Things You'll Need:
- Hospital-grade breast pump. You can rent these for around $50 per month. This may sound expensive, but consider the cost of baby formula!
- A sports bra you can cut holes in.
- Breast Milk Storage Trays with lids.
- Ziplock bags
- Hand breast pump - optional but a good idea to keep in your purse.
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Step 1
You will want a hospital grade pump. Emptying your breasts after each feeding is a good way to keep your breast milk production rates up, and avoid painful fullness of your breasts. The hospital grade pump is faster and better than a personal unit. I had both and only used the hospital grade pump. (So much faster)
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Step 2
Take your sports bra and cut holes in the nipple area where the pump cups stick out. This will create a "hands free" pumping situation for yourself. Pumping takes around 10 - 15 minutes each time. Now you can read a book, organize a scrapbook, etc while pumping.
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Step 3
The more often you pump, the more milk your body will make. It is a good idea to pump often. This will create a reserve of milk that can be frozen and used after you stop pumping or if you get sick and need medication. I suggest every 4-6 hours.
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Step 4
Once the milk is pumped, carefully pour the milk into your freezer trays. These trays will separate the milk into nice 1-ounce cubes. You can put some in a bottle and store it in the fridge if you plan on giving it to baby within a few hours.
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Step 5
Put the lid on the freezer tray(s) and label a piece of tape with the date of the milk.
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Step 6
Once the cubes are frozen break them out of the tray and put them in a ziplock bag. Make sure the air is completely out of the bag before sealing it. I recommend freezer bags as well. Label the bag with the date of the milk. You can add more milk cubes from the same day to the bag.
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Step 7
If you are at work and are lucky enough to have a private office. Pumping shouldn't be a big issue. Simply lock the door put on your pump harness and pump away while working. If you are in a production setting or other difficult to get away job, you may have to talk to your boss about breaking up your lunch break to give you enough time to pump and store the milk.
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Step 8
So what is the hand pump for? Sometimes you will be at an event or gathering that doesn't allow you to sneak away and pump. Remember to go to the bathroom, sit in a stall and use the hand pump.
You won't completely empty, but at least you will relive the pressure of full breasts.
