Elvie not pumping much milk?

[Jamontoast1]

I’ve used the Elvie 2 times now and both times got such small quantities of milk out! When I breastfeed, baby gets enough and is full and content after about 30 mins. I feel like I’m not doing it right. Is there a knack to it?!

It felt like it was pumping just now, I took it off after 35 mins and only had 20ml!

I don't know about that particular pump but I do know that how much you can pump is no indication of how much you're producing.

Hopefully someone will be along soon who can help

Pumping is really individual. As PP said it bares absolutely no reflection on your milk supply. How old is your baby for a start?

The elvie is handy but it’s not exactly a hospital grade pump. Lots of people find its milk extracting abilities aren’t actually that great. I had more success with the more classic pumps like the medela swing. Have you bought it?

I never used an Elvie, or an electric pump, as I didn’t pump frequently enough to feel it worth it, but I wanted to reassure you that sometimes it’s just that pumping isn’t causing a letdown the way your baby does.
With DC1 I could pump and get a decent amount, she was a very slow feeder so I think the manual pump probably mimicked her usual feeding pattern. DC2 was a very quick feeder with a strong suck, and pumping never got me anywhere.

How do you get on with hand expressing? It might be that the rhythm of the pump just isn’t working for you. Looking at pictures of your baby while pumping can help.

I have a haakaa pump and got more out of using that than the elvie. My baby is 9 days old, only used the pump twice. Might give it a few more goes and just stick with the haakaa if it doesn’t improve. I know she gets enough from just bf luckily, but would like to express for night feeds :)

Not breastfeeding or pumping overnight can reduce your milk supply more than missing feeds during the day as at this time, our milk production is higher.

I also have heard not great things about the Elvie.

Hi @Jamontoast1, you may have sorted this now but I use an Elvie and found that it only works well if its put together perfectly. When you click the bit that stores the milk into the pump you have to make sure the little green bit (that attaches to the circular lid) doesn't sit under the hole in the pump. It usually will if you just click it in so I have to gently flick the bottom of the green part upwards so that there is a really small gap between it and the pump. Then put the other part in. Really fiddly but once I realised this it works great and is so convenient to be able to get on with other things. Hope that helps!