Anyone else had trouble expressing milk with an electric breastpump?

[khysmum]

Hi all just wondering if anyone has any advise on using an electric breastpump.My DD is 4 weeks old and i have tried using my tomee tipee pump for the first time and find it really painful even on the lowest setting (made my nipple really sore)Used a hand held one with DS and had no problems at all.Any advice would be much appreciated as i'm a bit scared to try it again Thanks.

Have you tried hand expressing? I find it much easier and more comfortable than using a pump. I've never tried an electric pump but I've got a manual tommy tippee one that I've only used a few times, it made me so sore and I could only get out about 2oz at a time! You may have to try a few different pumps to find one that works for you. Nipples come in all shapes and sizes so what works for some women may not work for others. Hand expressing is the way to go imo!

Hi Marjee thanks for that..think i will try hand expressing and also get a manual pump and see how it goes...desperate to express so DP can give her a bottle also for a little break from feeding as i'm finding it a much more demanding experience this time round! but determined to keep going for at least 6 months.

I can get lots of milk quickly and easily with a manual pump - no soreness or discomfort because obviously it's all 'hand controlled' -

Got virtually nothing with an electric pump (medela swing). I've no idea why! Hand expressing I found very messy, SO slow and quite fiddly. I also didn't like the feeling of 'milking myself' - which obviously is also what I'm doing with the manual pump, but feels different for some reason.

Looking at the 'Breast and bottle feeding' board, there seem to be so many different experiences of expressing, there's no rhyme or reason to it as far as I can see.

But good luck, I know what a relief DP being able to give a bottle is.

Try posting on the Breast & Bottle feeding board.

I used a medela mini breast pump from about 4 weeks and yes it was sore the first couple of times, but not unbearable. I went on to then use it for the next 6months and it was an absolute godsend! although at times I would use the hand pump which worked equally as well but gave me cramp in my hand!
I did lend my medela mini to two other friends, both of whom didn't get on with it at all and went on to buy their own electric pumps (different brand) both said that they bought one with a soft silicone shield rather than a hard plastic one and it suited them better. So I suppose it is a case of finding one that suits you.

I have always used Avent pumps, both manual and electric and never found them sore but I think it can all depend on the size of your breast. I think the Avent ones have a larger opening than the Medela so my nipple wasn't so "pulled" IYKWIM! Am not familiar with Tommee Tippee but used to have a mothercare one that was very sore to use.

Can you borrow one from a friend to try before you buy? Just in case it didn't work out? I never got on with hand expressing but I know a lot of people on MN got on brilliantly with it.

Thanks everyone for your advice i am going out tmrw to buy a manual pump as i think if i can control the expressing it may help.I will also try the breast and bottle feeding board, i didn't know there was one as fairly new to mumsnet.

oh, we have boards on everything here khysmum!

Tommee Tippee pump is very very shit. I hated that pump with a passion. I thought I had no milk till I tried a hospital grade one. Get a medela or something - anything! - other than the TT one. :)

Chipmonkey..just realised that! am loving it Shaz10 thanks for that glad to know its not just me! Think im gonna go for an Avent next.

I had the TT one and found it really uncomfortable. I recommend hiring a proper hospital grade pump - much more efficient and also much quieter.