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What To Pack When You’re Pumping

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I stared at the intimidating, pale yellow, contraption before me.   Tubes, cones, cords – this was supposed to do what to where? Did people actually, REALLY, use these things? It looked like a torture device. Nope.  Not doing that today.  Back in the closet it goes.

For the first 4 to 6 weeks of my maternity leave, this was the conversation I had with myself on a regular basis.  I eyed my pump, sitting in the same box it shipped in.   There were too many rules, too many pieces, and I was too tired.   But, as I approached the halfway mark of my time at home, I knew we had to become acquainted.  Little did I know, that other than my child, Ms. Medela would become my most constant companion for the next few months.  Our relationship lasted approximately a year, and while we parted ways amicably (for which I am forever grateful), I was not sorry to see her go.   

Pumping – while valuable – SUCKED.  I don’t think I was prepared for how truly awful it could be.  WHY DID NO ONE MENTION THIS TO ME!?!

It was noisy, messy, and an extraordinary logistical feat to manage throughout the workday.   Did you pack all the pieces? How early do I have to leave for my meeting so I have time to pump on the way and clean up in the parking lot? What random stranger will I talk to about my boobs today? Will anyone on this conference call notice my wheezing friend, Ms. Medela, if I have to unmute myself and say something? (The answer is yes by the way…)

Seriously.  Did I mention pumping SUCKS? Honestly, if it was an appropriate interview question, I’d definitely give a job candidate bonus points in the “attention to detail and managing their time wisely” category if I knew they pumped for any time at all after maternity leave.   There’s no question that the event planning and project timelines I’ve learned to do in sports and events helped prepare me for balancing work and the milk guzzling little creature I left a daycare every day.

You’re probably wondering, “Abby, if you hated it so much, why did you do for so long?”

Here’s the deal, while I hated pumping, once the small human and I got the hang of it, I truly enjoyed the experience of breastfeeding. Yes, it’s sometimes annoying to be the primary food source for another human being; but, at the end of the day, I appreciated the one-on-one time with my son and was proud of the fact that I was the only one that could provide what he needed at that moment.  I strapped myself in to my least favorite contraption on a daily basis so that I could still have that opportunity when I came home every day.

In full transparency, I was also incredibly fortunate to have a relatively easy time breastfeeding and top-notch resources at my beckon call.  I did not experience many of the common issues new Moms have (except for cluster feeding – also something NOBODY told me about), plus my sister is a Certified Lactation Consultant (Fraser’s Dairy God Mother) and my Mom birthed six babies. So, I had two experts on speed dial.   I am absolutely aware that so many women out there would gladly pump the day away to be able to breastfeed their child.   At the end of the day, a well-fed and well-loved baby is most important.  This is what worked for me and my family THIS time.  I know I may have to take a different approach should we be blessed with another child in the future.

I also know that a lot of the success I had in pumping was due to the fact that I have a job that affords me a lot of autonomy.  I didn’t have to explain to someone where I was going when I needed to pump.  I could shut the door of my office or take care of business in the car between meetings. It would have been much more difficult to keep this up in a traditional office environment, when everyone could have seen my comings and goings.  If you’re able to make this work, I have so much respect for you AND your employer, and I want to hear about it – email me!

So, anyway, this long-winded rambling was my attempt to provide some background on my experience with the topic at hand – What to Pack When You’re Pumping.  I always feel more calm and ready for a challenge when I can create an actionable list, so if I haven’t scared you off yet, here’s a handy checklist to help prepare you for your adventures with Ms. Medela – or whatever torture device is your baby’s flavor.  

Packing for a picnic? Scuba diving lessons? Nope. Just Tuesday morning.

WHAT TO PACK WHEN YOU’RE PUMPING: 

This list is specifically created with the Medela Pump In-Style model in mind. Most other major pump brands have similar accessories available.  

  • Pumping Bag: I just used diaper bag, but some pumps come with their own bag, or you can find a specialty case that is specifically created to make pumping on the go easier.
  • The Pump: This seems like a no brainer, but may be an easy thing to forget when you’re first figuring out the schedule to get yourself and your small human out the door. The Affordable Care Act requires that private health insurance plans cover the cost of your breast pump, so be sure to contact your insurance company about the ordering process. My son was born in March and I ordered my pump in January.
  • Pump Pieces: These are the items that generally come with the pump and are essential to making that milk move! You don’t necessarily need to purchase any of these items separately, but I’d recommend having spare valves and membranes in your bag just in case one of the membranes tears.
    • Power Cord/AC Adapter
  • Quick-Clean Steaming Bags: If you have access to a microwave and water you can steam and clean your parts throughout the day.  Each bag can be used up to 20 times.   These are handy if you’re on the road or in hotels and won’t be home to wash things by hand
  • Quick Clean Breast Pump and Accessory Wipes: If you’re like me and pumping on the go, these are a must have.  If you don’t have immediate access to water/microwave, use these wipes to clean your pump between sessions.
  • Zip Lock Bags:  I typically transported all of my various parts in a gallon zip-lock bag.  It’s helpful to have a few extras on hand in case you’re not able to clean your parts and want to keep the clean away from the dirty.
  • Car Adapter:  I used this on a daily basis.  Even if you don’t travel for work, I’d recommend having one on hand in case you’re ever in a bind and need to give the girls some relief on the go.
  • Battery Pack:  I only used this 3 or 4 times total, but was a great back-up in case you don’t have access to an outlet.  Unfortunately, using this likely meant I was in a bathroom somewhere that didn’t have a space for nursing mothers (looking at you DTW). 
  • Cooler/Ice Pack: Most breast pumps come with a cooler and ice pack to keep your liquid gold at an acceptable storage/serving temperature throughout the day.   This is especially important if you won’t have access to a refrigerator.  More information on breastmilk storage can be found here.  Also, my husband was very proud to discover the Medela cooler + ice pack can also fit exactly four beers. It’s the perfect party pack! You’re welcome.
  • Nursing Cover: I travel by car a lot throughout the day for work, so I pumped while driving (shhhh) at least once a day.  I used the nursing cover to keep the contraption and my flesh colored pumping bra out of the line of site of anyone at traffic lights or in parking lots.  They may have never noticed, but it made me feel like I had at least a little dignity.  If I wasn’t in the car, I sometimes put this on my lap in the office or car in case of any drips/leaks.
  • Hands Free Pumping Bra: This is a must have if you’re a car pumper. I also used my pumping time to catch-up on email – multitasking at its best!
  • Storage Bottles + Lids: This should seem obvious, but is an easy one to forget (see below).  I have more bottles than I know what to do with because I would forget the lids at home and have to buy full new sets over lunch. 
  • Manual Breast Pump: I know, what you’re thinking, I need TWO breast pumps in my bag? Perhaps not every day, but this is something to think about if you’ll be on the run and you’re not sure when and where you’ll be able to pump (big events, unfamiliar venues, tight flight connections, etc.). The manual breast pump can allow you to squeeze in a quick session without a tangle of cords.  Personally, I didn’t feel it was as efficient as its noiser cousin; but, it provided some relief, and as my breastfeeding class instructor liked to say, “it places the order at the bakery”, so your body continues to produce more milk for your baby later.
  • Milk Storage Bags:  Yes, I had these at home already for my freezer stash, but I initially didn’t carry these with me to work.  However, I took an extended business trip and some ended up buried in my bag, and they ended up being a life/milk saver.  If you someday forget to bring the caps to your pumping bottles (yup, did that twice) or the bottles (I think I only did that once…) You can MacGyver a solution using the bags and a hair tie.
No bottles or lids? No problem! Pump straight into your storage bags! Photo from the last ever business trip I took with my pump. You think I would have known better by then…
  • Hair Tie: For reasons that I hope are now obvious…
  • Sharpie Marker: If you’re storing milk in bags, be sure to mark the date/time of your session on the bag BEFORE you start pumping.
  • Mamava App:  I used this extensively while traveling for work.  It’s super handy in airports and other public places.   The app will provide you geo-specific locations of Mamava Nursing Pods or other Mothers’ Rooms near you.   If you’re reading this and work for a team or venue that does not have a nursing room, please share the Mamava page with your leadership team immediately.  Not only is it the right thing to do for your fans, it’s possible sponsorship inventory.
  • Sprout App: Sprout is the app I used to track feeding and pumping sessions until my son was about a year old.  It tracks how much you pump, how long you pumped, and can push you a reminder when it’s time to get back at it.  I also used this while breastfeeding, and in those early weeks, it was much needed record of when my son needed to eat and which side was most in need of action. 

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Did I scare you into not pumping? Are you immediately running to the store to buy formula? If you think pumping may be for you, I hope the What to Pack When You’re Pumping list helps you feel more prepared to make the best decision possible when the time comes.

Are you a past pumper or already pumping? Did I miss anything? I’d love to hear from you about what was in your bag and what kept you motivated while pumping.   This was honestly one of the most difficult parts of my first year of motherhood, and I have so much respect for anyone who is willing to take it on – but also applaud any of you who decide keeping up with the circus is not for you.  No matter how you feed your baby, know that you are not alone in your struggle, and it can be hard to adjust to your family’s new routines those first few weeks/months back at work.   I am serious when I say I would be happy to talk about pumping and how you can make it work for you, where you work.   Please email me at sportsbizmom@gmail.com if you’d like to chat! 

Sports Biz Mom: Erin Kraebber, UAB Athletics

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We’re kicking off the New Year and closing out the college football season with a Mom whose team experienced a lot of excitement in 2018! Erin Kraebber is the Associate Athletic Director for Marketing at UAB Athletics, which just completed a historic year on the football field, going 11-3 in only their 2nd year back after the program was elimnated in 2014.

Erin and I connected on LinkedIn in the fall, and after I noticed she was running a parenting related website of her own (more on that below), I knew our common interests meant we had to talk and that I wanted to know her story. Not only has she shared with me a few tips to better manage my time with this page, she also knows past Sports Biz Mom interviewee, Corrie Schantz. It never ceases to amaze me just how small this industry is, and I continue to be grateful for that as it has given me the opportunity to meet so many women who are generous with their time and genuine in their intentions.

If you have been following this blog, I encourage you to check out Erin’s – I know I’ll be keeping a close watch!

Erin Kraebber joined the UAB Athletics staff in 2016 as Associate Athletic Director for Marketing.  She is responsible for the operations of the sports marketing department including branding, advertising, in-game promotions, game production and community engagement. 

Kraebber joined the UAB staff following three years at the NCAA National Office. Working in the Championships Marketing, Broadcast and Alliances area,  Erin served as the primary liaison to NCAA Corporate Champions and Corporate Partners: AT&T, Infiniti, Lowes, Scott’s Miracle Grow, UPS and Werner Ladder. She developed fan engagement programs and assisted corporate partners in their activation of the NCAA platform at key events including Men’s College Cup, Women’s Volleyball Championship, Men’s Final Four, Women’s Final Four and Women’s College World Series. 

Prior to moving to the NCAA National Office, Kraebber served as the Director of Marketing at Bradley University from 2010 to 2013 and the Assistant Director of Promotions and Advertising at Purdue University from 2006 to 2010.

A two-time Purdue University graduate, Kraebber earned a bachelor’s degree in management in 2004 and master’s degree in organizational leadership in 2006. She is a board member of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators and has been recognized with several national awards for her successful marketing efforts.

Erin is also the creator of Her Generation Project, a site focused on connecting mothers of daughters with other mothers of daughters to build a network of #GirlMoms.  Her Generation Project was recently recognized as one of the “33 Best Mom Blogs You Haven’t Read Yet” by the Stay Sane Mom.

A native of Oshkosh, Wis., she resides in Hoover, Alabama with her husband Karl and daughters Allyson and Hadley.  Connect with her on LinkedIn.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities with UAB Athletics?

In my role as Associate Athletics Director of Marketing, I have oversight over a variety of different operational elements within the UAB Athletics department. I am responsible for the branding, advertising and ticketing strategy that directly impacts how we position our program in the community and on campus. My team works to determine advertising campaigns, creative concepts, sales opportunities, ticket packages, fan experiences, community engagement, campus engagement and more. I determine how our budget is allocated to reach our ticket sales, event attendance and fan engagement goals.

My marketing team also manages the live event operations for our 8 ticketed sports (football, volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball). I have direct oversight of every piece of the fan experience for football and men’s basketball, and oversee the two staff members handling this for the other six programs. This is everything from the music that gets played to the use of band and cheer to fireworks, to fun contests for fans during the games and the scripting of the game for the announcer.

What sort of daily or weekly routines have you established to keep your family on track?

Now that the girls are both in elementary school and very close to the same daily schedule, this has gotten a lot easier to manage. My husband is a major piece of this puzzle and we have a pretty set routine we try to stick to on the school days. Luckily we both have somewhat flexible schedules (on average) and aren’t racing around as much these days. We also use a shared Google calendar for everything for all of us – this includes game days, the kids’ school events, their sports, work travel, etc…

Our girls wake at 6:15 AM and I do the dressing while Dad does breakfast and packs lunches (we have one that straight up refuses school lunch). Breakfast at our house is a microwave Eggo product of some kind or peanut butter toast. After breakfast they do teeth and hair brushing while I close up backpacks. They are out the door for the bus to arrive at 6:50 AM. It’s quick but we find that giving them the minimal amount of time works best. This way, they can’t ask for playtime or expect to watch TV before school. Once they are out, I get myself going and to work by 8:30 AM. I am not an early morning person at all!

After school its much of the same. If I do not have an event, I try to get home by 5:45 PM and my husband usually is about the same or earlier. We try our best for no work between the time we leave the office and the kids go to bed. Dinnertime is critical family time for us. My husband does all the cooking. ALL THE COOKING. Every dinner we go around the table and share about our day.

After dinner we go through backpacks and try to do as much as we can to be ready for the next day. They both now have activities –  so it’s dance two nights every week and then volleyball is seasonal. I typically do all things related to dance and try to pick days for activities that align with our schedules the best. On those nights we might just meet out for dinner and everything does get a bit rushed.

Once the kids go to bed, I’m back on my laptop; creating game scripts, working on graphics, sending emails and getting myself prepped for the next day. Often times, I have so many meeting during the work day that I feel like I get nothing done. My husband often hates it that I work late at night but I just haven’t figured out another way to be more efficient during the day hours. I don’t like to feel the stress of unfinished projects and deadlines weighing me down. I also enjoy the quiet of my home to do work at night from the comfort of my couch.

If it’s an event night for me, their routine doesn’t change but it is all on Dad to execute. I get home when I get home and catch up with them in the morning to do it over again.  Weekends are different and a toss up as to how much family time we get.

How do you integrate your girls into your busy sports lifestyle?

Honestly, they just don’t know any other way. They were born into it and have always been around college sports. Their grandparents are highly involved at our alma mater (My husband is a 3rd generation Boilermaker – which is also where we met) so they have a love of all things Purdue and know a lot about the different sports. My husband and I both love sports, so naturally it’s on a lot at home and they are big Purdue, Wisconsin, UAB, and Packer fans. They also pick up random teams based on wins, jersey color and mascot.

But on a more serious note, they don’t always get integrated. We have learned that it’s best for them not to really see me at games. They know when they come to football or basketball, Mom can wave but they can’t really come down to the score table/field and spend time with me. I can’t do my job and keep track of them at the same time. It caused issues when they were younger and didn’t understand “Mommy is working” so sometimes they just didn’t come. Now that they are older they like being fans but coming to games that start at their school day bedtime is not an option.

As they get older, they do want to come to more, and they will ask to go to weekend events to help. If my husband is out of town or just one of them wants to come, they are good enough to entertain themselves or be helpful to me while Im working. They like handing out programs or rolling posters. I really don’t let them around the sidelines, be ball kids or anything like that. I probably could but I just don’t want them taking away a spot for a fan or getting too much special treatment.

My staff becomes part of our family so people I work closest with are really great to my kids and my kids enjoy seeing them more than me most of the time!

The sports industry, and in particular collegiate athletics, is notorious for its demanding schedule and long hours.  As a leader in your organization, how would you suggest women and/or parents approach the subject of flexibility with their supervisors?

This is a tough one because every organization has its own culture and cycles of demanding times. I’m a proponent of flexibility for all employees, not just those with kids. It’s tough when you are just starting out in a career to make any type of demands but I think with experience comes more flexibility.

You learn how you work best and can create a system that allows you to get your work done and still do the other things that are important to you. The best piece of advice I can give is to be honest and realistic with your asks for flexibility. I didn’t start out saying I refuse to work from 5:00 – 8:30 PM on school nights, but that has evolved over time because I have shown I am someone that gets work done and that family time is important. Start with the things that are the most important and show that you can fulfill your responsibility to earn flexibility.

You also need a really good support system to parent in this career. I could not do this without my husband and his flexible schedule and the help of neighbors, babysitters, co-workers, etc… Our closest family is over 400 miles away so it’s not easy. When a kid gets sick, or has an appointment during the day, or an activity at school they want you to be a part of, we have to find a way to make it work. I have to ask for help and support when it’s important to me. As a supervisor, my staff knows this stuff is important to me and I know what’s important to them. We can advocate for each other.

What motivates you to continue to pursue your career in sports?

I really seem to gravitate towards challenging positions. I enjoy the process of building/rebuilding, so seeing small successes over time is fulfilling. It is true that our jobs are easier and more enjoyable when our teams win but we have little to do with that.

I love the brand-building side of things and also watching the programs, individual athletes and members of my marketing team grow. The traditions and fan loyalty of college programs cannot be found everywhere. Those things are unique to college sports and I enjoy working hard to keep improving them.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences over the years, but not much can compare to the re-birth of UAB Football in 2017. I came to UAB after the program was shut down in 2014, amid some major backlash from the community and a lot of local politics. The program was reinstated but still had 2 years with no games and not much of a team when I arrived. Coach Clark stayed and a lot of people worked tirelessly to build a new brand and a totally new identity for UAB football. We shattered every record from a ticket sales, attendance, national media, on-field performance standpoint that had ever existed for UAB and Conference USA.

Watching what this team has done for the community and the brand of UAB as an institution has been amazing. No one believed it but those of us working on it from the inside. The team was picked to finish dead last in all of college football in 2017, went on to a program best season until just this year when we went 10-3 and won the program’s first conference title in just its 2nd year back. It’s a truly amazing story and I have no doubt it will be made into a movie someday.

Outside of work, you also run, author and maintain the Her Generation Project website/blog. Can you tell us more about what lead you to create this site and what you hope it can provide to other parents?

I launched this passion project in March of 2018 as a result of some conversations with other mothers I spend time with – when I do have the time to spare. We are all mothers with daughters, going through different struggles on how to do “the right thing” as parents. Kids are growing up in a much different world these days!

The more I listened, I learned that all moms, no matter what they do or how they parent, are struggling with something. We all want to know that there is someone out there that can relate to our insecurities and tell us it’s all going to work out. To tell us they have been there and we aren’t going to screw our kids up for life. It’s a legit fear!

The website itself is a blog based repository of stories and experiences targeted at mothers of daughters. Its real life situations and how I or another mother has handled them. A blueprint of sorts that a mom can read and take pieces from and apply it to her own situation. It covers a variety of age groups and some things are light-hearted and fun and others are more serious.

The other component, and the most special I think is the social network that goes with it. Readers are invited to join the Project Network which is a closed Facebook group of moms that share advice, seek feedback, answer questions and more. It’s a safe space for judgement-free conversation with the goal of easing fears and connecting to moms in similar situations. It’s about real life things and nothing is off-limits.

I hope to push out quality content that is relatable for parents. To let them know that it’s all going to be okay and that they are doing a good job – whatever that looks like for them and their current situation. I want to grow this network to give Moms a place to come to for honest feedback from other Moms that are doing it in real time.  They can take a little bit from everyone in the group and find something that will work for them. There is no one way or best way to parent and that is absolutely okay.

If anyone would like to join the Her Generation Project community, how should they get in touch with you?

The Her Generation Project Network is a closed Facebook group but access is available to any Facebook member that would like to join. The page can be searched and is also linked directly from the Her Generation Project website or the Her Generation Project Facebook account. When you request to join the page via Facebook, you will be prompted to answer a couple of questions about yourself. I field all the requests and typically get them processed in less than 24 hours.

The closed group is really where the networking and real conversations happen. Its a judgement free zone where members are invited to post comments, share experiences and ask for advice on any parenting topic. No matter what it is, silly or serious, chances are very good that someone in this great group of ladies has been there and done that. If a member is ever uncomfortable asking a question or sharing feedback under their own name, they are welcome to use the messaging feature to send it to the Her Generation Project account and it will be posted anonymously on their behalf.

You can also follow along on the public Facebook page or on our Instagram Account (@hergenerationproject).

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SPORTS BIZ MOM KEYS TO THE GAME:

  1. Use routines to help keep your family on track – Control what you can to limit surprises. Eliminate distractions in the morning, make your lunch the night before, pick out your clothes before you go to bed, etc. – your kids wil take comfort in knowing what to expect and you will all get out the door in a less chaotic form.
  2. Fulfill your responsibility to earn your flexibility – Life happens and we all want to work for an organization that respects our time outside of the office. Prove that your work and word is reliable before you need the flexibility and you’re much more likely to receive it.
  3. Build a support system and don’t be afraid to ask it for help – Whether it’s a spouse, grandparents, a back-up babysitter, or even your co-workers – you’re going to need some help to take care of your family every once in awhile in this business. Your toddler will undoubtedly come down with pink eye the week of your team’s big rivalry game. Make sure you have a plan with your village AND your boss to before you’re all quarantined.