My Manual Pump Hurts… Am I Doing It Right?

A manual breast pump or “hand pump” can be hugely beneficial to your breastfeeding journey. For some mommas, though, it can cause discomfort or pain. If this sounds like you, let’s try to fix that and get you pumping in comfort!

First of all, if you don’t know if a manual pump can benefit YOU, I suggest reading my “You Need A Manual Pump” blog post for all the reasons I personally love my manual pump and how it can be a valuable (and inexpensive!) addition to your pump collection.

Assembling your manual pump

To ensure that your pump is in good, working condition, carefully clean, dry, and assemble it. It might not be as intuitive as it seems! (And did you even know the valve and membrane needs to face to the side? Mind blown, right?)

How to use your manual pump

In this video, I go over the simple way to operate the Medela Harmony manual pump as well as the Lansinoh manual pump. Other pumps, like Dr Brown’s, are similar to the Lansinoh in operation- Just do shallow, quick sucks to initiate your letdown, and then switch to slower, deeper squeezes of the handle for expression.

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Troubleshooting your manual pump:

Believe me, as a lactation counselor who specializes in all things pumping related, I hear it all! I’ve taken some of the top complaints and give you easy solutions to troubleshoot your manual pump issues. Remember, there are NO stupid questions… you don’t know what you don’t know! You know?

“I just don’t respond to a manual pump”

First of all, know that it is true that different women’s bodies respond differently to various pumps. That being said… are you doing it right? Take a minute to review the instructional video above and give it another try! Be patient with the letdown mode, using very shallow very quick squeezes of the handle until you either see or feel your letdown, when the milk starts flowing. Some mommas describe their letdown as slightly painful pins and needles, whereas others feel a fullness, and others still do not feel their letdown at all. Next, use slow squeezes of the handle, massaging/gently compressing the breast with your free hand. The compression may encourage your body to respond!

“My manual pump is losing suction!”

First, check that all parts and present and accounted for, and assembled correctly. My assembly video above should help with that. If the valve and membrane are not present, there will be no suction. Take the handle off and make sure the little o-ring is present and hasn’t fallen off, which can also affect suction. Make sure the plastic part of the handle is fully connected to the squishy part, pressed in snugly. You can also try replacing the white flappy membrane, especially if you use the pump heavily. Make sure no cloth is caught between the flange and your breast, breaking suction. If you lose suction mid-session, check that your valve and membrane are still attached and haven’t fallen off into your milk. Reposition the flange on your breast, centering your nipple in the flange tunnel, and try again.

“It hurts to use my manual pump”

A few things can be done about this. The first is to ensure you have the proper flange size. (You can size yourself with my DIY Flange Sizing Guide!) Yes, this matters for manual pumps, too! Once you find the correct size, you should use the same size for your electric and your manual pump. You might find a silicone flange more comfortable. Make sure you aren’t squeezing the handle with too much force, or too quickly. Be careful not to overdo it- listen to your body and adjust the strength of suction as needed. Pain mid-session? Remove the flange from your breast and reposition it. Something as little as that has helped me in the past! Use lubrication, like a flange spray or a dab of food-grade coconut oil applied to your nipple/areola with a clean finger before pumping.

“I don’t get as much from my manual pump!”

First, make sure you are using the correct size flange. This can make a huge difference! Review all the videos here and from my other blog post about manual pumps to make sure you’re using it effectively. Don’t just trust me, search your brand pump on YouTube and see if others have created helpful videos on how to use your pump. My biggest piece of advice for this issue is to apply gentle but steady compression with your free hand while pumping. This video should help!

“My wrists really hurt after using my manual pump”

Heavy use of a manual pump can result in sore hands or wrists. Try operating the pump with your other hand. Do wrist exercises. Massage your forearms to improve blood flow to your wrist and fingers and reduce inflammation. If you feel that you’ve really injured your wrists, apply ice, take an anti-inflammatory medication, and call your healthcare provider. For more information on repetitive strain injuries related to breastfeeding, read this article from Today’s Parent.

“My back/neck hurt while pumping”

Look at your posture. Are you all hunched over with little hands up near your chest like a T-Rex? Stand up and do some stretches. Then, find a comfortable seat on a chair or couch. Place a pillow behind just your upper back. This way you feel like you can relax, but are still supported in the upright position. Avoid hunching over and staring at your bottle as you operate your manual pump.

“I can’t find different flange sizes for my manual pump”

If you have a Medela Harmony, there aren’t special flanges just for the Harmony- Any Medela flange will fit, even compatible off-brand ones on Amazon. Same thing goes for the Lansinoh manual pump- Any Lansinoh or compatible off-brand flanges will work. If you have a Dr Brown’s manual pump, you may need a flange insert in your correct size. Phillips Avent and Tommee Tippee manual pumps come with a soft silicone shield which may not come in a wide variety of sizes, but you can check with the manufacturer.