If you pumped at work (or still do)

[shortstax]

What all did you need to take with you on a daily basis?

I'll be taking my PISA and pump parts each day. We have a lactation room (basically a nice chair and a sink.) Any advice on what you took each day? I want to make sure I account for everything I'll need.

Another question - through insurance I got the PISA but without any tote bag. Buying the official Medela tote bag seems like a waste of money. Any recs for a functional and mildly cute (or just not hideous) tote that would work well?

Eta - i EP, so the pump will need to go to/from work each day (if that matters.)

[curbsideprophet]

I put all my stuff in a big backpack. I leave the pump and some of the accessories at work. I transport bottles in a cooler bag and the pump parts every day. I do not have access to a sink (I suppose I could use the break room sink, but that is not worth it to me).

[cherry1111]

I took a ziplock bag to put my pump parts in between pumping sessions so I could throw them in the fridge and not have to clean each time.

[tealblue]

Our work provided a hospital grade pump, so I didn't need to take a pump. 1 set of pump parts in a zip lock bag, 3 or 4 bottles... depending on how many times I was pumping, the medela cooler bag, something to read or my phone to play on.


When I got in a good groove, I only pumped 2 times at work - this was the process. Pump into bottles A & B. Pour all milk into bottle A (I had an 8 or 9 oz bottle when I produced a lot of milk and would use that for my super boobs first pump). Put parts into ziplock bag, store milk & parts in provided mini fridge. 2nd Pump - Pump into bottle B (used from the first pump, but now empty) & new bottle C.

Keep some extra freezer bags in your pump bag or in your desk. Also, keep an extra set of pump parts at work unless you are near a store if you forgot them at home that morning.

Pack EVERYTHING you can the night before for you and baby. That way you just grab and go.

[huskymom]

I bring pump parts, bottles and caps, the pump, my power cord, an ice pack and my pumping bra back and forth. Definitely have spare parts and bottle caps at work! And a few freezer bags in case you have a overproduction day. I bring 3 bottles bc I only pump twice. The only thing I've forgotten this time around is my actual pump though, so I now own a manual too. . I forgot caps twice with my first.

I bring two small cooler bags (we have a mini fridge and 2-3 of us pumping, so little space) - I leave my parts in one and my milk in the other and store in the fridge between sessions.

[bowies]

I bring:
My pump
Tubing
Pump parts in a labeled Baggie
Hands free bra
Burp cloth
Magazine
Nipple cream
Breast pads
Medela Quick Clean wipes (just in case)

All of this goes into a tote bag I got free with purchase somewhere.

I carry my Medela cooler bag separately with empty bottles and a cool pack inside.

I don't have an extra set of pump parts but I do have a manual pump I keep at work just in case. I don't have an office with a door so I'm not going to leave my $$$ pump overnight.

[Deleted]

I start work next week, here's my list/tentative plan (yes, I am an over-thinker).

Daily list:
Cooler bag w/ empty bottles, ice packs, lids
Parts in a mesh bag
Pump/Tubes

Weekly:
2-3 cloths (to have something to set parts on, etc)
Clean hands-free bra

Stocked in bag/at work:
Box of ziplock bags
Quick clean wipes + small pair of scissors to cut them in half (they are HUGE)
Lanolin
Nursing pads

Plan:
Bring pump + daily stuff to work, after first pump, place parts in ziplock bag and put in the fridge
After last pump, wipe parts with quick clean cloth and put in the mesh bag to take home
Once home, sterilize the parts and air dry, pack up previous days parts into mesh bag

We'll see how it works!

[bowies]

@sessalee You don't need to sterilize your parts every night. You will drive yourself nuts. All you need to do is wash them with non-antibacterial dish soap, hot water, and a bottle brush.

[VillainV]

I used an LLBean zip-top tote bag. The Medela bag was crap.

I took:

- Lunch cooler
-- 4 empty bottles
-- two ice packs
-- gallon-size ziplock Baggie with pump parts and a folded paper towel

- Pump
- Power adapter
- burp cloth
- extra membranes
- milk collection bags
- book

The tote bag still had room for my lunch, iPad, and some work files.

[linz]

I leave my pump at work bc I have 2 but before that I used a 31 bag. I have a 31 lunch cooler that I put bottles, lids, and pump parts with ziplock bag in. Make sure you have plenty of bottles and lids. I also have 2 sets of parts so I can pack my bag the night before.

Oh and I have 2 hands free bras and keep one at work.

[linz]

Apr 27, 2015 19:59:42 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

I start work next week, here's my list/tentative plan (yes, I am an over-thinker).

Daily list:
Cooler bag w/ empty bottles, ice packs, lids
Parts in a mesh bag
Pump/Tubes

Weekly:
2-3 cloths (to have something to set parts on, etc)
Clean hands-free bra

Stocked in bag/at work:
Box of ziplock bags
Quick clean wipes + small pair of scissors to cut them in half (they are HUGE)
Lanolin
Nursing pads

Plan:
Bring pump + daily stuff to work, after first pump, place parts in ziplock bag and put in the fridge
After last pump, wipe parts with quick clean cloth and put in the mesh bag to take home
Once home, sterilize the parts and air dry, pack up previous days parts into mesh bag

We'll see how it works!

I never wipe my parts. Just toss in fridge and clean once a day at home. I don't even rinse them. I also don't wash my hands free bra often. And I used a ton of lanolin in the beginning but around 3 months didn't need it anymore.

[jackie011]

Remember snacks!

[huskymom]

I do not sterilize or wash parts by hand besides the first time. I highly recommend having 3 sets of pump parts and a dishwasher basket if you run your dishwasher every other night like we do.

[Deleted]

Apr 27, 2015 20:06:26 GMT -5 bowies said:

@sessalee You don't need to sterilize your parts every night. You will drive yourself nuts. All you need to do is wash them with non-antibacterial dish soap, hot water, and a bottle brush.

I don't? Really?!

I LOVE YOU  (heart)

[ewall]

I use a Vera Bradley bag. The Miller bag, but I think it has been discontinued. Anyway, any bag with lots of side pockets would work well.

I keep an extension cord in my pump bag to give me a little longer leash, lol.

A towel to catch drips. Or the Medela quick clean wipes. I stuff one of those in the end of the shield, tilt shield forward while removing from nipple, and voila! no drips!

[ewall]

@sessalee skip the mesh bag and just put your parts in a clean Ziploc to tote to work. Then use that same bag to store in fridge and bring used parts home.

[linz]

Apr 27, 2015 20:14:12 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

Apr 27, 2015 20:06:26 GMT -5 bowies said:

@sessalee You don't need to sterilize your parts every night. You will drive yourself nuts. All you need to do is wash them with non-antibacterial dish soap, hot water, and a bottle brush.

I don't? Really?!

I LOVE YOU  (heart)

When my kids were in the nicu I washed after EVERY pump session. 8 timed a day. Then I heard about the ziplock bag. Heaven!

[Deleted]

Apr 27, 2015 20:17:15 GMT -5 ewall said:

@sessalee skip the mesh bag and just put your parts in a clean Ziploc to tote to work. Then use that same bag to store in fridge and bring used parts home.

I kind of like the mesh bag, that was more of a personal preference thing. But thank you.

[badtzmaru22]

Everyone get the Medela no scrub breastmilk soap. Do it!!

[Deleted]

Apr 27, 2015 20:06:26 GMT -5 bowies said:

@sessalee You don't need to sterilize your parts every night. You will drive yourself nuts. All you need to do is wash them with non-antibacterial dish soap, hot water, and a bottle brush.

I sterilize my parts at home every day in those microwave bags--it takes 2 minutes. Really not a big deal.

[jewel]

I left at work:
Pump
Hands-free bra
Pump wipes - I had to wipe mine down after use, or the milk would clog up the parts
Nipple cream
Breast pads
Roll of paper towels - to set parts out on while I was setting up/taking down
1 complete set of flanges, valves, and bottles - in case I forgot my regular set

I took to and from daily:
Regular pump parts - flanges, valves, bottles, etc.
Plastic bag to store parts between use
Cooler/large lunch tote with ice packs
Reusable heating pads - really help with let-down and avoiding clogs

[shortstax]

Thanks for all the suggestions and descriptions of the logistics of it all

[pinotgrig]

My pisa came with the tote bag, cooler, ice pack, and 4 bottles. So I use that, tubing, and flanges. The quick clean wipes are awesome and I prefer them to rinsing/washing during the day (unless you plan on drying them afterwards - wet flanges are a mess). I also carry a burp cloth that stays in my lap while I pump to catch drips.

[sillygoosegirl]

I leave my pump at work. If I EPed, I think I would invest in a second pump. Or try to get your employer to invest in a shared hospital grade pump.

I keep my pump parts in a glass Tupperware in the fridge at work. I wash them at work and sterilize in the microwave in the Tupperware every few days.

I always keep spare bottles at work, and try to remember to bring in a week's worth of bottles on Monday. I use 4 hair bands rather than a pumping bra.

The only thing I bring every day is the ice pack and cooler. And even that I sometimes forget, so I keep a baby bottle in the freezer at work as a backup.

[sunshine608]

I bought a cheap pump bag from a consignment shop. It was an evenflo pump bag but I made it work. Groupon and Zulilly also offer deals on the pump bags in the $30-40 range which is worth it because it comes with some parts.

I take a lunchbox, hands free bra, burp cloth, microwave gel heating pad (sometimes this helps with my let down), breast pads, extra bags in case I forget bottles, extra bottle caps, a cover ( i've had to pump in the car), medela wipes, sterilizer bag I've never used and then a million empty ziploc bags. I keep the parts in the ziplog in the morning and then I use one to hold the used stuff in the fridge. I also keep spare parts, tubing and bottles in my desk.

I wish I could have left a pump a work. I always feel like a bag lady.

[smock]

I used to tote my pump, pump parts, bottles, cooler bag, etc. to work every day, and then I got so sick of carting all that around (I walk to work) that I switched around 8 mo pp to just taking my manual pump, bottles, and the cooler bag. Much easier! (but I don't get quite as much milk, and it was hard figuring out how to manually pump and eat in 15 minutes on my busiest days).

[pescalita]

I had a super old PIS tote. I had my parts, an extra set of tubes, bags and a sharpie in the tote. I brought Avent bottles so I could fill as needed for the next day rather than filling bags and then filling bottles at home. So in the beginning I had a little insulated lunch bag for the bottles, and then later on when it was only one or two I could fit them in the tote.

I kept a spare set of parts in my car in case I forgot something or something wasn't working during the day.