[bugle dodo]

I'm wondering if there's something wrong with your hand pump. Maybe it's not sucking because of some mechanical defect. You could try putting a dome on your tummy and see if you can get some suction there where it's all soft tissue and no bones. Another option would be to put the dome in a pan with a little water in the bottom. When you pump you should see the water rise inside the dome if your hand pump is working correctly.