Medela PISA users

VitaLuna · January 2014

How high do you turn up your pump? Half way? 3/4 way? Full blast?

I turn mine up half way and get milk, but not sure if I'd get more if I turned it up higher, or at what point it's too high and collapses the milk ducts.

Mrs.AllyH · January 2014

I start on 2/3 until let down then turn it a smidgen higher

JocelynB0911 · January 2014

Full blast.

jackdaniels13 · January 2014

Full blast then back down a smidge....sometimes its just too much.

blinnea23 · January 2014

I turn it up until it's uncomfortable and then turn it down just a smidge. It's usually right below full blast.

mrssamarataylor · January 2014

Full blast here.

VitaLuna · January 2014

Hmm.. Wondering if maybe I should turn it up. It doesn't hurt to go higher, I just haven't because the LC I saw said if milk was coming, then it's high enough. Do you think output is higher if it's turned up higher?

blinnea23 · January 2014

VitaLuna said:
Hmm.. Wondering if maybe I should turn it up. It doesn't hurt to go higher, I just haven't because the LC I saw said if milk was coming, then it's high enough. Do you think output is higher if it's turned up higher?

The suction is definitely harder/longer (if that makes sense) so I would think you get more milk per pump.

happybride 276 · January 2014

I must have sensitive boobies because I have to gradually work my way up and I rarely make it to full blast. Maybe pumping every 2-3 hours is partially to blame too? I don't know.

mmdd20 · January 2014

I can only stand about 1/2 power right now. But I remember with DS I was at full power by the time he hit a year, so I am sure I will work back to that.

VitaLuna · January 2014

happybride 276 said:
I must have sensitive boobies because I have to gradually work my way up and I rarely make it to full blast. Maybe pumping every 2-3 hours is partially to blame too? I don't know.

I started pumping in the hospital and remember thinking "how on earth can people turn this thing even half way up, let alone all the way". It was so uncomfortable I though I'd never go past 1/4 power. Now look, ain't nothing gonna hurt these nips

kje120 · January 2014

I crank that puppy all the way up.

Zoly1103 · January 2014

I wonder if that would help my situation. It seems like I have more milk in there but I have to squeeze my boobs to get it to come out (while pumping). I don't think it necessarily wouldn't come out eventually but is just a lot slower. Although even 3/4 of the way seems a little uncomfortable.

Tally879 · January 2014

From what I read on https://workandpump.com/ it says that you should put the suction on what it feels like when your baby nurses. For me I put it on a little less than half way and I get a good amount of milk. I can physically handle the higher settings, but I get less milk.

Here's what the website says about it:

Pump Settings
Contrary to popular belief, your pump does not get the milk out of your breasts by brute force alone. Stronger suction does not necessarily mean that you will get out more milk. Stronger suction may mean that you're in excruciating pain, or that you're damaging your breasts, so back off a little, OK? What your pump needs to do to get the most milk out is imitate your baby. Pay attention to how frequently your baby sucks and the strength of that suction. Then try to adjust your pump to match your baby. From there, you can experiment to see if slightly more, less, faster or slower suction feels better and produces more milk. What's the best setting? The one that works for you, so don't pay attention to how other people's pumps are set. It's a personal thing.

VitaLuna · January 2014

Zoly1103 said:
I wonder if that would help my situation. It seems like I have more milk in there but I have to squeeze my boobs to get it to come out (while pumping). I don't think it necessarily wouldn't come out eventually but is just a lot slower. Although even 3/4 of the way seems a little uncomfortable.

It's normal to get more out with compressions. The nurse at the hospital was saying some moms can get 25-50% more with compressions (there have been studies done on the exact amt.. I can't remember what it was). I try to do them, but I'm usually eating lunch/snack at the same time, so I don't do it as much as I should.

happybride 276 · January 2014

VitaLuna said:

Zoly1103 said:
I wonder if that would help my situation. It seems like I have more milk in there but I have to squeeze my boobs to get it to come out (while pumping). I don't think it necessarily wouldn't come out eventually but is just a lot slower. Although even 3/4 of the way seems a little uncomfortable.
It's normal to get more out with compressions. The nurse at the hospital was saying some moms can get 25-50% more with compressions (there have been studies done on the exact amt.. I can't remember what it was). I try to do them, but I'm usually eating lunch/snack at the same time, so I don't do it as much as I should.

Depending on the time of day I can get an extra ounce by compressing my left side. I spend about 5-7 minutes from each pumping session applying pressure to my breast.

Zoly1103 · January 2014

VitaLuna said:

I wonder if that would help my situation. It seems like I have more milk in there but I have to squeeze my boobs to get it to come out (while pumping). I don't think it necessarily wouldn't come out eventually but is just a lot slower. Although even 3/4 of the way seems a little uncomfortable.
It's normal to get more out with compressions. The nurse at the hospital was saying some moms can get 25-50% more with compressions (there have been studies done on the exact amt.. I can't remember what it was). I try to do them, but I'm usually eating lunch/snack at the same time, so I don't do it as much as I should.

They need to make some kind of bra that does hands free compression. I'm also usually doing something else and just don't really want to be doing it the entire time. Although I'm sure it speed the process up.

Zmommy2 · January 2014

I go about 3/4 of the way.. Any more I feel like I don't get as much, and less I feel like it takes longer. The post about having it mimic your baby totally makes sense. I know when I pump and can see her I get more.. And with DD1 I used to have a picture of her in the pump room so I could look at her and that helped too.

blondii428 · January 2014

Full blast

Skalbrecht · January 2014

I'd say 7/8 of the way up - just under full blast.

LnR70707 · January 2014

Woah...I EPed for over a year with DS and I'm pretty sure I'd have no nipples now if I'd done full blast. Highest I go is halfway...usually midway between the halfway dot and the next one down is my norm.

CDMay2006 · January 2014

jojo1112 said:
Wow I'm in the minority but I barely turn mine up at all, just find I tend to get more that way. I am pumping now and just for kicks turned it about 1/2 way and ouch! Back down I go.

This. The lcs advised not turning it up more than is comfortable to prevent nipple damage. Besides that, i don't find i get more milk at a higher setting, in fact i don't know that i get as much.

SoCalBrandi · January 2014

I don't know how some if you can take it on high; you're tough!

After reading this thread I turned it up when I pumped this afternoon and holy crap it was painful so I went back down to just under halfway. That's what seems to work for me.

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