Can't express anymore or faulty pump?

[Liloosmum]

My DD is now 6 months old. I used to be able to express 80-90ml from one side. I haven't expressed for a couple of weeks until yesterday when I only got a dribble. I thought it might have been because it hadn't been long since I fed her from that side, but I've tried again today and got about 30ml (and I hadn't fed her from that side since 5am).

My boobs don't feel full any more like they used to, does that affect the ability to express?

The time before last that I expressed, my pump didn't work properly (it sucked milk up the tube to the machine!) but I thought that might have been because I put it together in a hurry! Or might my pump be faulty?

If you've had a break from using a pump your body won't know you require it to produce an extra feed at first, but keep trying - you can always freeze even the tiniest amounts and combine. I was told by BF advisor from NCT to use pump 6 times a day at first - you need that kind of frequency at first to tell your body to produce more. If that doesn't work after three or four days maybe the pump needs servicing? Can you feel it sucking? If you have instructions do check them first just in case you are missing something! You could also try if you don't already, pumping on one breast whilst feeding on other as milk tends to flow from both breasts during feeds anyway.

I found when I hadn't pumped in a few days, yield went right down. However, normally only took doing it for a 3-5 days to get it back up again.

I find putting the tube on my tongue meant I could tell if it was sucking or not. Also have a mental guide to how far in my nipple is normally pulled in.