Your tips on pumping.

Here are more of your tips for nursing mothers from our contest last month.  This time the theme is pumping.

"Nursing is the best way to stay connected to your baby when you return to work and worth every minute pumping.  Help speed the time for each pumping session by purchasing multiple flanges, collection bottles, and accessories for your breastpump.  You can store them in a ziploc bag before use and place them back in the ziploc bag after use.  Use a separate set for your next pumping session.  At the end of the day simply put all parts in the dishwasher.  By not cleaning the parts before/after each session this saves you precious time."  - Rhonda, whose daughter Riley Jo is pictured at right

"After I started nursing, I noticed I was having more and more trouble as time went on getting my milk to let down.  I was using a manual pump, so I could only do one breast at a time.  Then my husband's cousin got me a double electric pump, and once I was able to work both breasts at at time, the letdown came much quicker, and I got a lot more milk as well.  The simultaneous stimulation of both breasts really helps!"  - Stacy, pictured at left with her baby Annika

"If you will be exclusively pumping from the start, make sure that you rent a hospital-grade breastpump for at least the first two months.  The "everyday" pumps sold at retail stores are not designed to bring in a supply, though they will help you maintain it.  Making the investment to rent a hospital-grade pump for a few months can mean the difference between establishing a good milk supply and struggling to produce enough milk for the length of your pumping days." - Jennifer (see her blog)

"If you have to travel without your baby and hope to bring home expressed breastmilk, you need to be aware of the new TSA regulations.  Unfortunately, if you are traveling without your baby, you cannot take the breastmilk on board the plane (unless it fits into three-ounce containers in a single quart-size ziploc bag).  I ask for a refrigerator in my hotel room, and then freeze the breastmilk I pump.  I pack the breastmilk in a cooler along with multiple ice packs, and place the cooler in my checked luggage.  The breastmilk stays frozen, or at least very cold, until I return home.  While you can't guarantee you'll be able to use your breastmilk if your flight is delayed or your luggage is lost, it's at least better than having to dump it all out and waste it.  Hopefully the TSA will change it's policies soon (click here for an e-petition on this topic).

Also, if you carry your breastpump on the plane with you, the motors in electric breastpumps can look similar to items used in explosive devices under x-ray.  Don't be alarmed if they ask to inspect the bag, but be sure to request that they put on a fresh pair of gloves before beginning the inspection.  Some TSA personnel know what breastpumps look like under x-ray and won't request the extra inspection." - Lori, pictured above at right with her son, Pete

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