Pumping Hacks for Working Moms

Pumping Hacks For Working Moms

There are so many details to coordinate when returning to work, and even more when you are choosing to pump. Perhaps you know that you have a legal right to pump at work. If you’re organized, you might have thought through the times of day you will need to pump. But if you’re anything like me, you didn’t think through the cascade of logistics that come with pumping multiple times per work day. The details can get overwhelming. To make things a bit easier, here are some “hacks” from one of the moms on our BenefitBump team! 

In This Article  

• Schedule It. 

• Consider Two Pumps 

• Streamline the Cleaning Process 

• Go Hands-Free 

• Stay Warm 

• Use the Moment to Relax 

Schedule It. 

After a few weeks of scrambling to fit pumping between meetings, I finally opted to formalize my pumping time in my Outlook calendar. Although there were still days when I had to shuffle pumping times to accommodate other responsibilities, setting aside time on my calendar ensured that I made pumping a priority and dissuaded others from scheduling things at that time. The Outlook reminders also came in handy a few times when I was really focused and would have otherwise forgotten to pump. 

Consider Two Pumps 

This is a “luxury hack” that I did not end up trying, but I would absolutely consider owning two pumps in the future if the option arose. Adding a pump bag to my daily commute quickly became a pain in the neck – literally. If you have had multiple children, be aware that you are eligible for a new pump through health insurance for each birth, so you may choose to save your old pump and get a new pump through insurance to keep at work. If you just welcomed your first child, you can look for used pumps through local Mom’s groups, secondhand children’s stores, and online marketplaces (such as Facebook Marketplace). Just remember to buy new pump parts for hygiene purposes.  

Streamline the Cleaning Process 

Cleaning pump parts is tedious. Some women don’t have access to convenient places to wash pump parts between feedings. Other moms would prefer not to spend another 10 minutes of their work day washing pump parts between pumping sessions. Consider pump-specific cleaning wipes (like Medela’s Quick Clean Wipes), which allow you to quickly wipe down pump pieces without needing water. I also learned the “fridge hack” from another mom friend. I stored my pump parts in a large silicone bag in the refrigerator for the remainder of the work day. I washed and sterilized them each evening in the comfort of my own home.  

Go Hands-Free 

Moms are great multi-taskers. Invest in a hands-free pumping bra to hold the bottles in place and leave you free to jot notes, reply to emails, or scroll through photos of your little one. If you want to go one step further, combination pumping/nursing bras are designed to be worn all day. Comfort is very individualized, so it might take a bit of trial-and-error to find the gear that works best for you.   

Stay Warm 

Regardless of the season(s) when you will be pumping, keeping a cozy, open cardigan in your workspace might help you feel more comfortable without sacrificing ease or efficiency. Relatedly, if your office attire pre-baby typically included dresses, think strategically! Some dresses allow easy access for pumping; others require complicated costume changes.  

Use the Moment to Relax 

Relaxation is a key component to milk flow. On days when I felt particularly stressed before beginning a pump session, a mindfulness app and photos of my son came in handy.  

Once I had these strategies in place, pumping at work felt much more manageable and sustainable. If you are preparing to return to work and feeling overwhelmed about how to manage pumping, your BenefitBump Care Navigator can help you talk through your concerns, create a plan of action, and refer you to resources if needed.