Pump Options

SpartanCat · December 2023

Have we talked about pumps here yet? I can't figure out how to search this forum #dinosaur

I am planning to exclusively pump again. I still have my Medela Pump in Style from last time and am debating what to get this time. The Spectra seems intimidating to me with too many options for pumping settings. Plus it's been a long time and the only thing I remember is turning it on and going for it until I was empty 😬

I can get the Medela PIS max flow or Spectra S2. I've noticed that you can get flanges to convert from the spectra things to the Medela bottles so that will help. It sounds like the spectra has all one piece for the flange and it makes it hard to get in and out of the pumping bra? I work from home so I don't really care about portability.

Any thoughts or suggestions? It's next on my to do list and I really want to check it off 😂

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

First baby I had a Medela pump in style and I thought I liked it fine. Second time I decided to try a spectra and dude. I LOVED it. There are some handy charts if you want to play around with settings for maximum output but you don’t have to do that. You can just stick with the factory settings. Maymom on Amazon had a lot of great adaptors to be able to use medela accessories for the spectra. I thought about getting a hands free pump this time but I decided to just get another of the same model I got last time.

SpartanCat · December 2023

@ceclarlinetlo what was different about it that made you love it more?

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

It’s hard to describe unless you see it in action but the suction mechanism is totally different than the medela. Instead of one long suck it’s like multiple short sucks. Idk what difference it makes but it emptied me faster.

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

Also I bought this batter pack so I didn’t have to be stuck to an outlet. Talentcell Rechargeable 12V 6000mAh/5V 12000mAh DC Output Lithium ion Battery Pack for LED Strip and CCTV Camera, Portable Li-ion Power Bank with Charger, Black https://a.co/d/8dTyNUo

SpartanCat · December 2023

@ceclarlinetlo thanks

cioccolata16 · December 2023

Anyone used a manual pump? I’m planning to primarily breastfeed, but hoping my husband can take on some bottle feeds starting at six weeks. I bought a Dr Brown’s manual pump (since we also got the bottles) and also a haaka lady bug. Keen to hear anyone’s experience

kmw611 · December 2023

I had the spectra s1 with ds1 when I was still working and loved it. I feel like it emptied me really quickly and not being tied to an outlet was really nice. I didn’t have an issue with getting the flanges into a pumping bra. I had got the s1 again with ds2 and barely used it since I wasn’t working anymore. I still have it packed away so as long as it still works well im just going to use that again when i need to pump.

Im hoping to get a wearable pump this time. I had such an oversupply with ds2 that if i had pumped vs just using the Haakaa I probably could have fed a whole other baby😂 hoping to donate this time.

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

@cioccolata16 I have used a manual pump. I could get a comparable amount out using it, but my hands would get tired. I also used the older style of haakaa im glad to see they have the ladybug style because my one complaint was that I used it to collect the side baby wasn’t nursing from and once baby starts what I call “gymnurstics” its really easy to dislodge it and make a mess. Since the lady bug can fit in a bra that’s great. I’m going to try the Boon version of the lady bug because it comes with 2 for the price of one haakaa. We’ll see how good it does.

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

This feels like a good place to drop this resource. There are tons of great posts for practically any question you could have about pumping or nursing.

https://kellymom.com/category/bf/

farm_mama · December 2023

cioccolata16 said:

Anyone used a manual pump? I’m planning to primarily breastfeed, but hoping my husband can take on some bottle feeds starting at six weeks. I bought a Dr Brown’s manual pump (since we also got the bottles) and also a haaka lady bug. Keen to hear anyone’s experience

Yes. I don't have health insurance and I am not planning on spending money on a pump. With my last I only used a manual pump when needed (which wasn't much.) This time I am planning to use a haaka and a simple manual pump for just in case, but for the most part I won't pump.

I was stil practicing law with my first two so I used a pump, but I hated it. My body doesn't respond well to pumping. I had constant problems with people not giving me privacy to pump, meetings running long, etc. And to top it all off DD2 firmly refused a bottle. It never got better!

alexxajams · December 2023

I’m planning to get the spectra if that’s an option for me to order. I have the medela from previously, liked it but I felt the spectra had a a stronger suction for big boobs lol. I had a friend lend me hers. I’m also planning on getting a manual as well because that helped a lot when I was breastfeeding

hedgepig · December 2023

My insurance only gave me one option the first time around.... a Hygeia I think? I only ever tried to use it once and didn't like it. Now I have a couple of Pump in Styles that were given to me second hand - I guess I should check them out and order some replacement parts? With my other kids I EBF, and plan to do the same this time, but I am not sure if I may need some other options because it's twins and they may come early?
I have used a Phillips Avent hand pump which worked well, and a Haaka pump which worked great. I'll be looking into a Ladybug because like @ceclarlinetlo I have knocked the Haaka off and lose whole bottles before too 😭
My problem is twofold -
1) with both kids I introduced a bottle early on and it worked, but I didn't keep up with it, so by the time they were 3 or 4 months and I wanted them to take a bottle so I could go do things/go back to work, they wouldn't take them anymore. So neither kid would take a bottle. Don't be like me, and make sure you keep offering a bottle!
2) I think my milk has high lipase, which makes it taste bad after being stored for a while. So my whole freezer stash with both kids wound up getting thrown out because they wouldn't drink it.
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/

night_nurse · December 2023

@SpartanCat the spectra also incorporates some vibration. Most people respond really well to that and find they empty faster. I EPd with the spectra s1 with my first before getting him back to breast and loved that it had a light and timer and that it held it’s settings for the next pump.

@cioccolata16 The haaka or a similar passive pump will be your best friend. I collected so much milk passively the first few weeks if nursing using the haaka. Especially first thing in the morning when prolactin levels are high. If dad gives baby a bottle just make sure you express milk in some way in place of that feeding.

@kmw611 I loved my WillowGo with my last baby. Would parallel pump with a pump on opposite breast while baby nurse and collected a lot of milk that way. Was so nice to be able yo move around and even pump in public and at work while doing patient care.

@hedgepig not all babies refuse high lipase milk. Maybe your twins will drink it! You can also scold it before freezing, but it’s a lot of work especially if you’re pumping a large amount.

night_nurse · December 2023

I love all things breastfeeding. In the process of getting my CLC with next step being IBCLC.

I exclusively used the Spectra S1 with my first 6 yrs ago and loved it! It really is the most reliable breast pump out there. I easily ordered it through insurance using the website Aeroflow. Look into them. They make it so easy.

With my 2nd I utilized the Haaka early in and collected a lot of milk that way. I used the hairband hack around my bra strap to keep baby from knocking it off. I then switched to pumping with Spectra once a day to build a small stash before returning to work. Once back at work i used both the Spectra and the WillowGo wearables and ended up moving to exclusively the WillowGos around 6 months pp as my let downs just responded better to them.

That being said, Im planning on using the Pumpables Genie Advanced as my main pump this time and will use my WillowGos as well for as long as they last. I like that the Pumpables pump comes with silicone lined flanges- they call it their liquid shield kit. I have very elastic tissue and silicone inserts ir flanges are so much more comfortable for me.

And whatever you do- LUBE YOUR BOOB AND FLANGE before pumping. You’ll thank me later.

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

@night_nurse what do you recommend using for lube for the flanges?

night_nurse · December 2023

@ceclarlinetlo nipple cream, lanolin, and coconut oil work really well. I used Legendairy Milk’s pump spray at work last time as it was less messy and portable and i loved it

dinomeetsjedi · December 2023

@ceclarlinetlo I used coconut oil and it worked great! I didn't start using it until like 8 months into my exclusively pumping journey and I wish I had started using it sooner because it made everything a lot more comfortable.

I exclusively pumped for my first for 14 months and I used the Spectra S1 and I really like it. I ordered it for this pregnancy as well because my first Spectra was starting to get tired toward the end. I also used the Medela hospital pump when my daughter was in the NICU and some people really love it but I preferred my spectra. I never was able to get a hand pump to empty me, but my assumption was just that I had such strong suction for so long before I ever tried the hand pump that my boobs were just kind of desensitized. There were definitely times a hand pump would have been more convenient to use. I am hoping to be able to breastfeed this time so I also plan to use the haaka and Ladybugs to catch the leaking on the other side and I am hoping to build some of a stash that way. I had such a big oversupply last time that I am afraid to pump before I regulate/go back to work because I don't want to deal with too much oversupply.

I second what @night_nurse said, and also if you plan to pump more than occasionally, get fitted properly for flanges! Most people are smaller than the standard 24mm or 28mm flanges that come with your pumps and it makes a big difference for comfort and output. Also be aware your size can change throughout your journey!

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

@dinomeetsjedi I was a major over producer with my first and a slight over producer with my second. So you might have a different experience this time too

cmill828 · December 2023

I just ordered the Spectra s2 through insurance and I'm super excited! Question for moms who've done this before- is a nursing bra needed for pumping? I've looked at pictures of them being used while wearing a nursing bra and it looks like more of a hassle vs just taking/lifting the bra or being topless. Am I missing something? lol

dinomeetsjedi · December 2023

@cmill828 it's a pain in the butt to hold the flanges for 20+ minutes while you're pumping and it hurts your back after awhile. They make pumping bras and if you're going to pump more than occasionally I would definitely recommend. I hated actually wearing pumping bras for anything other than pumping because my nipples would sneak out the holes and it was uncomfortable for me so I would wear a regular nursing bra and just pull down both sides and put on a strapless pumping bra over the top every time I pumped. It worked for me, but you could definitely just pull up your bra and hold them if you wanted to. I just used something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Wishes-Signature-Pumping-Patented/dp/B004S8MGHU/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=pumping+bra&qid=1703195371&sr=8-7 but there are lots of options.

cmill828 · December 2023

@dinomeetsjedi ahh, I see. I was totally assuming the suction would just make them adhere to my boobs. Thank you!

halfanewt · December 2023

100% recommend the freemie cups. Compatible with spectra, tuck inside a regular/sports bra, and everything is just a little more contained.

Excited to try out the Haaka ladybug. Didn’t spill many, but when I did…oof.

SpartanCat · December 2023

@cmill828 I just used a nursing tank most of the time. I'd snuggle bebe on my chest and do one boob at a time until I was done. Toward the end of my maternity leave, my Medela would keep him awake from the noise and I finally caved and bought a pumping bra. Far more convenient for real.

ceclarlinetlo · December 2023

@cmill828 another vote for a pumping bra! I splurged on some dairy fairy pumping/nursing bras with my first 7 years ago and they are still in great shape to use now on baby 3. I nursed DS1 for 13 months and DS2 for over 2 years.

cmill828 · December 2023

Thank you for the info, mamas! I really had it in my head that they would just stick to my boobs from suction lol. I added a strapless and regular pumping bra to my registry.

kmw611 · December 2023

@halfanewt thanks for the tip! Adding the freeme cups to my list!

@cmill828 I thought the same thing with my first until my coworker told me about the simple wishes hands free strapless pumping bra. She held her flanges on the entire first year she pumped with her DD and wanted to warn me in case I didn’t know😂 it worked perfectly to just pop on over my nursing rank or bra when I was pumping for ds1.

k_simmons · January 2024

I never used a pumping bra and i pumped quite a bit! ESP with my twins. If i wasn’t nursing a babe i was pumping, you don’t need a nursing bra to pump exclusively although i could see how it’d be helpful.

@hedgepig i just saw something on tiktok that was like organic vanilla drops that you use for bottles of BM if you have high lipase and it makes it taste normal! I heard tons of good things about it, you may google and see what it’s all about!

Also before tossing, you can donate!! There’s tons of milk banks and Facebook groups that have moms in need! Orrrr keeping in syringes for sickness - ear infections, eye infections, skin rashes/ little cuts and then also milk baths!! 😊 tons of BM friendly things besides ingesting.(which I’m sure you know, but just giving some other ideas)

I’ve even seen using it in homemade soap for babes with eczema!

I know how much work can go into pumping and how sad it is to spill milk, much less have to toss it.

I love the spectra pumps! I’ve had every medela and none have ever cleared me the way my spectra has! I just got a new one for this babe! It looks intimidating but it’s actually super simple. Lots of parts can transfer to the spectra! I always Amazon prime extra pump parts before babe is even here to ensure i have enough If anything breaks. Or call insurance because if they pay for your pump they usually will also cover pump parts if they break, as well as milk bags! (Just depends on your coverage, but worth checking to see!!) i also get a car charger and that is always a game changer for me 😆 being able to pump on the go even when out is so handy!!!

I’ve pumped literally everywhere and it’s nice to be able to just pump in my car as well instead of having to look for a specific place / outlet.

knottie6f7c77788537c1a3 · February 2024

I used a manual pump with my last while ebf. I liked it and as she got older I liked how I didn’t have to remove myself from the wall/big pump if she needed something.

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