Do you push the let down button on your pump?

DemoDoll · September 2012

I normally just let the pump do it's thing but I remember the LC in the hospital saying something about pushing the let down button. Should I push it as soon as the milk starts flowing? Or is it okay to let it stay in the faster mode? What do you do?

ETA: I have a Medela double in style pump so the faster mode last a couple minutes, then goes to the regular pace. Also, what setting do you keep yours on? I always had mine on Medium but my nipples hurt after so now I've been doing it on low and don't see any difference in production.

Twizzle · September 2012

The button is to try to get a second letdown so I think you push it when the flow slows down. I never use it though.

DollEri · September 2012

I get bored pumping, and have determined that my maximum efficiency is to push the let down button when the milk starts to flow, turn the setting up until I feel slightly uncomfortable, then turn it down a tad and pump. If my milk slows down and I don't think I've gotten enough, I'll push the let down button and start over, but usually if it stops flowing it's done. On my right side I generally get 2 oz. in a sitting (about 10 minutes) on the medium setting. My left is less sensitive and more efficient for some reason...I get 5 oz. in 15 minutes on the highest setting. No discomfort.

latnprincess · September 2012

I was told the let down button is for when the milk starts to flow spray. That the pump starts out fast mimicking a baby's initial fast hard suck. That lasts for a minute before it autoslows down, but if the milk lets down before, push the button for the slower longer sucks that, again, a baby would do. I've used it once but usually let the pump do it's thing.

I was using the mediumlow setting like a quarter of the turn. A couple of days ago I started using medium half way turn an noticed better output. Today I pumped 5 oz total! I was so happy! I was like "go boobs!" lol!

klp28 · September 2012

I always press the let down button once the milk starts to flow from both breasts. I always did this for the year I pumped for my daughter, also. I had no idea that you shouldn't. I pump about 4 or 5 oz at a time now, so I think it's working for me. Maybe I should try not to and see what happens.

ematthews920 · September 2012

Is THAT what that's for? Hah I honestly had no idea. So...I obviously let the pump do it's thing, and I keep it on the lowest setting. I tried the next highest setting, but all it did was make my nipples feel like they were on fire.

heatherjesse · September 2012

I usually push the let down button when I am trying to really pump to empty (like before I lay down at night because it's more comfortable). I'm not sure how some of the other PPs' pumps work, but my Medela PISA's let down button restarts the fast mode (some folks seem to be saying that the button slows the machine down). It's supposed to help get a second let down, and it usually helps. And I must be the freak of the group because I always turn the machine all the way up and then back it off one or two markings (basically high). It feels like my kid does though so maybe he has a freaky hard suck.

DemoDoll · September 2012

heatherjesse:
I usually push the let down button when I am trying to really pump to empty (like before I lay down at night because it's more comfortable). I'm not sure how some of the other PPs' pumps work, but my Medela PISA's let down button restarts the fast mode (some folks seem to be saying that the button slows the machine down). It's supposed to help get a second let down, and it usually helps. And I must be the freak of the group because I always turn the machine all the way up and then back it off one or two markings (basically high). It feels like my kid does though so maybe he has a freaky hard suck.

The pump starts out fast and if the pump is in the fast mode, pushing the let down button slows the pump down...then when you are in slow mode and want to start a second let down, you push it and it speeds it up. My main question was if you ladies push the let down button during the first minute of pumping to slow the pump down once your milk has let down.

How many settings does your pump have? Mine has three, low, medium & high. Seems like yours has more.

latnprincess · September 2012

DemoDoll:
heatherjesse:
I usually push the let down button when I am trying to really pump to empty (like before I lay down at night because it's more comfortable). I'm not sure how some of the other PPs' pumps work, but my Medela PISA's let down button restarts the fast mode (some folks seem to be saying that the button slows the machine down). It's supposed to help get a second let down, and it usually helps. And I must be the freak of the group because I always turn the machine all the way up and then back it off one or two markings (basically high). It feels like my kid does though so maybe he has a freaky hard suck.
The pump starts out fast and if the pump is in the fast mode, pushing the let down button slows the pump down...then when you are in slow mode and want to start a second let down, you push it and it speeds it up. My main question was if you ladies push the let down button during the first minute of pumping to slow the pump down once your milk has let down.
How many settings does your pump have? Mine has three, low, medium & high. Seems like yours has more.

Mine is a knob that turns smoothly. It says "min" at the start and "max" at the end.

heatherjesse · September 2012

latnprincess:
DemoDoll:
heatherjesse:
I usually push the let down button when I am trying to really pump to empty (like before I lay down at night because it's more comfortable). I'm not sure how some of the other PPs' pumps work, but my Medela PISA's let down button restarts the fast mode (some folks seem to be saying that the button slows the machine down). It's supposed to help get a second let down, and it usually helps. And I must be the freak of the group because I always turn the machine all the way up and then back it off one or two markings (basically high). It feels like my kid does though so maybe he has a freaky hard suck.
The pump starts out fast and if the pump is in the fast mode, pushing the let down button slows the pump down...then when you are in slow mode and want to start a second let down, you push it and it speeds it up. My main question was if you ladies push the let down button during the first minute of pumping to slow the pump down once your milk has let down.
How many settings does your pump have? Mine has three, low, medium & high. Seems like yours has more.
Mine is a knob that turns smoothly. It says "min" at the start and "max" at the end.

Yeah mine too. It has 16 tick marks, but the knob moves smoothly without any clicks. I guess I never tried to push the button while it was still in fast mode. Interesting.

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Do you push the let down button on your pump?

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