5 Things I Wish I Had Known About Breast Pumping Before I Got Mastitis
Parenting

5 Things I Wish I Had Known About Breast Pumping Before I Got Mastitis

Posted

1 August 2020

comments
comments

My baby, who is now 15 months, has always been exclusively breastfed as he is allergic to dairy. Although I was initially self-conscious and even took efforts to hide my need to pump in public, I suffered the consequences of not listening to my body. Today, I want to share my story and tips to help you be overcome your fear of pumping on-the-go!

Like many women, when I started breast pumping with my first child 5 years ago, I was shy and would make an effort to hide what I was doing. Stuck in a meeting for 6 hours, I held on and didn’t pump and ended up getting mastitis — the result of a blocked milk duct that hadn’t cleared. The inflammation and pain was so bad I had to be put on antibiotics which ultimately caused my supply to drop. 

This was a HUGE wake up call.

Since then I’ve learnt my baby’s milk comes first and to never put my baby’s health (and even my own) at risk because of how I think others may perceive me. I wanted to share my story so other mothers don’t make the same mistakes I did.

Tips For Breast Pumping On-The-Go

1. Pump as you work

The office is the perfect place for me to pump as I don’t need to move around much and can get work done efficiently at the same time. With a nursing cover on, even my male colleagues don’t know I’m pumping.

2. Get a good nursing cover

I’m constantly on the go as my job requires me to travel a lot, and I’m usually also stuck in long meetings. Between meetings, I pump on-to-go using my hand-free pump while driving (especially if I’m late for my next meeting!)

In public areas like at restaurants (I’ll pick a quiet corner) or on the plane I’ll pump with my trusted nursing cover. All I have to do is cover up and I’m good to go. I share my experience of pumping on my 48 hour trip to Delhi on this episode of Let’sCHAT!

3. Get a good cooler bag

I carry mine around everywhere I go. My ice blocks can keep my milk chilled for up to 8 hours and this is essential on days I’m out for a full day of meetings or travels.

4. When you can’t wash your pump…

Time doesn’t always permit for you to be able to wash your pump after each session. But that’s okay. What you can do is wrap your breast pumps in a towel or zip lock bag and put it in the fridge or a cooler bag. When you get home at the end of the day, then you can wash and sterilise your pump to use next. This will be a lifesaver at work especially if you don’t have the luxury of time.

**The key to using & reusing unwashed chilled pump parts is to NOT exceed 24 hours from your first pumping session.  

5. Plan, plan, plan!

Plan your schedule and slot in your pumping sessions. It may seem unnecessary, but I always plan my day ahead, especially when I’m out for meetings and slot in a pumping session before every meeting. Hope my story and these tips help you pump on-the-go. 

If your immunity is high, the quality of your breastmilk will also be high and chances are you’ll pass on that high immunity to your baby. How? Let’s start with the gut. Remember that when the digestive system is functioning properly, it serves as a barrier to bacteria, viruses & pathogens. If the digestive system is not functioning at optimal levels, things get out of balance. A safe, natural & effective way to improve gut health is by regular consumption of Pegaga by PurelyB - a concoction of traditional Asian superfoods that’s backed by science.

So remember mama’s - we know this can be a tough time but you’re not alone. It’s important to continue to take care of yourself in the small ways, whenever you find a moment. Although your baby is now a priority, it’s important to make sure you’re prioritising your immunity, as this can affect the quality of your breastmilk which then affects the development of your baby. One simple, natural & effective way to do this is through regular consumption of Pegaga by PurelyB. We know that a strong gut not only keeps bacteria & illnesses away (from ourselves & from our babies who consume our milk) but also serves as a catalyst to high quality breastmilk for your baby. Here's more info on how to produce high quality breast milk. 

6 Shares
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN..