Hospital grade pump at work?

[jenjen]

Our local women's hospital donated a Medela Symphony for our nursing room at work. Today was my first day back and I had just planned on using my pump but it was kind of a hassle to get set up and broken down each of the 3 times I pump, plus taking my pump to and from work each day will probably get old. I do share the pumping room with one other mom and there will be at least 1 more joining us in the next month. We have a mini fridge to store milk in but the only plugs are used by the fridge and the pump, so I have to unplug the Symphony and then plug it in when I'm done (so I can't just leave my pump assembled and plugged in).

Has anyone used a symphony at work or at home? Pumping moms- do you think it'd be easier just to transport my pump parts and milk to/from work? Is this all I'd need www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000C13SXI/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1346282002&sr=8-1 ?

Any general tips for milk/pump parts storage or logistics that you've learned while pumping at work?

[pamela]

I would just use the symphony and cart your parts. I don't see the downside. It's more effective typically than something like the PISA.

[mie]

I loved the Medela Symphony! Definitely take advantage of it and just bring your pump parts with you to work. To save time, I did not wash my pump parts between pumping sessions (I just left them in my cooler).

[karinothing]

I would use the Symphony. That is awesome. I bring two sets of pump parts to work so I don't have to wash them.

[froggy76]

I would definitely use the Symphony. That sounds awesome! I just rinse my parts and put them in a ziploc bag, and keep my milk in the cooler in my pump bag. But you could also just store everything in the fridge.

[ijack]

Totally just use the symphony!

[jenjen]

Thanks ladies! I will order the symphony parts tonight so I'll have them next week. I thought it would be worth the $35 but kind of feel bad since I already spent $200 on the PISA and now I'll only use it randomly at home.

Day 1 of pumping at work was a learning experience. I didn't even think about bringing a ziploc bag for my parts since I usually just throw them in a bowl in the fridge at home. I think that would be frowned upon at work though

[Ashley&Scott]

Are you sure you need a new set of parts to use the Symphony? The tubing, shields, connectors, bottles, etc look the same to me on the website. I would think you could just bring your PISA parts from home. (unless I'm misunderstanding that you want an extra set)

I keep my parts in the fridge at work, I made a cloth bag to keep the ziploc bag in so my coworkers aren't staring at my parts.

[jenjen]

Aug 30, 2012 8:51:55 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Are you sure you need a new set of parts to use the Symphony? The tubing, shields, connectors, bottles, etc look the same to me on the website. I would think you could just bring your PISA parts from home. (unless I'm misunderstanding that you want an extra set.

I think all that is the same but there are 2 yellowish round connectors I think I need. I've looked at the pump and there's no where for the tubes to go in but the round connectors on the website show you put them on the pump and then connect the tubes there. But I do think I can use the same shields, bottles, etc.

[huskymom]

I do not wash or refrigerate my parts (or milk) while at work....BM is fine at room temp for at least 10 hours. Just keep it all in the Medela cooler.

[huskymom]

I usually go by kellymom, which is up to 10 hours, but my LC/MD says they now tell their patients even up to 24 hours, though the milk safety fridge magnet she gave me says 10 hrs room temp. I always smell it but never had issues.

[jena]

Just make sure you take your PISA with you until you know you have all the parts you need for the symphony. It'd suck to expect to use it and find that your tubing has the wrong ends.

We have hospital grade pumps at work but not that one (we have Lactina pumps I think and the tubing is different than the PISA tubing). It's awesome to not have to haul extra crap around though.