Ever the sensitive and helpful boy, Will is intently interested in how Kate eats. From time to time, he approaches her, lifts his shirt, and announces that he wants to feed Baby Kate. I’ve tried to explain that only Mommy makes milk for Baby Kate. Will simply shows me his chest and says, “No, Mommy, I have bubbies too.” Touche.
I was steaming my pumping supplies yesterday in the kitchen, where Will was entertaining himself by “helping” with these chores. Suddenly, he disappeared. After five minutes of silence, I walked to the front room to investigate.
Will was sitting in my chair, with a breast shield properly connected to tubing, which was properly connected to the breast pump. (Impressive, considering it has taken me a few tries on some occassions to get all the contraptions in order.) The pump was turned on low, humming away. Will was holding the breast shield to his stomache, freezing his face in concentration to show he is working on a Very Important Task.
“What are you doing, Will?” I asked.
“I pumping MILK!” He said. And added, “I pumping MILK from my BUBBY.”
Now that is a helpful guy.
Aunt Amy | 27-Jul-06 at 6:41 am | Permalink
Too cute!!! Think I can borrow Will to teach me how to use my new breast pump??? The hospital where I work offers a GREAT deal on the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. I was able to buy it for $180!!! I don’t plan to use it for the first few weeks, unless we have engorgement issues. Does Master Will have any suggestions for how to store the milk for later use? Should I get Medela bags? Gerber bags? Ziploc bags? It’s all so overwhelming!
Holly | 27-Jul-06 at 7:15 am | Permalink
The pump in style system is great. This is what I used with Will …6 hours a day for several months… so I feel pretty solid in recommending it. 🙂
I’ve heard lactation consultants recommend to first time mothers to actually use the pump a bit before the baby is born. It sort of breaks your body into the routine, so to speak. Pumping is never as effective as nursing, but it can help a lot in the beginning when your milk comes in (think: two large cement bricks on your chest) and to increase milk supply early on. You’d think with those two huge bricks that you’d be suppling the world, but in truth, it can be like getting water from a stone.
The medela/lasinoh/gerber bags are all great for storage. I’ve used them all and I think I like the lasinoh just because I find them easier to open than the gerber. 🙂 But I’d probably just go with whatever is on sale! Also — it’s a good idea to get extra bottles (the kind that attach to the breastshield for pumping) to use as storage. That way you don’t have to be washing bottles all the time to get ready to pump. (Sometimes, you find you want to pump RIGHT AWAY and don’t want the hassle of washing/steaming.)
BEST purchase: steaming bags. You stick your pumping stuff in a bag with some water and pop it into the microwave. Presto! Clean stuff. Medela makes them and they are WONDERFUL. I even use them on some of Will’s toys.
Also: I really like Motherwear (motherwear.com) for nursing bras. Nursing bras are about the most important thing a breastfeeding mother needs. And I highly recommend sleep bras, too! I have not had a night without one since Will was born. Anyway, good return policy and customer service. If you order from them, use code SU68 and get $10 off any order of $75 or more. 🙂
Gwen | 27-Jul-06 at 7:56 am | Permalink
remember when he ‘helped’ me pump while visiting in peru? that boy has a knack for it…he’s a natural. ditto to you comments…we used the gerber bags (b/c we had coupons) and they worked just dandy. also: gerber cheapo bottles (ie: $1.50 or less) also fit the medela pump in style system to collect milk if you don’t want to get ‘medela’ brand ones for extras.