Does anyone recall studies on nipple pain that showed increased pain with excessive sucking pressures by babies?  And that normal pressures for babies (sufficient to keep milk moving) are 160-200?  So why does strength of the pump matter?  I think it is really efficiency of the pump and ability of the breast to drain - a little pause in the rhythm, like the baby does when he swallows, that helps with better milk removal.  That's what the symphony does.  And I have personally compared pressures available on all the pumps.  Only the symphony can maintain maximum pressure on dual.  Not sure it really matters and I think it's the rhythm on the symphony that makes a difference. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jaye Simpson, IBCLC
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:42 PM
Subject: PIS vs hospital grade

Ok - so to clarify a few important points on my 'whiny' post yesterday.  :-)

 

1) Mom's pump was 3 yrs old and WELL used.  The people who she talked to who told her the PIS was just as good as a hospital grade DID NOT ask her how old or well used the pump was and did not offer to test it to be sure.  And they told her they did not understand why I would recommend a hospital grade pump.  She told them she needed to pump exclusively for the baby - you know, 8-10 times in 24 hours.  

 

2) When she went back (the next day at my insistence) to get a hospital grade pump (Symphony) they asked her if she had a kit to go with it.  She told them ALL she had was parts for the PIS.  They said she didn't need a kit then - she'd be fine.  She went home only to find that (of course) she does NOT have all the parts she needs.  And as a result has had this pump for over 24 hours without being able to use it.  And her supply is crashing.

 

3)  I tested her 3.5 yr old PIS today and it is NOT pumping properly at all.
Her supply is very low - there is no way this pump working this poorly will protect or bring in her supply - NO way.  

 

4)  The hospital grade pump she rented was FILTHY.  It was disgusting.  WTH?


 

I am NOT happy about how this mom was treated.  I am NOT happy about the poor information that was given at all.  And the fact the pump was not clean???  We won't even go there.  It was all I could do to stay professional about that issue and not show the full extent of my professional disgust.  But the mom?  She is PISSED about all of it.  And she is one of those who will go give them 'what for'.  :-)  

 

As far as pumps working well being dependent upon the mom, yeah - we can say that.  I have seen it.  There are always exceptions to the rule.always.
However, I have seen enough supplies crash and burn with the PIS, the Freestyle and the Swing to last me a lifetime.  I have a mom who rented a Hygeia from me tonight - was told the Freestyle would be perfectly fine for her to use to protect her milk supply (baby is NOT BF well - that is another story, and I have that figured out already and they are getting treatment this week).  She is nearly exclusively pumping now - with a Freestyle!  She was told it was just as good as a hospital grade.  Well, guess what?  It isn't!  And her baby is now being supplemented with ABM as a result.  We won't talk about the fact that she saw 3 other "LC's" who all missed the fact that this kid has a serious suck issue, almost no range of motion with her tongue, no neck (very tight - shoulders literally touch the bottoms of her ears), and possible submucosal t-t.sigh.  And two of them told her the Freestyle would be fine.and all told her the baby was fine.hang in there!
It will get better!  (just broke my proverbial brick wall again.)

 

Re: the PIS and Symphony measuring 250mghz - I have yet to see any PIS I test (with a Medela pressure gauge) hit over 220 and most of the time they struggle to hit 180 with double pumping.  More often than not the best and most consistent pressure is when it is single pumping.  Well, moms don't buy them to single pump.  So we must just have lousy PIS's here.

 

Am I feeling extremely cranky about it all tonight?  Yes.  Lots of poor, outdated and uneducated information flying around.and we won't even discuss the mom who called me because her Dr told her to immediately wean the baby
from the breast because he THOUGHT she MIGHT have a dairy allergy.????   2nd
brick wall broken tonight.sigh.  Where is my ibu??

 

Respectfully.

 

Jaye

 

 

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 


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