It’s Okay if a Pump Doesn’t Work for You!
Really! It’s okay if a pump doesn’t work for you! In a world of ever increasing options for breast pumps, you may find there are pumps that just don’t work for you!
It happens for a variety of reasons:
Wrong suction style or strength for your body.
Lack of response to a particular pump - it happens with some pumps for everyone regardless of pump quality.
Lack of options for your sizing needs.
Pain - any pump causing you pain is a problem since pain isn’t normal. Pain often means something is wrong with one of the keys to success for that style of pump for you, or that the pump is not compatible with another lactation issue that is problematic, but tolerable.
Plain old poor fit for YOUR anatomy.
Doesn’t work with the bras you like or have.
Not convenient for you to use.
Has quirks that you don’t find tolerable.
The perks of that pump add no value to your life.
You are not presently in a position to work through learning the process a particular pump to use it.
Requires a financial investment with ongoing costs you can’t take on right now.
Sometimes, the issue is a quality issue with a pump, poor customer support with a brand, or sometimes, it’s just a new pump and that means headaches we have to sort out which is not right for every pumping parent.
Often, you opted to ignore the resources available that could have helped you and instead blamed the pump for your choices. Postpartum hormones and the vast amount of misinformation around pumping make this soooo easy to do. However, if you have been given instructions, resources, and professional advice from a lactation pumping specialist, please listen and do better.
Personal Story: I tossed my first set of Willow containers in the trash in a fit of postpartum hormonal frustration for the orange light frustrating me one too many times. I just wasn’t in a place emotionally to troubleshoot. I wasn’t in the place to learn how to wash that valve. It was months later before I was even tempted to try again, and it took a bit to learn the right wash routine, but the same issues and same demands under different circumstances produced different levels of success.
At the end of the day, there are really only a few things you need to remember:
No pump is right for everyone
Your experience isn’t universal so consider that when providing feedback that could influence another pumping parent (example- I hated that piece of crap pump is different from I disliked how carefully the pieces had to be cleaned, that added stress instead of helping me)
And if it’s not working out sell it and move on- maybe after a consultation with an actual pump expert lactation consultant to help you find the right option for you.
Oh, and take influencer and individual reviews of a pump with some perspective - you have no idea why a pump did or didn’t work for someone of if they truly “loved it". No pump will work for you if you aren’t in the position to manage the energy and financial investment of the pump.
So, if you find yourself struggling with a pump, really consider if you want to or can invest in solving the issues, and if not, consider moving on for the sake of your milk supply and mental health.
