Whether you plan to exclusively pump breastmilk for your baby, pump breastmilk and supplement with formula, or if you need to pump for those occasions when you aren’t able to be a direct source for your baby, you’ll want a few essential items to make the process go smoothly and efficiently.
This quick list of pumping products will provide you with the key items you’ll want to have added to your grocery cart, online shopping cart, or baby registry.
While it is nice to have the prompts of “baby’s favorite food this month” or “how is baby sleeping” they won’t be needed with a daily journal because YOU get to decide what’s important from that day. You’re not confined to limited memories.
You can find these One Line A Day Journals on Amazon by clicking the links below or by searching “That Girl (or Boy) is Wild” on Amazon.
Electric Breast Pump
While a manual breastmilk pump or even learning how to hand express breastmilk might come in handy, it would be easiest for you and increase your likelihood of continuing to pump, if you have an electric pump.
From what I’ve seen I would say the Spectra breast pumps and the Medela breast pumps are leading the pack for good dependable breast pumps. I personally used the Medela Pump In Style. I did feel that I needed to hunch over for my milk to properly flow into the bottles, but it did express pretty well overall.
There are two main categories of electric pumps. The ones listed above are going to require an outlet and for you to sit stationary. There are also wearable breast pumps that run on rechargeable batteries that do not require you to be stationary.
My experience with wearable breast pumps is the Elvie double breast pump. With this pump in particular I cannot sing praises of how it helped to not be sitting next to an outlet. When I walked milk would splash upon the sensor and the unit would stop. This was one of the many issues I had with this wearable breast pump.
How to choose a breast pump
I would highly recommend you do your research before buying a pump, whether it’s stationary or a portable pump.
In my opinion the absolute best place to find honest reviews on this product (and many other baby products) is to join Facebook groups for the pumps you are considering and also to look in the What to Expect app in the discussion boards area. These are real women discussion real problems, solutions, and suggestions with their pumps.
If I had known to search these platforms I would have NEVER purchased the Elvie.
Purchasing your breast pump
Checking with your insurance is a must. Call the number on the back of your card and they should be able to assist you in determining which pumps to choose from or how much they allow to go towards a pump. You can also checkout websites like Aeroflow that will assist you in working with your insurance company to purchase the pump you would like.
If you do not have health insurance I would absolutely suggest buying secondhand. You can almost always buy attachment pieces to your pump for a low price (the ones below for the Medela Pump in Style are $14.99 on Amazon!). These pieces (duck and bill, tubes, valves, flanges, etc.) may need to be replaced after regular pumping anyways so you can get the expensive part (the actual pump) at a significantly cheaper price and then buy your own attachments to make sure they are sanitary and fit you properly!
I also want to point out that flanges (the part that goes on your breasts to suction your nipples and express your breastmilk) come in different sizes. I learned, after wearing the wrong size flange for quite some time, that there are tools to make measuring your nipples easy, I used the pumpables website. All I did was submit my e-mail and they sent me a pdf that I printed, cut out some circles and stuck my nipples through to see which was the closest. Easy-peasy.
Manual Pump
A manual pump is not a necessity in my opinion, but there were times that one came in handy. Those times I needed “just enough to” XYZ or the baby had just finished a bottle and went down for a nap when I got home.
It’s nice sometimes to not have to drag out your electric pump or make sure your wearable pump is charged.
You could use just a manual pump if you could not afford an electric one, but I would only recommend it if you only plan on leaving baby for a few hours here and there. If you’re planning on going back into the workforce and needing to pump 3+ times a day this would take a toll on your hands.
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump
The Haakaa is technically a “manual” breast pump but it really should be in it’s own category. I LOVE this pump, along with so many other breastfeeding moms.
All you have to do is fold down the flange area back towards the round center part, then you squeeze the center of the Haakaa and put the opening around your nipple, let go of the center, and flip the flange back and it does all the work! I know that sounds complicated but it’s so simple once you see it, here’s a video I found on YouTube to show you.
My favorite time to use the Haakaa was first thing in the morning. While my baby was on one side breastfeeding I would attach the Haakaa to the other side and I would get a good few ounces since she hadn’t fed in a while.
One of the greatest benefits of using the Haakaa in my opinion is that this catches your letdown from the breast your baby is not on – that milk would have been WASTED into a nursing pad!
Although I never collected a large quantity of breastmilk using the Haakaa it was so incredibly easy to use and so easy to clean it was an absolute favorite breastfeeding/pumping item.
Nursing Breast Pads
A necessary evil in my opinion. I did not have the best of luck with breast pads.
I only used the disposable ones, I had read about mildew in the pads and yeast infections on nipples with the reusable breast pads, but I may cautiously take the risk next time.
I found with the disposable nursing pads it was best to purchase ones that were not folded in the packaging. With the folded ones they were more likely to roll on themselves when I was pulling my nursing tank or bra up after a feeding. So frustrating and it could be painful to remove if the adhesion rolled onto my nipple.
I had the best luck with these disposable nursing pads.
Pumping Bra
Not necessarily a necessity, but it will make your pumping experience so much easier. There are also many affordable options.
I bought this one. I bought a medium based on some reviews but I should have gone with a large to have a little more room. It still was a million times better than trying to hold a bottle in each hand and not spill any breastmilk when trying to turn the machine off and unhook myself.
I think next time I’ll buy one with straps though. I just don’t care for strapless bras in general. Another very good reason to buy one with straps (like this one) is that most of them are multi-functional. You can use them for nursing as well as pumping.
If you happen to have an old sports bra hanging around you can always cut two holes and viola, a homemade nursing bra. There are a lot of tutorials online.
Bottles
You may be tempted to go out and buy (or add to your registry) a few bulk boxes of bottles.
I strongly urge you to resist. Or at the very least not to open them until baby has tried a single bottle in that brand. Most retailers will not allow you to return bottles if the packaging was opened.
Your breastfed baby may refuse multiple bottles before he or she accepts one.
Many retailers offer welcome baby or baby registry bags that include samples, including bottles! I received at least 5 bottles FREE just from sample bags at stores!
You can definitely try to research what bottles breastfed babies will take, but it will ultimately be up to your baby.
Just a heads up, this goes for pacifiers too. I tried pretty much every single piece pacifier for a month on rotation before my daughter would accept one (and that was only for a short period of time).
Breastmilk Storage Bags
Bottle Drying Rack
I was drawn to this one because it took up less counter space. I liked it so much I ordered a second one to keep at the office.
Bottle Cleaner
OXO brand for the win again. I have purchased multiples of these bottle brush cleaners as well.
It is sturdy, I like that it has a collection area in the bottom for water that you can drain and it also has a nipple cleaner built in.
Dishwasher Basket
I would recommend buying one that has smaller holes, like this dishwasher basket. Especially for pumping parts.
I bought the one in the image above and some of my Elvie parts could have easily slipped out.
Breastmilk Cooler Bag
There are some fancy breastmilk cooler bags out there that you may find very useful if you are pumping away from home often.
At most I pumped twice a day two days a week. I was able to get by with adding a couple extra ice packs to my lunch bag and transporting my breastmilk home that way.
Pumping Bag
While we’re on the subject bags, you will also need some sort of bag to drag your pumping supplies around.
I just used a bag I already had laying at home. If I was going to be pumping full time at work then I may have invested in one of these pumping bags.
Wash Basin
The CDC (as well as other reputable health organizations) recommends that you DO NOT wash your breast pumping supplies in your sink.
I always just used a clear storage tub that I had purchased prior, but it was a designated basin that only held bottles, pump parts, and utensils used by my baby.
Tracking App or Journal
I really liked the Baby Tracker app for all things baby (pumping, breastfeeding, diaper changes, sleep, etc.). I realized late that you could track not only what you pumped, but also how much baby drank so you could have a clear number of ounces you had stored. If I do it again I’ll be sure to use this feature to it’s full potential.
Your pump may come with a tracking app as well. The Elvie did.
Pumping Essentials Aren't One Fit All
Just like pump flanges aren’t one size fits all, so are what we each would find essential.
There are definitely some items that other moms may swear by that I would never dream of purchasing.
Another consideration is that mothers have different pumping journeys.
My pumping experience would be very different compared to a mom that exclusively pumped (exclusively pumping moms are my absolute heroes by the way – talk about dedication!).
Are there any items you saw were missing that you think you need to have? Or perhaps items on this list that surprised you, or maybe even an item that you hadn’t heard of yet?
I would love to hear from you!
This is really great to know for when I have kids. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond!
A very precise list with so many options that are described so optimally. Thank you!
Thank you! There are so many options out there!
I completely agree with your suggestions. As a mom of 3, these items helped me so much! Thank you!
Thank you! There are definitely some items that can make the processes a little easier!
This is a great list of items! I bought an electric hands-free pump this time around and it is a game charger. I ordered an off brand one on Amazon and have been so happy with it!
Hands-free can definitely come in handy!
Wow!! I can’t wait to show this to my future mom friends. This has all the essentials!!
Thank you!