XP--Pumping Help!!

terpmomma2013

It's my first week back at work, and I discovered I forgot the stupid silicone inserts for my Ameda pump on the new stupid bottle drying rack. I have to give a talk at 11, but Babies R Us doesn't open until 10. So, there's no way I can run to the store before the talk. I live 30 miles from home, which is an 1.25 hr. commute with traffic. Please--any help or advice! Can I MacGyver this pump somehow???

SummerOH

Ugh, the breastfeeding WM's worst nightmare!  I have the same pump.  Unfortunately, I don't think there's much you can do to get it working.  Are you close to a Target, Wal-Mart, etc.?  If you are, then run over and pick up a hand pump (highly recommend the Medela Harmony).  I'm able to get the same amount of milk with my manual, it just takes a bit longer.

 

I have an "emergency kit" I made that I stash in my car.  It has a manual pump, bottles, and some milk freezer bags.  I also bought a second set of tubing, caps, diaphragms, and valves and keep them in the bag's zipper pocket in case a part ever needs replaced at work.  Won't help you now, but maybe it will avoid future headaches!

terpmomma2013

Good advice for avoiding future headaches. Guess who will be shopping online tonight?

 The stupid thing is that I was worried this morning that I couldn't find the right projector adaptor for my laptop. I'm clearly still adjusting to working mom mode. Must remember that pump parts are more important than laptop parts because all of the dudes I work with have laptop parts but none of them have pump parts.  

shannm

Do you need the silicone inserts for it to get suction?

My Avent had silicone inserts in the flanges but I never used them. 

litzo27

Do you mean the inserts which go in the flanges? You should be able to pump without them just adjust the suction to be a little less. If you mean the little dooheekies  through which the milk drips then yes no pumping for you. I did hand-express into an empty coffee cup once in an emergency.

ilanat

I would go to the store after your talk and pump later than usual, for today, so that you don't get engorged.  Since you can't sterilize the new parts, you might unfortunately have to pump and dump this time.  Perhaps you could call customer service for Ameda and ask them about that aspect.  I used Medela and their customer service would help with that sort of question.  One thing I used to do when I pumped religiously for one year, including three times a day at work during the height, was that I had a ritual packing routine to avoid "forgetting" any parts.  I had three spare-part kits that I took to work and packed each session's worth of parts in its own plastic bag.  I would count that I had three bags, with two items (one for each breast) of each thing I needed.  I would also pack the stuff in the same order each day, to make it part of my muscle memory.