https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:04:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2801101 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 15:24:12 +0000 MamaCate 2801101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Mermaid: I never rinsed or refrigerated between pump sessions. I only pumped twice and had a full term healthy baby. I didn’t have time to go back and forth to the kitchen or sink because I just pumped in my office with a sign on the door. All the pump parts started in a ziplock, went back in between sessions and then again after the last one, then home at the end of the day. I had multiple sets so I washed one each night and had a clean one ready to go. The logic of no fridge is that breastmilk is okay if left out up to 8 hours so it shouldn’t cause problems. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2801097 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 15:10:05 +0000 maddyz 2801097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took parts home with me every night. We also only have a bathroom sink and no microwave. I would keep parts in the fridge all day.</p> <p>I also used pump part disinfection wipes in a pinch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2801081 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 14:28:20 +0000 trixi 2801081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Mermaid I never did. Just drop and steam. </p> <p>I also remember now if I forgot a steam bag or ran out (you can only use them like 24x ) I would ziplock bag them in the freezer between pumpings.<br /> I tried to avoid that though because I worked at a HUGE corporate office and the freezer was pretty full, but also because the parts were COLD when it was time to pump! :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2801026 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:02:42 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2801026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@trixi: do you rinse the parts off at all before putting them in the bags? I always did before and I’m trying to avoid two trips to the bathroom. And I have access to a fridge and a sink, they just aren’t near each other and aren’t convenient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2801015 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 10:33:51 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2801015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thunderstorm: oooh pumping into bigger bottles is a great idea. @jennlin821: I kept my pumps from before so I’ll have at least two of the same kind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2801008 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 10:14:50 +0000 trixi 2801008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>do you have a microwave at work? I bought the steam clean bags from Medella and clean my parts in there. Just pour water (can be bottled from home or faucet) and pop in microwave for a few minutes then dump the water and you've got steamy clean parts/bottles.<br /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boxes-Medela-Quick-Clean-Micro-Steam/dp/B00DXXVJRO/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1517411456&#038;sr=8-4&#038;keywords=medela+steam+bags" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Boxes-Medela-Quick-Clean-Micro-Steam/dp/B00DXXVJRO/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1517411456&#038;sr=8-4&#038;keywords=medela+steam+bags</a></p> <p>maybe check your state laws for pumping accommodations at work? In IL they have to allow you access to a fridge and sink and private room (that is not a bathroom!) to pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800844 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 12:51:16 +0000 MrsADS 2800844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree w/others, I always took my parts home and washed every night. I kept them in my office fridge during the day in a gallon ziploc. I also poured the milk from the bottles attached to the pump parts into milk storage bags (labeled w/date, time, and oz). For me this was easier than carrying a bunch of bottles, plus I usually pumped more than my son drank so some of it went straight into the freezer when I got home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800835 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 12:28:16 +0000 nana87 2800835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually work from home because it's just easier and I can. But on days that I do have to go in, my lactation room doesn't have a sink or fridge--I carry my parts and milk in a cooler bag, with the parts in a ziplock and carry inside my backpack during my commute, which also includes picking up my kids and schlepping their stuff. I only wash the parts at night. The pump itself and the tubes stay at my desk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800833 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 12:27:27 +0000 psw27 2800833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always bring my pump parts home and wash them there. I don't rinse between sessions and just store them in a bag in the fridge with the milk. I either put pumped milk into bags or one tall bottle. It never occurred to me to wash my pump parts or sterilize them at work. I also have multiple sets of pump parts to make things easier. You could leave a clean set at the office at all times just in case you forgot or messed up (forgot a membrane or something). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800774 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 10:26:48 +0000 kiddosc 2800774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just rinsed parts and stored them in a ziploc in the fridge between pumping sessions. </p> <p>Each day I would bring one tall bottle, two short bottles and one set of pump parts. Pump using the short bottles, pour them both into the tall bottle, rinse short bottles and flanges, cap the bottles, bag the flanges, everything fits into the medela cooler bag, into the fridge. Next session, same setup. Third session, the milk stayed in the short bottles. I didn't bother with an ice pack because I figured the milk would be fine on the half hour commute home. I had several sets of pump parts, but they all got washed on the sterilize setting in the dishwasher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800757 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 10:03:13 +0000 thunderstorm 2800757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just keep my pump parts and milk next to a freezer pack in my work bag. I also pump into the tall 12 oz bottles although we feed with the 4-5 oz bottles. So I only bring two flanges, two tall bottles, two caps and a freezer pack to work. I keep the flanges in a thin wet/dry bag so it’s really not that much to bring. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800750 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 09:58:51 +0000 jennlin821 2800750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My pump room was a back office and it was far from the kitchen (sink &amp; fridge) so I used the pump wipes during the day (4 pumping sessions at work), then I would rinse them out in sink at the end of the day and store in a clean ziplock bag in the work fridge. I would bring them home on the weekends to give to do a deep clean wash and sterilize. </p> <p>I pumped into bottles, but then immediately poured the milk into bags. It was a lot less bulky to deal with 4-6 bags of milk instead of bottles. During the day I would keep the milk bags in the cooler with the ice pack. Sometimes I would put the mornings milk in the fridge, if I didn't think the cooler bag was cold enough. </p> <p>If at all possible, get two pumps. I was lucky enough to have one pump at work and one at home, so I never had to carry the pump itself home, just the parts to wash and the milk. </p> <p>You will figure out your groove, don't stress mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800689 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:47:43 +0000 Shantuck 2800689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to rinse and refrigerate between pumpings but if you don't have a functional sink, you could probably wipe down with those Medela wipes and refrigerate between pumpings. Also, I had to share a room with way too many people and was worried about needing to go home when someone was in the mother's room pumping so I bought one of these cooler things to put under my desk (we weren't allowed to bring in mini-fridges but this thing is super little): <a href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gourmia-mini-fridge/6135106.p?skuId=6135106&#038;ref=212&#038;loc=1&#038;ksid=c67bb5a3-6424-4c98-a026-898f3ff60907&#038;ksprof_id=13&#038;ksaffcode=pg250082&#038;ksdevice=c&#038;lsft=ref:212,loc:2" rel="nofollow">https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gourmia-mini-fridge/6135106.p?skuId=6135106&#038;ref=212&#038;loc=1&#038;ksid=c67bb5a3-6424-4c98-a026-898f3ff60907&#038;ksprof_id=13&#038;ksaffcode=pg250082&#038;ksdevice=c&#038;lsft=ref:212,loc:2</a>. It worked great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800680 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:22:15 +0000 LCTBQE 2800680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: doubles as a panic room :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800673 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:40:32 +0000 bhbee 2800673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: the things we do!! My big win was convincing them to install a lock on the inside of the coat closet. That really confused the maintenance guy :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800670 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:34:44 +0000 LCTBQE 2800670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: I used to pump in one of our storage closets, it was not chic </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800669 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:32:55 +0000 bhbee 2800669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as above ... i had a small shopping bag i stuck the ziploc in so i wasn’t self conscious about the parts being seen by co workers. Light and easy to bring home even if i left the pump itself at work. I used to pump in our coat closet! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800668 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:31:57 +0000 LCTBQE 2800668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I commute on the train and schlep the baby back and forth from daycare in the ergo and it's over 2 miles of walking a day in addition to the MTA--I don't know if that's as much of a pain as the bike commute, but it's a lot to carry and it sucked, so I get it (I think?). but I'd still do the ziplock bag and bring the parts back and forth to wash at home every night, because it really really sounds unsanitary at your work, and especially when the baby is young, you just have to be super careful about cleaning. if your pump stays at work, that's a lot of bulk/weight not to deal with, and the pump parts aren't that bad and don't really weigh anything. one thing that I found that I didn't mind slacking on that *really* cut down on bulk was I stopped using the Medela cooler that my Freestyle came with and I just put the bottles straight into my bag, so all I was carrying was 2-3 bottles of milk and the pump parts.<br /> ETA congrats :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800664 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:22:05 +0000 Waterbaby 2800664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just refrigerated between pumps and brought it all home in a ziploc at the end of the day. I had two sets and would soak the dirty and then run both through the dishwasher the next night. It really wasn’t that bad and I knew it was super clean when I started. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-limited-sinkfridge#post-2800662 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:15:32 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2800662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am extremely newly pregnant but was thinking at work today about the pumping setup at my new job. There is no sink in the office, so I can either rinse my pump parts in the bathroom sink, use the super disgusting utility sink that is in a dark closet, or bring my pump parts home every day to clean them (and I bike commute, so this is NOT ideal.) The water doesn't really get hot enough in the utility sink/bathroom so I would want to sterilize, but then I have to pour the water out of the sterilizer bag to go...somewhere. Which means I have to go to the fridge, get my pump parts, pump, go to the hall to rinse the parts, sterilize them, then go back to the hall to pour out the sterilizer bag. </p> <p>There is also pretty limited space in our office fridge -it's really small. </p> <p>Last time around I just stored everything in a tupperware in the fridge all day, then swished the parts and some really really hot water in my tupperware that I stored everything in, and then let it dry on a draining rack in my office overnight and it was ready for the next day. I had a separate spare pump for meetings and pumping at home, and my work pump did not leave my office. </p> <p>Just wondering what other folks do who have a limited or annoying setup do! </p>