pupsandcups,
hugz! poor dear.. me advise you! since i very onz about pumps.. hahaha!
for <font color="0000ff">avent isis</font>, if you using the star valve, as babyboy said, it must point upwards.. if it keep popping out, muz change liaoz.. for me, i use the duckbill valve, which lasts longer.. (cos the same valve can use for the IQ UNO and DUO mah.. more convenient for me..)
You need to get used to environment of pumping, plus the new pump in order to get a letdown..
step 1:
before pump, massage your breasts and stroke breast towards nipple firmly.. then you take nipple between thumb and index finger and do nipple rolling to clear the ducts in the opening.. once you get used to it.. the steps will help to give a signal to your body to indicate a letdown..
step 2: breathe and relax and put pump to breast.. first 1 min, do a quick pumping to stimulate letdown.. if still no letdown after 2 min.. stop and massage breasts and do the nipple rolling and pulling..
step 3: once you see the milk gush out, EASY LIAOZ.. you press and hold the pump handle in a suction.. the milk will continue to gush out.. once stop gush out, you release handle and press down again to get the next gush.. and REPEAT..
for me, i tend to finish up with a hand express to clear more milk out even when no more milk comes out with the avent isis...
<font color="ff0000">GOOD LUCK!!</font>