No matter what pump you have, there are some must have pumping supplies. Of course some of the items will vary between different brand pumps, but these are some of the basics.
Some of the most common pump models are:
Hospital Grade
Personal Use
This pump is commonly offered through insurance.
Spectra S1 (advertised as hospital grade)
Now, what else do you need?
Hands free bra – Simple Wishes is the best. You can it on Amazon. It really does fit sizes small to extra large.
Extra set(s) of flanges (if you use medela, the one piece ones are easier to keep up with) Medela parts are sold almost everywhere – Target, Walmart, drugstores, and Babies R Us. Part of the reason their pumps are so popular, the supplies are the easiest to find.
Extra valves and membranes. The membranes (white flap piece on medela) should be replaced every 3 months or so (to improve suction) and they tear easily. Always keep extras on hand. Also extra valves may be handy (you never know when one will roll under a cabinet and you won’t be able to retrieve it while you’re cleaning your parts – speaking from experience ).
Extra bottles – you can buy cheap Gerber or Evenflo bottles that will fit your pump. Also, Dr. Brown bottles should fit.
Drying rack – you will be washing bottles and pump parts. No way around it. I liked the Boon Grass drying mat for home and found the Munchkin drying rack that folds flat to be the best to keep at work.
Great Cooler that is big enough to put your pump parts in. (You don’t have to wash them if you keep them cold in between pumps – i.e. in the fridge). If it’s a lunch bag type cooler you can put it in a shared fridge at work and no one will be the wiser! I prefer a soft-sided cooler, but you may already have something else that works!
I used this bag, and it was the perfect size to hold all my stuff, and had an outside pocket (J World Lola Lunch Bag) Found at Amazon or Target online.
Ice packs. I really like the Medela ice pack that is shaped to fit 4 bottles against it. However freshly pumped milk can be kept at room temperature for a few hours without spoiling.
Milk freezer bags. Lansinoh and Target (up and up) are the best because they can freeze flat (which takes up the least amount of freezer space). Medela bags are awful (although they do make an attachment to put them on the pump while you are pumping but it is very hard to use.) Do not try to measure the liquid in the bags, it won’t be accurate because they are flexible.
