What I wish I knew about exclusive pumping from the start
(This is the third of what will become quite a few posts on our unusual breastfeeding journey. So feel free to skip if it’s not your thing.)
Before I even saw Eloise, a nurse came by and taught me how to squeeze out tiny drops of colostrum. The next day, another nurse came by my hospital room, set down a huge pump, unwrapped a single set of pump parts, then told me, “Pump one side for 10 minutes, then the other for 10 minutes. Do this every 2-2.5 hours.” And left.
That was the end of my instructions on how to pump when my baby wasn’t nursing.
Thankfully, though, I had an international community of women who instantly began offering their help.
Here’s what I learned from them, and wish I’d known in the hospital:
- You can make your own pumping bra to hold the pump on your boob(s)
- Pump both sides at the same time – you get 20% more
- ASAP, get a set of hands-free pumps that are not connected to the wall
- Get multiple sets of pump parts so you can put them in the dishwasher and save yourself the time of washing them 9 times per day
- OR put your pump parts in the fridge in a plastic bag between pumps so you don’t have to wash them so often
- Limit your total pumping time to 120 minutes/day (divide 120m by how many pumping sessions)
- Frequency of pumping is more important than length of pumping
- For at least the first month or two, pump AT LEAST 9-12 times per day – this grows milk-production cells in your body
- Unless you want to decrease your milk supply, NEVER go longer than 6 hours between pumps/nursing
- Flange size is important – using the wrong size means pumping won’t work as well
- If your nipples fill the flange by width or length, you may have elastic nipples – these are fine for nursing, but need special tools if you’re pumping
- To increase your milk supply, don’t use supplements. Instead, power pump at least once a day for a few weeks (20m pumping, 10m rest, 10m pumping, 10m rest, 10m pumping)
- Read exclusivepumping.com – these women have great advice
Stuff that can be delivered to Estonia
It took me many many hours of searching the internet to find the right tools for everything above. To save you some time, here are some links to sites that will deliver in or to Estonia — all new. I am adding links relating to the relevant list items above.
- 1) Pumping bra from Mediq24.ee for 45 EUR (or make one yourself)
- 2-4) Medela Swing Maxi double pump from Mediq24.ee for 255 EUR
- OR Rent a Medela Symphony from Invaru.ee for 61 EUR/month (I am selling my leftover set of Medela Symphony pumping parts you need to buy)
- OR Buy new a set of Elvie double pumps from Amazon DE for 543 EUR
- OR Buy a new Baby Buddha double pump yourself from Amazon DE for 299 EUR
- 8) Buy lots of extra Medela bottles from Mediq24.ee fpr 13,90 EUR each
- 10) Find all kinds of different Medela flange sizes for 5 EUR each
- 11) Buy new Beaugen cushions from Amazon DE for 21 EUR that work for all pumps or buy Pumpin Pals directly from the USA for $50 (they arrived fast)
If you don’t mind used, however, because I just stopped pumping, we are selling all of our equipment.
Used items we are selling that relate to the above list:
- 2-4) My handsfree Elvie pumps with 9+ sets of pump parts + My handsfree Baby Buddha pump & 2 sets of Legendairy silicone collection cups
- 8) Lots of Medela bottles 150ml and 80ml and of course Bottle nipples for Medela bottles
- 10) My extra flanges of many different sizes for sale
- 11) Tools for Elastic nipples: My leftover beaugen cushions + My pumpin pal flanges (the colorful ones)
All the posts from our breastfeeding series so far (more to come!)
- Part 1: I pumped for 16+ months — I didn’t think I’d make it past 1 week
- Part 2: Before you commit, you’ll wanna know WHY you’re pumping
- Part 3: What I wish I knew about exclusive pumping from the start
- Part 4: Why pumping didn’t work for me at first — until I learned a secret
Sending all my strength to you moms right now,
Mallory — mom of Eloise
Eloise The Tiny Fighter 