Part 3 : Pumping in Office

Long overdue post….sorry…it would be a very long story here…

Mummy used to pump 3 xs during working time where the morning pumping would be at home and 2 xs in the office. Now, Mummy only pumped 2 xs in the office and minus out the 1x in the morning. So morning pumping task was being replaced to a new task which was packing Ariel’s porridge.

Mummy usually pump midday once between 1130am to 1230pm (sometimes would be late until 2plus pm when too busy…this would effect the milk production if the schedule kept changing, so Mummy tried to avoid this). However this time Mummy production was not badly effected because thanks to the special pump, little Ariel girl. Yes, our baby is the best pump in the world. Mummy would direct feed Ariel at night time, weekend and holidays. So, the steam sterilizer and electric bottle warmer would be on ‘holiday’ when Mummy was not working. If Mummy was a full time pumping like Jeriel time, it would be hard to maintain the production if Mummy didn’t keep to a strict schedule. Jeriel’s time, Mummy couldn’t afford to be late. In short, Mummy was naïve and didn’t know Mummy got inverted nipple during Jeriel’s time. Now, Mummy was a bit smarter with Ariel though initially it was a very tough journey.

Did the milk production drop after cutting 3 xs to 2 xs?
It did drop a bit but still enough for Ariel’s daily consumption. Last time, Mummy usually would pump more than 20oz per day (3x pumping) and Ariel’s daily consumption was 20oz. Now it would be either just nice, slightly less or sometimes more (2x pumping). Mummy and Sam Yee’s freezer were still full but manageable. During CNY, Mummy got to transfer all the frozen EBM from Sam Yee’s freezer to Aunty Wai Leng’s freezer to make space in the freezer for Sam Yee Cheong’s parents.

Where Mummy pump in office?
Initially Mummy thought Mummy has to pump in toilet but then Mummy’s Malay colleague’s said Mummy could use the surau. Then, Mummy asked when was the best time to use the surau which was not crowded or empty.

Double Electric Pump
Mummy decided to invest on double electric pump (thanks to Paidpost) and PaPa helped Mummy to survey (we did our study even before Mummy was got miscarriage and pregnant).

We decided to get Ameda the full set from UK because the full set was not available in Malaysia and Singapore. Besides that, Mummy got an online shop from UK (thanks to Aunty Yin Huei’recommendation who got her Ameda pump from here too) and including shipment, the pump was still cheaper than in Malaysia. Besides that for the price Mummy paid Mummy got everything very similar Medela PIS (Mummy wanted this but couldn’t afford to get this) with extra Car Adapter and extra 10 storage bottles. Mummy also added extra white valves (spare parts) and extra Breastshield (Ameda Polypropylene Milk Collection Set - in case Mummy had no time to sterilize the breastshield for 2nd pumping in the evening).

Due to Mummy’s job nature, Mummy didn’t want to take so much time to pump so by using electric double pump it would actually shorten the pumping time by half and also produced more milk because each breast would stimulate each other when pumping was done together. Mummy realized that if Mummy pumped using single, the other breast would be leaking (let down).

Pump direct to Storage bag in office
Mummy also wanted to find way to pump direct to storage bags because:
- cut short time to pour EBM from bottles to storage bags (sometimes spill…heart very very pain)
- no need to wash and sterilize the storage bottles.
- After work, just transfer all the bags of EBM from coolant bag to freezer.

Note: Mummy top preference to store EBM is always glass bottles which are much cleaner but the due to space constraints, Mummy has to use Playtex Storage Bags.Hopefully, when storage space permitted, Mummy will switch to bottles (plastic/glass).

Pumping in office
Mummy would leave in the office a stainless steel bowl, a bottle of Liquid Cleaner and a sponge (in a covered container).

Everyday, Mummy would carry a Ameda backpack to work.

1st Pumping Session (midday)
Before Mummy go to surau, Mummy would press out some Liquid Cleanser on to the sponge (so that Mummy would not need to carry the Liquid Cleanser bottle).
What Mummy bring for 1st pumping session?

• Ameda backpack
• Stainless Steel Bowl
• Sponge
• Flask (this flask had been with Mummy for many years from the previous job to this job, to keep Mummy's water hot and warm the whole day)
  

Ameda Backpack contained:

• Coolant bag with 3 icepacks which could keep EBM chilled for about 10-12 hours without fridge. Mummy got scare from this incident.
• 4 Storage bags (2 for each pumping session)
• 4 rubber bands (2 for each pumping session)
• Some tissues, hand sanitizer and marker pen
• Storage bags bottle holder (so that Mummy could pump direct into the storage bags)
• Of course the pump and assembled breastshields.
• Hairband

The breastshields were usually assembled the night before and put into a ziplock bag. Mummy would usually pack everything the night before (storage bags etc), so that in the morning, Mummy would only need to pack coolant bag into the backpack.

Mummy would tie up Mummy’s hair and clean hands with hand sanitizer. Then line the bottle holder with the storage bags.

Bottle holders
Initially Mummy got one from US Ebay where PaPa’s Yee Ma carried back for Mummy last year. Then Mummy was cracking head for the 2nd one. Initially Mummy tried on the Avent bottle 9oz but then it would not maximize the space of the storage bag. Mummy needed a wide neck bottles (easier to line to storage bags) and tall (about 12oz). Avent 12 oz bottle was too expensive. Then Mummy found MAM’s 12oz bottle promotion from Vivian’s online shop. PaPa helped Mummy to collect from Vivian’s shop. Even though to screw up the pump using MAM’s bottle was not as smooth as Avent bottle holder, well, Mummy just managed it until Aunty Yuet Leng came to Mummy with good news – while she was clearing her condo, she found the Avent bottle holder. Yahoo, Mummy now got 1 pair to use.

Now, Mummy would start the pumping session after fixing up the breastshields. Mummy would hold the both pump using one hand while the other hand would be free to massage the breast during pumping session. This way would not only help to clear some of the harden part but also fasten up the pumping session.

Once done, Mummy would tie up the storage bags, labeled with market pen (date, time and oz) and placed into the coolant bag. Mummy put a Tupperware container between the icepacks to keep the storage bags upright and one of the 12 free 3.5oz storage bottle (came with the pump) would be placed in the middle to keep all 4 bags upright.

What were the tissues for?
The tissues were used to close up the breastshield after pumping. This was also to avoid the breastmilk to drip from the breastshield while Mummy busy tying up the storage bags.
After pumping, Mummy would dismantle the parts and kept the other parts into ziplock bags. Mummy would wash the breastshields with Liquid Cleanser using sponge. Mummy just needed to wet the sponge a bit (since the sponge already had the Liquid Cleanser which Mummy put on the sponge earlier. Before keeping the sponge in the container, Mummy must make sure the sponge was squeeze dried. After washing, then Mummy would pour hot water over the breastshields, drain the hot water and the air-dry on Mummy’s office table.

2nd Pumping Session (evening)
Evening pumping in the office was much less thing to carry to the surau. Mummy would just assemble the breastshields and carry only the Ameda backpack to the surau. After pumping, Mummy just rinsed the breastshield with tap water and pack in a separate ziplock bag. Back at home, Mummy would wash and sterilize together with Ariel’s bottles using steam sterilizer.

If Mummy needed to go back earlier than Mummy’s usual time, then Mummy would go back and pump. Mummy would just assemble up the breastshield and back home for 2nd pumping session. If Mummy could leave office by 6pm considered early even though office hour ended at 530pm.

It took Mummy quite some time to get the right and most efficient process to shorten pumping experience- trial and error. Different people would have different ways of doing it based on workplace nature and other criteria.

Mummy hopes this post will motivate more Mummies to breastfeed because if Mummy can do it, so can other Mummies...

Hmmmm….Mummy has been wearing nursing bras since Mummy was pregnant (trying to maximize the purchase of the nursing bras even though Mummy only got a few only). Mummy was eyeing at the beautiful lingerie bra sets during sales but at the end, Mummy didn't get any since Mummy didn’t need any yet at the moment. Economy would be bad, better save the money.

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