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I would have another meeting in 30 minutes.
But here I was, locking up myself in a store room, trying to express milk for my baby.
The day has been rough.
And it badly affected me.
I closed my eyes...
Trying to visualize my baby's face and her voice for the past 5 minutes.
But I simply couldn't let down.
Pumping is challenging, don't you agree?
There were times that you cannot take it anymore, or simply want to quit.
How I wish pumping can be as easy as saying one, two, three, and voila... the bottle is magically filled with milk.
But you know what, you can make pumping as streamlined as possible.
As quick as possible, because ... well, you know.., we are not in the position to get the longest pumping break we could ever have, right.
Every minute counts...
Now, after 2 years of pumping for my kids, I learnt that you simply need to have some essential items to make pumping easier for you.
Ahh... I wish I would have known these when I was struggling to pump for my first baby.
I would have gotten much more milk in each pumping session, saved at least 30 minutes a day at work, and make pumping feels like a breeze...
So, what are the essential items for pumping at work? Scroll down below to see my top 10 list.
PS: I try to be general here because I know moms' preference differ, but I include some of my favorite items that I personally use throughout my pumping journey.
They helped me keeping up with all my pumping routines and achieve my pumping goals!
More...
(this post contains affiliate links)
10 Pumping Essentials for Working Moms
1. A double electric breast pump
A confession: I used to use a manual breast pump with my first baby and I took me close to one hour for each pumping session! Bad idea.
Then I thought I could get away with a single electric breast pump, but nope..., I ended up pumping longer than I was and not emptying my breast thoroughly.
Until I finally use a double electric breast pump.
Boy, this one is a game changer.
I wish I bought this right from the start.
It helps me to thoroughly empty both breasts at the same time, such a time
There are a lot of dual breast pumps in the market, but my favorite is Spectra S1 and Super Genie breast pumps
I'm totally in love with this heavy-duty breast pump. They have a lot more flexible pump settings compared to other breast pumps. Not only that, they are soo comfortable pumping with these two pumps, and it's pretty effective in emptying your breast.
You can check my detailed reviews in these articles:
And see my other recommendation for heavy-duty hospital grade breast pumps here.
PS: if you are not a fan of bigger pump, here are some other alternatives:
- Baby Buddha breast pump (portable and strong)
- Milk Genie Plus breast pump (record your very own pumping program and starts pumping on auto-pilot)
- Freemie liberty breast pump (for handsfree pumping)
- Travel-friendly and affordable: Spectra 9+ (full review here)
- Portable and heavy-duty: Medela Freestyle (full review here)
2. A manual breast pump
A lot of moms think that a manual breast pump is good just for back up.
In case you forgot to pump, or for a super-quick pumping session to relieve engorgement.
Is that true?
Well, not for me.
Do you know that hand expression after double pumping helps to further empty your breast and stimulate faster milk production?
Sadly, NOT everyone master hand expression (me included!) and that's where a manual breast pump comes to a rescue!
I use my manual pump right after pumping with my double electric pump to further drain my breast.
I don't know why, perhaps because you get a better control of what the pump is doing, or because you naturally massage and squeeze your breast as you pump, manual pumping helps to squeeze those last drops of milk that won't get extracted by an electric pump.
If you asked me which manual pump is good, then I would undoubtedly choose Avent Isis Manual breast pump.It has super strong suction and empty breast very efficiently (and quick). Love love this little and portable pump (learn more about this little pump in this full review).
Unfortunately, Avent does not provide various breast shield sizes, so if the one that comes with the pump does not fit you, you are in trouble.
If you need a bigger / smaller breast shield size, Medela Harmony may be a beter fit for you.
PS: To collect breast milk easily, don't forget to invest on Haakaa silicone breast pump (really game changer!)
3. Extra pumping parts and accessories
If you are going to pump daily, chances are you will need to have some extra parts just in case:
- you forgot to bring the usual one
- you need to get a quick replacement due to wear and tear
In fact, some breast pump parts need to be replaced regularly in order for the pump to perform well.
This includes:
- Membrane and valves (loose membrane -> weak suction)
- Tubing (stand by for moisture build up, if you use an open-system breast pump)
PS: Do you know that pumping parts from different brands can be compatible with each other. Check out this post for a complete guide on compatible breast pump parts and accessories.
Now, do you realize how expensive these extra parts could be?
I remember when I'm still pumping with Medela Swing, I need to replace the membrane every month to keep the suction strong and wow...., that's a lot to go through.
Not to mention that I want to have a spare tubing for emergency case.The cost adds up a lot.
But then, I found Maymom, my favorite brand for breast pump accessories.
No, this brand does not produce breast pump, but only the accessories.
But you know what, it produces a vast range of pumping parts
Here are a few examples:
- membranes and valves compatible with Medela and Spectra (a lot cheaper and do the job well)
- various tubings for Medela / Ameda breast pump
- breast shield replacement kit for Medela / Ameda breast pump
- my favorite: adaptor to connect Medela breast shield to Spectra breast pump
- car charger for Medela /
Spectra bottle adaptor to connect a wide-neck breast shield to a narrow-neck bottle (such as Medela bottle), very handy!
And not only that!
Maymom is your best friend to find a correctly fitted breast shield.
With various sizing from 15-mm to 36-mm (compare to Medela which only offers 21-36 mm) you have plenty to try and choose which one suits you the most. Check out their breast shield products here.
4. Breast milk bottles
You need breast milk bottles, obviously, to pump, store milk, and feed your baby.
I suggest you use the same bottle brand for both pumping and feeding. Because you know, transferring from one bottle to another can waste a little breast milk (talk about the sticky fatty part of the milk that won't flow easily once you put your milk in the fridge).
In general, there are two types of breast milk bottle,
Narrow-neck example would be Medela while wide-neck one would be Avent.
I personally go with Avent wide-neck bottles because my baby loves it, it's easy to clean and I can even use it with Medela breast shield by using a breast pump converter.
I especially love the 4-oz size.
I think it's the perfect size for my baby (since her feeding never goes beyond 4-oz anyway) and not too bulky to bring to my workplace for pumping.
If you are looking for other milk storage system that's perfect for pumping, storing and feeding your baby, check out these pump-store-feed systems. I discussed each of them with pros and cons.
Side notes: Look at my pumped milk, that's a normal amount I get every day (sorry, I could not remember was it a weekday or weekend). But my point is... if you happen to pump much more than me, you are a lucky mama! *keeping it real*
Another note:
I have no issue with breast milk bag ( I talked specifically about Lansinoh breast milk bag here). But the thing is, once I went back to work, 75% of my pumping yield was used for the next-day feeding, so it does not make sense to transfer to a milk bag right after pumping.
What I did is I brought bottles as many as 2 times of no of pumping sessions, after pumping, simply store the milk in the cooler bag, then transfer to the fridge once I reached home, combine them (as in, use some of them as feeding bottles) in the next morning, and only the little extra goes to freezer.
If you are looking to buy breast milk bags, check out my recommendation here.
5. Hands-free pumping bra
Don't waste your time holding onto your bottles while pumping!
You can do more productive things by wearing a hands-free pumping bra.
You have a few options here:
- DIY pumping bra (click here for the full instruction)
- Simply use your regular nursing bra (warning: your bra straps will get loose over the time and you need to re-tighten it often)
- A branded pumping bra (here are some popular ones: Simple Wishes, PumpEase, Rumina Classic).
But wait...What should you do while pumping with hands-free pumping bra?
No, I won't suggest you to multi-task doing your work.
Rather, give I a little massage and squeezes to your breast to encourage better milk flow. Hands-on pumping, ladies! It will give you more milk! Trust me.
RELATED: TOP 8 pumping bras for hands-free and hands-on pumping.
6. LaVie Lactation Massager
This is a game changer! Lavie lactation massager really helps me not only to speed up the pumping process, but also to get more milk.
LaVie massager can apply warmth and vibration at the same time, thus encouraging faster let-down and better milk flow.
Click here to read how to use Lavie massager in my detailed Lavie Lactation Massager review.
7. Ziploc bags
We love saving times here and there, right?
And that's why, I decided to put my breast shield into a Ziploc bag without washing/rinsing/sterilizing it ALL the time.
Yes, it completely sanitary. And it saves a lot of time.
I only wash my pump parts at the end of the day, while in between, they go to the zip lock bag and to the cooler (in the office) or fridge (at home).
PS: If you want to have an opaque, more environmental-friendly option, use Pumparoo wet bag. It has cute prints.
If you are not comfortable with this, another quick option is to use Medela Quick Clean Wipes (no rinsing required, just wipe clean to sanitize them).
8. A cooler bag
You need a cooler bag to transfer milk from your workplace back to home.
This becomes even a bigger necessity if you don't have access to a fridge at work.
I was the second one.
There IS a fridge in my workplace but it's super-full with colleagues' lunches, fruits, and other stuff. There's no way I could store my milk there.
So, I decided to use Fridge-to-go cooler bag.
This is my go-to cooler bag. Its chilling effect lasts up to 12 hours, perfect for moms who do not have access to fridge in the workplace, or simply do not feel comfortable storing EBM in a shared fridge.
The dual slim ice panels are self-contained, giving ample space to put all your pumping supplies.
FYI, I could fit 4 Avent 4-oz bottles and 2 breast shield sets in this little bag.
Not to mention it is very durable. Mine is 5 years old and still working well (check out how mine looks like in this detailed post).
>>Check out this post for more options for breast milk cooler bags.
And by the way, if you prefer an all-purpose bag that can serve as your work bag, pump bag, plus some insulated spaces for your precious milk, ALL at the same time, I bet you'll be interested to get a breast pump bag.
Sarah Wells breast pump bag offers several selection and is moms' favorite brand, but if you prefer more choices, click here to learn some of my favorite breast pump bags (with their pros and cons).
9. A nursing cover
Not every mom has the privilege to pump alone in a locked nursing room alone.
Some have to pump right at their desk, some in a store room, some in the plane. This is where you need a nursing cover to pump discreetly.
I personally don't need a nursing cover every single day because there is a nursing room in my workplace.
But I always keep it in my bag, for emergency times when the nursing room is occupied and I need to pump urgently in a no-lock store room (my
You don't need a branded nursing cover, really, mine was unbranded one, or you can get a cheap one like this for just $10.
10. Sterilizer
With time as a super important asset, I don't sterilize every time I pump. Instead, I sterilize once a day.
So I need a big sterilizer that would fit all my pumping kits plus bottles and teats.
Avent 3-in-1 sterilizer fits my need.
It is super spacious and able to contain all my pumping supplies: parts and all the bottles for pumping / feeding.
I just dump all my pump parts at the end of the day and they get sterilized within minutes.
OPTIONALS:
11. Breast Pumping Apps
Need some help in tracking your breast milk stash or keeping your pumping record? Use breast pumping apps. These app are very useful for your pumping routine. From keeping record on how long your pump session is, how much milk you pump, and even how you manage your stash, this is certainly a great addition for more enjoyable pumping journey.
Check out the TOP 5 breast pumping apps loved by pumping mamas around the world.
12. Breast milk warmer.
Breast milk warmer is great addition to your pumping arsenal, especially for busy moms. It allows you to warm your express milk easily, without the risk of over heating.
I talked more about the most popular breast milk warmer in this post.
So there you have it.
My top 12 essential items for pumping at work.
Are they all compulsory to have?
The answer will depend on your situation.
I am a big believer of don't simply do things just because others do.
Perhaps, you may not need a nursing cover because you always have the privacy of pumping alone in a proper nursing room.
Perhaps, you don't need a steam sterilizer because you already have a microwave at home and it can do sterilizing as well.
So, can you promise me something?
Before you start thinking: ah.. I need this and that, evaluate your situation first.
Do you really need all of them, some of them?
And then decide, which one you really need.
I hope this post helps you to prepare your pumping journey ahead. Or, if you are already in, hopefully, these will open up a new way to streamline your pumping routine.
Now tell me, what's your favorite pumping essential that you can't pump without it?
Emily - FreshMilkMama says
Hello! I wanted to say that I love your website. It is an amazing resource. I wish I had found your site earlier in my ‘pumping’ career… pumping daily at work was stressful. I agree with every point on your list – especially about having a manual pump. After my first month of pumping at work with my double electric pump I invested in a manual pump and it helped me make sure I expressed enough milk each day.
Rina says
Hi Emily,
Yay for manual pump. I wish I could be better with hand-expression. But fortunately I found that I can replace the ‘hand expression’ with manual pumping. It saves so much time and drain my breast better.
Rina
Bella says
hi, where can i find disc locks for avent natural wide neck bottles?
Rina says
Hi Bella,
You can use the sealing discs and bottle sealing rings for avent classic. They are compatible with avent natural, too.
I used them all the time. No leaks.
Kendra says
A manual pump to get the last little bit out? Why have I never tried this!? I will try hand expressing today and will invest in a manual pump if needed.
All of these tips and are great! I love this website!
Rina says
Yeah, you should try this! I can’t master hand-expression and a manual pump helps a lot in emptying breast.
Mimi says
If this is the amount you pump ( I’m lately the same milk supply went real low) how do u manage to leave 2 bottles for you baby??
Rina says
Hi, the first one is from my pumping session at work, second pic from weekend pumping.
Does not seem to be a lot if you look at each bottle, but it does add up (I aimed to leave 400 ml each day).
If you are curious on the exact amount, you can read my story here. M