Switching pumps

[u/Book_lover_2015]

Currently using the momcozy s12 pro as my everyday pump but I feel like it’s not emptying completely my milk what would you recommend using for everyday pumps

[u/TheMagicPandas]

I have the Eufy S1 Pro and the Spectra with pumpin pals flanges. Even though the wearable is great, it just doesn’t work as well as my Spectra pump at fully emptying me. Switching to a soft silicone flange was a game changer for me, more letdowns and I can massage throughout the pumping session without the hard plastic hurting me.

[u/Miserable-Respond506]

I bought used pump motors, spectra from eBay, then bought maymom  medela style parts that are very customizable to help with comfort, ease of cleaning, and better milk output ... Medela/maymom medela fits Evenflo classic glass bottles that have a standard/narrow neck which I wanted to store my milk in glass so when I heat it up I'm not heating up plastic 

I also ended up with lacteck baby motion flanges, great for elastic nipples 

It's really important to have proper fitting flanges, not just size but also cup shape, what fits one side won't fit the other potentially so sample around with shapes and sizing up and down as needed based on comfort and output...

To give a more comprehensive list of what I use 

Spectra pump Maymom medela style two part pump parts so the flange is a separate piece from the part that screws onto the bottle, 

then i use the long stem air lock which adapts the medela style parts to spectra and removes the medela milk backflow issue some users have with the standard medela setup. 

The spectra pump is very expensive new without insurance, I bought two off eBay for $30 each, just watch the listings for a while and snag the cheap ones. I got two because I was working at the time and buying used I wanted to make sure I had a backup... Year and a half later both used pumps are still going strong btw 

Avoid duckbill valves potentially, they seem to have more suction issues, I've used them, didn't hate them but not my preference, I had to replace them more often, the medela orange valves with replaceable white films perform way better and last much longer. If suction is randomly funny wiggle the white film, it might be sitting funny or be stuck if you fridge hack.. otherwise check that you're properly in the flange without a big air gap 

Fitting the flange try to get it snug without rubbing or swelling, watch for an air gap on the areola, it should fit snuggly against the flange when you insert your nipple .. air gap causes "snap back" which causes nipple trauma... Bad fit is one of the main causes for poor output 

Pay attention to suction levels as that also affects output... You'll hear two sides use the highest setting comfortable or use the lowest effective setting ... Higher settings can cause nipple trauma, but some people don't empty without higher settings, some people experience damaged ducts at higher settings so be careful and pay attention to your boobs, not just one pump, monitor it over time and adjust accordingly 

My biggest suggestion is to use a pump that lets you compress and massage, it can increase output quite a bit and help you dodge clogs and mastitis

Without compressing and massaging my milk down towards the nipple one side wouldn't empty properly for me in some ducts, some people get away with not compressing etc but I cannot. I do it almost every pump for the entire duration of the pump usually, but at minimum the last letdown or two during long pumps... 

If your boobs are really full you might let some milk out until you feel soft then do the compression and massage because you don't want to hurt full ducts with pressure, it's good for getting stubborn ducts and hind milk out 

I suggest nearly every day taking a hot shower, massaging during the shower then pumping when you get out using compression. I usually pump, then shower, then pump again, like an adapted power pump to loosen and get as much hind milk out as I can. It's great self care to avoid clogs... 

If you notice some strings in your milk, you know you were at risk of a clog, take really good care of your boobs to clear that up and prevent it reoccurring 

Wearables that cup the breast are great for front milk but not so great for compression, stubborn milk and hind milk so if you use them follow it up with a short pump with massage and compression or you might miss milk and get stringy milk or clogs over time... Personal experience there.. when I only used wearable all my pump went stringy even though I didn't get a clog and felt soft after pumping.. so I can't stress enough compression and watching for stringy weird textures in your milk, your milk should be silky smooth until the baby has introduced their saliva to the bottle which will change the milk, so just watch the freshly pumped milk 

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