https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 19:17:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1762286 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:53:45 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1762286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. jump rope: This was mentioned above by Adira I think:</p> <p>"Nipple Cream (Lanolin and if you can, get a prescription for All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO))"</p> <p>That apno (also sometimes called newmans nipple cream was the only thing that salvaged our nursing relationship. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1762283 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:52:58 +0000 sunny 1762283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree on waiting to get lots of bottles. You never know what will work for your baby. </p> <p>If you're planning to store pumped milk, we liked the Lansinoh bags and once they were frozen, we stored them "file cabinet style" in an empty Haagen Daaz bar box we got from Costco. (After enjoying some delicious ice cream bars ;-) ) They are the perfect width! :)</p> <p>Don't buy extra pump parts until you know what size you are. The lactation consultant at the hospital fit me for Large flanges and I'm so glad she did. The Medium were really painful and I didn't know any better. I just thought pumping sucked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1762266 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:46:54 +0000 catlady 1762266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My only advice beyond the many great suggestions above is to wait to get too many bottles or parts for bottles. My BFed baby was picky so we had to try several different types before we found one that she would take. Then we stocked up on extra bottles, caps, and nipples once we knew which type she liked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1762220 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:26:12 +0000 mdf106 1762220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nipple cream(medela lanolin), nursing bras, breast pads (Johnsons and Johnsons), breastfeeding pillow (brest friend), nursing cover (for company). These are all things I used right away.</p> <p>I did not buy much additional pumping, bottling items until later on. I had an Ameda pump, and used Ameda bottles with Dr. Brown's premie nipple, but I would try what you already have first. I liked the honeysuckle freezer bags. I bought extra large flanges and a pumping bra (Simple wishes). I bought microwave sterilizing bags, but I don't think they were necessary. When I went back to work, I bought a full spare set of parts, lots of bottles, a dishwasher basket, and drying rack. I run the dishwasher every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1762135 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:07:53 +0000 catomd00 1762135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you're going to be a frequent pumper (e.g., pumping at work) here's what I have: (I also have the PISA).</p> <p>1. hands free pumping bra<br /> 2. 4 sets of parts (one for every day I work to reduce washing constantly - but if you leave them in the fridge, you can use the same ones for a few days) The PISA comes with one set of parts, tubing and a few bottles. I also have some extra membranes and valves, since they tear/get eaten alive by my dishwasher sometimes.<br /> 3. 20 bottles or so (I use 4 bottles at work to pump into, 3 of those end up being bottles for the next day) Luckily, the bottles my DD uses fit on my pump (Gerber FIrst Essentials) since they're cheaper then Medela bottles<br /> 4. Freezer bags (Lansinoh ones are my favorite but the oz are off, so always go by what's in the bottle!)<br /> 5. car adapter in case I need to pump on the go<br /> 6. battery pack so I don't have to be tethered to an electrical outlet<br /> 7. cooler bag with ice pack (got a free enfamil one from my hospital that's perfect for pumping at work, which I also enjoy the irony that it's from a formula company!)</p> <p>At work, I don't wash or even rinse pump parts. I just put everything in the cooler bag then in the fridge in between pumping. (only downside is cold pump parts on your boobs is not that much fun!) I pump into empty bottles each time, so as to not mix warm/cold milk. Then combine into one bottle after each pumping session, which limits the amount of bottles I need. </p> <p>Also, spare parts aren't covered under my insurance, but extra tubing is. </p> <p>Pumping aside, for breastfeeding, get some lanolin (I personally like lansinoh and medela. I hear great things about EarthMamaAngelBaby Nipple Butter though.), breastpads, nursing bras. That's pretty much all I used. I never found a nursing pillow necessary, regular pillows get the job done.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1762079 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:54:45 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1762079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did anyone say gel pads? I found those so much more effective than lanolin if nipple pain got bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761970 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:28:22 +0000 gilmoregirl 1761970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a big fan of the Medela steam bags for sterilizing pump parts and the little 5 oz bottles that came with the PISA. If I pumped more often, I'd probably have a good dishwasher routine, but these bags sterilize with just a few minutes in the microwave and I love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761935 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:20:54 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1761935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: good point! I definitely found thst to be true as well </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761905 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:07:40 +0000 ShootingStar 1761905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have much add, other than know that all the bags have inaccurate measurements! If you want specific amounts to freeze, make sure to measure in bottles first. And I could pretty much never have enough bottles to pump into and spare pump parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761904 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:06:19 +0000 My Only Sunshine 1761904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I liked the Target brand milk storage bags the best for freezing. They're nice and thick and can lay totally flat and they're the cheapest. I also had good luck with the Lansinoh ones but they're a little more expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761903 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:06:07 +0000 Smurfette 1761903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I 2nd @Adira: storage system. It was so much easier, and less space when I started doing it this way. </p> <p>I pumped directly into bottles for the next day, I bought the Tommee adapters, but then Friday's, I would pour into bags and freeze. Then Sunday take out older bags to thaw for her Monday bottles. </p> <p>When I pumped at work, I put all the parts in a ziploc bag and in the fridge with the milk. So I just washed once at home. I never had spare parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761889 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:02:02 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1761889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: i layed ours flat until they froze, and then stood them up in a tupperware container in the back of the freezer, labeled with just the date. </p> <p>I also didnt wash parts every time. I was actually even more relaxed about it...i pumped 4-5 times a day and it was a pain so i didnt even rinse. I had a big tupperware container that could hold all the parts. After i pumped i would pour the milk into clean containers to store and would put all the dirty parts in the container in the fridge until the next time. I only washed every other day. Never had a single issue and it saved me so much time. And i never needed any extra parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761870 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:56:15 +0000 Adira 1761870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, these are awesome for storing in the freezer: <a href="http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-white-ice-cube-bin/-/A-13797819" rel="nofollow">http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-white-ice-cube-bin/-/A-13797819</a> You can lay flat to freeze and then store upright in these bins. The Lansinoh bags fit in here perfectly! I ended up buying four of them for my freezer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761868 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:55:50 +0000 Foodnerd81 1761868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I was not a frequent pumper, but I always pumped into the medela bottles, then if I was freezing, poured it into a freezer bag (I used Lansinoh and Medela and never noticed a difference). It's hard to measure in the bags, so I would note the amount in the bottle before pouring it and labeling the bag. Then I usually just thawed in a cup of warm water for a few minutes- if you freeze them flat, they thaw super fast, and I prefer that than thawing a bunch overnight and risking not using it all. But again- infrequent pumper and bottle user. Use the flange as a funnel to pour the milk into the bag so you don't spill! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761866 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:55:18 +0000 Adira 1761866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: Probably not, but the Medela PISA comes with spare white membranes! So at least if yours rip or something, you'll be able to replace easily enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761863 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:55:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1761863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: Also, for my day to day pumping, I would just rinse and then store the parts in the fridge. Nothing is going to spoil on them between that pumping and the next pumping in a few hours. </p> <p>Assuming you don't have any health issues like with a premie, you don't have to full wash all the parts but like once a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761862 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:53:50 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1761862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: Spare parts probably aren't covered but you can pick them up if you need them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761861 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:53:21 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1761861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: good point! Glad I asked. Our freezer is smaller so I would lay them flat too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761860 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:52:57 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1761860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And like @T.H.O.U.: said, i only used the bags when i was going to freeze. I used the bottles for fridge storage. I kept a full days worth of milk in the fridge, and when i saved up more than that i would freeze. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761858 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:52:49 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1761858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: are spare parts covered by insurance? I didn't think to ask!</p> <p>Maybe I should buy them ahead of time just so they're on hand. I have to order my pump through a medical device store but they deliver in 2 days! It would be nice to not have to wash immediately.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761853 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:51:19 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1761853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: i liked the target bags because they laid flat in the freezer. I never pumped directly into bags...i pumped into the medella bottles and then poured into bags when i had a full 6 ounces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761852 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:51:09 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1761852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, also, I loved pumping into the tiny bottles when I first started. They are much easier to measure small amounts and mentally made me feel like I was being more productive than pumping into the larger bottles. </p> <p><a href="http://www.target.com/p/medela-12pk-milk-storage-bottles-for-breastmilk-freezing-and-storage/-/A-10697113#prodSlot=medium_1_5&#038;term=medela+bottles" rel="nofollow">http://www.target.com/p/medela-12pk-milk-storage-bottles-for-breastmilk-freezing-and-storage/-/A-10697113#prodSlot=medium_1_5&#038;term=medela+bottles</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761849 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:50:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1761849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: You have a few options. </p> <p>I found I only put them in the bags if I was going to freeze in them. So I had like 4-6 of the small medela bottles that I would pump into and then set in the fridge. If I already had a lot in the fridge, I would pour into a Lansinoh bag and freeze. </p> <p>When you take it out of the freezer, I just set the bag in the fridge overnight and then pour into your bottle of choice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761847 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:49:10 +0000 Adira 1761847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: Yes - I pumped into a bottle and then poured into a bag to freeze. Then thaw and pour back into a bottle to serve!</p> <p>ETA: You can also pump directly into a bag, if you can get it hooked up right, but I never did this because I wanted to make sure I froze in specific amounts and it was easier to measure in bottles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761845 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:48:34 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1761845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few musts:<br /> - Pillow of some sort<br /> - Nursing bra or tank<br /> - Storage bottles or bags. (I highly recommend the Lansinoh and NOT the medela bags). </p> <p>Other suggestions:<br /> - Lanolin cream or some sort of nipple cream<br /> - Breast pads (I never really leaked so I just had some disposable ones, again Lansinoh NOT Johnson and Johnson).<br /> - Hands Free bra if you are pumping while trying to do something.<br /> - Extra set of pump parts if you don't want to wash every day.<br /> - Small cooler to transport milk in when needed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761843 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:48:20 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1761843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Talk to me about freezer bags.</p> <p>We are using the playtex drop ins. So I'll pump and store into a bag, then thaw and pour into the bottle/liner?</p> <p>Want to make sure I'm understanding properly! Does a specific brand bag work better than another? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761841 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:48:16 +0000 Adira 1761841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For nursing:<br /> - Nursing Pillow (I used Boppy)<br /> - Nursing tanks and/or bras (I preferred to just use tanks for the most part)<br /> - Nipple Cream (Lanolin and if you can, get a prescription for All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO))<br /> - Breast Pads (I used the disposable Lansinoh ones)</p> <p>For pumping:<br /> - Pump<br /> - Correct sized Flanges (I went through 3 sizes before I found the size that works for me)<br /> - Bottles (I used 8 regularly, 4 to send to daycare and 4 to pump in)<br /> - Storage Bags (I used Lansinoh)<br /> - Backup pump parts (especially those white membranes for the Medela)<br /> - Hands-free Pumping Bra (Simple Wishes was what I used) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761836 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:47:10 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1761836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: thanks! Just bought it off amazon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761832 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:45:51 +0000 mrsjyw 1761832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>nursing pads! (reusable ones) a couple of nursing bras, freezer bags if you want to build a supply. </p> <p>my pump came with extra sets of bottles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gear#post-1761828 Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:44:44 +0000 bushelandapeck 1761828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used the My Brest Friend nursing pillow and I much preferred it to the Boppy because it's more supportive and I could actually carry DS around on it while nursing if I wanted to (bonus!).I would also recommend nipple cream, nursing pads, and a couple of good nursing bras and/or nursing tank tops. </p>