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Exclusive Pumping

Home » Breastfeeding and Health » Sore Nipples from Pumping

Sore Nipples from Pumping

By Amanda Glenn, CLC. Last Updated May 3, 2022. Originally Posted May 3, 2022.

Nipple Pain from Pumping
Exclusive Pumping Pain

Are you experiencing sore nipples from pumping? Here is what can cause nipple pain, and how to make pumping less painful.

woman holding breast in pain with text overlay - Sore Nipples from Pumping, what can cause this and what to do

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click a link and take action, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I love! More information here.

Causes of sore nipples from pumping

Below are some common causes of nipple pain while pumping breastmilk.

reasons for pain with pumping

1. Incorrect breast shield size

Many breast pumps are sold with standard 24oz flanges, but you might need bigger or smaller ones to be comfortable.

Here are a couple of guidelines to help you figure out whether your flanges may not be sized correctly:

  • If your nipple cannot move freely in the flange “tunnel,” the breast shield is too small. This can cause nipple pain because the fit is too tight.
  • If the tissue around your nipple is being pulled into the tunnel, the breast shield is too large. Here, the cause of the nipple pain is that extra tissue that shouldn’t be pulled in is being pulled in. This agitation can bruise that tissue and cause pain and inflammation.
  • If your nipple stretches for into the flange, almost to the end, you may have elastic nipples. When you have elastic nipples, you may struggle to find a flange size that is comfortable and is effective at removing milk.

One important thing that was not obvious to me is that you can have large breasts and still need a small size breast shield, because breast shield size is reflective of your nipple, and not your breast.

Legendairy Milk sells a ruler for flange sizing that you can use to measure your breast shield size – use EPUMP for 15% off.

More on how to make sure that you get the right breast shield size here.

Alternatives to Standard Breast Shields

Alternate Breast Shield Options - Pumpin Pals, BeauGen Cushion, LacTeck BabyMotion

If you’ve tried a few different breast shield sizes and are still having discomfort, you might do better with breast shields that are a different shape and/or material.

  • Pumpin Pals are a differently shaped flange – instead of a ring at the base of the funnel, the Pumpin Pal flange tapers into the tunnel.
  • BeauGen inserts go inside your breast shield and make pumping more comfortable for some women. They reduce the size of breast shields by about 2mm, so they can also be useful if you are between sizes.
  • LacTeck breast shields are made to mimic a baby’s latch more closely. They are softer and more flexible than traditional plastic breast shields.

You can use the code EPUMP222 for 10% off LacTeck BabyMotion flanges.

More information on alternative breast shields here.

2. Breast shield placement

Nipple damage – like a cracked nipple – is often caused by pumping with breast shields that aren’t centered correctly on the nipple.

If you’re able to see the positioning of your breast shields (with some pumps you can’t), check each time you start pumping to make sure your nipples are centered.

3. Pump vacuum strength

Another potential issue may be setting the suction strength too strong.

If you think this might be your issue, start your pump on the lowest setting and gradually increase it, until you start to feel a bit of discomfort. Then dial it back a notch until you’re comfortable.

(My first pump had numbered speeds from 1 to 9. When I started pumping with it for the first time when my baby was two days old, I wasn’t sure what number to set it at. I figured a higher number would mean more milk, so I put it on 9 to start out with. That was a bad idea.)

4. Lack of lubrication

Some people find pumping is more comfortable with some kind of lubrication. Coconut oil is a popular choice.

To use it, just dip your finger in the oil and apply it to the flanges and the tunnel.

Other options are pumping sprays (like CoBoo spray) – they can be less messy and easier to use.

Breast health issues

There are a few other breast issues that can cause nipple and breast pain – clogged ducts, mastitis, thrush, milk blisters, vasospasms, and galactoceles.

How do you know if you have one of these? Here are the major symptoms:

Clogged Ducts

These will usually only affect one breast at a time, and you might be able to feel a hard, painful lump (this is where the milk flow is obstructed, or “clogged”).

The area around the lump will be tender and sometimes red and warm if you touch it. The pain is at its worst before pumping/feeding, with some relief afterwards.

Clogged ducts can usually be treated at home – more on how to do that here. If you get recurrent clogged ducts, you may want to consider taking lecithin.

(Legendairy Milk reached out and gave me a discount code for their sunflower lecithin. Take 15% off with the code EPUMP!)

Mastitis

Mastitis has the same symptoms as a clogged duct plus a whole slew more – fever, chills, general malaise, and flu-like aching.

If your boob hurts and you also feel like you have the flu, you probably have mastitis.

More on mastitis and when to see a doctor here.

Thrush

The main symptoms of thrush are itchy, burning and/or cracked nipples, shooting pains in the breast during feedings, “intense nipple pain,” and skin changes such as shiny or flaky nipples. You may also see white patches in your baby’s mouth.

If you think you have thrush, it’s a good idea to call your OB or primary care doctor for a diagnosis and medication.

Milk Blisters

These are also called blebs or nipple blisters, and they are similar to a clogged duct but occur on the tip of your nipple. Milk blisters occur when nipple skin closes over a milk duct opening.

More on milk blisters here.

Nipple Vasospasms

Vasospasms are a sudden narrowing of the blood vessels in the nipple and can be very painful.

They often occur after pumping, in response to cold, and you may notice part of your nipple turning white.

Galactoceles

A galactocele is a cyst filled with breast milk. It may or may not be painful, and is often mistaken for a clogged duct or for possible breast cancer.

See your doctor if you have a persistent lump that doesn’t go away within a few days.

Miscellaneous causes

There are a few other possible culprits:

  • “Squashed” breasts from sleeping your stomach, having a bra that doesn’t fit quite right, or having a bag with a strap (like a diaper bag or purse) that frequently rubs against your breast.
  • A dry or chapped nipple that leads to cracking or bleeding. Lanolin or other types of nipple cream can help with this. (You can find reviews of different nipple creams here.)

What to do about the sore nipples?

Keep in mind that once you’ve addressed the underlying cause of the nipple pain (such as getting a different size flange), it may take a week or two for the damage that was already done to heal.

While you wait for your nipples to heal or recover from mastitis or thrush, there are a few things that you can do to make yourself more comfortable.

  • Take Motrin or Tylenol. If it hurts more when you start pumping, make sure that you’ve taken something recently when it’s time to sit down and pump. (They are safe for breastfeeding.)
  • If only one side is affected, start by pumping only the other side. Once you’ve let down, hook the affected side up to the pump. (Nipple pain is often at its worst before letdown.)
  • Make sure your bra is comfortable and fits. Most nursing bras don’t have seams or wires and are constructed for lactating breasts, so these are ideal.
  • If your issue is a dry, cracked or bleeding nipple, and you’re sure you don’t have thrush, try applying breast milk and/or nipple cream to your breast before and after pumping. Also, try to let your breasts “air out” if possible. Obviously, you can’t walk around topless all day, but if you can for 10 minutes at a time here and there, it may help.
  • Try using a warm compress both before and after a pumping session.

Not sure what’s causing your breast pain related to pumping? Here are six questions that can help you figure out the issue.

References
  1. Aeroflow Breastpumps. “Breast Pump Flange Sizing.” https://aeroflowbreastpumps.com/blog/breastpump-flange-size-chart
  2. Newman, Jack, MD. “Sore nipples.” https://ibconline.ca/information-sheets/sore-nipples/
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Filed Under: Breastfeeding and Health

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Comments

  1. Brittany says

    November 8, 2020 at 7:30 am

    This isn’t pain related but about nipple stimulation. I’m a FTM due in January. I am planning to EP from day 1. My reason for not nursing is because of sexual trauma in my past and nursing would be a big trigger for me. With EP, I’m fearful that the nipple stimulation could also be a trigger for me. This may sound like a dumb question but is there a pumping option that doesn’t require or involve significant nipple stimulation? Or is there anything I can do that could make it less likely to be a trigger for me (I’m imaging that having the right size flange would be important, but anything else?)? Any thoughts you have would be so appreciated as I’m worried that EP won’t end up being a good option for me if it’s too triggering. 🙁

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn, CLC says

      November 8, 2020 at 5:40 pm

      Hi Brittany! Congrats on your pregnancy! I would love to try to help you with this. Nipple stimulation is unfortunately pretty important to getting your milk to letdown. I’m wondering if trying hand expression (something you’d be complete control of) might be helpful? You could do it until your milk lets down? You could also see if you are able to pump without being triggered with a manual pump or with a Haakaa. That might make pumping take longer but be better for your mental health. Feel free to email me at amanda@exclusivepumping.com if you want more help with working out a plan!

  2. Melodi Boivin says

    August 19, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Hi so I’ve been pumping for about 2 weeks now and so far it’s been fine but today I tried pumping and it hurt really bad on both of them and I’ve never had pain like it till today what could it be??

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn, CLC says

      August 20, 2020 at 10:18 am

      Hi Melodi! What was the pain like? Was it just when you were pumping, or after?

    • Melodi Boivin says

      August 20, 2020 at 10:20 am

      It was during

  3. ISHA says

    May 26, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    Hi Amanda. I m
    Having blisters on my nipples. Some of them r only
    Visible after/ during pumping as they turn bluish black. (Not painful as of now but they r increasing) I am
    Currently down to 7 pumps/day for 20 mins each. Will dropping pumps will help in healing? (I m
    Planning to wean off from pump) I use freestyle at speed 6. Please guide

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 27, 2019 at 7:23 pm

      Hi Isha! I’m wondering if your flange sizes are maybe incorrect. Have you tried different sizes at all?

    • Isha says

      May 29, 2019 at 11:33 pm

      Ok . Will try and see if it helps 🙂 thank u

    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 30, 2019 at 9:23 am

      Good luck!

  4. Barkha Keni says

    March 20, 2019 at 10:53 am

    I have been using different flange size for my Spectra S2 and all of them rub on the flanges while pumping due to swelling. How do you decide which is the right size since my nipples swell with almost all flanges (tried pumpin pals as well)

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      March 20, 2019 at 2:37 pm

      Have you maybe tried the coin method to measure? Just a thought –
      https://www.instagram.com/p/BtfSX83g3-5/

    • Shawna says

      April 4, 2019 at 9:37 pm

      It took me 2 months to figure this out! Crazy as it sounds, search youtube to see how to properly measure and see the correct way the flange should fit. I had sized up because I thought that’s what I needed but after continued pain and issues pumping I started doing research and found some videos and turns out I needed to size back down. Actually is so much more comfortable now. Also, came across some videos that suggested applying a small amount of coconut oil to the flange and just inside of the tube and it sure did help! I don’t do without it now!

  5. Jay says

    June 24, 2018 at 2:23 am

    Please help, my flanges look like the right size before pumping (if anything maybe slightly big) but while pumping my nipples get that much bigger they get quite red and rub on one side of the flange… would the flanges be too big or too small..?? Very confused

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      June 24, 2018 at 7:02 am

      Hi Jay! I would try a bigger size and see if that feels better. I would go based on the “while pumping” size.

  6. Sara says

    April 21, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    So my nipples are always hard, which makes them tender. They also have white (what looks like milk) stuff in the crevices of my nipples which then turns yellowish after is dry. Even having the shower water hit my nipples hurts so trying to get all of that white stuff out hurts too!

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      April 21, 2018 at 8:41 pm

      That milk stuff doesn’t go away until after you wean. Nothing I did could ever get it out!

  7. Dv143 says

    April 1, 2018 at 9:35 pm

    I have been doing exclusive pumping since my Lo wont latch and start loosing weight.It has been three weeks since i started pumping and i tried 21mm 25 27 mm and pumping pals large set flanges.all of them are hurting my nipples and nipples are rubbed against the tunnels.tomorrow i am planning to try 30 mm medela flange.i already hve low milk and i am not able to pump properly for the past week.i think because of nipple pain i am not even getting letdown for 20 min anf i end pumping 40 min to atleast partially empty my breasts and too much pumping is aggravating pain.My other worry is that because of improper pumping will my milk supply reduce permanently?Is there any other solution for flange fitting?

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      April 2, 2018 at 8:33 am

      Hi! I’m so sorry that you’re dealing with this. A few suggestions – 1) can you call pumpin pals customer support and see if they can help you? 2) are you using any lubrication at all? Coconut oil works well 3) maybe try hand expression and see if that is easier for you until you can get the flange size worked out 4) can you ask a lactation consultant to help fit you for the right size flanges?

  8. Kendra says

    March 6, 2018 at 7:38 am

    Hi all,

    I’m having severe pain around my right nipple only before, during and after pumping. The worst part is during pumping. They fitted me for the correct size shield at the hospital and I’m already using the biggest size so I don’t think it’s that. It’s not mastitis beause I’ve had that before. I have under the skin nodules around the nipple they seem to pop out more than the left boob not sure what else it could be. I don’t have cracking or bleeding and I’ve been using ice packs and nipple cream. Help :(!!

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      March 6, 2018 at 2:32 pm

      Do think it might be thrush? I would maybe go see your OB. So sorry you’re dealing with this!

  9. Matt says

    December 28, 2017 at 10:36 am

    Hi, my wife has been pumping for about 10 days and her nipples have blood blisters, cuts and are extremly painful. Could thi be because the flange is too big or something else? Thank you

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      December 28, 2017 at 6:28 pm

      Yes, they could be either too big or too small. I would buy both, try them different size and see if one is more comfortable.

  10. Georgia says

    November 30, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    I’ve been pumping now for a month and I’ve used the wrong flange one the right side and have almost a cut on my nipple. I think I now have the right flange size but it’s painful because of the previous injury how long will that take to heal? I can’t stop pumping or else my supple will drop.

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      December 1, 2017 at 2:42 pm

      So sorry you’re dealing with this, Georgia! I would say it would take anywhere from a day or two to a week. Take tylenol or advil to help in the meantime. Good luck!

  11. Amanda Sousa says

    November 19, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    Hi there,

    I have been exclusively pumping since my little was was born (5 weeks now), and I have already suffered Mastitis and I am now starting to experience severe nipple pain.

    I have cracks all over, and water blisters that are forming over each of my nipples that very in size every time I pump. Not sure if this is due to the prescribed “all purpose nipple ointment” cream my Dr. gave me, or from just pumping 6-8 times/day.

    The flange size doesn’t seem to be the issue, since the same blisters are appearing when I use various sizes (24,25,27 and 30).

    I have not been able to locate any info or relation to this issue elsewhere, so I’m hoping maybe to find some advice here.

    Any help would be much appreciated!

    Thanks much 🙂

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      November 19, 2017 at 5:44 pm

      Hi Amanda! Are you switching the flange sizes around a lot? If so, my theory is that one size is damaging your nipples and there isn’t enough time for the damage to heal when you try the others. Maybe try Pumpin’ Pals and see if that helps? So sorry you’re dealing with this!

  12. Samantha says

    November 4, 2017 at 10:59 pm

    I currently have a blood blister, rather large one on my “good breast” and I’m wondering if it’s safe to pump and give to my 3 month old with possible blood in it? Should I pump and dump? I’m not in any pain. I only got the blister because I was pumping and feeding my LO at the same time and didn’t notice the placement of my nipple was wrong until it was to late. Please and thank you for the advise!

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      November 5, 2017 at 7:59 pm

      Totally fine to give it to your baby. If you were nursing you’d have no choice and not even know either way. I usually didn’t freeze or keep the bloody milk for long but rather fed it asap – not for any real reason just because it felt weird to keep it in the fridge.

  13. Whitney says

    September 20, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    I have tried every size flange on the market and I am still in intense pain. I’ve tried all speeds on the pump and lining myself and the flanges with cream. I have the pumping pals flanges as well as the factory medela ones. I don’t know what to do! I hurt so bad. Anything touches my nipples and I want to cry.

    Reply
    • Britt says

      October 28, 2016 at 9:18 am

      Have you tried using the Medela SoftShells? Those didn’t fully fix my issues but have made me comfortable enough to continue pumping!

  14. Sarah says

    September 17, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    This afternoon, around 2pm, while I was pumping, my husband decided to turn my pump up all the way. He did this a few times before he decided it was dangerous for him to mess with me. My next pump session at 5pm was fine. However, my 8pm resulted in a pain in my left breast. It felt like it was right on the outside of the shield and only lasted for a few seconds, each time in the same area. This happened a few times in the 20 minutes I was pumping, especially if I moved. I am worried something may have happened or is starting to happen. Any advice or ideas on what I can do if it keeps happening? I have my 8 week, postpartum check up in a week.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      September 18, 2016 at 4:45 am

      Update. At my 11pm I only felt the pain when I moved. I skipped my 2am as I’ve been so tired my husband felt I needed sleep more. So now it’s 5am and I’m pumping. Currently no pain but I am using a lower than normal setting on my pump and trying not to move around too much

  15. maria says

    July 18, 2016 at 12:44 am

    so i have been pumping for the past 3 weeks, 3 times a day. baby gets formula to make up for what i can;t get. i produce most of the milk from my left breast, & only a tiny bit from the right one. lately, about 5 – 10 minutes after i pump, i start getting these extreme shooting pains in my right breast, the one that barely produces any milk. it will last about an hour. i will be stopping from pumping on this side since the pain has become unbearable. But what is this? Does anyone know?

    Reply
  16. Autumn says

    July 14, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    If anyone needs to increase supply, because you have low milk production or because you’re needing more milk than you were originally making you, I urge you to try Pumpin pals breast shields and/or Lactiful supplement. I started taking the Lactiful one pill three times today for two days, then two pills three times a day for two days, and so on until yesterday when I had my first full dose of five pills three times a day. My breasts have felt heavy, tingling, and slightly engorged throughout the day today. I’ve already seen my supply increase by 1 ounce per pumping session, and my baby also nurses and I have seen a huge increase in Seedy breast milk poo’s in the last 24 hours. (We have been supplementing with Nutramigen since my supply was low). I know this is an exclusive pumping blog, but my experience can still help some of you mamas out there who can’t breast-feed. Both products can be returned easily if they don’t work for you. I also use a LactaMed Simplicity Hands Free pumping bra. I have tubular shaped breasts and I find the pumpin pal shields I respond too better than standard ones like Medela’s, especially since I have large nipples as well as downward pointing, tuberous breasts that tend toward sagging. The lactamed bra really has helped as well because it keeps the shields held higher and closer to my breasts whereas the other hands-free bras don’t give much support for my sagging, downward pointed breasts.

    Reply
  17. Margariti says

    July 5, 2016 at 6:04 pm

    I have been doing this for 7 weeks so I am still new to it comparitively. Here is what I find helps with pain:

    Olive oil on your nipples helps with pump burn and callouses.

    When it gets really bad I use an olive oil based cream-mothers love nipple cream. Tiny jar, costs about 10 bucks off amazon, but totally worth it. Nipple pain is incredibly discouraging and we all know the commitment it takes to pump regularly. I found lanolin was too sticky and increased the friction instead of relieving it.

    To increase supply, which is probably a thread elsewhere I found that a regular hamburger from Wendy’s, like 3 times a week made about a 3 oz difference per day. I must be normally iron deficient or something. But it did really help. When I stopped because I wanted to start watching my weight…my supply dipped! I also eat oatmeal daily and I drink an alcoholic root beer a few days a week for the malt. I hate it, the taste of beer, but I do it for the baby?

    Reply
  18. Elizabeth says

    July 4, 2016 at 2:05 am

    My problem isnt when I am pumping so much so that when I am not pumping i feel like pin pricks in my nipples when i breath in deeply or yawn I feel it in my nipples I think i need smaller flanges but are there any ideas as to what can be going on my baby is a week old and i pump anout five ounces at a time. I have tried the nipple cream, airing them out, and switching the breast in intervals. I am using a manual pump right now but my insirance just okayd me for an electric pump that i should be getting soon.

    Reply
  19. Tabitha says

    June 28, 2016 at 11:31 pm

    I am so happy to find this forum is still active. Thank you for answering questions so quickly!

    So, I’m a bit of an unusual case. I am currently in the process of using a surrogate and our due date is August 20th! I am trying to stimulate lactation so that I can breastfeed my baby myself. I have had one miscarriage in the past, but have never produced milk on my own.

    I’m using a manual pump to help stimulate and am only 3 days in, but I’m experiencing nipple soreness and am unsure if its normal when you start pumping or if maybe I’m using the wrong size shield? One nipple is more sore than the other and remains sore to the touch between pumps. I’m pumping around 4 times a day for 20 minutes each side with some hand stimulation as well.

    Any suggestions or help is welcome.

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      June 29, 2016 at 9:13 am

      Hi Tabitha! Congratulations on your impending arrival! I’m so excited for you.

      It is totally normal to have some degree of nipple soreness when you first start breastfeeding – I’ve had it with all three of my kids. It takes some time for the nipples to “toughen up.” In the meantime, I would suggest using some kind of lubrication (like olive oil, coconut oil, lanolin). It shouldn’t take too long.

      Having said that, the flange size still could be an issue. Can you buy one size up and one size down and see if either of them are more comfortable?

      Are you working with a lactation consultant at all? If so, she might be able to watch you pump and see if you have the right size.

      You’re doing such an amazing thing!

  20. Crystal says

    June 28, 2016 at 12:59 am

    I have been exclusively pumping for a year now, due to latch issues and nipple pain. I had a history of thrush with my older daughter, so when my nipple pain started when my baby was only a few weeks old I thought I had gotten another yeast infection. I spent the next several months doing everything I could to get rid of the Yeast infection. Everything. The nipple pain continued. Like I said it has now been a year and my nipples continue to ache, burn, and they are red, sore and irritated at all times. I have read that yeast infections are almost impossible to get rid of once it has taken hold, but I’m also wondering now if the pain is coming from my pump. I am using a Medela freestyle that is about eight years old. Even on the lowest setting it feels like it is literally ripping my nipples off. The pump was given to me because I did not have one. I have debated buying a new one and seeing if that helps, but that is like $300. And I know when I used the hospital pump it was better, but there was still pain. I am reaching out for help because I have finally reached my limit of pain, but my one-year-old who was born prematurely is still not eating enough for me to wean completely. I hate the thought of formula, but I do not know what else to do. Please help!

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      June 28, 2016 at 9:11 am

      Hi Crystal! Are you sure that you have the right size flanges? Have you tried different ones to see if they are more comfortable?

    • Katherine says

      June 28, 2016 at 9:14 am

      Crystal,

      I had the same issue- I’ve switched from the Medela pump in style to the Spectra S1 and it has made a world of difference. No more pain!

    • Crystal says

      June 29, 2016 at 10:39 am

      I did figure out early on that I needed bigger flanges, so I’ve been using 27’s. Maybe now that I am pumping less, I can go down a size. I did take your advice and purchase the set of three angled flanges so I can try those.

      Thanks for the tip about the other type of pump. I hate to purchase a new one so late in the game, but I think it may be my only option at this point.

  21. Kate says

    June 18, 2016 at 6:37 am

    I have been expressing for 2 & 1/2 weeks as my twins were born at 30 weeks. I started with the 24 which was slightly uncomfortable then LC at hospital suggesting larger so have tried 27 & 30. 30 was going well but according to the diagram had too much areolar going into the tunnel of the flange. LC said just use whatever is comfortable. Now i feel a callus type thickening which is sore (although it isn’t dry) on one side of each breast where nipple & areolar join where the flange rubs. It seems that the flange is going to rub somewhere no matter what the size, is that normal? Im worried my nipples will be so sore and thickened by the time my twins are ready to start breast feeding.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      June 18, 2016 at 6:39 am

      On the upside, my supply is great, getting 1200-1400ml per 24 hours (8 sessions of expressing per day)

  22. jessica says

    June 15, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Hey my question is I have a lower supply in my right breat is there any way to bring it up I’m producing about 5oz each session and have been exclusively pumping for 8weeks

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      June 15, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      It’s totally normal to have different output on the two breasts – you can try to increase it by pumping more just on the one side. But if it doesn’t work don’t worry, it’s normal!

  23. Marie says

    June 15, 2016 at 12:18 am

    Hello:)
    I have been pumping and breastfeeding for 2 months recently started getting s sharp pain on my left breast and my Nipple hurts on the top. Even just touching it.. Help? How can I ease the pain n what should I do so this does not happen again?

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      June 15, 2016 at 9:22 am

      Hi Marie! That sounds awful! Does it hurt all the time or just when you’re pumping/touching it? It kind of sounds like thrush, given that the pain is sharp. Maybe you could get it checked at an urgent care type place?

  24. Daniela says

    June 7, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    I’ve been exclusively pumping for my 2 month old and at first I had no problem at all, I slowly start getting pain so I changed the size of the shield but now I’m not only getting nipple pain but also pain where the shields sit…. Please help its so painful

    Reply
  25. Kay-Dee says

    June 5, 2016 at 5:03 am

    My question is 3mpp I use to it have to pump for 20 minutes to get a bottle so 4oz nowy supply for a week now has been so up and down sometimes I pump for 45mins and only get 90ml and other times i pump I could possibly get 4oz??? How do I get my supply up my son drinks 130ml every 2-3 hours

    Reply
  26. Nakiwala Rose says

    June 4, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    This is a very helpful blog. I started expressing after my little one refused to breastfeed. Its now 1.5 months and I was beginning to experience painful nipples. Am glad to know there are a whole lot of people trying to express for the their babies.

    Reply
    • Jen says

      June 23, 2016 at 9:18 am

      DI’d anyone else have this problem, I pumped since birth and my nipples are now starting to hurt everytime I pump it kind of takes my breath away. I just fight through it but if there is something that can help I would prefer that. Also my nipples are permanently hard like when cold could it just be irritated from being hard and rubbing against bra always and is it normal for them to be permanently hard or could I be doing something wrong while pumping?

    • Ketaki says

      July 2, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      I have this same exact situation as Jen described.. What can I do? My nipples hurt initially but things got better.. now 4.5 months down the road left nipple started hurting again.. this pain is more sharp.. any tips on how i can remedy this?

  27. Katherine says

    May 18, 2016 at 8:46 pm

    So my nipples are red and raised (Doctor says no thrush) are my flanges to big?

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 19, 2016 at 9:15 am

      It’s possible – have you tried a different size?

    • Katherine says

      May 19, 2016 at 9:17 am

      Yes, I’ve tried the 24, 27,30 and they all hurt

    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 19, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      Ugh, I’m so sorry. It’s really hard to tell without being able to see. I have two thoughts – first, I hate to suggest yet another flange purchase but you could try Pumpin’ Pals, as a lot of people find them more comfortable. Second, is there a lactation consultant that you could ask to watch you pump and see if there is a sizing issue with the flanges? Sometimes pediatricians have them on staff or you can see the one at the hospital where you gave birth.

  28. Ilyana says

    May 17, 2016 at 11:39 am

    Today, at 3pm, just for fun as a self challenge (and I truly regret this), I had the idea of pumping using pump speed 10 (Using Spectra 9 and that’s the maximum speed). About 2 minutes later, I noticed that I’m pumping blood instead of milk. I immediately stopped pumping and decided not to pump.

    At 11 pm, I tried pumping using only speed 3 (I normally pump using speed 5-7). However, my milk is mixed with blood at the first pump. So, I had to manually pump by pressing my breast. After getting 4 oz, blood started to come out again. What should I do? How to heal an internal bleeding? And how long will it take before I could start normal pumping again? I’m gonna start working next week and I need to start pumping for the stock a.s.a.p as I don’t wish to feed my baby formula milk at three months.

    Please help me. Thanx!

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 17, 2016 at 4:14 pm

      Hi Ilyana! So sorry this happened – I know how painful it can be. So – you should just keep pumping normally and it should resolve itself within a day or two. If it’s painful, you should bring the speed down – if it’s not, you should keep it at the normal speed regardless of blood. I pumped a bottle that looked like it was 100% blood and fit for that baby from Twilight, and over the next few days the blood went away. Good luck!

    • Ilyana says

      June 8, 2016 at 9:53 am

      Hey. Thanx for the reply. Since that day, I only do it manually. Turned out, I get more that way. Although it’s time consuming, I prefer not to use the breastpump anymore. Lol. ?

  29. Mary says

    May 12, 2016 at 1:51 am

    I am getting so frustrated with pumping! My daughter is 3 months, And I’ve started getting engorged between feeds if my breasts are not fully emptied previously. Then, when I turn the pump on, that side won’t express milk! No nipple mobility with any flange size. Cold and warm compresses don’t seem to work. But not expressing milk is leading to further engorgement… Once I finally get one side going by manually expressing, the other side malfunctions next time. Help!

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 12, 2016 at 4:09 pm

      Mary – that sounds so frustrating. When you say no nipple mobility, what do you mean exactly? Do you mean that when it’s hooked up and you start the pump, your nipple doesn’t move in the flange? Or that you aren’t able to get a let down?

  30. Katherine says

    May 8, 2016 at 10:14 pm

    If my nipple looks red while I’m pumping is my flange to large or to small? Trying to figure out why my nipples always hurt- so hard after I pump…

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 9, 2016 at 9:24 am

      Hi Katherine – it could be either way. Do you feel like a lot of the nipple is getting pulled in? You could try getting one size up and one size down and figuring out which works? They run about $7-8.

  31. Katherine says

    May 8, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    Is it normal for nipples to be hard and sore after pumping (been pumping for a month)? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amanda Glenn says

      May 9, 2016 at 9:25 am

      Hi Katherine – no, pumping shouldn’t hurt. 🙁 I see you asked about the flange size in a separate comment, I hope that changing the size fixes your issues!

  32. Stephanie B says

    May 8, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    Has anyone else gotten “blebs” on their nipples (as I have heard them termed)? Basically, I have almost like blood blisters on my nipples. At first, I just had one large one in the area where I used to have a wound that healed. So at first, I thought it was part of the healing process. Then, I developed more, even on the other nipple! They look horrible. They do not hurt. But I almost feel like the large one has covered over some openings, and my milk has had to “re-route” on that side, and it drains slower than my other side. Also, my nipples are constantly soggy! When I am in the shower, it is like I have to “exfoliate” them and get off white, dead skin cells. Gross, I know. It is almost like I do not know if they are soggy or dry! Just thought I would ask! To some degree, I think pumping is brutal on your nipples, regardless. Thanks as always for the info!

    Reply
    • The Extreme Pumper says

      May 8, 2014 at 8:20 pm

      Ugh, Stephanie – the “blebs” sound horrible. When you said that it spread to the other nipple, I thought maybe it was thrush, but then the fact that it doesn’t hurt makes me think maybe not. Do they bleed at all or just look bad and cause issues with draining?

      (Side note: once I had a cracked nipple and bled so much when I pumped that the bottle looked like it would have been perfect for the vampire baby – Renesmee -from Twilight.)

      Ugh, the white stuff on the nipples is gross – I know exactly what you mean. I had that the entire year I pumped with my EPed baby and not at all for my nursed baby (even though I pumped for her all day with working). You are right, the pump is hard on your nipples!

    • Stephanie B says

      May 11, 2014 at 10:09 am

      Glad I am not the only one with the dead skin cells! 🙂 No, no bleeding, thank goodness. Your experience with the blood-tinged milk does not sound pleasant. Yes, the best way I can describe them is blood blisters…because it is not like they would “fall off” like a scab. Ok. Gross. Well, thanks for the reply! Happy Mother’s Day! Maybe someone else can pump for me today?

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Amanda

Hi! I’m Amanda. I'm a Certified Lactation Counselor® and an experienced exclusive pumper. My goal is to help make exclusively pumping as easy as possible for you, so that you can enjoy your baby! This website is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Read More

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