3 Steps to Simpler Pumping

I don’t know if it’s because Em is suddenly looking like a legitimate ‘big boy’, but we’ve been spending lots of time lately reflecting on his first year, thinking about what we might adjust/tweak if we were able to do it over again.

I’m pretty sure I spent roughly 90% of my time in those first crazy months either nursing, pumping or worrying about nursing and pumping (for the record the other 10% of my time was spent drinking coffee in lieu of actually sleeping). So we’ve put some thought into what we could have done to simplify things in those early days. Nursing is what it is… and every babe is certainly different. So we aren’t going to profess to be a lactation expert and make any recommendations in that area (other than saying fed is best in our opinion… and mamas, you just do you!). But on the pumping front: In the hopes that it helps some of you warriors, slugging through those hazy days right now, we thought we’d share the 3 steps to simpler pumping (that we wish we could go back in time and tell to ourselves):

1. Start Early

If we could do things over again, we’d start pumping much sooner. Em had trouble latching (a misdiagnosed tongue-tie and a few other things gave us trouble in the early days), and as a result, even after we’d settled into a solid rhythm, I was too freaked out to add a pump to the mix and mess anything up. Looking back, I’d tell me bleery-eyed self to start pumping as soon we settled into a good nursing rhythm. Even if you don’t want to bottle feed for a while, you’re going to be hella-relieved to have a milk stockpile waiting when you do!

2. Don’t Stress About Volume

I swear, in my mind every time I pumped, I was running through an equation for the estimated volume of an infant’s stomach… and I was worried every time that I felt I hadn’t pumped ‘enough’ (sadly, that’s only a very slight exaggeration). Usually this was because I was either up against a deadline to build up a stockpile of milk for a short trip away from the babe (see #1 above… start early!), or just fueled by some exhausted version of goal setting. Looking back, I needed to chill. My worrying wasn’t going to make more milk, and it probably made me lose a few extra minutes of sleep from stress (blasphemy… I know).

3. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.

Let’s face it. Pumpin’ aint easy (I’ve been waiting this whole post to say that). No matter how you slice it, you’re going to be tired, and the last thing you need is more complexity in your life. In my early days, I was talked into a pump by the nurse at the hospital, doing very little research on my own, because we were desperate to try anything that might help maintain milk supply until Em’s latch was sorted out. If I’d had time to research the decision, knowing what I do now, I’d look for the simplest, most effective pumping option.

What does that mean when we’re actually looking at pumps? If we had to do it again, we’d absolutely have bought the Philips Avent Comfort Double Electric Breast Pump. Why?

• Choosing a pump that’s going to be compatible with your bottle system is a lifesaver. We love Philips Avent bottles – they seem to be accepted by the widest number of babes we know, and they were a hit with Em. So having a Philips Avent pump that is compatible with the bottles, and pumps directly into them is where it’s at. No messing around with extra ‘pump bottles’ that need to be washed, but that the baby won’t drink out of.
• The Philips Avent pump has the fewest number of parts. Fewer number of parts = fewer parts to be washed in your weary state. Enough said.

• You can sit comfortably (back on the couch or in your bed) and still pump easily with this pump. No need to prop yourself up uncomfortably and lean forward.

• No cold, pinch-y plastic cups here – the Philips Avent pump has a soft, gel cover that fits against your boob making it feel warm and comfy. Seems like a small thing, but when your boobs are en fuego already, you’ll thank me.

Here’s the gist of this reflection – no matter where you are in your journey, cut yourself some slack. There’s no perfect way to raise a babe, and if you’re reading this, we’re with you mama. You’re killing it (the motherhood thing… not the baby. Breathe.), and you’ve got this!

Oh and one more (amazing) thing for our Canadian loves – we’ve teamed up with Philips to make your life even easier, by giving away 2 Electric Bottle Sterilizer Gift Sets! No matter if you’re breast or bottle feeding, these bad boys fall firmly in my ‘make life as simple as possible’ theme. Check out the details and enter below!

xo

Philips Avent Sterilizer Gift Set
Giveaway

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Note: I’m part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Philips Avent and I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. As always though, all opinions are our own, and Em would never lead you astray – he always wants you to find the very best products!