This post is about the must-have breast pumping supplies for our pumping journey.
When I began breast pumping, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Throughout my pregnancy, I only prepared to exclusively breastfeed, but due to a weak latch and thrush issues, we had to turn to breast pumping.
Just like that, my exclusively pumping journey began at only 5 days postpartum.
No one around me had ever done what I was embarking on doing aka exclusively pumping. So you can just image how lost I felt trying to find what are the must have breast pumping supplies.
Furthermore, I was also looking for ways to make my life slightly easier, after all, I had no close family nearby and my partner was out working.
Must-Have Breast Pumping Supplies
Maybe it was cultural on my end, but it seems like not many people are quite knowledgeable about breast pumping.
Honestly, no one even had advice, whether good or bad, about me pumping. No one around me knew anything. Nothing.
When it comes to pumping, you will need a vast majority of things that not only make your life easier, but are also necessities and life changers!
Below I have compiled a list of breast pumping supplies that many breast pumping moms love and swear made a big difference in their breastfeeding journey!
I’m on a Budget. How Can I Afford All These Breast Pumping Supplies?
I understand being on a budget, after all, I was on a budget throughout my whole exclusively pumping journey. I recommend going through your health insurance to see if they offer a free breast pump. From there, if they do, you can also check if they provide you pump replacement parts, as well as breastmilk bags.
Every health insurance is different and each have a different stand on what they offer for free or at a reduced price.
Also, be sure to create a baby registry and try to get it out to as many people as possible. Do not shy away from including pumping items.
From there, you can also head to the Mercari App to see what deals are available.
I checked the Mercari app every single day multiple times a day trying to find breast pumping supplies deals.
I opted to buy mostly new aka opened packages because I did not want used pump parts. I found so many good prices there. Many moms, specially during nesting, purchase many items they believe they will use when their baby is born. Due to this reason, they end up with many unused items, so they would rather make some money back than, rather than donating it or throwing it out.
RELATED: Is Mercari Legit? All You Need to Know About Mercari
Furthermore, Mercari does not pay the seller until you review the item and check that the item is as described. For this reason, Mercari sellers are less likely to lie about the quality of their items.
Another thing I did was buy pumping supplies throughout as needed. This way I was not spending more than $100 at a time.
RELATED: How to Save Money on Baby Products
17 Must-Have Breast Pumping Supplies
The breast pumping supplies below have been total game changers to any pumping mom.
1. Lactation Massagers
The purpose of lactation massagers is to massage your breast to help increase milk production. They also help empty your breasts faster through heat and vibrations.
And if you know you are prone to clogged milk ducts, these are extremely helpful to massage it out of your breasts, which is the reason why you see below that lactation massagers have a slightly pointed edge.
2. Breastmilk Collector
A breastmilk collector, more specifically the Haaka, is great to help get clogged milk ducts out. But not only that, many lactating women leak throughout the day, so putting on a ladybug-type of breastmilk collector helps you save the milk without pumping.
READ MORE: Nursing Cart Essentials
3. Breast Pump Wipes
Breast pump wipes are perfect when you are on the go! I primarily stayed home, but I still bought the breast pump wipes because after all, as an exclusively pumping mom, I knew I had to take my breast pump everywhere I went, so I was always prepared when needed. My daughter also took a pacifier, so they were also helpful when I needed to clean her pacifier after it fell to the ground.
4. Manual Breast Pump
A manual breast pump is extremely important for any pumping mom because you never know when your electric pump stops working, charger breaks, or you’re out of pump parts. In these situations is where having a manual breast pump is beneficial.
5. Reusable Nursing Pads
Opt for reusable nursing pads due to their eco friendly nature and because they are soft against your skin. They are equally absorbent as single use reusable nursing pads and you can get the fabric of your liking.
6. Pumping Spray
This is something I was sleeping on for the longest! When I tell you I can still vividly remember the first time I used a pumping spray… that’s how much of a difference it made to my pumping journey.
A pumping spray is a liquid you spray onto the flanges or breast shields and once you begin pumping, your breasts now have some lubrication and therefore, it reduces pain and/or discomfort.
If you already own coconut oil, you can also use that instead.
7. Therapy Packs
Therapy packs are so helpful to both empty breasts and to reduce engorgement. By heating the therapy pack, it can help you empty your breasts faster, this is the same way lactation massagers work. By letting the therapy pack cool in the freezer, it can help you with engorgement.
I used these warmed when I had clogged milk ducts, and cold when I was weaning from the pump.
READ MORE: How to Wean From Pumping Schedule
8. Cooler Bag with Ice Pack
This is another item that is useful to have. You never know when you’ll need it. I know I needed one when I had to fly cross country by myself with my daughter at just 3 months postpartum.
9. Nursing Bra/Tank Tops
Nursing clothing pieces such as bras and tank tops allow for your breasts to be easily accessible to nurse a baby, but they are also now designed in a way that they become hands free pumping bras/tank tops.
READ MORE: Baby Registry Must Haves (Free Checklist Printable)
10. Clear Bins
I used a long organizer clear bin similar to the one below to organize my frozen breastmilk bags. I would freeze them flat, then add them onto the long clear bin and once it was full, I created a milk brick, and then repeated the process. There was another long organizer in the fridge. Here I organized my daughter’s baby bottles from newest to oldest. I used to prep them all at the end of the night and freeze the leftover milk. So I was always using these clear bins to organize different items in relation to breastmilk I pumped.
I 10/10 recommend setting up a system to organize your breastmilk. If you are an overproducer like I was, it accumulates quickly, so it’s important to have a system in place.
RELATED: What is a Breast Milk Brick and Why Should You Make Them
11. Mason Jar with Lid for Pitcher Method
This, along with a clear bin as seen above, were always in my fridge. I used the pitcher method to store my breastmilk – I already owned the mason jars so I only had to purchase the mason jar lid.
I love items like these that I can reuse after I stop pumping. Definitely recommend!
READ MORE: How to Organize Breast Pump Parts
12. Small Wet Bag
A small wet bag is perfect to store your used breast pump parts when you are pumping on the go. If you don’t care to clean them at the moment with breast pump wipes, then this comes in handy as well.
13. Breastmilk Bags
Ah, breastmilk bags. There’s such a debate on which breastmilk bags are best and do not leak. I used Lansinoh for about 80% of my frozen milk stash (which consisted of about 1.5k ounces) and only had 3-5 leaks. Other women have otherwise had a different negative experience with them and I never understood why.
Other highly rated breastmilk bags are from Medela and Momcozy.
14. Extra Pump Parts
Because you never know when your breast pump parts are simply going to stop working, it is good to have a pair or two of extra pump parts. You can also create a schedule and change your breastpumps monthly or every 3 months – depending on how often you use them.
READ MORE: How to Use the Spectra S2 Breast Pump
15. Milk Collection Cups
This is what made pumping so much easier for me, so much so that I used them almost exclusively. The reason for that is because I was still able to use my Spectra S1 or my Baby Buddha pump. By using milk collection cups it made it more discreet and I did not have the bottles and pump parts sticking outside my shirt. I would wear it while working my 9-5 (I work from home) and family would come in and they would not even notice I was pumping.
I always recommend milk collection cups to use with your main pump to maintain the same hospital grade strength, but make it discreet and convenient.
RELATED: Legendairy Milk Cups Review
16. Sunflower Lecithin
Sunflower lecithin is used to help release clogged milk ducts. According to Legendairy Milk, “Sunflower Lecithin helps you avoid developing plugged ducts. As a natural fat emulsifier, it can help to reduce milk “stickiness,” keeping it from clumping together. Product is also suitable for use outside of breastfeeding.”
Below are three brands that sell sunflower lecithin for you to choose from. Many moms in the exclusively pumping Facebook groups have purchased them. I personally went for Legendairy Milk’s.
RELATED: Best Lactation Supplements to Increase Milk Supply
17. Portable Breast Pump/Backup Breast Pump
Having a portable backup breast pump is convenient to have for the same reason having a manual breast pump is also convenient. Accidents and the unexpected can happen. I have heard of women taking a 4 hour road trip and not realize they forgot their main pump at home until they got to their destination. Avoid situations like so by having an extra breast pump in your diaper bag.
READ MORE: Best Portable Breast Pumps
Must-Have Breast Pumping Supplies
Breast pumping is something that is becoming more common as more moms realize they have options to continue providing their babies breastmilk.
To avoid feeling lost during this transition in your life, I hope you found this article helpful. Let me know down in the comments which breast pump supply or item has been a total game changer for your pumping journey!
P.S. If you have not finished your baby registry, read more here: Baby Registry Must Haves (Free Checklist Printable).
Other Breast Pumping Posts:
- How to Organize Breast Pump Parts
- How to Wean From Pumping Schedule
- How Much Does Milk Supply Decrease During Period
- How to Increase Milk Supply During Period
- Best Portable Breast Pumps
- Legendairy Milk Barrier Bags for Breast Milk Storage Review
- How to Use the Spectra S2 Breast Pump
- How to Use Medela Breast Pump (Medela Pump in Style)
- Spectra vs Medela (Spectra S2 vs Medela Pump in Style Review)
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