Nursing & Pumping Gear: What I Think Is Useful, Useless, & Essential

I do have to warn you, this is going to be another one of THOSE posts, that have a high probability of including TMI.

For anyone who finds this post via google or another search, as of this writing, my son is 8 months old. He's been about 95% breastmilk fed (not counting solid foods), and I've been pumping since I went back to work when he was 9 weeks old. And based on all that, here are my opinions about nursing and pumping gear. They are my personal opinions, not based in any science, education, or official anything. I am not a lactation consultant or any other kind of medical professional. I'm an opinionated mom.

Things You'll Need -- Or Not -- Immediately When You Get Home From The Hospital A nursing pillow I recommend the My Brest Friend over the Boppy. Why? The My Brest Friend has a silly name. But, it's a great product. MBF straps around your body so it will stay in place, it has pockets for lanolin, tissues, the remote, or whatever. And it's pretty much flat on top, which feels more stable for holding the baby. The Boppy wins on cuteness and also on the texture of the cover -- the MBF cover is a nasty coarse cotton blend. Put something soft over the top. But the Boppy doesn't provide as much support, or as stable support, as the MBF. And that is the point of the thing, isn't it?

Comfort Gel Pads These are critical if you are going to nurse. Critical!!! At least for the first couple of weeks. Get at least 2 packages, and keep them somewhere cool when you aren't using them. I wasn't quite brave enough to put them in the fridge, but I thought about it. They will make you feel like you can stand the idea of putting that squirming tiny human vacuum on your breast again without an epidural to the boob.

Lanolin For use with the comfort gels, if you can stand to touch your nipples. And for use for awhile after your comfort gels have dried up and your nipples are still tender, but not as bad as before. If you still can't stand to touch your nipples, squeeze some lanolin on a disposable breast pad. But be careful, the lanolin stains worse than olive oil. Don't buy the lanolin if you can help it. A TINY bit goes a long way. I inherited a nearly full container from a mother of two. I only bought another one because I can't find it and when Noah started teething, I wanted it again. If you do have to buy it, get the store brand. It's exactly the same, or at least CVS seemed exactly the same as Lansinoh lanolin.

Nursing bra Just get 1 or maybe 2 before you have the baby, because your body will keep changing. Go with a sports bra style. If you're well endowed, get the super-industrial-strength kind.

Disposable Breast Pads I kind of can't believe I recommend these. I hate those thick padded bras that stand up on their own volition, and these are like extremely soft disposable pad versions of those. But judging from the bra section of every department store and V.S. in the United States, most of you don't share my hatred. That said, disposable nursing pads are extremely helpful while your body is getting the hang of producing milk, and your baby is getting the hang of sleeping. I haven't had an embarassing leaking incident since Noah was 8 weeks or so, but when you're out in public those first few weeks, the last thing you want is a big wet milk circle on the front of your shirt.

Things You Will Need Before/When You Go Back to Work Breast Pump

I have tried the following pumps: Medela Pump In Style (PIS), Ameda Purely Yours (PY), Isis Iq Uno (IQ) with and without the manual option, Medela Classic (a hospital grade that you may be able to rent), and Ameda Hospital-grade rental.

Hospital Grade Rental Pumps If money is no object, or you know that you'll only be pumping for a couple of months and you don't have to move the pump from place to place, the hospital grade rental pumps are absolutely the best. They are more gentle than the kind you buy, and are very efficient at getting the milk out quickly. In Atlanta, these rent for approximately $50/month. Unfortunately, you can't afford to buy one. On eBay, the last Medela Classic I saw was starting bid at $850 refurbished. It is largely unavailable, having been replaced by the Lactina, which I haven't tried, but which eBay currently lists for ~$550. The Ameda hospital pump is also wonderful. I wish I could keep it forever.

Electric Pumps The PIS is probably the most widely used. I like it the least, but to be fair, I've only used older models. It may be more gentle/adjustable by now -- they have made changes. It is quiet, portable, and they have a lot of customizable stuff you can get (larger or smaller breast shields, for example). It comes with 5 oz collection bottles -- unlike all the others.

The PY is smaller, lighter, and louder than the PIS, but also more gentle, and I thought it was easier to set up and pack up. The PY is also the only one that the FDA approved for something or other, because the way it's designed, the milk cannot backup into the machinery. I thought it was slightly slower than the PIS. It comes with 4 oz collection bottles. One other interesting feature that is unique to the Ameda pumps -- built-in bottle holders for when you're wrapping up. It seems silly, but when you are un-attaching yourself from the pump, trying to manage lids, re-fasten your nursing bra, figure out if you pumped enough to justify 2 bottles or should consolidate into one, not lose or drop on the floor any pump parts, avoid dripping milk on your clothes...it's reassuring to know that you probably aren't going to knock over a hard-won bottle of milk in the process. Also, the PY has been the pump of choice of every doctor mom with whom I've ever discussed pumping or breastfeeding. I inherited my PY from a doctor mom.

Avent Isis Iq Uno is the only single-breast pump that I have used. Obviously, it's slower to do one side at a time than both sides at once. But I assume that the Iq Duo feels like the Uno, but on both breasts at the same time. The IQ is the smallest and most portable that I've tried. It came with a manual attachment that is almost as fast and I think is more efficient at getting the milk out, than the electric version. It comes with battery and electrical outlet attachments. It isn't that quiet, but it is very gentle, the gentlest non-hospital grade pump I've tried.

The Isis does require you to use Avent bottles for collection, and they are unique. Noah was fine with generic bottles, so I only use the handful of avents we have for pumping. This is actually a pain in the ass. Pumping directly into the bottles you're feeding the baby is MUCH easier than transferring the milk from container to container.

If I were starting over and were going to purchase a pump that I expected to use while working full time, I would buy a new Ameda Purely Yours. (And like Carrie, I'd look for it new on eBay.) If you're trying to buy a pump on the cheap, skip buying the fancy backpack/totebag. Ameda lets you buy the pump and pumping gear separately, as well as in a package with a built-in-cooler and other gear-storage backpack or tote.

Containers for Storing the Milk

If you are using any of these pumps other than the Avent, I recommend getting a bunch of 4 oz bottles. We bought 2 packages from Mothers Milk Mate, including their freezer storage unit thingy. I like them, both because it's easy to go from pump to fridge or freezer to baby, AND because it feels a lot less wasteful and un-environmental than the single-use bags for day to day use. Also, 1 pk of 25 bags is $6-10, which you wind up using up in less than 2 weeks. For twice the money upfront, you get 6 bottles that you can use over and over, and for about $22, you can get 10 bottles and a storage thingy you can use over and over.

You still need some bags, for backup, for travel, for when you unexpectedly pump more volume than the bottles. I recommend the Lansinoh bags, they seem tougher and less likely to leak than the others I've seen. I tried one with some twist-tie close, which seems bizarre and pointless to me. One caution, though. Although the Lansinoh bags sort-of stand up when partly filled, they are NOT stable that way. Seal them right away. Learn from my loss of 4 oz all over a carpet at work. Opinions vary about pumping & lubrication. My neighbor swore by olive oil; others swear by lanolin. I found that more lubrication was actually more uncomfortable for me -- too much tissue got involved in the suction action of the pump. I recommend lanolin or something after you pump instead. If you do want to use something while pumping, check with your doctor unless you pick lanolin. You know you don't want anything with peanut oil!!!

Where to Buy

In the comments below, Carrie makes a great suggestion about getting a pump from a medical supply ebay store. I inherited 3 of the pumps I used, with no problems. Officially, all the pump manufacturers tell you not to share or buy used, because there is some risk of transmitting certain diseases. If you do buy used, or get a pump from a friend, it is a good idea to replace the plastic bits that actually have contact with your milk. Tons of places sell replacement parts online, as do some lactation consultancies at hospitals. Another good place for gear are the giant multi-family rummage sales that many schools and large churches organize on an annual or semi-annual basis. I picked up a used Whisper Wear pump for $40, which I'm working on cleaning and replacing the plastic parts for. There are also always tons of bottles, crib bumpers, slings/bjorns, strollers, baby gyms, and approximately 500,000 boppies. Consignment stores for kids and maternity gear are also a good bet, and will have cleaner gear than the rummage sales, but they probably won't have pumps. They also seem to have tons of baby bathtubs in the under $10 range.