Our third little one just surprised us with his arrival SIX WEEKS EARLY!! Because he is a preemie, I can only bottle feed him breastmilk until he gains the strength and energy needed to breastfeed (which may take a while). This means I have joined the exclusive pumping club.

I have to tell you, exclusive pumping is so much more work than just whipping a boob out when needed. You have to first pump every 3 hours, then make the bottles, and clean all the bottle and pump parts. It’s a job! But there are items to help make pumping a little easier and more comfortable. Below read what I think are pumping must-haves.

   

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1. Breast Pumps

   

Obviously, the most important item for pumping is a breast pump. There are tons of different options out there for pumps.

First of all, find out what your health insurance is offering you for free. I would highly recommend getting your double electric pump through your health insurance provider. They will typically select the make and model of the pump but some may allow you to upgrade for a small fee if you want.

Then I suggest getting a manual pump to have on hand. These are very inexpensive but great to take along on car rides. It’s nice not to have to bring tons of supplies with you if you aren’t going to be away from your regular pump for too long of a time.

There are now wearable pumps that are becoming popular. If I worked from home or didn’t think I would ever be able to breastfeed I might invest in one of these but at this time I feel it is unnecessary for my situation. I have heard great reviews about this wearable breast pump.

Also, I did buy this breast pump to use when breastfeeding. It catches the milk from the boob you are not currently feeding with. People swear by this breast pump for beginning a stockpile of breast milk right after giving birth. If you are an exclusive pumper I think this one would be useless for you.

   

2. Hands-Free Pumping Bra

   

I spent one night in the hospital without my hands-free pumping bra after my son was born and it was not fun. Having to hold the bottles while collecting milk for 20 minutes is annoying. A hands-free pumping bra allows you to scroll social media, flip through channels, read, etc. If you are going to pump at all, in my mind, this product is a necessity.

   

3. Bottle Warmer

   

Can you believe I had never used a bottle warmer until now? I didn’t need to because my two older children were almost always breastfed. Now that I am exclusively pumping, this easy bottle warmer is a lifesaver.

I love that it also has a defrost setting and can be used to heat up baby food. I will definitely be getting good use out of this bottle warmer all through my son’s first year of life even when I am finally able to breastfeed him.

   

4. Nursing Bras

   

Finally, I have nursing bras that are comfortable AND fit! This three-pack of bras provides great support during the day and they are easy to clip down for nursing or pumping. This set comes with bra band extenders too.

These sleep bras have been one of my favorite nursing products since my first baby was born. Going to bed without wearing a sleep bra when nursing/pumping is not a possibility. These sleep bras are insanely comfortable and hold breast pads in place.

   

5. Breast Milk Storage Bags

   

If you are going to pump breast milk you are going to need a way to store the milk. Remember, breast milk can only sit out in room temperature for a few hours and be refrigerated for a few days. Luckily, breast milk can be frozen for a number of months.

Read More: One of my most popular blog posts is all about breastfeeding and pumping tips.

I have a variety of different brands but by far these are my favorite breast milk storage bags. You can store up to 6 oz in each and the double zipper ensures that the bag is sealed up properly.

   

6. Nursing Tops

   

So much time out of your day will be spent nursing or pumping, you are going to want clothing in which your breasts are easily accessible. The tops don’t necessarily have to be “nursing” shirts. Any tops that button-down, tank tops, zippered hoodies, cardigans, etc can be useful with pumping 6-8 times a day.

If you work outside of the home you are going to definitley want to consider how easy your work outfits are to pump in. One time at work I had to take my entire dress off and basically pump naked in the break room – not ideal.

7. Breast Pump Wipes

   

I love these wipes! When you are a busy mom the last thing you need is to be washing bottles and breast pump parts multiple times a day. These wipes allow clean up after a pumping session to be quick and easy.

   

8. Reusable Breast Pads

   

It’s inevitable, your breasts going to leak. To avoid leaking through your bras and shirts you are going to want some breast pads.

My favorite breast pads are these reusable ones. They are soft and I’m all about trying to be more environmentally friendly. Make sure you get the set with the overnight pads, the regular ones will not make it through the night!

   

9. Feeding Tracker App

   

Whenever you go in for a baby wellness checkup the pediatrician will ask you about the number of wet and poopy diapers your baby has in a day, how often the baby feeds, and the amount the baby is taking in.

A feeding app makes it really easy to track all this information so your overly crowded mom brain doesn’t have to try to remember these statistics.

The app I use is free and simple to use. With this app I am able to keep track of my baby’s growth each day. I enter the amount of breastmilk or formula my baby ingests every time I give a bottle. If I breastfeed I can use the timer function with the app or manually enter the number of minutes I fed on each side. Furthermore, in the app there is a section for tracking your pumping sessions and how many ounces of milk you get each time.

   

10. Entertainment

   

So much time will be spent feeding and pumping the first year of your baby’s life. Hours each day will be dedicated to this task. Don’t let that time go to waste!

Catch up on a show you like to watch, read a good book, listen to a podcast, etc. If I am going to be hooked up to a machine for 20 minutes at a time multiple times a day I can at least multitask and try to get some enjoyment out of it. Personally, I read books on my Kindle when I pump or breastfeed my baby. This way I don’t resent having to stop whatever I am in the middle of to pump or feed.

   

Moms are busy! Giving bottles, breastfeeding, and pumping can take up a lot of your time. I hope these items help make your pumping experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

   

If you have a must-have pumping item that I didn’t include let me know in the comment section below.