Breast Pump pressure regulation

I stumbled onto something that I thought I’d share. I ended up with a breast pump over the years and naturally I tried it for PE but it wouldn’t hold the base pressure well enough - release too much and drop too low.

I’m tired of my static pressure and wanted a pulsating pump but not willing to spend 400+ on one. So I figured I’d give this another try. The recent mod was to put two T fittings inline. Connect the straight through lines but put a 1-way valve so it can only suck, not release (on the straight through side). You can get the one way valve from a fishing aquarium supply area.

Next, connect the T’d “bypass” section - this section goes around and bypasses the one way valve and gives you a way to regulate the release part of the pump. Also found in the aquarium center, is a union with a screw on top to regulate the air going through. You screw it down and it blocks the air or unscrew it and it allows the air to pass. You’ve just created a way to regulate the let off and it works pretty well. You can screw it all the way in and get a good pull or let up a little until you get the pressure up and you also get some of the pulsing from the pump but now with a higher base pressure. Total investment for this cost me about 50 dollars including the used pump. It’s by no means as good as some of the purpose built pumps but it’s a cheap alternative that I didn’t spend 400+ dollars for.

Pumping shouldn’t be a luxury item…

Happy pumping!

Interesting, post some pics of it. Your pump is hard for me to picture in my mind.

Not a clue what you are talking about, but as long as you are happy…

Well I made a pretty picture but don’t see how to upload it in this thread so I’ll try verbally once more.

1. Imagine a straight piece of hose.
-cut it in three places near where the cylinder will be
- The first cut is where the first T fitting will go
- second is a one way valve
- third is the second T fitting.

You now have a straight piece of hose with two T fittings and a one way valve installed

2. Now take another piece of hose and cut it in two so it can connect the two T fittings in step one above
- connect each piece to the T fittings.
- take the union that has the valve on it and connect the two hoses that you have going to the T fittings

The one way valve allows the pump to suck but not blow back any air. The breast pump moves air but doesn’t suck much - it releases most of the air and there’s no way to control the minimum pressure.

The T-fitting section is what I called a bypass above - the screw valve regulates the blow back. It allows the pump to suck more then it blows so to say.

Clear as mud?

PS - a union is a fitting that connects two pieces of hose or pipe

After you make your reply text like this, scroll down a bit until you see Manage Attachments. Click on that and go from there. Be sure to complete all of the steps to manage your photo attachment.

Thanks man - I saw it once I clicked on preview post.

You need to buy a camera, or a phone. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but a drawing not so much. :)

You can probably get the entire setup, pump, cylinder, plumbing and all, in one shot.

LOL, tough crowd.

I would also like a big breasted brunette with light eyes to hold the setup .

This is my electric pump setup. It shows the pump, gauge, pressure regulator, cylinder and heating pad.

IMG_0347.JPG

I didn’t get it. The drawing.