Manual vs. Electric Breast Pump: Potential issues with solutions!

If you are used to pumping milk and suddenly, your breasts are not responding to pumping anymore, it can be a frustrating and stressful situation, especially for working moms!

The reality, when it comes to pumping, is that not many mothers have enough education about pumping. Pumping not only demands dedication, skills, a calm environment, a healthy diet, but it also requires mothers to be healthy or a better quality pump.

When mothers get no milk while pumping, they sometimes misunderstand it to be the pump’s problem, but there is a lot more in the scene!

In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about why pumping is not working for you, and its solutions.

Table of Contents

How do Breast Pumps Work?

Mothers sometimes have to stay away from the baby due to professional commitments, or some other

work. And that is when the breast pump comes to the rescue!

Breast Pumps have been available in the market for more than 150 years. According to statistics, almost 85% of new moms in the US start to express milk in the first four months!

By using a pump, a mother can easily store her breast milk in the refrigerator for days! Amazing, right!

Pumping process also involves partners and grandparents, which play a very important role in the feeding process when the mother is not nearby.

Types of Breast pumps

Currently, there are two types of breast pumps:

Manual pump
Electric pump

Further in this article, we are going to know more about both of them!

How Does a Manual Breast Pump Work?

As the name suggests, a manual breast pump works without power or electricity, and the mother has to invest her energy to express the milk out of her nipples

In simple terms, you will have to pump through your hand, by pressing and squeezing to express the milk in the storage tank.

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to use manual breast pump:

Step 1. Assemble the pump according to the instructions (provided at the packaging of the pump).

Step 2. Attach the flange tightly on your breasts to avoid air leaks.

Step 3. Start the pumping process.

Step 4. Imitate the baby’s sucking pattern.

Note: As per research, a baby sucks 75 times per minute. You can try to mimic the same. Start with short and quick pumps and drain the milk fully.

Step 5. Gently massage your breast if pumping not working

Step 6. Think about your baby or watch your baby’s photos and videos to send signals to your body to produce milk.

Step 7. After expressing, clean the pump and store the milk in the refrigerator at appropriate temperature.

Manual breast pumping is simple, only if you follow the steps carefully and focus on expressing the milk from your breasts through massaging, etc. Let’s move ahead, and see how electric breast pumps are and how they work!

How do electric breast pumps work?

As we discussed earlier, manual pumps require some manual work. But on the other hand, Electric pumps don’t need your effort like massaging , etc.

Electric breast pumps come with a battery power, which makes the pumping more easy, but yes if you want to increase the expressions or milk supply, you will have to push to get the milk out.

The principle of electric breast pumps is the same as that of manual pumps.

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to use electric breast pump:

Step 1. Assemble the pump and place the flange over your breast to cover the areola.

Step 2. Adjust the speed and suction mode according to your needs. The electric pump sucks 60 times per minute.

Step 3. Turn on the motor to initiate suction, so your body can eject the milk out via nipples.

Note: Avoid spilling and make sure the expressed milk directly goes to the storage bag. It is important to avoid any kind of air contamination, as it may create problems in proper storage.

Step 4. When you are done with pumping, turn off the motor and remove the flange.

Step 5. Save the bottle in the refrigerator at the appropriate temperature.

Electric vs Manual breast pump

Why is My Breast Pump Not Working?

When you invest in a pump but hardly any milk comes out or there is no milk, it’s clear there is some problem.

But if your breast has completely stopped producing milk, the issue isn’t with the pump.

However, if your nipples are still producing milk and the pump isn’t extracting it, then the pump is likely the problem.

In most cases, you can troubleshoot this at home. Here are a few common reasons for this issue:

The valve is not in place
Pump is not assembled properly
Water is stuck inside the pump
Wet filters
Setting suction strength is too low
Blocked valves and flanges
Damaged or torn valves and membrane
Wrong flange size
Poor battery

By addressing these common issues, you can often resolve the problem and get your pump working effectively again!

Potential issues in manual breast pump with solutions

A manual breast pump is likely to get more issues as compared to the electric pump. Here are some most common issues with their solutions:

Reason 1. Poor Breast pump assembly

If the pump is not properly assembled, there are high chances that you will face a problem with suction.

Reason 2. Damaged Valves and Membranes

We often don’t look at valves and membranes, rights!. These are the crucial part of the pumps, so any damage or tear in the valves can make it difficult to express milk. If you also see any such damage to the membrane, instantly replace it.

Reason 3. Problem with flange size

If the flanges in the breast pump are not the right fit, you might see hardly any milk come out when you pump. Pain and discomfort can also cause your breasts to stop responding to the pump. Here’s how you can overcome this:

Reason 4. Pain while pumping

Manual pumping requires your input, meaning you will have to keep squeezing to express the milk, which may lead to pain sometimes. Eventually, this pain will make you stressed and make you hate the whole pumping process.

Once you have rectified the issues with your pump, check the breast pump suction properly.

How do you test a breast pump suction?

Sometimes, breast pumps cause unnecessary headaches, such as not pumping milk. Although, you must test a breast pump’s suction before purchasing it to avoid unnecessary trouble in future, but if you have bought it, here’s how you can check the breast pump suction: .

Note : You must test it by using it on your breast OR If you want a more precise result, then you can get a vacuum gauge to test the suction.

Let’s see how to run a test.

Step 1: Assemble the breast pump according to the instructions.

Step 2: Connect the pressure gauge to the flange tightly.

Step 3:Turn on the pump and initially set the suction level low.

Note:The standard value for breast suction is:

Low– 150-200 mmHg
Medium– 200-250 mmHg
High– 250- 300 mmHG.

Step 4:Slowly increase the suction level.

Step 5:Measure till the highest point.

Step 6:Record both Min/low value and Max/high value.

Step 7:Compare the acquired value with the standard value.

Step 8:Remove the gauge after testing.

What do you do if no milk comes out when pumping?

Even if your milk production is sufficient and your pump is functioning properly, there may be instances when your breasts do not respond to pumping.There might be a problem, such as you not feeling well. It might also mean you are still not comfortable with pumping or are just at the starting phase.

But don’t worry—there is always a solution to this problem. Here is what you can do if the pumping is not working.

Mentally prepare yourself.
Get comfortable with pumping, give it some time, you will improve.
Go to your comfortable private space.
Make sure you assemble the pump properly.
Look for any condensation or liquid in the components.
Make sure the flange is in the right size.
Keep the suction level normal. (Neither too high nor too low)
Take a warm shower or warm compress before pumping.
Pump as soon as you come out from the shower.

Even if your breast feels full, and no milk comes when pumping. Make sure you diagnose the root cause first before giving up!.

If you are suffering from postpartum depression or any other health issue, we recommend you to consult a healthcare professional.

Conclusion

Breasts not responding to the pump anymore could make you feel stressed, and worried, particularly if pumping becomes a primary method of milk expression as your baby grows. So, ensuring your pump works well while you express milk is very important. In this article, we’ve addressed various potential issues and provided troubleshooting tips. However, if you still have any doubts or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help!