I am 9 months in to my exclusive pumping journey with baby number two and I wanted to share my essentials since day 1. The following are suggestions for a variety of pumping situations, from exclusive pumping to pumping alongside nursing.

The right breast pump to fit your needs:

One of the reasons I was unable to go beyond 10 weeks of exclusive pumping with my first was that I felt a slave to my pump. I felt very trapped and restricted being attached to an outlet and large pump which made me start to resent pumping. I would skip pumping sessions because I couldn’t bare to do it again which ultimately led to a significant decrease in my supply. This time, I chose a pump that fit my lifestyle. I needed something that was strong enough to empty me, small, hands free and gave me the flexibility to move and multi task. 

The Pumpables Genie Advanced – there’s a reason why everyone loves this pump. It’s gentle, powerful and I respond really well to it. It comes with a belt and lanyard to make it easy to move about the house with. I pair it with the Legendairy milk cups (shown below) for even more flexibility. I personally hate the flanges coming out my bra.

To buy: Pumpables Genie Advanced from $180

WEARABLE PUMP: EUFY BABY

If you plan to exclusively pump, then a wearable is an absolute must have. I never got one with my first and it was a game changer round 2. I respond very well to wearables so I have found that I have always got the same output across both my primary and wearable. This is not the case for everyone and a reminder that they are not meant to fully empty you in the same way that a primary pump is. The motors typically are not as strong and the fit/mechanics of it just isn’t the same as true hospital grade pump.

PRO’s: The pump is a closed system pump which means the milk cannot get to the motor and it includes a heat flow technology to help with the milk flow – I LOVE this feature. It holds 5oz, although I have pushed this to 6oz by overfilling the lines and it does just fine as long as you’re not trying to pick anything up from the floor. 

It has 3 cycle speeds, 4 rhythms and 7 suction levels and heat settings which makes it very customizable. It gently heats up over time and moves between stimulation and expression. The pump strength is 300mmHG and it is definitely strong given my output.

If you’re on the go a lot then you will love the charging case too. I think its more of a nice to have rather than a neccessity.

CON’S: the heat flow technology drains the battery fast, milk can spill if you pour it slightly wrong when emptying the cups and it doesn’t have an auto shut off once the cups are full like some of the other wearables. 

In full transparency, I did receive this product for free but would only promote it if I genuinely loved and used it daily (which I do). 

To buy: Eufy Baby S1 Pro from $239-329

CERES CHILL

A must have for on the go pumping. With the OG Breastmilk Chiller,  there’s no need for a fridge, bulky ice packs, or plastic bags and bottles. It keeps your milk cool for 20 hours and holds 12-34oz . I also used this for my middle of the night pumps and poured directly into here to avoid having to go downstairs to put the pumped milk in the fridge. The kitchen seems very far away at 2am!

To buy: Ceres Chill Cooler from $72

PITCHER

Pooling breastmilk into a pitcher is an easy and safe way to combine your milk from different pumping sessions over a 24 hour period. It’s also a way to evenly distribute nutrients from each pumping session i.e your daytime and nighttime milk.

I started doing this from week 1. Every time I pumped, I would add the freshly pumped milk straight in the pitcher and place it in the fridge. I was always producing a little more than she ate so this method allowed me to collect the surplus of milk so that I wasn’t pumping on demand. Over the first 2 weeks, I was able to build this surplus up so that I was a full day ahead with my pumped milk. I would have 1 pitcher for collection that day and 1 pitcher to feed from. Anything left over from the day I would add to my freezer stash.

The CDC guidelines recommend you should chill freshly pumped milk first before combining with already chilled milk. The concern is that pooling could increase bacteria growth by slightly warming already chilled milk. However, the CDC recommendations like to err on the side of caution and the guidelines given don’t have the research behind it to support this. I’ve linked an article that summarizes the study here, which finds that temperature fluctuations do not lead to increase bacteria count. Breastmilk is amazing and is filled with so many antomicrobial and protective properties. Ultimately, it comes down to what you are comfortable doing. Personally, I have had no issues combining the temperatures.

To buy: Glass Milk Pitcher from amazon $17.99

To buy: Dr Browns Pitcher from amazon $9.99

COMFORTABLE PUMPING BRAS

This is definitely an accessory you’ll want to make some investments in – especially if you will be pumping exclusively. If the bra does not fit properly or is too tight, it may have a direct affect on your output. Pumping bras are a very personal decision and I’d recommend shopping around to find what works for you or speak to a lactaction consultant who can properly fit you.

Momcozy: I loved this one for more support and it was something I would wear when on the go and more mobile. It would fit both the cups and wearables, was fitted but not restrictive. I also liked that you could adjust the clips to make more room for the pump too, if needed.

Love Steady Adore Bralette: My everyday bralette. Personally, I am not a fan of normal bras anyway so this fit with my preference. If you are larger chested, this may not be appropriate to have on with a wearable since its supportive, but on the lower support side. This one really worked well for my morning/nighttime pumps. Code EMSNELL will save you on your first order.

To buy: Adore bralette, Love Steady from $38. Code EMSNELL to save on your first order

To buy: Momcozy Wearable Pump Bra from amazon $39.99

PUMPING SPRAY

Lubricating your flanges makes pumping so much more comfortable, especially at the beginning everything feels way more sensitive. I love Legendairy Milk’s Pump spray or this CooBoo Pumping Spray from amazon

TO buy: CoBoo Organic Pumping Spray from $19.99

To Buy: Legendairy Milk Pumping Spray from $24.99. EMSNELL15 FOR 15% OFF

PERELEL HYDRATION SUPPLEMENT

Hydration is HUGE for your milk supply. I love this hydration powder for added collagen, hyaluronic acid, sunflower lecithin, and electrolytes. The flavor is super subtle unlike a lot of the electrolytes on the market and has been something I’ve had daily!

To buy: Perelel Cellular Hydration Powder from $34.99. Code EMSNELL20 to save on your first order/subscription

LEGENDAIRY MILK BARRIER BAGS

If you plan to freeze and store any of your breast milk, you’ll need to invest in some milk storage bags. I loved these barrier bags from legendairy milk as they feature a UV barrier, oxidation blocker, leak-resistance double layer and an easy pour spout. These are also recommended for anyone with high lipase. I personally noted no smell to my breast milk once thawed using these however when using the regular Lanisoh plastic bags I did note a small (although not significant) smell. Worth the $!

LEGENDAIRY MILK CUPS

Personally, I want to be as hands free as possible when pumping and so I made tbe switch to cups pretty earlier on. These work well with the Pumpables Genie Advanced, but are compatible with most breast pumps. A truly hands free experience – pump anytime you’d like, wherever you’d like.

To buy: 50 Barrier bags from Legendairy Milk $21.59

To buy: Silicone Collection cups from Legendairy Milk $59.99. Use code EMSNELL15 for 15% off first order

COLLAPSIBLE SINK

With exclusive pumping – or pumping in general – comes ALOT of washing. Between all the pump parts and bottles it can feel never ending, especially in the early months. I personally opt for the fridge hack which saved me a considerable amount of time and washing. Alongside this, I have a collapsible sink that I put all my dirty bottles in and would wash 1-2x times a day (x2 in the earlier days) in hot soapy water.

NOTE: If the fridge hack isn’t for you, consider purchasing spare pump parts so you can rotate without having to clean every time. I recommend doing this anyway as it will especially be helpful when you are still doing those middle of the night pumps. The last thing I wanted to do was go up and down the stairs at 10am, 2am and 4am!

A dedicated bottle brush/drying rack

I like to have a bottle brush that’s dedicated entirely to pump parts and bottles because there’s something that gross’ me out about sharing it with all our dirty plates. I also have a separate drying rack and have found out of the few I have tried that I prefer vertical hanging racks.

To buy: Bottle drying rack from $25.99

To Buy: Electric Brush Set from $34.99

Consider your unique circumstances when making determinations about the pumping products you invest in. For a breastfeeding mama, you may prefer to keep things way more simple. For more pumping hacks, check out my Top 5 Pumping Tips For Exclusive Pumping Moms