The Pump Setup | MVP Mama

Like so many things involved to ensure that your little one is well-fed, having the right pump setup can be a game changer. This is especially true if you have any illusions about wanting to optimize your time. And what mama couldn’t use more time on her hands?

While I started with an ad-hoc setup on my nightstand, I got sick of this quickly and rethought my workflow. Think careful maneuvering to avoid upsetting anything as I fumbled my way to connect myself to the pump in a half asleep stupor. Then finding a comfortable position to sit in for the next 15 minutes, before I fumbled some more to pour the hard earned milk into clean bottles. In the dark. The term “no use crying over split milk” is not being used ironically here, people.

So after testing the second pump and finding significantly better, I realized that there simply wasn’t enough space for the whole contraption. That’s when I loaded the whole thing on a lightweight rolling cart, and off we went to a much happier #PUMPLIFE.

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The CART

Here’s what I put together shortly after delivery -

2 Pumps - Medela, Spectra

1 set of Pump Straps - As far as I know these are just fetal monitor straps repurposed by my hospital to secure the flanges. Not sure if this is done anywhere else, not able to find any references online

2 Wash Tubs - 1 each for clean and dirty items

Wipes - Tissues and Wet Wipes

Assembly Notes -

  • By securing the tubes of both pumps with zip ties to the cart I was able to avoid them from slipping all over the place. Mine are loose enough they can be pulled toward me, yet fixed to keep them from dangling onto the ground.

  • You’ll notice some additional items in the photo not listed. While these may be secondary to the essentials, having some basics can go a long way to a happier, saner mama. No need to overthink. I simply included the items that I found myself reaching for before and after, which for me included nipple cream, nipple shields, and hair clips.

  • I’ve since moved to a cordless setup that pairs Baby Buddha with Freemie Cups, rendering the 2 pumps above largely obsolete on a daily basis. Why so many pumps? Since I was lucky enough to inherit a brand new Medela as well as a used (closed system) Spectra, I held off on ordering my own pump through insurance until after the delivery. This was great since it allowed me to understand my pain threshold, what my throughput looked like and how I could operate most efficiency, without having to wait for a pump post delivery. This dangles from a hook near the cart or rests in a pocket in our bassinet depending on where I decide to pump.

Do let us know if this was helpful by dropping a comment in below!

Lulu LinMVP, Mama, GCComment