Tips for pumping milk at work

Plenty of mamas manage to successfully pump breast milk when they return to work. There's a small learning curve though, and the right gear and some tips can pave the way to a better pumping experience. The right gear:

• Get a decent breast pump first off. For breast milk pumping at work get a pump that's strong, fast, and portable like the Pump In Style Advanced or the Purely Yours Ultra.
• Consider buying some extra pump parts so you don't have to wash your pump parts between pumping sessions.
• Have some extra storage bags on hand. Most pumps come with two or four storage bottles, but on a long day at work you may need back up storage like Gerber Seal 'N Go Breast Milk Storage Bags.
• Consider a hands-free milk pumping bra if you only get short breaks.
• Take a big sweater along because if the office is chilly it can make pumping harder.

Tips for pumping success: Try to relax which will help milk let down. The best way to relax when you need to pump is to make sure you feel secure about privacy first. Talk to your boss about a quiet, lockable space. It's hard to pump when your brain keeps saying, "Someone might walk in!" Keep tasks to a minimum while pumping. Don't try to take calls or do other tasks that require too much concentration. This is a great time to answer emails or sort mail. Remind yourself why you're pumping. I personally did not find pumping much fun. It was hard, I had a hard time pumping a lot of milk, and it takes time. What kept me hanging in there was reminding myself how healthy breast milk was for my son. Are you pumping at work? Has it been a challenge?