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Portable breast pump suggestions?
I am pregnant!!! So naturally I am anxious about everything and researching as much as I can about everything under the sun. I am curious if anyone has suggestions on portable breast pumps, the kind that I don't need to be attached to a wall to use.
Wendy SaglimeSoftware Engineer in Buffalo, NY
27
03/09/20 at 7:38PM UTC
Hi Lyndsay, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I loved the Spectra S1 (the blue one). I also purchased and tried 2 other models: the Medela Pump in Style (which is NOT rechargeable, it's attached to the wall, but it was the only one my insurance said they covered) and Freemie Liberty (which is rechargeable but simply not powerful enough at all). I absolutely hated being chained to the wall in my home or office with a power supply, so I was willing to purchase out-of-pocket. However looking back, I wish I had told my insurance which pump I needed, rather than letting them tell me they only provided Medela pump-in-style. Pump-in-style has some obvious red flags: it requires a wall hookup, doesn't have a timer, and most importantly it doesn't let you control suction and speed independently. Turned out I got way more milk with light suction and high frequency, but before I got the Spectra S1 I had no way to know that. Spectra S1 ROCKED because it was rechargeable and cordless when charged, controls suction and speed separately, and had a timer. Whichever pump you pick, it helps to consider only pumps that are "hospital grade". These have more powerful settings, and for most pumping moms that is the single most important factor for getting sufficient milk. Other secondary factors are using the pump early and often (hormones that regulate milk production are using information about demand in the first few days of baby's life, so pumping in the hospital with the help of the on-staff lactation consultant can be SO helpful for your comfort and also having plenty of milk), and also the type of flange you use being the correct size and shape (a store that carries pump parts near you can help you size these, and a company called Pumpin' Pals makes more comfortable flanges) . Anyway... as you can tell by my super-long answer, I'm here if you have any more questions!!! CONGRATS again, and also do me a favor? Take some of that pregnant "research all the things" energy and apply it towards researching how you'll continue to take care of your own body and spirit once baby arrives! The first year is wonderful but exhausting, and you can make it less exhausting if you've prepared yourself and any partner/caregivers too with strategies to continue guaranteeing mom and dad/others some core daily rest hours and weekly alone/hobby time.
