Questions About Breast Pumps

The Medela pump in style worked wonderfully for me! I second the plasti storage bags- it made clean up so much easier. I also agree with storing up a good amount- I did not do this and was frantically trying to pump enough at the last minute. Looking back (my son is now one) I feel like it would have been okay to give him formula every once in a while as well if my supply was low. I did not want to do that at the time, but for my second child, I will not stress about it as much.

I found that I got the most in the morning between feedings. Good luck!

Hi H.,
I have the Medela pump in style advance and I've been very happy with it. I haven't had a problem with finding bottles to fit the pump. I have 3 different types of bottles (Medela, Gerber, and one other one) and the pumps fit all the bottles.

I'd recommend that you find a lactation consultant, either an independent one or one through the hospital where you are delivering, before the baby is born. I wasn't latching the baby on deeply enough and I had sore, blistered nipples the day after the baby was born. The recovery nurse in the hospital gave me a nipple shield, and the lactation consultants don't like that because it limits the amount of milk the baby receives, and can create a shallow latch that just makes things worse. You really should have a resource you can use within the first few days. The lactation consultant will also help you weigh the baby the first few weeks to make sure the baby is gaining weight properly. They can also help you find the correct size nipple shields to make pumping more comfortable.

There are some women who have an awesome milk supply and others who struggle to keep up. Since you don't know yet what your experience will be, I'd recommend you do what the other ladies recommed below and build up a stash in your freezer before you go back to work. My lactation consultant had me pump for 5 minutes an hour after the baby's first morning feeding starting when she was two weeks old. Your milk supply will be highest in the morning, and if you only pump for 5 minutes there will still be enough milk if the baby wants to feed again right after you pump. You can freeze what you pump and rotate through it using the oldest milk first when you go back to work. You may want to pick up some Mother's Milk tea and some Fenugreek capsules so you have them in case you need them. Don't worry if you don't pump very much at first. The baby doesn't take very much - they start off with around 2.5 oz after a few days. When you first start pumping, you may only get an ounce or so ( or even less). This is entirely normal and your supply will increase if you breastfeed as much as possible and keep up the pumping. I started off only getting a quarter of an ounce; the most I ever pumped was when my daughter unexpectedly slept through the night at 5 months old and I pumped and got 11 oz. If you're going to try to breastfeed for the entire first year, you will see that your supply will go down around 7-9 months, so it's really good if you have that emergency stash.

As far as how often to pump, you should try to pump at least every 3 hours. I pumped at 9, 12 and 3. The more often you are able to pump, the better your supply will be.

I've been back to work for a month. I love the Medela! The hospital recommended it. They also said don't start pumping until your supply is regular (about 3-4 wks).

When you're first starting out, only pump once or twice a day for about 15 min or 2 min after the last two drops. They say women tend to nurse better in the morning. Just make sure you have at least 45 min from when you pump and when your baby needs to nurse. When you start pumping, start your baby on one bottle a day and up it to two bottles a week before he starts daycare. Some babies protest the bottle so you should start him/her early.

Now that I'm back to work, I pump once in the morning before work and one during lunch (I'm a teacher, so that works best for me). My son gets about three bottles during the day and I nurse him for all the other feedings.

It has been really working out, but each person's supply is different. I was really lucky to have a large milk supply.

I hope my experience helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. I know it was something I had a lot of anxiety about and I'm so glad that it is working out.

Hi,
Do you know if you want an electric or manual pump? I'm using a manual pump - Avant, which I find is really effective. It's a little bit fiddly to start with, but once you have had a bit of practice it is easy to use. Some manual pumps advertise "variable suction", which the avant doesn't have, but you can actually vary the suction by how hard you pump - easier and more sensitive than fiddling with a dial. It's also compact and easy to take places - you can buy a travel pack to go with it. The downside is that it only fits Avant bottles/via cups but these come in various sizes and I haven't found it to be a problem.
I'm only pumping once or twice a day so I can get out and have a break, and my husband can be involved in the feeding, so I'm not sure how often you will need to pump - I'm sure others will give you some good advice!
Good luck with it all,
N.

H.,
You have received some great advice already, but here is a little more. I used the Medela and it was great...as far as pumping goes. The bra is a MUST! As far as how much, you will find a the right schedule which will change as your baby changes. Mother's Milk Tea and the Fenugreek are very herbal and change the flavor of your milk. Both my daughters refused my milk if I had used these products and I did not see any increase in supply. Drink more water if you think your production is low. Last but certainly not least, you do not want to go through this process and then damage the milk by microwaving it. Breast milk should be reheated in hot water (not boiling).
Congratulations on your new bundle of joy and you already are an awesome mommy by choosing to breastfeed!! (you will still be an awesome mommy if b/fing doesn't work for you.) Best of luck!

The best book I bought on breastfeeding was "The Nursing Mother's Companion." I highly recommend it, it's a great reference, and answered all my questions. I used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced, though others have been equally happy with the original Pump in Style. I found the best price on bestbuybaby.com (you have to e-mail or call for the pricing, but I believe I paid $225 for the PISA about 2 years ago).

Congrats, and good luck!

I would highly recommend getting fitted for a pump by a lactation consultant. Most hospitals will offer a free lactation support group meetup and you can go there and have them measure your areola and tell you what size breast pump phlange you will need. I believe the standard size that comes with most pumps is a 20, but I needed a 30. Mine recommended the Medela Pump In Style as it was the closest to the Medela hospital grade pumps that i used when I was in the hospital.

Hi H..
CONGRATULATIONS first off.
I used a variety of pumps and liked the Medela. I also liked using the hand held pumps that you have to squeeze - it seemed to work faster for me when I was in a rush.
As far as how often to pump; I found that pumping at the times I usually fed my sons were best. It kept my milk production in routine with them and then I could come home from work and feed at their scheduled times. This means that at first you will probably be pumping about 4 times while you are working and it will progressively get less and less and the baby gets older.
Having a schedule really helped them to sleep through the nite as well. All four were sleeping solid no later than 2 months old. If you have time, grab a copy of Baby Wise. The best book for working moms in my experience.
Have fun and congrats!
P.

Congratulations on your choice to continue to breastfeed after you return to work.

I had a Medela pump and it was worth it's weight in gold. I have now passed it to my two daughters who are mommies and it is still going strong after 8.5 years. The unit came with its own bottles, but they were a standard size. I pumped at least twice a day--every 3-4 hours to maintain my milk supply. I would just hang a sign on my office door for privacy for 10-15 minutes. I would store my milk in the office fridge, but mommies just bring ice packs to store their milk.

I had an employee do the same thing and it worked smoothly for her as well.

I returned to work after not quite 3 months and was able to breastfeed my daughter for 13-14 months. It was a great experience for me. My childcare provider always worked with me and sometimes I would drop in to breastfeed her if I was close by out in the field.

I hope this helps...it worked for me!!

I use the Lansinoh and I like it. I've never used the Medela or Ameda, so I can't compare that way, but I did have an Evenflo and hated it. I've never tried to interchange another bottle on the Lansinoh, but I believe you can use other bottles on it.
As far as how often, it depends on how well your milk lets down and how much milk you can get out when you pump. Good luck and congratulations!

I have the Medela Pump in Style and it works great. It's what was recommended by the lactation consultant at the hospital. I'm using it to pump for my second child. It's expensive, but well worth it to have a good, double pump. You want to be able to get it done as quickly as possible. There's a model that is one step fancier. It reduces the suction after a minute or so automatically (presumably after your milk has let down). You can do this manually on the Pump in Style by just turning the dial so I wouldn't bother.

I don't think the pumps come in standard sizes. You'll need to get the collection bottles that fit your unit. I like to use the Medela bottles that screw on to the "pump trumpet" quickly. If you have decent production, do not bother with the 2.5 oz bottles, you'll over flow them. I transfer the milk into the Lansinoh storage bags if I'm going to freeze any. I do find that I need to wash the bottles with a bottle brush and hot soapy water before they go in the dishwasher.

As for how often... I am feeding my daughter almost 100% breast milk. (She gets a bottle of formula sometimes if I have to work late and don't have enough milk from the previous day.) I pump once before work, sometimes with my daughter on on side and the pump on the other. (Yes, this is awkward.) And I pump three times at work.

I highly recommend that you get your pump ASAP and start finding a time to pump once a day -- even if it's just one side -- and freeze what you collect. I found with both kids that in the beginning, my supply was far more than the kids needed. Now (my daughter is six months), it has evened out. There are some days when I don't quite make enough. It's great to pull a bag out of the freezer to supplement.

H.,
Congrats! I too am a first time mommy and had to also return after 6 weeks.

I first got the Lansinoh DOuble Electric pump, but it just didn't cut it for pumping regularly at work. It's more of an occasional use pump. I next bought the Medela Pump In Style Advanced and it is great. Works like a charm.

Best wishes!

If you are near West Los Angeles/ Santa Monica there is a great place called the Pump Station that can assist you with all your questions. Go there before you deliver - they rent and sell pumps, they show you and guide you through the process. They will consult with you. I went back to work 6 weeks after delivery. Congratulations and best wishes!

Hi H., I used the Medela back pack. When I got to work some of the guys would walk in with me and comment on my cute, different back pack...I would just smile. I began pumping right after baby was born to get my milk going, but if you didn't have to do that, that is great. I pumped every 2 hours when possible, but was difficult while at work. I fed baby before leaving, then pumped on my three breaks. When I got home I had ready made foods available so I could eat while feeding baby and keep my own supply and energy up. Less feedings/pumpings will make your supply go down, but it won't stop. More likely you will have to supplement with a formula, as after working all day, I was only able to pump two of the little bottles full. The pump came with little bottles that fit right inside the back pack with a little ice pack. I poured the supply into one of her regular bottles or in a bag to freeze.

Good luck, everything will be fine.

C.

Good Morning, I have the Medela pump in style advanced. I have used it with both of my Sons. It works great!
I was able to breastfeed my Son at lunch so I would pump once in the morning, around 9, and then again in the afternoon, around 2. I guess it just depends on what time you feed your baby before work.

I loved my Medela I got a middle of the line one that is double electric. I think it was about $279. If you register @ babies r us or sign up for emails they will give you a 15% off coupon that helps a lot. ( i even saw a 20% once) I noticed people writing about supply issues. Sometimes I notice my milk was a little more watery so i ate ice cream the next day and it helped. That was fun! =0) Enjoy your baby.

My pediatrician said it was ok to start pumping right away--although I think I waited two weeks or so. At first when I pumped I got next to nothing--15 minutes would yield maybe an ounce. I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced and would recommend it highly. I didn't need to return to work until my son was 4 months old, and just to reassure you, if you pump regularly, your body should make the milk you need to feed your little one. At first, I pumped after each feeding. When my little guy stopped feeding every two hours, for a while I continued to pump on the "off" times to keep my supply up. At this point (my son is now 7 months old), I pump first thing in the morning while my husband gives my son a bottle, then pump three times at work during the day, and it's enough to keep him going--I haven't run out yet. :) Good luck! Nursing and pumping is HARD WORK but it's worth it. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't come easily and if things go wrong--you and baby will figure it out.

Oh, and all of the Medela pumps fit all Medela bottles, but they're not interchangeable beyond that.

Email me directly with any questions about anything--I was really nervous about being a mom and being a working mom, but it's going great so far and I would love to help you be as prepared as possible. It's a lot of fun! And it DOES get easier.

Find one that doesn't require the milk to run through the tubing. IMO you can never clean it well enough.
R.

Hi H.,

I use the Medela Pump n Pack & it works great. I started pumping & freezing a couple of weeks after my baby was born so that when I went back to work (when he was 10 wks old), I had tons in the freezer. I found that pumping 2X/day at work was enough plus sometimes if he didn't eat much in the morning before daycare, I'd pump after I fed him (before work). Your body will adjust to how much baby needs & how much you pump. It may take a week or two after you start work to get the groove of how many times you need to pump & how long, but if you have some in the freezer for back-up, you shouldn't worry. Just make sure to nurse your baby when you're at home in order to keep up your milk supply. I haven't had a problem with milk production & usually get more than what my baby eats.

Since breast milk doesn't stay good forever in the freezer I use it along with my fresh for my son's daily bottles in daycare. He takes 3 bottles while there so he'll get 2 bottles of fresh milk (pumped the day before) & 1 bottle of frozen (use the oldest date from the freezer). Then I'll freeze one bag of fresh milk per day. This way I can use up my frozen without having to throw it out after 3 months.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me.
M.

I had the Medela Pump in Style, Metro Bag and loved it. I am using it for the second time. My best advice would be to store up a decent amount in the freezer. I didn't pump enough with my first child and he went through a sudden growth spurt and went through everything I had in the freezer in a week! The best schedule to get milk in the freezer would be to pump in the morning after a feeding and at night, about 2 hours after your baby goes to sleep. I had one of the hands free pumping bras and I would pump while I got ready for work in the morning. This way I only had to pump twice at work. The Lanisoh storage bags are great for the freezer. If your hospital has a breastfeeding store, you can get extra storage bottles. As someone already mentioned, the 5 oz bottles are better. You can keep those in you fridge for fresh milk and use the frozen as backup. Good luck!

good for you about thinking ahead. first of all I just want to say not to worry about the pumping for difinitely the first 2 weeks or 4 is even better.

2nd, have u been to a breastfeeding class? if not take your support person & go.

3rd, check out normalfed.com and workandpump.com

and for other questions, education, "troubleshooting" go to drjacknewman.com

Hey H.,
I did a lot of research when I had my baby last March...I work a lot as well. AFter all of my research, I went with Medela for this reason: If you plan to have more than 1 kid, get Medela...Their customer service is apparently MUCH better than anyone else and will replace parts if anything should go wrong within 3 years...Ameda is only 1 year. AT different stores, everyone (even stores that sold Ameda) told me the customer service at Medela is the best...And, if you plan to travel with your pump, I highly recommend it b/c it could get damaged when you pack it...and they'll replace it for you.

You will need to pump on the same eating schedule as your baby to keep your milk production up. I also pump late at night, after she goes to bed, before I go to bed to have an extra bottle.
Good luck!

the best thing to do is either rent or buy a Medela Classic hospital grade pump..i rented one at first then i bought one off ebay..wound up being cheaper that way then i sold it for $50 more than i paid for it to the Pump Station..they will only buy them though if they come with the case. That pump is the best..it's heavy though..but it gets the most milk..
2nd..you should get the Easy Expression Bra.. www.easyexpressionproducts.com
you can pump both breasts hands free..so u can sit at your computer while pumping.

you will need to pump a few times a day..there are times in the day where your milk is less abundant..like later afternoon..
also u can pump 10 minutes..stop 10 min..pump 10 min..stop 10 to get 2nd to 3rd letdowns

email me if you want my list on how to build your supply..
also at 6 weeks your milk establishes itself so bf and pump all u can so your body thinks it has to make more milk and your supply doesn't dip down too much at 6 weeks

if you have any questions let me know i'll be happy to help you

Hi H.!
First, congrats on your pregnancy and breastfeeding! I have a 7 week old but have gotten tons of advice from friends who have breastfed or are still working full time and breastfeeding. My good friend goes on lots of business trips and STILL breastfeeds!
1. "The Nursing Mother's Companion" - this is an excellent resource! Breastfeeding can be complicated. This book covers all your questions about pumping at work etc.
2. http://www.nursingmothersupplies.com (this is an excellent company that will offer a lot of phone support even after you make your purchase)
3. As for pumps: I bought the Medela Advanced Pump in Style. I read Dr. Sears book "The Baby Book" and I also heard from various people that this is the longest lasting motor so it is guaranteed to last for one year. It is kind of pricey but if you are working- this comes with 4 bottles and is v. easy to carry around. You can use a battery pack or power cord. It's worth the money b/c when you are working, it's easy to get a plugged milk duct and you want a good pump to help you with that.

I hope I didn't write too much! Even if you spend a lot on the pump, you will still save money by breastfeeding. Oh - you can get the Lansinoh breast milk storage bags or you can get something sturdier.

Feel free to email with any more questions!! Best to you & your baby!!
C.

I used the Avent electric pumps with both of my kids (3 and 10 months) and had a wonderful experience. They work really well, because I used Avent bottles, so it made it really easy for feedings. I pump right into the bottle, freeze them and then change the top and warm them for feedings.

I absolutely recommend it. I returned to work when my baby was 3 months and had the best pumping experience so far.

Yeah!!! H.,

Breast feeding is a huge commitment and I am so glad you are stepping up to the plate! I had my first baby 11 years ago and purchased the Medela pump in style (love it). It is still going strong and I am pregnant with my fourth and will use it one last time. I never gave any of my kids one drop of formula. Pump as oftem as you can when you are gone especially in the begining to encourage your supply. Make sure you drain the breast entirely so the baby gets the foremilk and the hind mild which is more rich and filling. Eat and sleep! Usually you can contact a local breast feeding support group like La leche league and even just go to 1 or 2 meetings to get extra ideas and support. Tell yourself you are going to be successful and don't let nay sayers effect you!!! You can do it!

Hi H. and congrats. Your best bet is to go with the Medela. I have the Pump in Style which I got 4 years ago with my first son. Its been used with my second son and my sister borrowed it with her daughter. I also plan to use it with my next son! So needless to say, its been "used" and works great. They are pricey but very worth it, you definitely get your moneys worth.

H.,

I highly recommend that you join this group:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PumpMoms/

I've been on it for 5 years and through 2 children (both of whom I pumped and breastfed for more than a year each). I went back to work at 6 weeks with both of my kids and I was able to pump successfully for both of them (as in not needing to supplement with formula).

PumpMoms is a group of moms just like you (and me) who need to pump for their infants. The support and experiences of other moms is really tremendously helpful.

I have two Medela Pump In Style Advanced pumps (one for home, one for work so I didn't have to pack them back and forth - which is really helpful - I only had one pump with my first child and bought the second when my second child was born) and several of the milk collection kits (so I don't have to wash everything every time I pump - which is a huge timesaver especially at work where you may or may not have good facilities for cleaning your stuff).

Just in general, most women have to pump to mimic their breastfeeding schedule (which translates to once every 2-3 hours). It is most efficient (for me) to pump for about half an hour each time and to double pump (you can buy a hands free pumping bra - I have both an Easy Expressions Halter and an Easy Expressions Bustier - which I bought off ebay). With my first child, I struggled with supply because I didn't pump nearly enough (lack of knowledge!) and not nearly effectively enough. When my second child was born and I was going through that hormonal first couple of weeks where you establish your milk supply, I started double pumping 2x a day at the times I was planning to pump at work - in addition to nursing on demand around the clock - and I did that every day of my maternity leave and froze the milk (I like Lansinoh storage bags - they ziplock so you can freeze them flat and then stack them in plastic shoe box storage bins in your freezer like playing cards - date them and then stack the newest ones in the back and you don't have to search to figure out which milk to use first). If you don't have a freezer (seperate from your fridge) now would be a good time to get one. You basically need to plan on having at least 40 ounces of milk frozen before you go back to work (a 2 work-day supply) and you need to shoot for pumping about 20 ounces a day while you are gone. With my first child, that meant pumping 5 times a day every day in addition to nursing on demand when I was home (plus twice a day each day on the weekends) and with my second child that meant pumping 2 times a day each week day and never on the weekends. Since I started earlier and pumped more efficiently the second time around, I had a much higher supply and it was lots easier (experience is everything so use other folk's experience!)

Hopefully that will help you get started. Join PumpMoms. You'll be glad you did.

:-)T.

Hi H., I bought the Lansinoh pump. It is EXACTLY like the Ameda pump. I have already used it 1.5 years with no problems. I love it and would recommend it. It's very quiet and it accepts standard mouth bottles. And if you're on a budget, it costs HALF what a Medela pump in style costs.

As for your question about pumping, it really depends on you. I normally pump 2x a day at work, but you might want to do it 3x if you're trying to boost your production or baby is a big eater. I'd say once you start pumping at home for practice, try to pump as often as baby would eat so you don't get engorged. That will also give you a chance to get used to using your pump so you're not fumbling with the parts at work.

Good luck and let us know how things work out.