LilSugar

Pumping Mamas Pump Iron

babysugar — Sat, 02 May 2009 06:00:56 -0700

I have gotten pretty good at entertaining myself while sitting through the dreadful pumping process. I've read a book, typed on my laptop and chatted with friends. Lately, I have decided I want to pump some iron while attached to the tubes so I started exercising. I put on my hands-free pumping bra and go to town working up a sweat. Start with these moves and stay tuned for my yoga tips!

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Seven Tips For Pumping Breastmilk at the Office

babysugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:00:23 -0700

Working moms who want to extend their nursing time past maternity leave will often find themselves having to pump at the office. While it is a worthwhile endeavor, it can be a tough task to add to the normal work details. A handful of items will help you pump successfully. Flip through the slideshow to see what I recommend. Source

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Tell Mommy: What Do You Do While Pumping?

babysugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:00:31 -0700

Ask most moms how much they like pumping and you'll almost always get the same answer, "I hate it!" The benefits make it worth it, but there's something about being hooked up to a machine that warrants a ticket for noise pollution that can make a mama mad. Then, add the suction and inability to move around a room and mom feels like a cow stuck in a stable only the "farmer" is Medela, Evenflo or Ameda.

In an effort to normalize the experience, I surf the net, watch television and occasionally call my mom to keep my mind off the dripping action. She knows the sound and doesn't seem to mind it. What keeps you occupied when you're pumping it up?
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PumpEase: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:00:31 -0800

If we can talk on the phone hands-free, is there any reason we shouldn't be able to pump that way? Any mom who has ever tried to relax while pumping knows it's no easy feat. Try to read a book while holding the contraption's horns up to your breasts. More likely than not, you will drop something and end up spilling some hard earned liquid gold. PumpEase ($34), a bra-like, stretchy fabric goes right over your nursing bra and has little slits to hold the pump's pieces in place, leaving your hands free to multitask.

Would you invest in one?

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me: Pumping in Public

babysugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:00:52 -0800

While nursing, I had to pump when I was away from my babe to keep my milk supply. Unfortunately, the places I pumped left much to be desired.

I often found myself extracting breast milk in airports, bathroom stalls, closets, and worst of all, cars!

At Dodger Stadium, before a concert, I had to hook up in the front seat of a rental car. Music lovers in neighboring cars puffed smoke and sipped beers as I discreetly hid my "girls" from their view.

What's the strangest place you ever pumped?
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Lil Tip: Mother's Milk to the Rescue

babysugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:00:03 -0800

Breastfeeding, like most things in life, has its ups and downs. Many nursing mothers experience a decrease in their milk supply especially working moms who pump often since pumping doesn't always provide the same strong suction that the infant does.

Whenever I felt my supply decreasing, I turned to Mother's Milk Tea to remedy the problem. While some of it might have been mental, I credit the tea for the return of my milk rivers. At $5 for a box of 16 bags, it was worth a shot and was pretty tasty.

As with most things you consume while nursing, consult your physician before drinking.

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? Pumping Prison

babysugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:00:29 -0800

Mothers who have pumped know the dreads of sitting up alone in the middle of the night to unload their liquid gold when they'd rather be in bed. While pumping is a learn as you go process, the restrictions and the time commitment it required surprised me.

I felt like a cow hooked up to my milk extracting machine and imagined cutting one of my old bras up to hold the contraptions so I could at least check e–mail or surf the net.

To see how to lighten the pumping load, read more.

Near the end of my nursing days, I ran across the Easy Expression Pumping Bra that is made just for this purpose. It costs $34 and had I known about it sooner, I would have been willing to pay even more for the freedom it allows. It gives the pumping mama the ability to go about her business using both hands. She can read a book or flip through a magazine. I am certainly going to buy one of these when I have another baby.

Pump It Up

LilSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:00:26 -0800

A friend of mine had a love-hate relationship with her breast pump. She loved that it allowed her to provide her son with breastmilk while she was out, but hated feeling like a cow every time she was hooked up to it. You'll be hard-pressed to find a woman who is fond of her device as they are usually too loud, heavy or inefficient. With 80 percent of new mothers attempting to breastfeed their lil ones, it's a wonder that there aren't more tolerable items on the market.

The First Years miPump Deluxe Double ($100) is the latest to enter the fray and billing itself as the answer to nursing mommas' demands. Weighing in 60 percent lighter than its competitors, but providing the same power as pumps twice its size, the miPump offers moms both electric and battery power. It's also very quiet, so the whole world doesn't have to know that you are pumping in the bathroom stall next door.

To see what a kit includes, read more.

Though available in three models, the Deluxe Double, the model with the most bells and whistles, comes with two BPA-free Breastflow Bottles, the only bottle system that requires suction and compression - the same motions as breastfeeding - easing the transition from breast to bottle and back again. The kit also comes with flexi-fit breast shields, bottle adapters, a cooler bag with ice packs and a rather stylish tote for carrying it all.

Things to Consider When Buying a Pump

babysugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700

A newly expectant lady often knows what to buy when it comes to the layette and crib, but when she sets out to buy a breast pump, she may not have the slightest idea what to look for in her purchase. Since many retailers do not offer breast pump returns, it behooves the mama-to-be to learn about the breast pump's purposes before charging her card. Here are a few things to consider:

Does it have a stimulation phase to help the mother's milk let down?
Is it portable? A mom on the go may prefer a light and portable pump.
Does it have hand-free capabilities? Though it's not a necessity, some moms could benefit greatly from such amenities.
Can you control the strength and speed of the suction to mimic your own child's?

To see the rest of the list, read more.

Is it hand, battery or electric operated? Some offer all of the above. For moms pumping often, an electric pump may prove to be worth the investment.
How easy is it to clean and change the parts?
Can you pump both sides at once or is it a single breast pump?
Can bottles and bags collect the milk? Moms wanting to store the milk right away may like the choice of pumping directly into a bag.

Instead of buying ahead of the delivery, many women wait until they have started breastfeeding so they can get a feel for their needs. If she is still unsure of her pump requirements, she might choose to rent a pump (either from a breast pump store or the hospital) until she can determine what she needs.

There's a Breast Pump Bandit on the Loose!

LilSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:00:29 -0700

Catch those milk thieves! Breast pumps are one of those motherhood necessities that can make a new mama cringe. The thought of spending upwards of $200 on a device she knows she will have a love/hate relationship with, is not exactly exciting, but 66 percent of LilSugar readers did invest in the pricey pump.

Police in Roseville, CA are on the lookout for two men and a woman who apparently didn't want to spend a bundle of cash and instead stole 14 breasts pumps from a children's store. According to the authorities, the bandits ran off with $14,000 worth of milk expressing devices and didn't leave a trace. One might expect such behavior for the hottest toy of the year or a desired diaper bag, but breast pumps are hardly droolworthy items. It will certainly be interesting to see where these mechanical gems turn up.