At some point in the breastfeeding journey, every mother needs to pump milk. It could be due to return to work or in order to take a break and handover baby feeding duties to another caretaker. For many new mothers expressing milk seems like a big and complicated task. But it really isn’t, once you know the basics and invest in good quality breastmilk pumping supplies, it boils down to having a system in place.
Return to work should not be looked at as a time to stop breastfeeding. Especially if it is going well for you, the last thing you want is to stop this beautiful relationship over fears of building a milk stash, and wondering how to make it work.
These days there are many exclusive breastfeeding working mama success stories to learn from on the internet.
All you need is preparation, a few systems in place and support from family.
To help you prepare for your transition to work while continuing to breastfeed your baby, there are many online resources like pumping classes for breastfeeders. One such online course, The Ultimate Back to Work Pumping Class is a simple, step by step program with 13 short easy to watch lessons. The course covers;
Strategies to maximize milk expression
Building a freezer stash
How to get baby to take a bottle with ease
Tips to ease your transition back to work and much more
If you are serious about continuing to breastfeed while working this course is for you.
Now, let us look at some of the pumping essentials you need to get started
Breastmilk Pumping Supplies Every Mom Needs
- Breast Pump
There are two types of breast pumps you can choose from – manual and electric.
The manual breast pump is ideal for expressing milk occasionally and requires more time. If you are looking for a more regular pumping tool, the electric breast pump is more efficient at expressing milk and doing so quickly.
I like the Medela Mini Electric Breast Pump, it can be quickly assembled, doesn’t make too loud a sound when expressing and is easy to clean with a compact design.
Many working mothers also prefer the Medela’s Swing Maxi Double Breast Pump, simply because it saves time and expresses more milk than a single breast pump.
2. Bottles
I personally liked the Phillips Avent Natural Feeding bottles. The nipple is soft enough for the baby to drink from and promotes a more natural latch. It is designed with a twin valve in order to reduce colic and discomfort by venting air into the bottle and not baby’s tummy. The wide bottle neck makes filling and cleaning easy. Its quick to assemble and is made of BPA free material.
3. Breastmilk Storage Bags
You need to build a stash of milk when returning to work. These Medela Pump and Save Breastmilk storage bags are great because they are pre-sterilized, compact and you can pump milk directly into the bag and store. They have an easy to close zipper top and a no-spill stand-up bottom.
4. Breast Pads
An essential when you need to step out of the house. The material should be breathable and lock away any moisture preventing any accidental leaks. I prefer reusable breast pads compared to disposable ones since its more breathable and also the more eco-friendly option.
5. Pumping Bra
A pumping bra is a must if you are planning on pumping on a daily basis. The bra needs to be comfortable enough to wear all day.
6. Sterilizer
I love the Philips Avent Electric Steam Sterilizer. It can hold bottles and other pumping accessories. Its adjustable size is an amazing feature, that allows to use it for sterilizing both bottles, pumping accessories and parts. It’s quick and has a 6-minute automatic shut off cycle. Very easy to use and clean.
7. Nursing Cover
Some mommas like using a nursing cover when expressing milk. A nursing cover that also doubles up as a stole is personally my favorite.
More breastfeeding related reading
- Tips for successful breastfeeding
- Tips to increase milk supply naturally
- Soup recipes for breastfeeding moms
- Snack ideas for breastfeeding moms
I hope this post helped you with listing out the breast pumping supplies you will need. Here is wishing you a successful transition back to work as you continue on your breastfeeding goals.
This blog post contains affiliate links. These links provide me with a small percentage commission but don’t cost you anything extra.
I love this post! It’s bringing back memories for our family…
We had a really rough time breastfeeding at the beginning, so I was an exclusively pumping mama. At about 4 months is when my son decided to latch. I completely agree with all of those tips and things stated above. 🙂
Wow, you are such an inspiration. I know how hard it is to be exclusively pumping milk. You did good mama, this is an encouragement for new moms. With the right tools and support systems, one can be a pumping milk and going back to work too.