Do you think such a thing as a “Dream” breast pump exists? Using your pump sometimes feels like a chore, but considering you’re bringing the pump with you to work, to parties, to family functions, and to playdates – it deserves more consideration than simply what your friend is lending to you or what your insurance company covers for you.
A new mom in my family is getting ready to return to work this month and I’ve been talking with her about how I pumped at work and away from home. In our discussion, I realized there were several pumping accessories that I found to be very helpful and really let me be more comfortable pumping. So in today’s third part of MomsPumpHere.com’s four-part Happy Pump Day series, I am revealing my “other stuff.”
These are the words my sister said as she handed me her Medela Pump In Style double electric pump. She had used it to express milk for her twins in 2006 and she was passing it on to me in 2008 for my oldest son. I didn’t realize how much she meant that this “machine” would really be my best friend.
This was advice from my friend Marnie, the only breastfeeding mom I knew when I had my oldest son in 2008. Sure, my mom had breastfed me back in the late 70’s but she didn’t have advice about breast pumps. My lactation consultant was straight from La Leche League and warned me I should wait to breast pump, so I was taking Marnie’s advice about pumping.
This week I was commuting on the Long Island Railroad and I spotted a pumping mom. No, she wasn’t actually pumping, but I could tell she’s a pumping mom for several reasons:
Thank you for contributing to the Moms Pump Here community. We welcome any inquiries and feedback from you, just contact us here. Feel free to Share Stories about your adventures in breast pumping submitting a blog post!
“Whoosh-whoosh. Whoosh-whoosh.” “What IS that NOOOISE? My Goodness, it sounds like a machine in here.” I heard this exclamation as I cowered in one of the two bathroom stalls at a wedding reception. I tried to put a receiving blanket over the pump to quiet the motor. No luck.
We are getting ready to celebrate my oldest son’s 5th birthday this week, and I am finishing up pumping for my youngest son who also celebrates his first birthday this week. My husband and I did the math. Amazingly, for the past five years, I’ve been pregnant/nursing/pumping for more than 90% of the time I’ve been a mom!
I think back about my Adventures in Breast pumping and I really have to laugh at the places I have brought out my trusty pump. From starting out on my couch watching trashy reality TV to becoming a professional pumper and feeling comfortable enough to pump on a flight from Jackonville FL to Baltimore during a snowstorm, I’ve become best friends with my pump.
Hopefully, other moms can learn from and laugh at these Adventures in Breast pumping! Happy Pumping!