Pumping Archives

Are You Breastfeeding or Pumping While At Blogher?

July 18, 2008

If so...send me your stories. I'd love to hear what everyone writes about on this topic this weekend.
If you don't know what Blogher is, click here.
Unfortunately, I'm not there. But I get to eat cake all weekend!! Going to my cousin's son's first year old birthday, and my grandmother's 88th birthday. Go Nana!

Pumping Moms All Over the World

July 14, 2008

One cool thing about running a blog is that you can get glimpses into the locations of your readers. I have a SiteMeter on the site that helps me figure this out.

But boy was I surprised when I found out that the winner of the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is in Malaysia! I got a wonderful note from Hope, thanking me for the pump. And Medela is kindly handling the shipping, as well as getting Hope the adapter she'll need to make the pump work in a foreign country.

For those of you who missed it, here's Hope's comment, that won her the pump.

I'm due this coming October and I've been reading up on how to provide the best for my baby. My mom exclusively breastfed my brothers and sisters and I, and I'd love to do the same for my baby. The only difference is that my mom didn't have to go to work, whereas I do. So, I've been reading up on breast pumps and I've found that Medela is the best in the market! But it's quite pricey and I don't know if I can afford it. That's why I was ecstatic when I found this contest. It's like a blessing in disguise. A lot of great information and the chance to win a Medela Freestyle Breastpump. It's the most practical solution because it's lightweight and compact, yet has everything I would need to include breast pumping in my daily schedule. I've also been reading on bpa-free bottles and to know Medela has taken this into account just gives me more confidence in the name itself. I really hope to win so that I can always provide the best for my baby. PS: During our last checkup, we found out our baby's a boy! :)
Posted by: Hope | June 29, 2008 08:55 PM

And here's her "thank you" comment.

Hi Andi! Thank you for giving me the chance to participate and win the Medela Freestyle. I was and still am really excited upon hearing the good news. It's great to know people at Mamaknowsbreast and Medela care about women and their needs as they venture into motherhood. As a reader from Malaysia, I believe your quest in spreading knowledge on the importance of breastfeeding is truly inspiring! I'm sure you've touched the hearts of women all around the world. Keep up the great work! Thank you and God bless! :)

Now Hope, I have one more assignment for you... when your baby is born, you'll have to let us all know what you think of the pump!

The Winner of the Medela Freestyle Pump

June 23, 2008

AND A FURTHER UPDATE: To see a comment from Hope, the pump winner, read below. She lives in Malaysia! There are pumping moms around the world!

UPDATED: Thank you to everyone who left a comment for a chance to win a Medela Freestyle Pump. I loved reading what you had to say! There really is no shortage to pumping stories! And now...drum roll... the winner is Hope. Congratulations! Here's her comment:

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POST:

Ok, all you pumping mamas...here it is. The latest and greatest pump from our friends at Medela. The Freestyle is Medela's first hands-free, double-electric pump. Just attach it to your bra and get back to your emailing and phone calls. It's really small, light-weight and best of all, the Medela bottles are BPA free.

Medela is giving away this pump. So if you'd like a chance to win, leave a comment answering this question: What is your best pumping story? And if you haven't had a baby yet, why do you need this pump? (The deadline to enter is July 1, 2008).

This post is part of our monthly breastfeeding carnival. To read the other entries about pumping, go here:

* The Motherwear Breastfeeding blog has tips for introducing a bottle to a breastfed baby.
* Raising Baby Bee writes about pumping at work.
* Breastfeeding Mums has some pumping tips.
* Breastfeeding 1-2-3 writes about exclusively pumping for a baby with a cleft palate.
* Hobo Mama writes about donating milk for an adopted baby.
* Adventures of a Breastfeeding Mother shares her pumping tips.
* Mike and Toni's writes about how a pumping experience turned into a business idea-- hands free pumping supports.

Answering Your Breastfeeding Questions

December 20, 2007

I've been doing some guest writing on The Nest Baby, a cool site for new moms. Readers have been submitting questions about breastfeeding and I've been answering them. You can check out all of the answers on this link. You can also jump right to the specific questions from these links:
Breastfeeding Positions
Breast Lumps and Nursing
Dealing with Thrush
Inverted Nippes
Milk Blisters
Newborn Eating Enough?
Getting Help At Home
Prepping to Nurse?
Prepping to Pump?
Pumping and Work
Pumping Problems
Storing Breastmilk
Travel while Nursing
Weaning and Milk Supply
Pumping Extra Milk

If you have a specific question, feel free to email me any time at mamaknowsbreast@yahoo.com.

Medela Swing Breast Pump Product Review

September 26, 2007

Medela sent me its latest pump, the Medela Swing Breast Pump. This is Medela's first single electric pump. It's small and light-weight and could fit easily in a purse or briefcase. Since my pumping days are over, I gave it to my friend Eliana to give it a test run. Here's what she had to say:

The Swing is a welcome addition to the arsenal of any breastfeeding mom on the go. As a working traveling mom the best I could do before the Swing was to remove the heavy cumbersome rectangular motor from the Pump In Style backpack and schlep it in my carry-on. The pump took up much of the suitcase and was extremely heavy- especially when loaded with large heavy batteries. The Swing in contrast is light, compact, and just as powerful.

The pump motor unit is neat and user-friendly. The circular shape fits neatly into its own carrying pouch with plenty of room to hold all the necessary attachments. Four large buttons make the pump's 2-phase expression a cinch to operate. You simply start by pressing the power button to begin the stimulation phase. Once your milk starts to flow you press the expression phase to continue pumping or let the expression phase begin on its own after 2 minutes. The strength of the suction is easily adjusted with the large "+" and "-" buttons- there are no knobs to fiddle with and no tiny buttons to adjust. The body has a long shoulder/neck strap that enables the pumper to actually wear the pump during use- eliminating the need to find a clean stationary place to set up shop (super helpful when you find yourself pumping in a skanky airport bathroom).

The Soft-Fit breastshields are comfortable and effective, and the one piece design of the pump body makes for less loose parts to lose on the road.

The motor runs on 4 AA batteries (much lighter than the heavy batteries needed for other models) and comes with a power cord. The suction is powerful and consistent. The Swing pump is quieter than the Pump-In-Style but louder than a manual. You wouldn't want to use this while on a conference call unless you are working for a drum company. Each powerful pump ends with the slightly grating sound of a lightly clapping cymbal. The other drawback is that the Swing is strictly for single pumping- so if double pumping is a requirement then you are best to stick with the Pump-in-Style. Personally, I could never handle the logistics or schlepping involved in double pumping and single pumped even with my Pump-In-Style, so the Swing was a perfect solution. Powerful and tough enough for daily use but compact and light enough to slip into a purse (albeit a large purse). Overall a solid product and a more convienient option for nursing mom's on the go.

New Rules For Taking Pumped Breast Milk on an Airplane

July 20, 2007

At long last, it seems the Transportation Security Administration has come to its senses. It has done away with the rule limiting the amount of pumped breast milk a mom can carry on board an airplane.

Up until now, the old rule limited a mom traveling without a baby to three ounces of milk in her carry on luggage. Anything more and it had to be checked. Oddly enough, if you had the baby with you, you could carry on more than three ounces. Obviously logic had nothing to do with this rule. If you had your baby with you, you wouldn't be carrying so much milk, you'd be breastfeeding. And if you didn't have your baby, you probably had more than three ounces of pumped milk with you.

Anyway...the new rule about breast milk goes into effect on August 4th. Here's what today's press release has to say:

TSA is also modifying the procedures associated with carrying breast milk through security checkpoints. Mothers flying with or without their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoint.

The procedural adjustments were developed based on process and effectiveness studies, feedback from the workforce and regular consultation with airports, airlines and other security partners. This marks the third modification to security procedures within the last year. On August 10, 2006, a complete ban on liquids, gels and aerosols was implemented immediately following the thwarted terror plot in the United Kingdom, and the update to those measures permitting travel-size amounts of liquids went into effect in September of 2006.

...Since August 2006, 59 countries around the world have adopted the 3-1-1 standard for liquids, gels and aerosols: three ounce containers, in one clear, zip-top plastic bag and one bag per traveler at the checkpoint.

This new rule regarding breast milk was issued along with a new rule about lighters. An odd pairing if you ask me, but whatever. Common lighters are no longer banned; but torch lighters are still a no-go.

And here are some final gems from the TSA's Frequently Asked Questions for this rule:

Q. Why is breast milk not a threat?
A. Breast milk is a medical necessity and it is being classified as such. It must be declared at the checkpoint.

Q. How do you ensure liquid explosives disguised as breast milk or medications are not brought through the checkpoint?
A. Since September 2006, certain liquid medications have been permitted at the checkpoint as long as they are declared to security officers and are subject to additional screening.

Q. Do passengers carrying breast milk need to taste it to prove it is not a liquid explosive?
A. No. We will not ask a traveler to taste breast milk.

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Via, Jake from Birth Without Boundaries.

NY Store The Upper Breast Side Has a New Location

May 23, 2007

I apologize up front to all of you who aren't in New York City. But if you make it here for any reason, you've got to go check out The Upper Breast Side-- a store dedicated to all things breastfeeding. Their slogan, "You bring your breasts, we've got the rest."

This Upper West Side (hence the name) institution recently moved to a new location at 135 West 70th Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam). I knew the store was moving, but I stumbled on the location today by accident, while watching a new mom carrying her infant in a sling. (I was impressed by her sling savvy. I was a total failure at the sling thing).

Anyway, this is THE place to go if you need a nursing top, breast pump, book-- you name it. They will even help you find the perfect bra size. One caveat, double strollers with side by side seats won't fit through the doorway. They'll help you out. But maybe bring an extra set of hands with you if you have to bring two kiddos.

Milk Shortage at Colorado Milk Bank

March 16, 2007

I first saw this story over at the Motherwear Breastfeeding blog...

The Mothers' Milk Bank in Colorado desparately needs donations. Their supplies are running low. That poses a serious risk for babies like 6 month old Julia Lam, who is getting donated breast milk while she undergoes chemotherapy.

To see Julia's story, you can watch this video from a Denver TV station.

To make a donation, go to the milk bank website or call (303)869-1888 or toll free (877)458-5503. You don't have to live in Colorado to help out.

Breast Feeding Product Reviews

March 04, 2007

Angela at Breastfeeding 123 gets my vote today for hardest working, most diligent blogger. My eyes practically jumped out of my head when I saw her latest post.

Angela has compiled a fantastic collection of breastfeeding product reviews. Basically, she found reviews from all the breastfeeding bloggers out there, and provides links to the sites. If you click here, you'll find reviews of breastfeeding products, books and clothing. If you can think of it, she's got it. Here's a list of the reviews:
Breastfeeding bras
Breast pumps
Breastfeeding accessories
Breastfeeding art and calendars
Breastfeeding bloggers' stores
Breastfeeding and parenting books
Children's breastfeeding books
Children's breastfeeding toys
Sewing your own breastfeeding products
Nursing bracelets
Nursing covers
Nursing necklaces
Nursing pads
Nursing pillows
Nursing shirts
Slings
Breastfeeding videos
Kids' products

Bravo Angela. What an invaluable resource you've created!

Breast Milk For Sale-- Milk Banks, Wet Nurses and Casual Sharing

January 16, 2007

The Washington Post has an excellent story today on the growing trend of alternative ways to feed your baby breast milk, even if you aren't breastfeeding. The piece, "Banking on Milk: Options Are Growing for Women Who Can't Breast-Feed," covers all its bases-- non-profit and for-profit milk banks, wet nursing and cross nursing.

Breast milk, touted by the government and even formula-makers as the best food for babies, is becoming a hot commodity. Ten nonprofit milk banks that match donors to those searching for milk are accredited members of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). For-profit milk banks and wet nurses for hire are also available. Countless other private transactions go on, many facilitated by the Internet, creating a sisterhood among strangers. Some moms "cross-nurse" with babies of friends and relatives.

But the milk-sharing movement, still largely an underground network, brings up many questions. First, there is worry about the safety of unscreened milk, which can pass diseases such as HIV and syphilis to babies. Others debate ethical concerns, such as whether people should make money selling human milk and how such businesses should be regulated.

Best of all, Jennifer of The Lactivist is quoted in the article!

Breast Pumping Video-- Can Men Pump and Breast Feed?

December 16, 2006

Did you ever find yourself thinking, "I wish, just for one minute, he knew what this felt like"? Maybe you were referring to trying to sleep when you're 8 months pregnant, or perhaps pitocin-induced contractions.

If so, I've found the men for you. Some adventurous dads decided to test drive a breast pump. And that, my friends, is this week's YouBoob video. It's coming to you courtesy of the guys at Dad Labs. I found it through one of the bloggers, Dad Gone Mad, on the new site Babble.

Women often pump for ten or twenty minutes a pop. Personally, I've had my ups and downs with my pump. So how long do you think this guy lasted? Click here to find out.

So fellas...anyone else up to taking this one step further and trying to breast feed? So men claim they can actually do it!

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Which Breast Pump Do You Use?

December 06, 2006

When The Bortski was a baby, I pumped milk all the time. I pumped so I could go out to dinner with my husband. I pumped so I could do some freelance work. I pumped so I could go skiing for a couple of hours. The Medela Pump In Style was my best friend. Sort of.

When baby number two, The Bear, was born eight months ago, I pulled my breast pump out of the closet and pumped to relieve engorgement. But now, that pump is back in the closet next to my husband's shoes. It is literally gathering dust. I have used a hand pump (the Medela Harmony) a few times. I even stuck it in my purse once and took it to a black tie wedding. But even that pump isn't getting much use lately.

Why have I abondoned pumping? I'm not quite sure. Perhaps because The Bear sleeps solidly between 6 pm and 11pm, so there's little risk he'll wake up hungry and torture a babysitter if we went out. Perhaps I don't pump because I'm working from home. Or maybe I'm just too lazy.

So why the ramblings about my pumps? Another blogger, The bOOb Lady's Blog, has asked me for suggestions of the best pumps. So I turn to all of you. Which ones do you use? Which do you love? Which do you hate? What's the best bang for the buck? And while you're at it, anyone have any good pumping stories to share?

Meanwhile...I have to say, in a weird way it's a blessing I haven't been pumping and stockpiling frozen milk. Our refrigerator is not working well, and I would be absolutely beside myself if I had to throw out pumped milk. But the refrigerator...man, don't get me started. That's another story altogether.

Pumping and Flying Update

October 17, 2006

Update: a new rule effective August 4, 2007 does away with the limits on the amount of breast milk a mom can carry on board a plane.

********

A little update from the TSA...
I got an email this morning from the Office of Public Affairs at the Transporation Security Administration. The PR person who wrote to me wanted to add that if you are traveling with your baby, you CAN bring ice through the security checkpoint to cool the formula or breast milk you might be bringing on board. The ice exemption also applies to medications that need to be cooled.

Flying and Pumping--What's a Mom to Do

October 16, 2006

Update: a new rule effective August 4, 2007 does away with the limits on the amount of breast milk a mom can carry on board a plane.

********

I love the Style section in the Sunday New York Times. Seriously, it's the highlight of the paper for me. My husband brings it to me if I'm still in bed, breast feeding the Titty Bear (From here on out, the Titty Bear will simply be called "The Bear." We decided he might be embarrassed to learn some day that we called him the Titty Bear. What would his friends say?)

I digress. Anyway, I was thrilled yesterday to see a piece in the Style section about a mom who goes on a business trip, breast pump in hand. She describes all the crazy places she had to pump (in the plane, on a bus, in a closet), and ultimately what happened when she had to pass through airport security with a cooler full of breast milk.

The new restrictions for carry-on luggage have made traveling even tougher for breast feeding moms who have left their babes at home and need to pump.

It's all a little confusing, so I called the TSA to try to figure this out. Here's the deal: If you have a baby with you, you can bring formula and pumped breast milk on board. You just have to show it to an agent at the security check point. If you don't have a baby with you, you are more restricted. You can bring on board the plane one, quart-size ziploc bag, with three ounce containers of breast milk inside. (Each passenger is allowed one ziploc bag for any toiletries). If you have more milk than that, you will have to put it in a cooler, pack it up with ice, and send it on it's way with your luggage.

For a little more information, here's a link to the TSA's rules about carry on luggage. Here is specific information about breast milk and formula.

So if you're planning a trip any time soon, and need to leave the babe behind and instead, tote the pump, good luck to you. I know these flight restrictions are there to keep us safe, but boy oh boy, do you need a serious level of dedication if you intend to bring that liquid gold home with you. Happy trails to you.

Letters to The New York Times

September 07, 2006

You may recall the recent New York Times story about how hard it is for working moms to breastfeed, especially moms who don't have "white collar" jobs. As the article pointed out, white collar workers have an easier time pumping because they often have privates offices or even designated lactation rooms. "Blue collar" workers often find their jobs incompatible with breastfeeding, and their employers unsupportive. ( I wrote about this story on September 4).

These Letters to the Editor reaffirm the primary point of the article. They emphasize the need for employers, and even the government, to foster an environment that makes it easier to pump, or even breastfeed, at work.

Comments on the NYT Story About Breastfeeding at Work

September 04, 2006

Here are the comments that people have written to the New York Times about the challenges of breastfeeding at work.

Breastfeeding Challenges for Working Moms

To state the obvious...The New York Times is reporting that breastfeeding is easier for "professional" working moms, than it is for "working class" moms. In this front page story, the Times highlights the differences at Starbucks. At the corporate offices in Seattle, moms have a special lactation room and company-supplied pumps. Women who work in the Starbucks coffee shops, on the other hand, have to pump in the same bathroom that customers use.

Is this really news? Or is the Times finally telling a story that needs to be told? Health care professionals tell us that breast milk is the "gold standard" for infant nutrition, but our working culture makes breastfeeding a big challenge.

Moms who work in restaurants, department stores and factories have to jump through hoops to find a place and time to pump. Even under the best of circumstances, moms who have a private office, designated lactation room or conference room, find that they have to explain to their bosses, colleagues and clients that they are unavailable at certains times of the day because they need to pump. Let's face it, breastfeeding is simply much easier for moms who are able to stay home with their babies. They don't have to worry about pumping often enough during the day to maintain their milk supply.

According to the New York Times article, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is about to launch a campaign called "The Business Case for Breastfeeding." This will emphasize findings that breastfeeding reduces absenteeism and pediatrician bills. But is an ad campaign really going to change anything for women in this country? Maybe, maybe not. At a minimum, it can't hurt. Even if one company finds a way to make it easier for breastfeeding moms, then it's a start. For the forseeable future, be prepared to fight your own battles.

So what's your experience? How supportive is your office?