Empty boobs hurt!

I'm still pumping 3 hourly around the clock for DD2, with an electric medela pump. I've had to turn the suction down because my nipples were seriously hurting. So now it is almost at the lowest suction setting but I am still getting the same amount of milk. I hope that is OK?

The other (bigger) issue is that my breasts hurt when they are refilling... so about 20 minutes after pumping them as empty as I can get them, they really ache (including my poor nipples). Any ideas? Or is that just what BF is going to feel like for me? I have quite a painful let down but only on the outside of my boobs.

My nipples were in pain using an electric pump. I found the Avent hand pump so much better. Soft, you control the speed plus I get more then if I used the electric one.

I vaguely recall a similar feeling, but it didn't last forever.

Pumping can be pretty harsh on your poor nips. If you can keep going on the lowest setting, I'd stick with that.

:hug:

Plus baby is a more effective pump

It's early days yet... Things do tend to settle for most people. Don't be afraid of using panadol or nurofen if you need them. Some heat packs can be comforting.

Try some olive oil wiped on the flanges of your pump, particularly where the nipples rub. Xo

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My nipples were in pain using an electric pump. I found the Avent hand pump so much better. Soft, you control the speed plus I get more then if I used the electric one.

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Gosh, didn't you go crazy pumping so much with a manual pump? It would take me forever!

How long are you pumping for per session? 10-15 mins tops is all you should need.

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How long are you pumping for per session? 10-15 mins tops is all you should need.

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Yep that's about how long it takes to pump both sides. I always pump until I finish squirting and then for another minute or two (when there is just a drop every second or two in the flange). Depending on how long since I've pumped, I get between 100 (2.5 hours) and 150 (4 hours) mils from both sides.

Yep, stick with the lower setting for now I reckon. When your nips toughen up you'll be able to bump it up a bit, though if you're getting the same amount of milk that's great.

Early on I had that tingly, achy feeling when my bbs were re-filling. It only lasted a few weeks. Sorry to say my letdown is still pretty intense, ouch.

Hope things settle for you soon. You're doing so well.

Oh yes I remember that horrid first few weeks of pumping, I so wanted to give up at times. The milk was leaving burn like marks on my boobs!
Just sensitive but after 6/7 weeks it all settled down. You are do a great job, keep it up. We will be your cheer squad

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Oh yes I remember that horrid first few weeks of pumping, I so wanted to give up at times. The milk was leaving burn like marks on my boobs!
Just sensitive but after 6/7 weeks it all settled down. You are do a great job, keep it up. We will be your cheer squad

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How many weeks did you end up pumping for?

I have the most painful refill it is excruciating, but is settling down a bit. Its like sharp shooting pains. Im at 10wks & the pain is settling. I pumped several times a day till 7mths with dd1 & also founs an avent manual better. The pumping action never bothered me

Just check with an LC or similar if the pain you have "refilling" isn't vasospasm. I had that and it's painful! Keeping your bbs warm after feeding/pumping can help reduce the pain if this is the case........well done for hanging in there!

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I have the most painful refill it is excruciating, but is settling down a bit. Its like sharp shooting pains. Im at 10wks & the pain is settling. I pumped several times a day till 7mths with dd1 & also founs an avent manual better. The pumping action never bothered me

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Sorry to hear it :hug:.

I have a manual medela and I might try it for a day to see how it goes. It just bothers me that I get 20-30 mils less with the manual pump and I don't want my supply to drop, or to get mastitis from not really emptying the breast.

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Gosh, didn't you go crazy pumping so much with a manual pump? It would take me forever!

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10 min each side every 3 hours in the day. At night I'd skip one or for example is pump at 6pm, 10pm,3am then 6 am

At 9 weeks here and still getting painful refill when breast feeding and on the pump! Just want it to settle as it did earlier with my other two!!

I pumped every feed till he was 5 weeks then around 12 weeks I stopped completely. I've just thrown out all the spare milk :( there was so much liquid gold thrown away. Heartbreaking after all that hard work.
It does get better I promise.

Instead of pumping once you are down to drips can you try hand expressing the last bit instead - it may be gentler on you.
And also - do you have the correct sized flange for your nipples? If it's too big then you can suck too much breast into the pump and end up with an achy breast overall; if it's too small you can end up with mangled nipples. You need the nipple to fit in easily and a bit of areola to be sucked in too, but not very much. And medela pump flanges come in 4 or 5 different sizes - you don't have to stick with the small-medium one that come with the pump.

Yes the flange size is super important.

I confess that when DD was born and I was in hospy trying to hurry up my milk, the MW said pump on the lowest setting for no more than 10 minutes and of course in eager / desperate new mother mode I pumped on a high setting for 20 minutes and the next day my aereolas were purple with bruising :(

When I was expressing regularly at the start, I used a Medela Symphony (rented it from the chemist) and it was great. Since then I just use an electric Medela pump when I need to and it hurts a lot :( Perhaps a pump upgrade could help the pain during expressing, especially considering you are doing it so frequently? Sorry, no advice on the refilling pain - I just hope it improves for you.