Both sides are bleeding :(

I have a dilema - my nipples have been gradually getting more and more sensitive the past few weeks... I pump every 3 - 3 1/2 hrs during the day and once at night (I get 6 pumps done in 24 hrs) on my medela mini-electric single pump and dd gets exclusive breastmilk since her appetite slowed down slighty - I'm meeting her demands of around 30 oz breastmilk a day.
Well, I have been concerned from the beginning that my breast pump is recommended for ''occasional use'' out of the medela range and have often wondered if it is a little harsh compared to some others on the market. Well my suspisions have been confirmed and last night I started pumping blood! I obviously stopped when it came out of my left breast - applied lashings of lanolin and eventually when milk was flowing it stopped. Then righty's turn... that too decided it had had enough and bled in the same way. I got through it with lanolin again. It's so scary to see though :(
I am pumping at the moment (9:30 am) but last was pumping at 3:15 am till 4:45 am (due to all the hold-ups/ obstacles inbetween) I would normally have pumped at 8 am ish after this pump but have left it til 9:30. I am hoping the longer gap will improve things this morning as so far I see no blood :)
Once I am done pumping, I am heading to the shops to get a Pump In Style as it will still work out cheaper than starting formula, and I will be even more determined to go to a year pumping. I was foolish to think a mini-electric could sustain this schedule, since I suspect it is on a stronger setting all by itself, which I can't seem to shift it off of. This is probably happening through over-use.
Dd is worth it though right? :)
Has anyone else had a bad experience with the mini electric (I'm not saying it is a bad pump just maybe a bit harsh for long term use). Would you recommend the pump in style as a more gentle pump (and obviously affordable pump)? Has anyone else bled, and made a full recovery in a day or two? I'm hoping switching pump is all I need to do to stop this happening again???


I have just moved onto righty and there is blood pumping through :( So I have swapped bottles. I can see that it is the waiting for the intial let-down that causes the bleeding. The mini electric starts on a strong setting immediately. I am hoping the p/in style has a very mild initial setting I can then change???


Thanks for any advice in advance.

[KATE535]

Ooops - meant to say I am getting the medela swing not the pump in style.

[JenLex]

I can feel your pain!!!!!!! OUCH huh!!! Same thing happend to me but i had a different single eletric and now have the pump in style i believe -  its been a while since i've used it.  My medela has a setting so you control how intense you need it.  How long have you been pumping?  It took quite a while for my nipples to adjust to the whole b/f and pumping thing hurt like he ll for quite a while!!!!!! it DOES get better and soon it won't bother you one bit.  But it really stinks to look down and see blood because you are so sore!!!!! hang in there it gets better and GREAT JOB :D

[KATE535]

I've been pumping for 6 months (in 2 days time) so it's more a case of strain on the boobs than getting used to the whole pumping thing.
My medela mini electric does have an adjustable button but like before (on my last son) it has got stuck on a strong setting so the nipple has been being drawn all the way down the funnel and that's supposed to be on minimum. So that isn't right.
I did get myself a new Medela Swing yesterday and I'm finding it good but expressing is taking longer ..... at least til I get used to it. I'm trying not to get sore or blood through again so got it on a slower more gentle expression for now.
Thanks for the advice :)

[BradyAm]

is it possibel the flanges (horns) dont fit you properly and are causing you pain? this is the problem with me at the moment.

[KATE535]

I have been wondering the same thing..... I have no idea how to tell about correctly fitted horns. How do you know yours are the incorrect size? What do you have to look for to indicate a good fit? Thanks for your reply btw.

[BradyAm]

well with the flanges my lansinoh came with my nipples would rub against the sides of the flanges so i bought large ones from pumpin pals and with those ones my areola gets sucked in too much and gets irritated and pink during and after pumping. so i just ordered medium sized flanges. so we'll see.

amedaonline has pictures of how flanges should fit.
http://www.amedaonline.com/howtogetgofi.html

[tiredbuthappy]

i LOVE the pumpin pal flanges. I use a large on medela brand, but a medium pumpin pal. I find them to be more forgiving. I think the medela site may have illustrations on how to find a good fit as well. This site has a good description: http://www.gentlepump.com/breast_shield_fit.html

i wish i had seen this sooner- i really would've encouraged a double electric pump. It would've cut the time spent pump per side, which would decrease problems. When you double pump, it does take 1/2 the time. But on top of that, it actually is faster per side because you let-down simultaneously, and therefore faster. When I single pump i notice that it takes longer to get let-downs on the second side. The less strain on the nips, the better.
Glad you have a gentler pump though! That should help a lot. Once you're healed a bit, you may be able to turn up the suction a little. Keep us updated!

[KATE535]

Thanks. I know what you mean about the double pump - the problem is around here it is hard to find double pumps in shops. They have a very limited range - choice of medela mini electric or swing wherever you go. I was desperate to change my pump the very morning I could get one - I wouldn't have been able to wait for the delivery of a double pump :(
I am finding pumping more enjoyable than before as my pump is virtually silent in comparrison to before aswell as more comfortable and stimulating etc. I am confident I'm at last using a very good pump and I should've invested sooner. I didn't think there was such a difference when you find the right pump. I just wasn't ready to quit expressing at 6 months so had to invest even if I didn't want to. Ironically I have spent the amount of a double pump on my combined costs of the mini electric and the swing:-/ Oh well...

[mum2beagain]

Well now you have two pumps you could use them together to double pump just remember to swap sides each time you pump so the harsher one swaps sides each time; that should help cause less trauma to you nipples too but you will achieve the double let down this way and pumping time will be cut too.

[KATE535]

That's something I can consider now yes. The soreness has eased too and I'm finding good stimulation from the medela swing. I love how pumping is so quiet now - I don't know if you've used the mini electric, but it is such a noisy pump!!