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.  

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.
  • Breast Shields
  • Breast Shield Connectors
  • Valves + Membranes
  • Tubing
  • 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.

• 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!