Hellobee Boards

I've never been an EPer, but I had to pump a ton at work and even in the evenings to make enough for Xander, so here's a couple things off the top of my head:

- Store your pump parts in the fridge during the day and only wash them once at night.
- Pump into the same bottles until they are full (within a 24 hour period)

I also only pump at work but I think if I were an EPer, I would splurge for a hospital grade pump rental if I could afford it. My friend uses one and says it makes a huge difference.

@jhd: Here's a couple blog posts I found helpful too:

http://www.hellobee.com/2014/05/27/what-i-didnt-know-about-exclusive-pumping/
http://www.hellobee.com/2013/07/09/my-exclusive-pumping-journey/
http://www.hellobee.com/2012/12/31/my-pumping-system/

@jhd: I also don't EP but I do pump at work every day. Definitely get a couple of hands free pumping bras if you don't already have them (I like the simple wishes ones). If I were EP I'd get at least 2, probably 3. I would also get at least 2 (probably 3) sets of pump parts (I have 2 sets now). They make storage bag adapters and storage bags that hang from the adapters, and those are easy to pump into. Better than having to hold the bags on (but if you're always pumping straight into bottles then this won't apply).

Also, have a million bottles so you don't have to constantly be washing them! (I had 9 and I wasn't even an EPer)

I only pump at work, but having two sets of pump parts and enough bottles for three days saved my sanity.

I EP for 12 months. I would say .... stick to a schedule so your body knows when to expect a pump session, that way you're getting the most milk at that time since you've essentially trained your body to produce milk at that interval. Going by a very loose schedule made me fluctuate output but being pretty structured in my pump schedule meant I had reliable output day in and day out.

I rented a hospital grade pump for home because you always produce the most the first morning pump of the day and I wanted a good machine to really drain me after a long night of not pumping. I also had a medela PISA that I left at work. That way I was only carrying the milk back and forth. I used the pump parts with the PISA at work and bought 2 sets to use at home. That way I wasn't struggling to find clean parts. I also took a clean ziplock bag with me to store my pump parts at work and leave them in the fridge. At the end of the work day, I used a medela wipe to clean them and then steamed them in the microwave pack that they provide so I didn't have to bring those parts home and potentially forget them! I also left my hand pump at work too for the days I DID forget something. I brought home the pump parts every Friday for a deep scrubbing at home.

take your phone with you when you pump at work and look at photos of your LO to help with faster let down. Or better yet, look at videos.

I've been EPing about 9 months, and hopefully have enough that I can start weaning next week to get me through the rest of his first year.

I agree with @Anagram. Definitely something so you can be hands free, take one day at a time (or one month or one week..), and stick to a schedule.

Keep your phone with you. If you're alone, it's nice to look at pics or browse the internetz.

Have multiple pump parts

It can be very hard to pump and watch the baby at the same time, especially if baby is mobile. If you need help, don't be afraid to see if someone can watch baby while you pump, if you're able to do that.

Try to be relaxed before you pump. It's a lot to do when you're EPing, and can be stressful, but it will go quicker if you're more relaxed.

Also, I know that you're supposed to sanitize the parts daily, but I rarely do that, so if you're strapped for time or it's just too much, don't stress about it. Also, I used a Medela PISA, and love it as much as you can love a pump.

@Adira: I don't understand pumping into the same bottles until they're full? If you're storing your milk in the fridge, you shouldn't be pumping "warm" milk into "cold" milk... ?

@Adira: Hmm interesting. I'm a NICU nurse and we tell mums to not pump into cold milk. Instead we recommend refrigerating the warm milk then when it's cooled adding it go the already cold milk.

@Adira: yeah I think you want the fooled milk to stay cool. Anyways I bet it saved you a ton of time. In the NICU we're always extra careful so I'm sure that's part of it too.

@Adira: @QBbride: I don't add new, warm milk to cold milk, but I do often combine the milk from a pump session into one of the bottles, refrigerate the empty bottle I dumped the milk over from, and then use that as one of my bottles for the next pump session. I think it's a good compromise between not mixing milks of different temperatures and saving on a bit of washing up!