Can’t express any milk with electric pump

[Mildred01]

Hi all,

I posted another thread specifically about the spectra pump but it’s not got anywhere so I’m hoping another one might help.

I am ebf and have to give my 13 week old top ups of expressed milk. So far I’ve been using the haaka which gets me around 30-50ml 2/3 times a day but I need to increase the top ups.

Unfortunately, I can’t even get one drop out of my spectra pump. I’ve used it several times and not one drop at any time. I don’t know if it’s the machine or me, when I came back from the hospital I bought the Lansinoh double electric pump but again couldn’t get a drop out. So after lots of research bought the spectra. Should I persevere or get another pump?
I would like to add that on day 5 post birth I was able to get 10ml-25ml with the medela symphony in hospital so I am wondering if it’s just the pump that’s the issue.

I have been eating porridge every morning and take fenugreek to build milk supply but no improvements.

really hoping for some advice thanks!

No electric pumps worked for me. Tried the Haaka, Elvie, Medela swing..... I ended up hand expressing which was much better - I'd get maybe 10mp in 30 mins with an electric. With hand expressing I often got 50-60 ml in 30 mins.

What do you do when you are pumping?

j really struggled at first but eventually got decent amounts from my spectra. I had to cover the bottle with a Muslim so I couldn’t see it sitting there empty and then watch videos of my daughter - or even better hold and cuddle her.

Muslin obviously. I even changed that autocorrect once and it reverted. Sorry!

I've never gotten on with electric pumps. I could never get the strength and frequency right. The only thing that worked for me was a hand pump.
I had to be in the right frame of mind, away from distractions and I think the faffing about was too offputting.
Remember that a pump isn't going to be as stimulating to your supply as baby suckling though, so unless you can't physically be with baby, it's much better to put her/him to breast to feed.
If you're expressing to give baby more milk, then ironically you're probably actually reducing the amount s/he gets.

Thanks for the replies. I have heard that not everyone gets on with electric pumps but I know that I’ve been able to express some with the hospital grade hence getting the spectra.
I’m just getting a bit worried because he only weighs 9lbs at the minute and his weight gain is a lot slower then hv would like. I’ve been trying really hard with the express top ups but it looks like we’ll probably have to mix it up with formula.

@PrimrosesandPears glad to hear you eventually got something out of the spectra, I will cover it with a muslin (lol at autocorrect gets me every time too) and see if I get anything.

@Redebs he is always on my other boob when I try to express and I also try straight after a feed too. I must admit I do stare continuously at the pump and am stressed waiting for milk even with lo on me.

The milk you get from a hakaa isn’t the fatty milk that baby needs sonic poor weight gain, shouldn’t be used for top ups.
also fenugreek can affect thyroid function which can reduce milk supply, so would be very careful with that.
have you sought support from a lactation consultant?

Thanks for letting me know @Mummyme87 I thought it wasn’t fatty milk too because it’s just the let down isn’t it?
god I’m so confused and stressed over this and feeling very bad about not giving my baby enough :(

I have a breastfeeding support team - one lady who has been coming to observe feeds and baby’s weight since just after New Years. I’ve had lots of pain and difficulty feeding on one side only and find he always slips off that side so she thought it was tongue tie and Ive just had the appointment but the consultant said definitely no tongue tie.

the breastfeeding support has talked me through feeds and asked me to take fenugreek and give the top ups but so far I’m only able to collect from the haaka. Is it worth me trying with the spectra or shall I get a new pump do you think?

I had the same. Tried all the supplements even a prescription of domperidone. I had severe supply issues, I was feeding, then formula top up, then pumping. The sound of that machine is still in my nightmares. I ditched it after 5m as it was severely impacting my mental health and just did breast and mostly formula. Best decision I made for my health as I was struggling to bond as I felt like a knackered cow! We’re both doing really well now and their weight has stayed on track and they’re fully weaned and we have a great bond. Looking back I don’t know why I put myself through that. I definitely won’t again!!

My tits shut up shop whenever anything but a baby's mouth was around them. It was super frustrating. I'd be fully engorged and not a drop would come out, it was like they sealed shut. I gave up in the end and just stayed with demand feeding. I'm glad I did because I loved breastfeeding.

I never got much out of an electric pump.

i could express loads either the Lansinoh manual pump and a Haka on the other side.

Have you checked you have the right size funnel part? If yours is too big or too small then it won't be as effective.

I was always totally useless at pumping TBH. Have you any luck with a hand expression technique e.g. Marmet? (google it) You could try starting off with this and then swtiching to the pump.

Have you got measured for a correct flange size? I was surprised that even tho I think my nipples are normal sized compared to some, I needed a larger flange and that solves the problem. The spectra is a hospital grade pump so if that's not working I wouldn't waste your money on another one. I never pumped much except after the morning feed when I'd get about 80ml on a good day. The best thing for me was having baby in the room with me, preferably crying 😬 I feel for you. Pumping is hideous

The spectra is a great pump, but for many women the supplied flanges are too large.

You want one that's only 1-2mm larger than the diameter of your nipple, so more like 14/16/18mm for most women, rather than the standard 21/24 supplied ones.

You can buy inserts for the flanges on Amazon that will narrow the diameter, which is generally more comfortable and more productive, like these:

www.amazon.co.uk/Maymom-Inserts-Spectra-Flanges-Freestyle/dp/B07BLTNH8P
Lozaeve is another brand that make them.

i couldn't express anything when I was feeding on demand at home, but once I was back to work I had no problem expressing at all! The other thing to consider whatever flange is the correct size, it did made a huge difference for me

Why do you need to increase top ups?

the best way to increase your supply is to let your baby suckle as much as possible. Even if they aren’t feeding comfort sucking will have an effect.

spending time and energy pumping can be better spent with your baby feeding more.

IME regimes of pumping and topping up increase anxiety around supply and don’t increase supply as effectively as feeding.

if you can, take to the sofa for a few days, eat drink, feed and watch box sets.