Holy Manual Breast Pump, Batman

I bought a Medela manual breast pump as a backup and haven’t given it much thought in the five weeks since my LO arrived.

I’ve been skipping a feeding/pump each morning to sleep after being up in the middle of the night while my hubs gives a bottle of EBM before work. I couldn’t make myself drag all my pump and gear into the bedroom, and I was too tired to go set up and sit in the nursery for half an hour where my pump is stationed. I suffered through mild engorgement until I could pump after my next breastfeed.

After the topic of manual pumps came up in another post, I put it on my nightstand to try. In an incredibly short amount of time, I pumped more than my usual amount without having to wrestle with my bras, milk bags, hoses, etc. Now I can rest without turning into a cartoon.

Don’t write off these little devils, even if you have a great electric pump! I may get a few more to have handy. I could see it being incredibly useful in a pinch, even to drain an ounce or two to relieve engorgement until I can get to my baby or my usual pump.