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After one month of breastfeeding my daughter, I made the decision to switch to exclusive pumping due to a tongue tie that was creating a painful latch on my end. Pumping six or more times a day is a lot. By the time I pump, feed Eloise, and wash everything, I have roughly an hour and a half until I do it all over again. I have definitely found some small things that make pumping a little easier and more manageable. Whether you’re exclusively pumping like me, pumping for work, or adding a pumping session to increase your milk supply, I hope these few tips help you.
Purchase a second set of pump parts. Waking up at 3am to feed and pump can be exhausting. The last thing you want to do is stay up an extra ten or fifteen minutes to wash your pump parts. Even if you aren’t exclusively pumping, having a second set as a backup or to take to work is still a good idea.
Keep a rag with your pump. You’ll need to wipe the excess milk off your nipples and the breast shields once you’re finished with your session. I’ve used burp rags and the small baby washcloths to wipe things down because they soak up the milk really well and I have lots of them.
Wear a watch. You’ll want to pump anywhere from 15-30 minutes depending on how much milk you have at the time. The best way to keep track of how long it’s been is with an actual timer. My pump, the Motif Luna, has a built-in timer which is nice. If your pump doesn’t have this feature, be sure to set a timer on your phone or watch so you can keep from looking at the clock.
Have a distraction at your side. Pumping isn’t an enjoyable experience. My back usually hurts after a while. My nipples start to feel weird. I will start to lose my sanity if I continue to stare at the clock the entire time I pump. I always have my iPad or phone with me so I can play a game or scroll through social media while I pump. You may want to bring something to read or a coloring book. It’s totally up to you as to what keeps you occupied!
Be sure to have water and tissues nearby. I get so thirsty while I’m pumping, and for some reason, my nose also runs. I don’t know if this is the same for everyone, but it’s better to have these things with you than not!
Wear a hair tie/clip. It’s beyond annoying trying to pump with hair falling in your face. I forgot to pull my hair back once; since then, I’ve kept either a ponytail or clip with me at all times.
Order a set of wet bags. Wet bags are bags made out of a waterproof, almost swimsuit-like material that are perfect for storing any kind of wet item. You can find them for relatively cheap on Amazon. I use these bags while I’m traveling to store my wet pump parts. You can even have one bag designated for clean parts and another for the dirty ones. Before buying my wet bags, I was using Walmart bags to carry around my wet pump parts. Using a wet bag instead of a reused plastic bag ensures that my pump parts are being kept in a clean environment that can be washed and reused over and over again.
Invest in milk storage containers. I love having milk in my refrigerator. It keeps me from having to thaw from my freezer every morning or during the day when my baby needs an extra ounce or two. However, I hate using all my baby’s bottles to store 1-2 ounces of milk. Since purchasing these inexpensive bottles specifically for storing milk, life has been good. I can store milk and still have clean bottles for my baby to drink from during the day, and unlike breast milk bags, these can be used over and over again.
Have a picture of your baby handy. I know it sounds crazy, but looking at your baby can create a better and faster letdown! (A letdown is when milk is actively coming out of the nipple.) Of course snuggling your baby right before pumping works, too, but we don’t always have our cute little one before pumping. Looking at that little face is also motivation to pump when you are exhausted and feel like you just can’t do it anymore.
You may notice I didn’t list a pump bag. That’s because I don’t use one! I have collected several totes over the years, and they work just fine. They’re spacious enough for my pump and all my accessories, and that’s all I really need.
Pumping can become a taxing, full time job very quickly. If you are a pumping mom, know that what you’re doing is valuable, and never forget it.
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