Exclusive pumping or "EPing" is HARD! Not only do you have to tend to baby for bottle feedings, but you have to squeeze in pumping sessions in your already tired and tight schedule. I'm 4 weeks postpartum and have been exclusively pumping as a first timer for 3 weeks. I'm in no way an expert on the stuff, but having already crammed in over 175 pumping sessions, I feel that my breast pump and I are well acquainted.
For me, these are the tricks and tips that have saved some of my sanity.
1. After each pumping session, put all of your pump parts and bottles in a big ziploc bag or storage container and keep it in your fridge until your next pumping session. There's no need to wash your parts after each session; just make sure to wash them at least once a day. Tip: Hire your partner or spouse to do the daily washing.
2. Get yourself a small/medium bowl or container and keep it in or near your sink. I use this to put all of my pump and bottle parts in when it's time to wash to avoid cross contamination. I have a pretty large sink so chasing all of the smaller parts around the bottom of my sink is annoying.
3. Dr. Brown's bottles are the best! They help reduce colic and have the option for preemie nipples for the slowest flow possible to avoid gulping.
4. Get a hands-free pumping bra!! This was the BEST accessory for my pump. I can tend to Desmond (kind of) if need be, or read a magazine, or stalk people on facebook... but most importantly I can massage/compress my boobs while pumping which brings me to tip 5.
5. Compress, massage, squish, squeeze, poke... your boobs! For me, I get the most out of a pumping session when I do some or all of the above. And there's nothing more sucky than pumping and not getting every last drop.
6. Lanolin! Even pumping can be traumatizing to virgin pumping nipples. I actually lather up before my session to avoid too much chaffing against the flanges. There's enough lanolin left over on my nips after my session so I don't have to reapply and get all my shirts and breast pads gooey. I've also heard olive oil on your nips before pumping helps, but I haven't tried this yet.
7. Make sure you invest in a good electric pump - double pump if you can. I use the Medela Pump In Style Advanced and I love it. There are great reviews and testimonials out there for this pump and I highly recommend it.
8. Pumping on-the-go is inevitable, so invest in some extra bottles and storage containers to keep in your pump bag. Also look into car adapters or battery packs for your pump. I haven't purchased a manual pump, but I will be doing so very soon so I can have a last resort if I forget any of my pump parts. I suggest buying a manual pump and leaving it in your car so you always have a last resort. Last night, I literally had to hand express my milk into a drinking glass during a night out because I left my ENTIRE pump at home.
9. Hot and cold packs are amazing for when you become engorged or get plugged ducts. I use Earth Mama Angel Baby Booby Tubes, but plain old ice packs that you can heat up as well work just as good. Use hot compresses for plugged ducts and cold compresses to relieve engorgement.
10. I purchased a set of cheap 9 oz. bottles to transfer my milk into and store in the fridge. I'm a lucky pumper and pump about 4-5 oz. a session so I always have extra for my stock pile. It's nice to have stored milk in containers that I don't actually use for feeding.
11. Set up your pumping station. Mine has my pump parts (except for what's kept in the fridge in my ziploc bag), a towel for drips because that's inevitable, my hands-free bra, lanolin, water, my phone charger, a nursing wrap or blanket in case it's cold, pictures of Desmond to help with let-down, and a pillow for back or butt support. I usually do my facebook stalking and/or booby compressions while I pump, but reading material is also a great way to kill 20 mins.
12. Try and stick to a strict pumping schedule, at least in the beginning. Until you establish a milk supply (around 12 weeks), pumping every 3 hours is what got me a good start to a freezer stash. Every woman is different so don't fret if you pump a little less or a little more. Try mother's milk tea to boost your supply. But staying hydrated, eating, and staying on schedule seems to work for me without any additional boosters.
13. Relax, stay hydrated, eat.
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