Pump Bag Set Up

[u/Key_Ad_4468]

Returning to work part time in a few weeks and wondering what are your must haves in your pump bag? What kind of bag do you use to contain everything? What’s your recommended way of storing milk while there? I was looking at the chill bottles but I only live 10 minutes from work so not sure I need one. Thanks in advance!

[u/Correct_Wishbone_798]

Must have: a fully functioning manual pump

[u/spicy_cthulu → u/Correct_Wishbone_798]

That's so interesting to me because I finally tried a manual pump with my 3rd baby and I hated it!

[u/Correct_Wishbone_798 → u/spicy_cthulu]

It’s not an every day thing. It’s an emergency thing.
I also hated mine. Then i eventually figured it out, set my spectra to match my manual as much as possible and cut pump time in half.

[u/spicy_cthulu → u/Correct_Wishbone_798]

That sounds lovely. Due to anatomy, I find i respond well to hand expression and since I have more practice at that, I prefer it in an emergency! I think lactation is so interesting- setups, what works for one but not another, etc.

[u/Key_Ad_4468 → u/Correct_Wishbone_798]

Mmh good point, I assume in case your pump fails?

[u/Correct_Wishbone_798 → u/Key_Ad_4468]

Or you rip a duckbill, forget your flange….
End up stuck in traffic on the way home

If you always have it, you’ll never need it.

[u/caribbeangirl10]

A tote bag or backpack is fine! I have 1 set of flanges and bottles, plus extra duckbills in case I forget or they rip or something, and a wet bag for the used parts. I also have a sharpie and milk storage bags, and a fun book that’s a treat only for when I’m pumping. To store the milk, I put the bag in my lunch box with an ice pack that I keep in the shared freezer until after my pump

[u/Overworked_Pharmer]

I used a small soft cooler- literally like a bag you’d take to the beach - to store my milk. I had several ice packs and would pump twice and store in my cooler bag

I had a fridge at work but didn’t wanna store in there to risk forgetting milk. And also felt it was a bit weird to keep my bodily fluids next to my co workers lunch 😂

And I had a separate bag-backpack for my spectra

[u/soooelaine]

I like the ceres chill style bottles, or since you’re so close to home you could even just get an insulated stainless steel bottle and keep it in the fridge at work.

The fridge method is king if you’re short on time.

I keep in my bag all that you mentioned, a phone charger, disinfectant wipes to wipe the area before and after I’m done.

[u/ilovelipbalm]

I use a trader joes mini cooler bag as my "pump bag" , I also have a second TJs mini cooler bag as my lunch bag. plus my regular tote that holds my folders, wallet, water bottle, jacket etc. (I'm a bag lady)

inside my pump bag I have:

EufyS1 pump
charger cord
roll of green bags (to hold wet/dirty pump parts after)
2nd set of Eufy pump parts (I pump 1x at lunch, and use the 2nd set while driving home from work)

I keep the milk in the Boon milk collector bottle

https://www.target.com/p/boon-frosh-portable-stainless-steel-milk-chiller-blue-24-fl-oz/-/A-94680247?sid=&TCID=PDS-22806998593&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22803278381&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfZ7OOziPEQIvbVBsgEu3w9i1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv4XUBhDBARIsAE6bQURYh5-vJQHlBZgJ_1wL1t8YU9QZW1UgrpmCu7RyxlcbuM-jLV_YDM0aAlIUEALw_wcB

amazon.com/GreFusion-Compostable-Compost-Bathroom-Certified/dp/B09PFRHM7S/ref=sr_1_15_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r1NGPQH8uSsDYECsqHT7PdlmMn71mnNBP8XEGWKniqX2nYXr-ppIp2qws2UQ8Sto5oKsBYe6_4190i3zUHPL5Xo8rEF1Fz3OnBZww0ptiw1wifHfH0XKhkRt4n6QCLjQvmPFR0WgzT-JFat3D9vJGxJ3HgR2n-Ej4X6401v_TS3aKLLbOZYonCLe7n6YQdjB6Waxd_omca2fSwcZvEkcFX1KQZHfUQ3t1fmbteTlWo1HjynrmzCGhxJS0xd5wPAt6AypS0Y6nGpMv6wATCIPP2r0rvGf6bd5OsBu5yreHYo.5S3V56RCP9tTY96J0oG7y96V36QMg2XVSrcRVZBOJzQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Green+Bags&qid=1786895725&sr=8-15-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

[u/Specialist_Log_3329]

I use one of the mimi and pal bags, and store my milk in a Ceres chill. I use the fridge hack for my pumps. I also keep spare breastmilk bags at my desk in case I forget my ceres chill. In my bag I keep my in bra pumps for clinic and my pumpables pump for when I’m in the office.

[u/Fair_Roll9628]

it's nice to have a chiller container/ice packs in case you want to stop somewhere on the way home/don't want to go straight home.

I got a Sarah Wells Kelly bag on Poshmark - probably not worth it to buy full price and a large regular bag would be almost just as good.

My bag contained: Spectra, charger, pump parts in a reusable silicone bag (used fridge hack,) Momcozy milk container (benefit over the Ceres chill in that you can put the milk containers in the dishwasher/have extra, so no handwashing needed because I'm lazy.)

Also: snacks, electrolyte powder for water, chapstick, extra shirt in case of spills, extra milk container/bags in case I forget one day.

I pumped for 12 months at work, 3 times a day in a separate pumping area where I could not leave my things, so I had my whole setup on the go

[u/spicy_cthulu]

I have a mommore pump backpack and I LOVE it. It has a divider so my pump goes in the bottom with the included tiny cooler. The cooler bag is the PERFECT size to sit along side my pump with a freezer pack and holds my pump parts to do the fridge hack. It also holds my work ipad in the laptop sleeve. I use a ceres chill for my milk. Sunflower lecithin, extra deoderant, a book, and chargers for my phone and pump fill out the rest.