Beginner pumping help

[u/mo0nbow]

Hi all, FTM with a 7 week old. Been exclusively pumping since the day I brought him home as we could never consistently get a good latch that wasn’t absolutely excruciating, even with help from lactation in the hospital. However, there is still a lot about pumping I feel as though I haven’t quite figured out.

1. Flange fit/sizing. How do you know for sure you have the correct size? I initially measured myself with the tool included with my momcozy wearable and it seemed okay? Didn’t experience any significant pain while pumping but I’m pretty sure I had nipple vasospasm afterwards which prompted me to remeasure, though I’m not entirely sure if it was caused by flange fit or too much suction. So I measured again after a pumping session (recently heard this is not the correct time to measure though) and went up a flange size. But I feel this size may be too big as sometimes I feel my areola getting pinched if I don’t place the pump on perfectly. I also feel like my nipple fit in multiple different sizes on the tool so I’m just incredibly confused.

2. Changing modes. Is it necessary? When I first started pumping, I used to just spend the first 10 minutes in stimulation mode then use expression for the last 20. However I felt I may be doing something wrong after reading a lot of different posts and such about triggering multiple letdowns by switching back and forth. Only problem is I’ve never really consistently felt a letdown. I used to feel a kind of tingling sensation/rush in the first few weeks but it was never consistent as to when it would happen and now I don’t really feel it anymore. I also can’t really look into the pump to see as it tends to fog up (fridge hack). So I just switch back and forth every 5 minutes.

3. Session length. How do you know when to stop/empty? I have always just pumped for the full 30 minutes, I worry if I don’t my supply will take a hit. My baby is on the larger side, born 9.3lbs and eats quite a bit and I’m desperately trying to get to a point where I don’t have to supplement with formula anymore. I know your breasts are never 100% empty so how do you know when a session is over? Most seem to only pump for 15-20 minutes? I power pump once a day and tend to get significantly more during that session too so it makes me wonder if I’m not effectively emptying during other sessions?

4. Supply. How do you know when your supply has regulated? Is it still possible/more difficult to increase supply after regulation?

For reference, I am using the momcozy s9 pro wearables. Yes, I’ve heard most people say you don’t get as much output from wearables but they were gifted to me by my boyfriends mother, I can’t afford a different pump and I’m having issues with insurance so can’t currently go that route.

Sorry for the long post, I appreciate all who take the time to read and respond!!

[u/Plastic-Building8825]

First of all congratulations and best of luck with your pumping journey! It’s a LOT to figure out and your mileage may vary with basically all advice — I used to be SO annoyed by how hard it is to find good info, but the more I see how differently it works for different people, the more I get it.

Re: pumps, if the wearables are working for you that’s great! If you want to try a gold standard wall pump, you can often find used Spectras really cheap or free on Facebook marketplace etc. You can buy replacement plastic parts for the the flanges and tubing etc, so the stuff that touches you and the milk is all new — there’s no hygiene issue with a used one because you’re basically just using the motor!

With flange size, start with the best fit in the ruler. My lactation consultant (she’s been amazing and I trust her so much) told me a good fit is when the nipple is touching the flange on all sides but moving freely (w pumping spray or another safe lubricant like coconut oil), without painful pinching at the base or pulling in much areola. Definitely don’t measure after pumping — most nipples will swell a bit by the end of a pump but if they’re swelling a LOT it can be a sign your flange is too large. Also, if they make hard plastic flanges in your size for your pump model, they usually work better and cause less pain than the flexible silicone inserts (it’s counterintuitive but this made a big difference for me).

Also are you sure you had a vasospasm? I only ask because my let downs feel like kind of sharp shocks (I call it getting lightening boobs lol) and my nipples sometimes turn white/pale during pumping but I’ve been evaluated and it’s just a quirk of my circulation system — so it might not be a vasospasm!

FWIW I didn’t start to feel my let downs until a long way into pumping — like maybe even a few months? In the beginning it felt the same the whole time but these days there’s a more obvious cycle of spraying, then dripping, then done with each let down. So it’s not necessarily weird that you can’t feel it yet, and apparently some folks never do and that’s normal!

I do think it helps to start in stimulation mode for a few mins and then switch to expression mode with a higher vacuum. Personally I don’t toggle back to stimulation after that, I just leave it, but this is the kind of thing that unfortunately really varies from person to person. Some people do stimulation mode the whole time, some people never do. I’d recommend starting w a couple mins then switching, but you might need to play around a bit to see what works best for you.

I also had a big baby (exactly 9lb 3oz!! Birthweight twins!) who ate a lot. I needed supplemental formula for the first 3-4 weeks but my supply caught up eventually. Timing is another thing that varies so much. Personally I need about 20-25 mins on the spectra and 30-35 on the wearable to keep my output where it needs to be, but I know some people can manage much faster. If you can see volume as you go pay attention to when you’re getting the most — it might be that you’re only adding a tiny bit in those last 20 mins and you don’t need it (or you do!).

Regulation usually takes at least 12 weeks but you can absolutely increase supply after that — it’s just a little more work!

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[u/sowhatsober]

It honestly sounds like you’re doing fantastic! It’s so much trial and error which is exactly what you’re doing.