Diane - I'm not impressed with this pump. If the mom has an efficient let-down reflex and the breasts are already soft and lactating well, then it seems to work. But I've had some disasters when this was the only type of pump I had available. The suction is not strong enough. And that little white seal that goes around the piston can exert *no* suction at all. I used to mess about with tiny little rubber bands, trying to pad out the seal so that it would fit tightly against the cylinder part .... I see they've changed the design a little since then, but I still wouldn't carry them myself. Sorry! Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe mailto:[log in to unmask]