In plain words
Maximum comfortable vacuum is the highest suction level a pump can use while staying comfortable. It is different from the highest setting on the machine. Pain or discomfort tends to slow milk flow, not speed it up. A 2008 study by Kent and colleagues found that this comfortable level, not the maximum, was linked to milk yield and flow. Some pumps have very strong settings that hurt many mothers. Settings that suit one mother may not suit another. Pumping that hurts is a reason to check size, and a can help.
The deeper version
Maximum comfortable vacuum is the highest negative pressure a mother can tolerate during expression without pain or . Kent and colleagues (2008) found that this comfortable level, rather than the maximum available vacuum, correlated with milk yield and flow rate, and that discomfort limits how much vacuum can be delivered. The finding supports individualized pump settings, since a high setting can reduce output when it causes pain. Measurement is usually done by adjusting pump suction in steps during a session. The main limitation is that studies are small and short, and the optimal level varies between mothers.
Where it comes up
- Choosing a pump (and getting it through insurance)Feeding Your Baby
- Flange sizingFeeding Your Baby
- Pumping: how, when, how oftenFeeding Your Baby
- Exclusive pumpingFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about maximum comfortable vacuum
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Sources
- Kent JC and colleagues — Maximum comfortable vacuum and milk expression (2008)