I just came back from leave on Monday and like a fool left my flanges at home today! I have no idea what to do. I mean I'll have to suck it up and suffer through it but man this blows!!
Has this every happened to you girls? Did you do anything to help with the pressure while at work?
nectarine / 2243 posts
Someone threw away my membranes once on vacation and I had to hand express in a bathroom for 2 days until I could find replacements. Um yeah it was the worst.
Anywhere you could go to quickly to pick up a hand pump? Sometimes they sell them at some CVSs or drugstores.
grapefruit / 4278 posts
I've forgotten parts with no way to get replacements before. I watched some youtube videos on my phone on hand expression and then went to town at my normal pumping times. Once I got a letdown, I actually got out more than i do with my pump! 
It's a longer process though and not exactly comfortable.
pear / 1717 posts
@Littlebit7: Sadly the target closest to my job doesn't sell any hand pumps in store 
Hand express? like squeeze out the milk by hand?
persimmon / 1270 posts
Hand expressing has saved me a bunch of times. I have even expressed into bottles or once a clean jar to save the milk... it takes a little while to get the hang of it, but it's a super handy skill. It also takes a while for me before milk starts to flow/let down, so if you try, give yourself some time and dont rush.
grapefruit / 4278 posts
@bubblegum: It's strangely satisfying to see how much milk you can collect by hand expressing. Good Luck! 
nectarine / 2243 posts
@bubblegum: yep, squeeze it out by hand. You can youtube it
Maybe call drugstores near your work.
The downside with hand expressing is that it can take longer. Its actually pretty effective, but slow. And tiring. Stretch your hands out after....they will feel like you have early onset arthritis!!
apricot / 374 posts
@bubblegum: Ugh, I hated when I did that! I agree with hand expressing, at least to relieve the pressure even if you don't have a container for your BM. It was always a bit messy for me though. One day of less than perfect pumping isn't going to dry you up, but I know how stressful it can be to worry about having enough for the next day 
And these may not pertain to your situation, but once my husband was working from home so he met me halfway to deliver my flanges, and another time I was able to pop over to daycare and feed DS.
pear / 1717 posts
@maddyz: @kiddosc: @Littlebit7: Thank you ladies!! Once my leave gets back from lunch (I'm a receptionist) I'm going to go to the bathroom and give it go. I'll let you know how it goes. BTW I was not expecting the video to be with actual boobs and nipples lol I was like ohh can't watch this on the computer lol
@nanilani: Oh thank god you said that! I was worried that this would throw my milk off. It'll mess with my night supply of milk but hey similac is fine until I catch up
watermelon / 14467 posts
@bubblegum: I've done it before too and had my husband bring me stuff from home. But if I couldn't do that, I would hand express into a clean cup and stick it in the fridge. I am super open about BF/pumping at work though.
apricot / 374 posts
@bubblegum: I'm no LC, but I bet if you pump when you get home you'll get a lot more than usual after not pumping as much during the day! Try not to stress over it, tomorrow will be fine. I'm sure you'll catch up, especially being more recently postpartum.
pear / 1717 posts
@avivoca: @birdofafeather: Thanks lady!
@nanilani: You're giving me much peace. Thanks love I really appreciate it.
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
Hand expressing totally works fine - you should be able to get enough where it doesn't really mess up your supply - just have a good long nursing/pump session when you get home to fully empty out.
As a back up, I would order a manual pump to just keep at your desk. I love this Avent one - its super effective.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YSYCZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_YdRszbB5NVPHA
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@bubblegum: I thought Target is usually pretty well stocked with pump parts since there is a whole half an isle just for pumps?!
I hope hand expressing goes well!!
pear / 1717 posts
@gingerbebe: Yeah I'm going to have to get a back up
@snowjewelz: The target down here has nothing in store. But I got it done!! Whoot Whoot!
I got it done ladies!! Not as easy as I would have thought but I got 2 oz. typically I would get 4-6oz. so that's not too bad considering this was my first time hand expressing.
kiwi / 578 posts
@bubblegum: that's a great yield for your first time hand expressing! It is such a useful skill to have, good job!
persimmon / 1111 posts
@bubblegum: go to CVS and buy a manual. Leave it at work as a backup because you will forget again
pomegranate / 3658 posts
I don't think you need a manual pump at work as a backup; I think you just need a second set of flange/membrane/connector/bottles/caps you can leave at work. I didn't carry any of that stuff back and forth to/from work, just left the backup set at the office. Then just leave the pump at work and it's easy.
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