Pump-In-Style

Ok....most of my readers will not care a bit about this post....but it took me SO long to figure this out, that I feel like I owe it to the other pumping mommies out there to share my discovery. 

My breast pump is a huge part of my life right now.  I like to pump and then bottle feed my babies.  I have never nursed.  It takes too long, and I love being able to get instant relief when the milk has come in, and I'm ready to get it ALL OUT!  Since I'm a working mom anyway, it all makes sense that I should do it this way. My breast pump is a Medela Pump-in-style. 

The model I have is what you see in the picture.  So here's what was going on.  I was noticing that I was losing suction.  I used to be able to pump 4 oz (I always measure on one side, even though I always pump both sides at once) in 5 minutes, and by 7 minutes I could have 6 ounces.  Quick right?  Lately it's been taking 15 to 20 minutes to get 4 ounces!  It gets SO annoying, I mean....I have to use this thing 4 times a day.  There were times when it felt like it was taking LONGER AND LONGER every time I used the pump.  I was really getting frustrated.  But I FINALLY figured out why (and honestly....it's not all that complicated, I'm just a little slow I guess)

The breast attachment is something that I rinse after every use, and I actually do wash the horn with soap every time.  But there's one part that I was NOT washing every time.  See below...

 This little flappy valve.  I also noticed that as I continued to lose suction, these little valves were making more and more noise while using the pump.  Kind-of a "buzz" vibration that I suppose only pumping moms would recognize.  And I also noticed that as it lost suction, I was getting more and more condensation in the hoses. 

 Apparently when you don't wash these parts, you get build-up which affects the suction.  See the white stuff?  Well.  Once I cleaned it off....it was like my pump was brand new again!  6 ounces in five minutes again.  What a relief.  And the condensation went away in the hoses.

 On a second note, I just want to say that the pump itself has a face-plate that can be removed.  (see below)

If the face-plate isn't re-attached completely and tightly, the pump won't work right either. 

So....lesson learned.  The best way to keep the pump in working order is to keep it clean!  Who knew.