Why Has My Pump Lost Its Suction?

Did you know?  Why has my pump lost its suction?

Have you tried a stronger suction?  Sometimes, when our bodies are constantly changing after the birth of our babies, the suction strength needed changes as well.

When attaching, do you fold the flange back, squeeze the bottom of the pump, centre it onto your nipple, unfold the flange and release?  This is the most effective way of attaching.  The more you squeeze the bottom of the pump, the stronger the suction will be.

Another tip would be to assist your breast by holding or cupping it in one hand while attaching the pump in the other so you can really get a centre onto your breast and allow the pump to grasp a bigger area.

If you find none of these tip work and it still won't suction on properly, it may be that the silicone material has worn and lost its suction. Sometimes this can happen depending how often it is used and sterilised, as well as the method of how it's washed and sterilised – the more you sterilise your pump, the faster it will lose its suction. Some mums find they need to replace their pumps after a few months while others have theirs for years. It really differs for each person based on each of those factors!