The Breast...Err...Best Pumps and Gear!

Looking into your options for using a breast pump after baby arrives? Maybe you are returning to work. Or maybe you just don’t see yourself breastfeeding in public. Whatever your reasons, a breast pump is a great way to nourish little one! But first, you need to know the ins-and-outs of breast pumps and the necessary accouterments. Below is a list of everything you will need to get started with a breast pump (and of course, my personal recommendations!). If you are looking for all of these products in one convenient location, check out my aStore!

A reliable and effective breast pump. I highly recommend the Medela “Pump in Style”. This pump gets consistently good reviews and may very well be the most commonly used pump out there! A close runner-up would be the Medela “Freestyle”. No, these are not the same thing. But, thanks for the confusing labels, Medela. The “Freestyle” is a compact, cordless pump that is useful for pumping on-the-go. However, the reviews for this pump do not seem to be as consistent as those of the “Pump in Style”. People either love it (because of its mobility) or hate it (because of its lack of power). Don’t forget to check with your insurance company to see which pumps they will cover or subsidize.

The basic necessities that usually come with a pump are connectors, breastshields, valves, membranes, and tubes. Depending on what your pump comes with, you may also need to purchase the following separately:

Compatible bottles. I think it is also important to purchase bottles that can be used in the freezer. It makes it awfully convenient to pump directly into the bottle, refrigerate, and then freeze. 

Freezer storage bags. If you will be pumping and storing large quantities of milk, storage bags can be a real space-saver! Freeze them lying flat to save even more space. 

Sterilizing bags. If you are in a hurry after pumping (I don’t know of a new parent who isn’t), I highly recommend sterilizing bags. Instead of boiling the plastic pump parts in water after use, you just toss them in the sterilizing bag with 2 ounces of water and microwave for 3 minutes. Fabulously easy and can be used 20 times before disposal.

Hands-free pumping bra. Although I used the Medela bra, I have to admit, I wish I had known about the Simple Wishes bra. With two layers of material, it offers much more support than the Medela. It is size-adjustable and can be used with straps for added support.

Car adapter. If you will be taking any road trips, a car charger will be invaluable. This will allow you to plug your pump directly into the cigarette lighter socket and pump away. I did notice that the power needs to be cranked up more than usual when pumping in the car, but it never affected my milk production. (Also useful for travel abroad if your pump is not compatible with international outlets!)

Battery pack. Although I never used the battery pack, it would be helpful to have if you are ever without an outlet. These usually require several AA batteries.

Ice packs. These are necessary if you will be pumping on the go and cannot immediately refrigerate your expressed milk. 

Extra membranes. If you notice your milk supply decreasing after 4 months or so, it might be an issue with your membranes. Let me re-phrase: Not your membranes. The pump’s membranes! These are the tiny white discs that attach to the pump valves. They should be replaced every few months, especially if you are exclusively pumping.

I hope this article serves as a useful resource for achieving your breastfeeding goals. I know how challenging breastfeeding and pumping can be, so I truly applaud your efforts! (And when you are exhausted from pumping at 4am, have a gander at my article on the many benefits of breastfeeding. Your little one will thank you!) 

Peace and love,

TheFreethinkingMama

Wrote this out for one of my mom’s friends and thought someone out there may find my trial and error useful also! Hope it helps! Breastfeeding pillow - Boppy, useful for so many things! (Hehe, love google image searches! No, none of these are Jason, just funny daddies caught in hilarious boppy pics.)

Nursing cover - I got a jj Cole one online because it was a cute blue pattern and they didn’t sell it in stores - I love it because it folds up into a little pouch, its light weight for hot days, the shoulders are material rather than like an apron for a bit more coverage, and the pattern just makes me happy.

I also bought the matching feeding pillow, which worked so much better than the Boppy when angel baby was teeny tiny. She just got lost in the Boppy until she was a normal baby size.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12704270 Nursing bra - The best nursing bra is the bravado, I love the bliss design. You can tell her to save herself the hassle and time of looking for nursing bras, this one is the best, most comfortable, and actually kind of cute. I tried and bought tons, and this one is by far my favorite. And I wear the same size in it that I did pre-baby bras. She may find it in a baby/maternity boutique to try it on. It’s not sold at babies r us or bbbaby.

http://www.bravadodesigns.com/shop/the-bliss-nursing-bra Comfy non-nursing bra I LIVE in - gap body racerback. I have 2 nude, an orange and a hot pink. And ill def be getting more colors as they come out. (Black will be my next purchase)

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=636142&desktopSiteActive=true I’m not huge chested, so I wear it ALL the time - cute colors for the straps to peek out from under the shoulder of shirts, and it looks like a cami top if we are in public and lenox is pulling my shirt out or down. I just feel more comfy flashing a sporty type fun colored bra to total strangers than a nude real bra. Oh, and it was awesome on the plane - since I basically didn’t have my arms in my shirt top the whole flight to keep baby quiet, I felt totally fine sitting in my gap body bra. If I need to wear a “real bra” I wear the bravado bliss. Oh, and the gap one is super easy to nurse in since it’s stretchy just pull up over a boob or both, feed, pull back down, readjust the girls, and done. Hands-free pumping bra - a NECESSITY if you are ever going to pump a drop. No, seriously.