Pumping - Difference in Let Down and Efficiency

Jennalei

When pumping - has anyone dealt with differences between the two breasts?  I know that each side can be different, but this is causing some confusion for me...

I have a two-phase pump (Medela Freestyle) and I am not sure when to begin the second phase... when the first breast lets down or when the second does.  This can be up to several minutes apart.

Also, the one which lets down more quickly also expresses more efficiently and is therefore "finished" earlier than the other.  When do I stop pumping - when one breast is no longer putting out milk or when they both are dry?

Thanks in advance for any advice!! 

greenqueen11

I use the same pump and wait to go to the second phase after both sides let down. I also get a different output in milk, but stop at 15 minutes no matter what (I get enough milk by then). If I were looking for more milk/ to increase my supply I wouldn't stop until the second side was finished (and keep the suction on the first side as well).