Pumping Advice: 10 Things to Know for Pumping Success

1. Know your legal rights as a working, pumping mama.  In California (and in many other states…also in the new federal health care legislation), your employer has to provide you with a private place and allow reasonable time for you to pump.  You do NOT have to pump in a gross bathroom. 

I know some people have a difficult time with this, even if they are protected by the law.  For example, I have a friend who teaches at a charter school in Los Angeles.  Her boss, a middle-aged single woman who never had children of her own, is completely unsympathetic to her pumping needs and does not give her the breaks or place to pump.  My friend could fight it, but she is not protected by a union, and she knows that her boss could easily replace her with any one of the thousands of unemployed teachers in California.  So, my friend doesn’t even pump (no time to set it up)…she manually expresses milk over the toilet. 

What’s the answer?  I don’t know.  She needs her job, and there aren’t other positions open these days in a crappy economy.  If I were her, I’d document everything related to her pumping issues.  I’d probably also print a copy of the law and ask the principal to have a meeting, where we would talk about it and I’d be as nice as possible.  But…I’m not my friend, so this is something that must be tackled on an individual basis.  My hope is that someday it will be ASSUMED that you want to pump, and every ounce of effort would be made to accommodate a pumping mama. 

2.  Relax and think about your little one when you pump.  It may help to keep pictures of your baby to look at.  Sometimes moms have difficulty getting a let-down.  Bring pictures of your little one, or even better, if you have a bit of time watch a video clip of your baby.  I used to do this when my little guy was in the NICU. 

3.   Drink Mother’s Milk Tea to boost supply.  Bring a thermos full of hot water and keep a mug and Mother’s Milk at your work to save the transportation hassle.  Mother’s Milk contains fenugreek, which helps promote lactation.  Since pumping isn’t as efficient at emptying the breasts as a baby, your supply may take a hit.  Or it may not…it’s totally an individual matter.

4.  Store milk in per feeding portions.  This means each container should only have 1-3 oz each.  This is to prevent wasting milk.  Check out Kellymom’s guidelines on storing breastmilk (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html).  Make sure you label each container with the date that you pumped.  I used those address labels and cut each one in half.  Nice and simple. 

5.  If your baby is at least 6 months old and meeting developmental milestones that indicate readiness, have your child care provider feed your baby their solids so you can pump at work but focus on breastfeeding at home.  This is what I plan to do when I go back to work at the end of August/September.   I’m incredibly anxious at the prospect of “losing” my breastfeeding relationship with my baby.  So, the idea of having the nanny feed him his solids and a bit of expessed breast milk is very ideal for me.  I will only be gone from 7:20ish- 2ish, so I plan to immediately breastfeed when I pick him up. 

6.  Invest in a hands-free bra.  These are lifesavers.  My son was in the NICU for 53 days, and I had to pump 8-10 times a day!  How boring…right?  Put on a hands-free bra and you can go on the computer, watch TV, write, read…whatever!  This is great for working mamas.  You can still work and pump at the same time, which may be a great selling feature for getting your boss to be more supportive of your pumping needs. 

PumpEase & Pump Ease Petite Hands Free Pumping Support for Nursing Mothers

PumpEase Hands Free Pumping Support for Nursing Mothers (PumpEase Medium, Galaxie Black)

• PumpEaseTM pumping supports enable you to pump HANDS-FREE!
• Made from an 88% polyester/12% spandex high-performance fabric that works with all pumps
• PumpEaseTM will hold your pump in place as securely for your 1000th pumping session as it did for your 1st
• PumpEaseTM Petite are our 3″ wide pumping supports that feature patent pending, ‘no-stitch’ horn openings, guaranteed to accommodate any breast pump on the market
• PumpEaseTM are our 6″ wide pumping supports that feature patent pending, ‘no-stitch’ horn openings, guaranteed to accommodate any breast pump on the market

These hands-free bras also come in other adorable designs, adding a bit of glamour to the art of pumping milk. 

7.  Invest in multiple sets of pumping parts so you don’t have to wash them at work.  I have about 3 sets.  If you have multiple sets, you can use them, put them in a bag, and then wash them at home.  Having to wash them at work is TEDIOUS and time-consuming.  You will love this system of just pumping, throwing parts in the bag, and washing at home. 

8.  Pump as much as you can when you are away from your baby.  This depends on your job, obviously.  But since pumping can lead to a decrease in your supply, you’ll want to do it as much as you can to stimulate milk production.  Some say you should pump in place of the times your baby would normally eat from you. 

9.  Invest in a cooler or insulated carrying bag with reusable blue ice to transport your milk.  I have different size ones from my NICU days, but any cooler or insulated bag will work with blue ice.  If you have a freezer to access at work, that’s great.  Otherwise you may want to look into buying one of those mini fridge/freezers, especially if you work long hours.

10.  If you want to estimate how much your baby will need to drink while you are gone, check out the Kellymom milk calculator .  For exclusively breastfed babies, the drink an estimated 25 oz/day.  Divide that amount by the number of times your baby eats in a day to figure out the amount per feeding.  This will be helpful information for planning your time away from your baby. 

Pumping is a great time commitment.  It can be tedious, draining, and downright a hassle at times.  But pumping is also amazing.  It is truly a gift to your child to give him/her your milk.  And you won’t regret it when you can go home and breastfeed your baby directly, knowing that you maintained your milk supply and a wonderful nursing relationship with your baby. 

I will have to go back to pumping in late August after being able to exclusively breastfeed my baby on-demand since the end of February.  However, I am no stranger to pumping.  I pumped while my baby was in the NICU for 53 days.  For a large chunk of that time, I pumped exclusively.  It was draining and half the time I felt like a full-time dairy cow attached to all the tubes and suction cups…but it was worth every bit of boredom, frustration, and discomfort. 

Here’s the pump I used:

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with Shoulder Bag

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with Shoulder Bag

• Daily use breast pump with electric, battery, or manual operation
• “Natural Expression two-stage system that simulates baby’s actual nursing patterns
• Double or single pumping
• Stylish black microfiber shoulder bag
• Adjustable suction/vacuum

I love that the Medela Pump in Style comes in this totally discreet bag.  It’s super convenient to carry around…lightweight too!  It actually comes with a small cooler bag that fits right into the handbag.  I shopped around toward the end of our NICU stay and was told this is among the best.  It really is! 

If you have any questions or need some morale support, please contact me!  We’re in this together!

Easy Expression Bustier Hands-free Pumping Bra

Easy Expression Bustier Hands-free Pumping Bra

works with most pumps

easy to use

comfortable

strapless

Cotton/Lycra blend

This is not really a bra, but rather something to help you hold up your pump while you are pumping.  Since I have a preemie in the NICU, I have to pump a lot.   8-10 times a day to be exact.  This bustier is great because it helps you do the job hands free.  For me, this means time to write, surf the web, eat, drink, etc. 

I recommend getting two, so you always have a back-up in case one gets dirty from a little milk dribble.  Also, I recommend getting a size that fits as snug as possible.  They do stretch out a little bit, so if you get too big of a bustier it won’t really work well for you over time. 

What is great about the bustier is that it can be slipped on easily without having to get undressed.  It is definitely one of my “must-haves”.  If you’re a working mom, it’s fantastic.

Diet for Nursing Moms

This is week two of pumping for my preemie son who is still in the NICU.  Over the last few weeks I’ve encountered many moments with my panicked husband in the kitchen where he asks me if I’m allowed to eat this or that.  Suddenly everything seems taboo to him when it comes to my diet.  I even got the spicy taco sauce taken away from me the other day.  That prompted me to research what was okay to eat as a breastfeeding new mom.

Here is a pretty reliable source that is loaded with info:  http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/index.html

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with Shoulder Bag

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with Shoulder Bag

The Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump is highly reviewed (check them out!).  Medela is a well-known, trustworthy brand.  When you’re shopping for a breast pump, you’re going to want something powerful, effective, and easy to use.

• Daily use breast pump with electric, battery, or manual operation
• “Natural Expression two-stage system that simulates baby’s actual nursing patterns
• Double or single pumping
• Stylish black microfiber shoulder bag
• Adjustable suction/vacuum

Finding the Right Breast Pump for You and Your Baby

For whatever reason, you may be considering pumping your breast milk for your baby.  This is a particularly useful compromise for mothers who either have to go back to work or have some issue where it is not physically (and often times financially) feasible to be near your baby 24/7. Your baby can reap all the benefits of breast milk even if they must be bottle-fed.

Here’s a bit of advice about picking a breast pump from the Mayo Clinic: 

The checklist

To decide which type of breast pump is best for you, ask yourself these questions.

• How often will you use the breast pump? If you’ll be away from the baby only occasionally, a simple hand pump may be all you need. These pumps are small and inexpensive. You simply squeeze the handle to express the milk. If you’re returning to work full time or you’re planning to be away from your baby for more than a few hours a day, you may want to invest in an electric pump. Electric pumps stimulate the breasts more effectively than do hand pumps. This helps empty your breasts and protect your milk supply.
• Will you need to pump as quickly as possible? A typical pumping session lasts about 10 to 15 minutes per breast. If you’ll be pumping at work or in other time-crunched situations, you may want to invest in an electric breast pump that allows you to pump both breasts at once. Double breast pumps help stimulate milk production while cutting pumping time in half.
• How much can you afford to spend on the pump? You can buy breast pumps from medical supply stores and most drug and baby stores. Manual models cost less than $50. Electric pumps that include a carrying case and insulated section for storing milk may cost more than $200. Some hospitals rent hospital-grade breast pumps, although the equipment that attaches your breast to the pump must be purchased. Some health insurance plans cover the cost of buying or renting a breast pump. Because there’s a small risk of contamination, borrowing a breast pump or buying a used pump isn’t recommended.
• Is the pump easy to assemble? If the breast pump is difficult to assemble, take apart or clean, it’s bound to be frustrating — which may reduce your enthusiasm for pumping. Make sure you can remove any parts of the pump that come in contact with your skin or milk for cleaning after use.
• Is the suction adjustable? What’s comfortable for one woman may be uncomfortable for another. Choose a pump that allows you to control the degree of suction. Some manual models allow you to adjust the position of the pump handle.
• Is the pump heavy? If you’ll be toting the pump to work every day or traveling with the pump, look for a lightweight model. Some breast pumps come in a carrying case with an insulated section for storing expressed milk.
• Is the pump noisy? Some electric models are quieter than others. If it’s important to be discreet, make sure the pump’s noise level is acceptable.
• Are the breast shields the correct size? Every pump has a shield to place over your breast. If you’re concerned that the standard breast shield is too small, check with individual manufacturers about other options. If you want to pump both breasts at once, make sure the pump is equipped with two breast shields.
• What if the electricity fails? An electric pump needs to be plugged in. If an outlet isn’t accessible or the power fails, you’ll need a rechargeable battery pack. In case of emergency, you may want to keep a manual pump handy.

 

Here are a few of our picks for breast pumps:

Playtex Nursing Necessities Embrace Deluxe Double Electric Breast Pump System

Playtex Nursing Necessities Embrace Deluxe Double Electric Breast Pump System

• 25 speed and suction combinations that let you customize your own pumping rhythm
• Soft Comfort massaging breast cups, which use both massage and suction
• Soft air cushion that minimizes tugging and stretching of nipples for pumping comfort
• Closed system that protects milk from bacteria and germs, and prevents back-up

 

 

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with Backpack

Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with Backpack

• Uses standard outlet with AC adapter or battery pack
• Durable motor lets you use the Pump 4 or 5 times daily
• Exclusive one touch let-down button
• Removable cooler carrier
• Double pumping accessory kit
• Highly recommended!!

 

Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump – 1 Count

Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump – 1 Count

• Double Electric Breast Pump
• Mom can set and control Vacuum strength & cycle speed
• Patened closed system prevents milk back up into tubing and pump motor
• Simple to Use – comes pre-assembled, and with few parts
• Easy to Clean – No need to clean tubing because closed system does not allow milk to back flow