Help! Medela Hand Pump problem

kimpierce10

I love my Medela hand pump.  The last few days it has been losing suction.  I cannot figure out what is wrong with it.  Does anyone have any ideas that I can try to get it working right again. 

shotzie

Have you tried replacing the little white membrane?

kimpierce10

I just thought about that this morning.  I'll give it a try.  Thanks!

kimpierce10

Not the white membrane.  Still not working.  Any other advice?

shotzie

Hmm. Is the flexible plastic part that expands/contracts when you pump the handle still in good shape? Not sure if that could develop a small tear or something. You could also call Medela customer service for trouble shooting help. Heck, they'd probably send you a new one!

MWhitneyM

mine does this some time...

I take it a part and make sure that the yellow part under the gasket is line up correctly, then make sure the gasket fits right into the raised groove on the handle.... does that make sense? 

GoldenPeaches

Try pushing down on the handle to be sure it's totally in all the way.

rboisvert

I have this issue too.  I've reasembled, changed membranes everything and no suction.  It's my backup for my electric pump so I haven't done anything about it but I would call C/S I hear they are great.  If you get it fixed let us know how I want my pump to work again but since it's a backup I'm not going to buy another one to replace it.

Vespah

I get this issue. The problem is in the hand pump part. (remove the silicone section off the handle, and you are left with a silicone part and a yellow piece that goes though it. It's these 2 pieces that are the problem) The hard plastic part, and the silicone part have rotated on each other causing the seal to break when it isn't pumped lined up. Just rotate the plastic part so that it lines up again with the silicone part. There are small groves on either side of the skinny post that tell you when it's lined up.

 Hopefully that explanation made sense lol!

michpedelle85

Vespah:

I get this issue. The problem is in the hand pump part. (remove the silicone section off the handle, and you are left with a silicone part and a yellow piece that goes though it. It's these 2 pieces that are the problem) The hard plastic part, and the silicone part have rotated on each other causing the seal to break when it isn't pumped lined up. Just rotate the plastic part so that it lines up again with the silicone part. There are small groves on either side of the skinny post that tell you when it's lined up.

 Hopefully that explanation made sense lol!

 

this! and also when you take the silicone part off the handle piece... wipe away any moisture...

Birdies08

michpedelle85:

Vespah:

I get this issue. The problem is in the hand pump part. (remove the silicone section off the handle, and you are left with a silicone part and a yellow piece that goes though it. It's these 2 pieces that are the problem) The hard plastic part, and the silicone part have rotated on each other causing the seal to break when it isn't pumped lined up. Just rotate the plastic part so that it lines up again with the silicone part. There are small groves on either side of the skinny post that tell you when it's lined up.

 Hopefully that explanation made sense lol!

 

this! and also when you take the silicone part off the handle piece... wipe away any moisture...

Yup! I kept having this problem so I stopped washing the handle unless I saw milk on it. That helped a lot. 

GKNikolaKing

This was exactly my problem! So helpful. Thanks!