented a Medela Classic for use at home, but, b/c of the cost and the weight of the Classic, I didn't want to rent another for pumping at work. I'm using a Pump-In-Style at the office. But the PIS isn't nearly as strong as the Classic. Since I spend a lot of time pumping at work, I'm worried that I'm not getting enough bang with the PIS, especially since I'm used to the strong suction of the Classic when I pump at home. Should I spring for a Classic at the office, too, or is it not really necessary? I've been getting a few tiny little droplets of something at each session whether I use the Classic or the PIS.

Margaret the PIS is the one that is recommended. I used a rented Medela and it was very strong but I didn't have much success with it. The PIS on the other hand worked great for me. I think it was the more comfortable suction, more like actually nursing. Stronger is not always better and you can damage your nipples by using too much suction.

What Lalle says is true. You don't want nipple damage. With me.. .if the suction is to strong. My milk flow will simple stop. It will not come out at all. To much suction makes my ducts swell closed inside. So I would stick with the PIS

Glad I asked. I thought the stronger the better, since I don't yet know what a baby is supposed to feel like. Thanks to you both, and I'll stop turning up the juice. Margaret

Hey Margaret,

I am due to start pumping next week - very excited + also a little nervous....
I'll be using a PIS - the "which pump?" discussion seems to come up with a certain regularity not only here but on another adoptive breastfeeding site as well and women who can't seem to agree on very much at all seem to agree on recommending the PIS....but still no two experiences are identical.
What I would do in your situation is to continue using the two pumps for the time being and just see how they work for you both in terms of production and of comfort... if you do find one much better than the other you can always replace it.

Good luck with the pumping!

Love,
Chris

Chris - Good luck with your pumping as well! And, by the way, yesterday I bought a pumping bustier by a company called Easy Expression and I love it. It holds the breast shields in place for hands-free pumping. After a week of holding the shields, it's wonderful to have my hands back! Take care. Margaret

Margaret, you are right those bras built to hold the horns are fantastic.I used one and I thought it made the pumping session go by quicker.

Hey Margaret,

Thanks for your good wishes and for the tip about the bra. Will certainly try to find something like that asap. Does this mean you can, for instance, read a book while pumping? That sounds very good indeed. It is going to be quite some time every day you spend on this I imagine...

Love,
Chris

Having your hands free really does make pumping a lot easier. It really makes a big difference, for me at least.

As I couldn't find a bra like that around here I simply made my own hands-free kit by cutting holes into an old one. Works perfectly - as the pump creates negative pressure under the shield it doesn't really take a lot to keep the things in place when the pump is running.

Chris

Hey Chris,

What is the other adoptive breastfeeding website? Guess my head's been in the sand!

Mahalo and Aloha,
Christina