Breast pumps: do you need the bags?

[Brie]

I'm looking at getting an Ameda Purely Yours pump, which is $127 on Amazon without the bag, $187 with. Looks like it comes with a bag to carry the pump, plus a cooler and a few storage bottles. If BFing works out for us, I'll be pumping several times a day at work and bringing my pump to and from with me every day.

Is the bag worth an extra $60?

[Becca]

Well, you'll need something to carry the pump in. And I actually like the fact that my pump bag screams 'pump bag'. I found other moms to be quite accomodating when I needed space or whatever else - as soon as they saw my bag, they 'knew' and I didn't need to offer any further explanation. (though I often had to source pumping locations outside of my office, which may not be an issue for you)

I also like that the pump bag cleaned up nicely from spilled milk or whatever else.

If it was me, I would just get the bag with the pump. But if you are on a super tight budget, it certainly isn't a need.

[Saudade]

I didn't buy the one with the bag because I am a SAHM and didn't need it. When I'm out and about and needing the pump I just throw it in the diaper bag. The hospital also sent home a little bag with 2 ice packs that are meant for bottle storage and so I just use that and it's a lot smaller. I felt like $60 was a lot for a bag.

If I were working I am not sure what I would do. I think it would depend on how much "stuff" I'd be lugging with me every day. So do you want an extra bag or throw it in a bag that you already bring with you?

[froggy76]

Probably worth it. I have the PISA with a big bag and it's nice how everything fits together and the cooler and bottles stay upright in the bag.

ETA: The PISA bag is pretty big and still just barely holds everything I need to pump. So, it's not like you can just throw your pump stuff in a bag with other crap to take to work. You're going to need a dedicated bag for your pump and cooler, so you might as well buy the one that was designed specifically for the pump.

[Deleted]

I have the Medela PISA so the bag and pump are together (maybe you can take the pump out, I've never tried.). I think no matter what you are going to need a bag to transport the pump to and from work, so I'd just get the pump with the bag. It helps keep me organized bc after I clean everything after pumping I put the tubes and little bottles etc all back so it's always together and ready to go.

[Brie]

I think I'll go with the bag, then, since I will be traveling with it a decent amount. Thanks!

[oukapu]

I took my Pisa out of the bag and now carry it in a free lunch cooler bag. I didn't like disconnecting everything to put the bag away. Now, I just disconnect the power from out outlet and unhook the tubes from the bottles and zip up the bag. I can also fit the Medela cooler bag inside my new bag with the pump. The Medela pump bag seemed a little too small.

[anna7602]

Aug 12, 2012 11:13:18 GMT -5 froggy76 said:

Probably worth it. I have the PISA with a big bag and it's nice how everything fits together and the cooler and bottles stay upright in the bag.

ETA: The PISA bag is pretty big and still just barely holds everything I need to pump. So, it's not like you can just throw your pump stuff in a bag with other crap to take to work. You're going to need a dedicated bag for your pump and cooler, so you might as well buy the one that was designed specifically for the pump.

Ditto this.

And my PISA bag took a real beating in the 9 months or so that I used it, when it was specifically designed for this purpose. I can't imagine how something not designed for this would have even survived (or whether I own any bags I could have used for this purpose).

[xokell2]

I've been using the ameda purely yours and I LOVE it, much better than my medela last time around.

Only complaint is the kind of beeping noise it makes. I do not have the bag but my work has the hospital grade ameda pumps in our pumping room and all I need is the tubing and connecting bottles.

I have had to take it places so far and just toss it in my skip hop diaper bag with no problems.

[ijack]

I took my PISA out of the backpack and put it in a large canvas bag with all my pumping stuff.