Am I using breast pump correctly?

[Thomcat]

I'm getting milk out, but am i getting the full boobs worth?

It's an electric huge thing - An Ameda, Egnell elite.

I just whack it on max for the cycles and turn the vacuum up to the highest. I massage the boob a bit as it sucks.

Sound right???????????

i always got more if i started off slowly and then worked it up

oh really, okay, that's interesting, thanks starlover.

do your boobs feel soft/empty when you've finished?

i start it slowly and work up, too. at first, i had HORRID let down reflex, so couldn't imagine putting it on max to begin.

what do you do, turn cycles up slowly at the same time as the vacuum?

was just going to post the same as starlover - start slowly and build it up - that's how I got the most. also I did better expressing in the morning, about 1.5 hours after the first feed. by the evening I was useless. different times of day might be better for you.

of course, DD hardly ever drank the stuff, but never mind, I tried!

ouch - I have never got to full vacuum in 2 years of Bf. Your nip ples must be tough

yes, boobs feel quite soft when finished

yep

okay will work up slowly from now on. cheers all, xx

someone on mumsnet advised me to do it! lol and it worked.

stronger is not necessarily better. And it should never hurt.