Pimp for small nipples

[Cardiffclare88]

I’d like to start pumping so DH can give an occasional feed. I’ve got small breasts (reckon I’m a C at a stretch when most engorged) and quite small nipples and areolas. What sort of pump should I get? Will return to work when DD IS 6 months, Is electric better or can I try hand pumps for now? Cxx

PUMP for small nipples

Have you tried expressing at all? I know some women find it incredibly difficult to get much milk by expressing by hand or with a pump. I'd try first to see if you can actually get much milk.

I like the hakka pump, or similar generic. You just suction it on (check YouTube to see what it should look like) while feeding baby on the other side. It's almost effortless!

Baby may not take the milk once warmed up though. I would have to scald and then cool mine or it will taste soapy if I was going to express. If your baby refuses, I think it's excess lipase maybe that causes it.

@Hazlenutpie haven’t tried hand expressing but I’ve got loads of milk, when DD Cones off it’s still spraying everywhere so assumed I’d have enough for pumping?

@Gummygoddess will have a look at the Hakaa seems easy enough and cheap as chips, thanks

I could call on a friend of a friend and try and find a pimp if you like...
Sorry, maturity of a teenager

I don't think it really matters what pump unless the tips of your nipples were too big to even fit into the flange. Most electric pumps have different size flanges you can buy if necessary, but odds are the standard
flange will fit you. www.verywellfamily.com/ways-to-tell-if-your-breast-pump-flanges-fit-2758354

It's more important to know what your overall budget is, whether you want the pump to be portable, whether you want a double etc. For occasional at-home pumping or one to take to work I'd get a Medela Swing or Ardo Calypso. Hand pumps are fine and it's handy not to require power but if you expect to be pumping both boobs regularly electric is a lot easier. (Hand cramp, anyone?)

I'm only here for the pimped nipples, sorry but it made my day ... 😂

On topic though, I don't think size will make a lot of difference as the pump sucks the nipple into the cup bit. It looked rather alarming from memory! I had an Avent one which did the job with no fuss.

Also it's not how much milk you have that necessarily determines what you get when pumping. Some people simply find it very hard to "let down" for a pump even though their boobs respond very easily to their baby. Looking at a picture of your baby or smelling an item of their clothing can help with that. I've also found that my boobs "learned" to respond better to the pump over time and I also learned how to mimic a baby's sucking action to encourage letdown. (The Medela Swing has two pumping modes that do this automatically.)

@CountessVonBoobs just need it now so DH can give
The occasional bottle (and on Mat pay) so thought manual would be better. But I’m going back to work at 6 months and hoping to BF until 1 year so perhaps better to inevest in electroinic pump?

@SoupDragon that’s what’s got me terrified, remember watching a Friend pump and the nipples stretched down into the bottle, not sure mine will go that large? She has massive norks

You could try a manual for now and see how you get on, then? You could even buy one secondhand from a local parenting group as most manuals can be taken apart completely and sterilised. But if you are sure you plan to go back to work and pump then tbh it might be worth investing in an electric straightaway as you will want to be able to pump quickly - you may want to prioritise a double pump. You can buy electric pumps secondhand too but they must be "closed system", i.e. none of the milk can go backwards into the pump mechanism and contaminate it.

Hakka pump actually gets more milk than an electric for me. Electric will get maybe 3 ounces from both sides at 15 minutes each. Hakka will get 4 ounces in one feed which is less than 10 minutes! Plus can sterilise the entire thing easily.

Re the stretched nipples, it does sometimes look bad but they go back to normal once you're finished.

Has baby had any formula bottles? If not then start introducing a bottle of ebm asap to reduce the risk of her refusing it. It's a pain in the bum if you go to so much effort and then have them reject it!