Breast Pump Comparisons

Save Time with These Breast Pumping Tips

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Many a time it has happened that a new mother has been amazed at exactly how much time gets invested in pumping expressed milk for her baby. When integrated with the normal breastfeeding structure, mothers are often left with the time to do little else: like enjoying rocking and holding her little one. Experience in breastfeeding and infant care has given me some thoughts on how a committed mother may save some steps in their daily routine. Lots of little steps saved every day can add up to some relief -- at least until that baby outgrows their milk days.

Time-Saving Dress for Breast Pumping.

Wearing clothing that will make it uncomplicated to access your chest is the first wise thing you can do. If it does not leave your back cold you can even quickly yank off a comfortable t-shirt, if you care to. If you must keep your back warm or your daily work requires you to wear more business-like attire, you may consider shirts or blouses with buttons down the front. You need to be able to button down far below your waist since only a few buttons at the top will not permit you to open your clothing substantially far enough for double pumping if that is what you do. While it can be more expensive, you can also consider clothing that has been specially designed for nursing or pumping with unobtrusive slits in strategic places. There are whole catalogs of breastfeeding clothing that are suitable for this purpose.

In addition to outer clothing, also consider your bra. A nursing bra will work just fine at a minimum but if you strive to be able to make good use of your pumping time by continuing work at the computer, or reading, eating, or even rocking you infant in their infant seat while you pump, you may want some kind of hands-free solution. There are many brands of hands-free pumping bras, such as the one pictured at the right. Those in a very tight financial bind have been known to make-do with holes cut out of old bras or something home-finagled, like the old rubber band trick.

As long as you are making some new garment purchases, pay attention to the fabrics. Even with taking extra care while pumping and using breast pads when not, there will be leaks, drips or spills from time to time. As a general rule, print fabrics will probably not show a tell-tale wet spot as readily as a solid material will. As much as you love your silk blouses, remember that milk, including breast milk, will stain it. Also to prevent drips while pumping, sitting forward a bit at the waist will help to keep the milk going into the bottles where you want it. Placing an absorbent cloth beneath your breasts to soak up leaks can also help while pumping.

Keeping At Least One Hand Free While Breast Pumping

More Tips to Improve Your Time on the Breast Pump

One way to save some time at collecting your breast milk is to use a breast pump on one side while nursing the baby on the other. If the noise of an electric breast pump is too distracting to your baby you can try a quality manual pump. It is also good to remember no matter what techniques you try that the best time for expressing breast milk is early morning. This is because the supply of ready milk in the breasts is greatest at this time, as well as the prolactin hormone levels. If one breast does not feel unduly heavier than the other this is no need to both nurse and pump on both sides.

Know Your Breast Pump and its Parts

By studying your instructions manual and practicing you will find that assembly will go much more smoothly.

Another idea that is a time-saver is to seal your pump partss in plastic bag in the fridge between uses during one single day. As long as you stay within breast milk storage guidelines and give the parts a thorough washing daily, this may be perfectly safe. Based on breast milk storage guidelines, expressed milk is safe at a room temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 10 hours. By refrigerating the parts, any traces of milk left on them are safe for at least that long. On the other hand, frequent handling of the parts may introduce germs from the surfaces they touch, such as hands, breasts, and the table one sets them down on. The practice of delayed washing may not be endorsed by healthcare professionals. In the situation of collecting breast milk for a particularly vulnerable baby, i.e. premature, newborn, or sick, one would be wise to practice all hygienic precautions as advised by the doctor and manufacturers of breast pumps.

Another idea for saving time and hassle is to have many spare sets of parts, so that wash-up can occur once daily and there is less fear of being at one's wit's end one day when some part goes missing or breaks.

Author: Matia Bryson

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