LilSugar

Single or Double: How Did You Pump?

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:31:07 PDT

Pumping was never an activity I excitedly jumped into. It was more of a necessity that I tried to complete as quickly as possible. In fact, I kept mental track of how quickly I could empty each breast and raced against my previous times each time I sat down to do the task. That said, I learned to appreciate a good, efficient pump that not only got the job done, but did so comfortably.

So I was excited when Tommee Tippee announced the introduction of their breast pumps in the US. I'm a fan of their bottles and sippy cups, and thought their pumps would incorporate their best features. And they did. The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Single Electric Breast Pump System ($150) has soft silicone shields (just like the nipples on their bottles) that are comfortable, and don't dig in like plastic versions. The shields are ribbed to mimic a baby's hand massage, and they attach directly to the bottles for convenience sake. Best of all, they come with two two-ounce "protection pods" that fit right into the bottles – meaning if you can't express enough milk to fill the bottle, the little pods can be removed for freezing.

But what struck me as odd, was that Tommee Tippee has only introduced single pumps, both manual and electric. As someone who tried to get in and out of a session fast, I wanted to express on both sides at the same time. Did you?

Put the Pedal to the Metal and Pump: Have You Done It?

LilSugar — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 07:00:05 PDT

A friend recently told me about the ultimate mom multitask - pumping while driving! She was in a bind after a doctor's appointment ran late so she had to hop in her car and hook up. Using a travel pump and bottle attachments, she headed home while making dinner for her son. Have you expressed milk in transit?

Expert's Pumping Tips For Efficient Milk Expression

babysugar — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:05 PDT

Lots of moms are fond of nursing, but it's hard to find a woman who loves to pump. We asked Gina Ciagne, a certified lactation counselor and director of breastfeeding and consumer relations at Lansinoh Laboratories for advice on cutting down a mother's pump time.

Change the settings throughout the day. Baby's feed differently throughout the day and the breast adjusts to the lil one's demand. A pump with adjustable settings, like the Affinity ($160), allows mama to mimic the tot's nursing rhythms.
Massage the breast. "Loosening up beforehand, and during pumping, can help guide the milk down a little bit. "When nursing, mom may feel the baby put her hand on the breast, almost feel like pinching. The baby is sending sensory signals to mom’s breast to let the milk down. An extra little massage may help with stimulation."
Double pump. It may sound obvious, but double pumping allows mama to capture every last drop of milk that her body lets down.
Warm it up. A baby's mouth is warm – 98.6 degrees to be exact – so warming up the flanges will help speed up the let down process.
Keep spare parts. A spare set of parts at work (or wherever you plan to do your pumping) will alleviate stress and worry when some pieces are inevitably left at home.

Pumping Tips For Maintaining Milk Supply on the Work Clock

babysugar — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:00:18 PDT

Working moms who breastfeed have to keep their milk supply while they are on the corporate clock. The health care reform bill requires employers to provide nursing moms with space and time to pump, so we asked Gina Ciagne, a certified lactation counselor and director of breastfeeding and consumer relations at Lansinoh Laboratories, for some tips!

Nurse as often as possible before returning to work. According to Ciagne, "Any time that (mom) and the baby are together, put baby on the breast to establish supply."
Get a "very good, strong, effective double pump." It will help stimulate both breasts simultaneously, signaling that it is time to let the milk down, and ultimately encourage the body to produce more milk for the next session.
Learn how to use the pump prior to returning to work. Become familiar with the various parts (of the pump) so there are no surprises during a blocked-out period of pumping time.
Build up a freezer stash before returning to work. Milk supplies often dip once a mama returns to work. Knowing that there is a healthy supply in the freezer will reduce stress, which could further impact milk production.
Mimic the baby's feeding schedule. If the baby feeds every two hours, mom should be pumping every two hours. While many workplace environments are not conducive to such frequent pumping, according to Ciagne, even "if she can only get five minutes of pumping in, it's better than skipping a session. If she skips a pumping session, it says to her body 'don’t make the milk next time.'"

Exclusive Pumping Gains Popularity

babysugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:30:47 PDT

Breast, bottle, or both? New moms are faced with a barrage of questions immediately following their lil one's birth, but few receive as much attention as how they will feed their wee one. While doctors and lactation consultants praise the benefits of breastfeeding, some mamas just cannot fathom putting their newborns to their breast. Rather than turn to formula, a growing number of women is relying exclusively on their breast pumps to nourish their tots.

Though there are no statistics to quantify the growing number of bottled breast milk-fed babies, anecdotal evidence suggests that many women choose to rely on the pump due to early latching issues, uneasiness with the concept of nursing and discomfort with potential public feeding sessions. Though the babies receive all of the health benefits of breastmilk (and allow moms to see just how much their wee ones are ingesting), experts worry that mums will not reap the benefits that a nursing mom sees.

Did you exclusively pump for your child?

Pumping Mamas Pump Iron

babysugar — Sat, 02 May 2009 06:00:56 PDT

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!

Seven Tips For Pumping Breastmilk at the Office

babysugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:00:23 PDT

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.

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Tell Mommy: What Do You Do While Pumping?

babysugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:00:31 PDT

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 PST

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 PST

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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