Items Exclusively Pumping Moms Should Have

If you’re a mother who is unable to breastfeed but got lots of breast milk, you can choose to exclusively pump and feed your baby with expressed milk. This way, your child can still benefit from the rich nutrients found in your milk, without having to resort to formula feeding.

You have to build a steady supply of breast milk during the first 12 weeks after birth. As an exclusively pumping mom, you should express milk every 2-3 hours, just like breastfeeding women do. You can reduce the frequency later on as soon as you establish enough supply of milk for your infant.

There are items you need to have in order to exclusively pump successfully. Check the list below:

1. Reliable Electric Breast Pump (To Draw Out The Milk From Your Breasts)

You need to invest in a reliable electric breast pump since you will be using this tool every time you pump milk. It’s great if you can afford the hospital grade type. However, if your budget is limited, try purchasing a portable electric breast pump that’s quite as good and efficient for less than $200.

I exclusively pump and I love using Avent’s BPA Free Single Electric Breast Pump. It’s very easy to use and clean, and helps me maintain a steady supply of breast milk.

2. Breast Milk Storage Bottles (For Storing Breast Milk in the Fridge)

When you need to store breast milk in the refrigerator, you need to have milk storage bottles.

I use storage bottles from Avent because it is compatible with the breast pump I use. It is much easier to pump milk directly into the bottle, then store it in the fridge right away without having to move the milk between containers.

You need to have at least two 4-ounce containers in the refrigerator as backup. They’ll come handy when your baby is hungry and needs to feed him right away, versus letting him wait for you to pump fresh milk. Just make sure to use any stored breast milk within 72 hours.

3. Breast Milk Storage Bags (For Freezing Breast Milk)

During the initial weeks of pumping milk (every 2-3 hours), your breast milk supply increases. This is a good time to freeze some of your milk so you can use them in later months. Buy pre-sterilized milk containers or storage bags and freeze fresh breast milk in 4-ounce portions.

I use the plastic storage bags from Lansinoh. I love the double zip closure which prevents leaks and the ease of which I can store them flat in the freezer. Of course, there are plenty of storage containers you can try. Purchase the ones that fit your needs and budget.

4. Baby Bottles (To Hold Expressed Milk and For Feeding Your Baby)

Feed your baby with fresh breast milk as much as you can. After you finish expressing milk, transfer the milk into a baby bottle and let your child consume it within 4 hours.

You can buy whatever brand of feeding bottles for your baby. Get at least 6 of them so you’ll always have backup. Exclusively pumping is almost as same as formula-feeding when it comes to the chore of washing baby bottles and parts, so buying extra bottles is a wise choice.

5. Baby Bottle Sterilizer (To Kill Virus and Bacteria That May Contaminate the Milk )

Sterilize breast pump and baby bottles to kill germs that get passed on to the breast milk and cause your baby to get sick. It is a good practice to sterilize pump parts and bottles at least once a day.

My babies use Dr. Brown’s bottles and I use the steam sterilizer from the same brand. On the other hand, I sterilize the breast pump parts by placing them on top rack of the dishwasher once a day, and soaking them in hot water for 15 minutes after every use.

Pumping milk exclusively can be a lot of work for moms and also cost some money to buy the supplies you need. However, the health benefits that you bring to your baby are priceless. As an exclusively pumping mom myself, I could say it’s all worth the effort!