Hands free pumping bra advice.

[vettorre]

I'm a new mom who is breastfeeding and I'm having a lot of issues with it. Like increased dysphoria with it (I'm non-binary identified/trans and most days am indifferent to my boobs, but sometimes really, really hate them), so I'm looking to primarily pump and bottle feed because at least he's getting breast milk still, right? But holding the

Comments

[ticklethepear]

I took my sports bra and cut vertical slits in it. I also wear a Coobie bra most days and tuck the shields in. The Coobie bra stretches and is wireless and I've worn one since I was first pregnant until now, two months post-partum. (I use the hospital grade Medela pump.) Also, I got measured at the local breastfeeding center. You can also get measured in the lingerie dept. of stores like Nordstrom. Good luck!

http://shopcoobie.com/

[moonstrucky]

For pumping, I used an XXL champion sports bra that is sold at target for about $18. I cut slits in it. While I was wearing it, I positioned the flanges and made sure the "connecting bits" were through the slits, hooked up, and pumped. I wore a 38DDD prior to pregnancy and slept in those bras during/after pregnancy. During the day I wore Medela bras that were sold at my midwives office through their nursing boutique.

[belleweather]

First, exclusive pumping parents are ROCKSTARS, because it is very, very challenging. If it's what you need to do, then it is the right thing for you, but I know a lot of mamas go into it thinking that it will be easier than it is and end up beating themselves up for that, so just know that you're a rockstar from the start

[vettorre]

Haha, I had the idea because I noticed that pumping doesn't induce dysphoria, whereas breastfeeding often does. IDK, I'm still thinking on if I want to do it exclusively because sometimes it doesn't cause dysphoria and can be nice. But right now, since I have to pump and dump anyway (abx + Vicodin), I'm seeing how I fare on pumping exclusively.

Thanks for the advice. =)

I'm considering getting the pumping backpack, even, because backpack carry is best for my body, and I think that also comes with the clips kit.=)

[mahsox_mahsox]

I used a syringe style hand-pump when I had my babies, it was harder work but the work went on for a shorter time than with the hand held avent system and was much quieter. In hospital they had a tabletop electic pump that worked really well. This may sound... discouraging... and I'm not trying to make its sound discouraging, but a certain amount of thinking about and paying attention to the breasts is necessary during exclusive pumping if you want to be good at it and keep up supply and not end up with mastitis because you've been draining ducts inconsistently. Each breast has a lot of ducts, and repositioning the shield leads to different ducts being drained. This is true even with the most expensive electric models of pump.

If you can tough it out a bit until your hormones settle down, your nipples toughen and you get past the first six weeks or so, then you may find that letting the baby do the work and the thinking is easier and involves you having to pay less attention to your body.

[ionracas]

I had similar thoughts about hands-free pumping, it's not very efficient and massaging the breast while pumping increases production like crazy, also reduces mastitis risk. Pumping can be quick and efficient once you learn where your most productive ducts are located. More effort than hands-free but also more efficient.

[vettorre]

Truth is, I'm already almost at the 3 month mark. My issue isn't with the work itself, it's with what breastfeeding and breast contact are doing to my head.

I didn't know that about repositioning the shields, thanks for that. =) I am having to pump and dump right now because of a round of antibiotics + Vicodin (oh the joys of multiple infections coinciding with my chronic joint inflammation), so that helps to explain some of the engorgement issues I've been having.

[sweet_tea79]

I love and swear by the PumpEase pumping bra (in fact I'm pumping while posting this and wearing the bra). I like that it's adjustable with hooks like a regular bra as it allows me to adjust compression depending on how engorged I may or may not be. I was unable to do the sports bra thing because I work full time, and sports bras don't work with a lot of what I wear to work. This way I just lift my shirt, unhook my nursing bra, and put on the PumpEase. Much easier for me than taking my shirt off, taking my bra off, putting the sports bra on...and so on. I also found the Medela handsfree system to be too fiddley, and it didn't provide compression (and thus better milk expression) like the PumpEase does

[vettorre]

Thanks! =) Yeah, I'm dealing with PPD, too, which I agree does not help. I'll check out the PumpEase. =)