I'm not getting any milk
There are a few possible reasons why you may not be getting any milk. Please try the steps below, and if you are still struggling, please reach out to our customer care team:
Maintaining suction
Elvie Curve works best when re-squeezed every couple of minutes, although you might want to experiment with how much you squeeze / how often, to find a balance of pressure that works best for your body. That said, Elvie Curve is not a manual pump - so you should not need to press repeatedly to achieve a good level of suction
Nipple alignment
It's important that your nipple is placed centrally, and is not too squashed, as this may impact the milk flow. Please try the following:
Place your nipple in the center of the Nipple Hole. Once your nipple is aligned, please check to see if it is in contact with the inside front or sides of the Pouch. Try to position it to avoid this and retry
Now press the Pouch - you should see the suction pulls the nipple further into the Pouch. Ensure it is still central and not in contact with the inside front or sides of the Pouch for best performance
Valve check
In order to create suction, it’s critical that the Valve is fully closed. If you are struggling to maintain suction, please try these steps:
Check that the Valve is clean, fully dry and free of debris
Make sure that the Valve is not ‘tucked’ into itself
If you are still not getting any milk, please contact us, we will be happy to help!
Milk is leaking from the Nipple Hole
Elvie Curve should not leak when in use. If you are experiencing leaks, please see the guidance below:
If you are experiencing leaks through the Nipple Hole, this indicates that a proper seal has not been created. Start again by aligning your nipple, and pressing the Pouch to create suction - this will create a seal, which should stop this from happening. We recommend squeezing the Pouch every couple of minutes to maintain a steady suction when using Elvie Curve. Additionally, be sure to keep an eye on the milk level to make sure it doesn’t overfill
If you are still experiencing problems, please contact us and we will be happy to help
Milk is leaking from the Valve
Elvie Curve should not leak when in use. If you are experiencing leaks, please see the guidance below:
If milk is coming through the Valve, then the Valve is not properly shut. Make sure the Valve is clean and free from debris, and make sure the Valve is not 'tucked' into itself.
If you are still experiencing leaks, please contact us and we will be happy to help
My Valve is broken
The Valve should have thin cut in it. This allows air to pass through when it is pressed, so that suction can be adjusted easily. If you think any part of your Elvie Curve is broken, please reach out to our Customer Care team and if possible, share an image of the part.
Elvie Curve is making a sound against my body
An unpleasant sound can be created if air tries to escape between Elvie Curve and your body. Check the Valve:
Push the Valve to open it fully then release. Press the Pouch again, to see if the sound still occurs
If that didn't help, inspect the Valve and see if it's dirty/blocked and clean it. Press the Pouch again, to see if the sound still occurs
Finally - try a slightly slower press, as this gives time for the air to release quietly through the Valve
I'm not getting suction
How suction feels on your nipple varies from person to person. Customers have said that Elvie Curve suction feels different to other other silicone breast pumps they have used - but this does not mean it is less effective.
How to create suction:
Place your nipple in the center of the Nipple Hole, so it feels comfortable and it’s not pushing against the inside of the Pouch
Press the Pouch to create suction. If the suction generated feels uncomfortable, gently press the Valve to open it and release pressure. Check your nipple is still central
Position and pull your nursing bra over Elvie Curve. Keep it firmly pressed against your breast with no gaps
Squeeze the pouch again every couple of minutes to maintain suction (you can do this through your bra). You'll learn over time the frequency that works best for you!
What to do if you're not getting suction
To create suction, the nipple needs to be well aligned, and the Valve needs to be fully closed. Please try the steps below:
Nipple alignment
It's important that your nipple is placed centrally, and is not too squashed, as this may impact the milk flow. Please try the following:
Place your nipple in the center of the Nipple Hole. Once your nipple is aligned, please check to see if it is in contact with the inside front or sides of the Pouch. Try to position it to avoid this and retry
Now press the Pouch - you should see the suction pulls the nipple further into the Pouch. Ensure it is still central and not in contact with the inside front or sides of the Pouch for best performance
Closed Valve
Check that the Valve is clean, fully dry and free of debris
Make sure that the Valve is not 'tucked' into itself
If you are still struggling to create suction, please contact our Customer care team who will be happy to help
Is there any situation where I wouldn't be able to use the milk to feed my baby?
Elvie Curve is made from food-grade silicone, so you can safely feed your baby from milk expressed into it. However, milk collected over extended periods and left at room temperature for too long should not be fed to your baby.
How to get more milk
Elvie Curve can hold up to 4oz / 120ml of milk. How much milk you collect with Elvie Curve is a personal thing, as milk flow varies greatly between women. It can be impacted by where you are in your feeding journey, when you last fed and what you are doing at the time!
Please see below for some steps you can try:
Maintaining suction
Elvie Curve works best when re-squeezed every couple of minutes, although you might want to experiment with how much you squeeze / how often, to find a balance of pressure that works best for your body. That said, Elvie Curve is not a manual pump - so you should not need to press repeatedly to achieve a good level of suction
Nipple alignment
It's important that your nipple is place centrally, and is not too squashed, as this may impact the milk flow. Please try the following:
Place your nipple in the center of the Nipple Hole. Once your nipple is aligned, please check to see if it is in contact with the inside front or sides of the Pouch. Try to position it to avoid this and retry
Now press the Pouch - you should see the suction pulls the nipple further into the Pouch. Ensure it is still central and not in contact with the inside front or sides of the Pouch for best performance
Closed Valve
Check that the Valve is clean, fully dry and free of debris
Make sure that the Valve is not 'tucked' into itself (see image below)