NPR: Pump question

AlwaysSunny925

Why does milk keep getting into my pump tubing?  I have the Medela Symphony.  It's getting annoying having to clean the tubing every time I pump.  Any ideas?

GirlyGirl319

Milk doens't get into my tubing but when I'm done pumping I let the pump run for a few seconds to suction any moisture out of it and it has worked every time. I also am using the Medela Symphony

AlwaysSunny925

GirlyGirl319:

Milk doens't get into my tubing but when I'm done pumping I let the pump run for a few seconds to suction any moisture out of it and it has worked every time. I also am using the Medela Symphony

I do that too.

tkhrabs313

Do the bottles (or whatever you are pumping into) ever get too full?  I have had that happen once or twice and milk ends up in the tubing.

AlwaysSunny925

tkhrabs313:

Do the bottles (or whatever you are pumping into) ever get too full?  I have had that happen once or twice and milk ends up in the tubing.

No, the bottles weren't too full.

AlwaysSunny925

CurlingRocks:

2 things:

1.  Are you sure it is milk and not just moisture?  I get moisture every time I use my pump (Symphony for 2 months and PISA since then).  I let the pump run a few minutes after I finish, and if it is still there, I take the tubes off and whirl them around my head, cowgirl style to send the moisture out via centrifugal force.  Haha.  Yes, definitely milk.

2. If it is in fact milk, are you holding the bottles upright while pumping?  I've had milk spill out the back when I knocked the bottle with the valve assembly still attached over once. Yes, holding bottles upright.

AlwaysSunny925

Hasn't really happened since I posted.  I wonder if I was just spraying into the tubes that day.  hmmm.  weird.

miesl

Yes.

I have it happen sometimes on the fast phase if I have high output - it seems like the little flaps get stuck and as the milk builds up in the yellow part, the suction just isn't strong enough to fix it.

I either a) pull the tube from the pump (I'm using a PISA) - so that's not helpful on the Symphony since the tubes aren't easy to remove, b) turn off and unplug the other side at the bottle or c) if I catch it before milk gets into the tube, switch the the slow phase and that usually clears it.