Whether you’re needing to pump exclusively or you’re trying to build up a supply for when you go back to work, knowing the proper use of a breast pump and the handling of pumped milk is imperative. As with any way of feeding your baby, you need to find what works for you and your family. Pumping is one of the best ways to increase milk production and is a great tool to utilize during your breastfeeding journey for many reasons.
You’re tired and just want your partner or postpartum support to feed the baby so you can catch some shut eye: PUMP.
You’re going out on a date night for the first time since your baby was born and you don’t want the babysitter to feed your baby formula while you’re gone: PUMP.
You know you’re going back to work in a couple months and want to make sure you have enough milk stored in your freezer to get you through the daytime feedings while you’re away: PUMP.
I could go on and on. Pumping is the way to go if you’re planning to breastfeed but have any reason as to why you can’t physically feed your baby at the breast. How often and the duration of your pumping sessions will vary greatly depending on your needs. If you’re needing a personalized pumping schedule I highly suggest speaking to a lactation coach (like myself), or hiring a Lactation Consultant. You can also check out my blog post: How Much of a Milk Stash Do I Really Need?
How Do I Choose a Breast Pump?
Breast pumps come in all different shapes, sizes, and with many different features. You’ll need to do a bit of research to find the one that suits your needs. Here are the top electric and manual breast pumps currently on the market, in order from most expensive to least expensive:
Willow Wearable Breast Pump Generation 3
The Willow is the most expensive but it’s definitely one of my favorites. It is eligible for FSA/HSA and is now covered by some insurances. The pumps fit in your bra and are similar shape to breasts, so they can be hidden somewhat easily. It’s also very quiet. No annoying “nngch, nngch, nngch” sound. These are great for the working parent that doesn’t really have a private space in their workplace to pump. (Although your employer is required by law to provide you with a safe, clean, LOCKABLE space to pump, that’s NOT a bathroom…but that’s a story for another day. Go check out your rights here to learn more about this.) You can connect the Willow pump to an app on your phone that counts the ounces of milk as you’re pumping, times your pumping sessions, and logs everything for you. The app will help guide you through your pumping sessions and offer tips based on your previous pumping sessions to give you the optimal experience that gets better and better every time you use it. This pump is wireless, with a cord to charge it after you’re done, so you can literally pop it in your bra and go about your day.
Medela Pump In Style Advanced
This Medela pump is covered by many insurances and can be supplied by your hospital. Look into all of these options prior to having your baby so you know what you have access to. This is a medical-grade pump, meaning it’s high quality and efficient at extracting milk…however, it is louder than the majority of other pumps I’ve seen. Definitely don’t try to make a phone call while pumping with this unless you don’t care that the person on the other line knows exactly what you’re doing while you’re talking to them. With this new model that Medela came out with, the sound is definitely quieter than previous models, but not by much.
Spectra S2 Plus Electric Breast Pump
The Spectra is my favorite middle-of-the-road pump option. It’s efficient, really quiet, and reasonably priced. You may also be able to get your insurance to cover this pump as well, so definitely look into that. This is the pump I recommend for the majority of my clients because it’s the pump I’ve gotten the best feedback on from clients, friends, and other birth workers. This pump also comes with the double pumping feature so you can pump on both breasts at the same time, like the Medela and Willow.
Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump
This manual pump is great if you aren’t able to invest in an electric pump or if you’re needing a compact pump to take to work or on the go. It makes virtually no sound, is extremely easy to use, and works just as well as the electric pumps. The only downside is having to squeeze that lever over and over for 15 minutes. Heads up, it can get very tiring. But plus side! Your grip will be off the CHARTS!
Haakaa Suction Manual Breast Pump
I. Love. The. Haakaa!! (And so does every single family I know that has one.) Do yourself a favor and just get one. You will not regret it. This thing is so simple and easy to put on and works like a charm. It has SO many uses too. You can wear it on one breast while you’re feeding your baby on the other, to catch any leaking milk, then feed your baby that caught milk directly from it. You can use it for a few minutes to relieve full breasts if you went a little too long between feedings, so they aren’t rock hard when you’re trying to latch your baby. You can use it to fully drain your breasts, and you’d be surprised how quickly it works for not being electric! I’m telling you. Just get one, k? Trust.
I’ve Pumped My Milk…Now What?
Breast milk should be stored in a sealed bottle or storage bag (these are my favorites) either in the refrigerator or freezer. If you’re pumping at work, you can store the milk in the work fridge (if that’s available) or in an insulated bag with ice packs until you can get home to store it in your refrigerator.
These are the current breast milk storing guidelines from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
If you’ve given your baby a bottle of expressed breast milk and he didn’t quite finish the bottle, the remaining milk cannot be combined with any other stored milk in your fridge or freezer, and should be fed to your baby within 1-2 hours after their feeding to avoid any bacteria transfer from the baby’s mouth. Otherwise it will need to be thrown out. (Don’t cry too much. I know you worked hard to make that milk.)
Also, milk that was previously frozen and thawed cannot be re-frozen. Once frozen milk has been thawed, it must be used within 24 hours.
Alright, So How Do I Thaw and Heat Up Stored Breastmilk?
If the milk is frozen, the best way is to thaw it slowly and gently. You can do this by planning ahead and putting the frozen milk into the refrigerator overnight. This will preserve the fat content in the milk.
If you don’t have time to wait overnight for milk to thaw, you can thaw it quicker by placing the bag or bottle into a bowl with warm (not hot) water. You can also run the bag or bottle under warm running water, or use an electric bottle warmer if it has the function to thaw frozen milk.
To heat up breast milk, place the bottle or bag into a bowl with warm water or electric bottle warmer until milk is warmed. Breastmilk should never be heated in a microwave as they don’t evenly warm the milk and can create “hot spots” that can scald your baby’s mouth and throat.
After warming the bottle, give it a quick swirl or shake to mix the fat particles into the milk and ensure the warmth is distributed throughout the bottle. Keep in mind you’re heating it to BODY temperature. To test to see if the milk is too cold or hot, put a few drops of it on the underside of your wrist. If it feels like nothing, it’s at the perfect temperature. If you feel any warmth on your skin, the milk is too hot and should be left out to cool for a few minutes. Test the milk again on your wrist to make sure the bottle is at the right temperature before feeding it to your baby.
Additional Resources:
- Le Leche League – “Pumping Milk”: https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/pumping-milk/
- Le Leche League – “Storing Human Milk”: https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/storingmilk/
- Le Leche League – “Heating Human Milk”: https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/heating-human-milk/
- American Breastfeeding Medicine – “ABM Clinical Protocol #8: Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants”: https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/8-human-milk-storage-protocol-english.pdf
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – “Proper Handling and Storage of Human Milk”: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm
- Dr. Jack Newman – Breastfeeding Online: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml
[This post includes affiliate links to products that I know and love. If you visit links within my content, I may receive commissions for your purchases, however I have never received any compensation or consideration for the products I recommend.]