How to Make (Breast Milk) Pumping Quicker?

It takes me 15 minutes to assemble, pump, and clean up. I put my pump into the backpack pre assembled. When I take it out at work all I have to do is set out some paper towels to catch the containers and shields when I'm finished. Next I plug in the tubing and then plug the machine into an outlet. I use lanolin cream on my nipples each time I pump. It helps them to not chafe and I think it helps the pump create a better suction. I sort of squeeze my boobs while holding the pump in place, like a boob sandwich, and then pump for 10 minutes. If I need to, I'll use a higher setting to expedite the process. The lanolin helps to make that possible. When I'm finished I just use the breast pump wipes to wipe down the shields and other parts. It's not sterile, but I don't think it needs to be. When I get home I run the pieces through the dishwasher.

Best of luck!

http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Clean-Breastpump-Accessory-Wi...

ETA: I do disassemble the breastshield from the valve (?), and I wipe inside of the membrane.

The very quickest way to do this is to not take them apart and clean them between feedings during the day. I would pull the horns off (the part that actually touches your breast) and drop the rest the plastic parts into my cooler bag for the refrigerator, so that any milk on the pump pieces would stay cold so it wouldn't spoil. Then, if it got into the next batch a little bit, it didn't matter.

I wiped out the horns with a paper towel, and that was it.

You could drop the horns in too so you don't have to wipe them, but it's a little shocking when they are cold when you put them on.

Definitely no need to do a full cleaning in between. At the end of the day, I took it all home and ran through the dishwasher every night.

ETA: On a side note - depending on what you do at your job, is it possible to keep working while you pump? I got a pumping bustier so I could pump hands-free. I mostly work at a computer, so I could just hook it all up, and keep working on my laptop while I pumped. If your job involves any time sitting at a desk and working independently, maybe you could do this.

I pumped three times a day at work. I had three sets of parts and threw them in a gallon bag when i was finished, breaking them down just enough that I could fit them in my bag. I used a gallon bag for clean parts, then transferred to the "dirty" bag when I finished. Yesterday's clean bag became today's dirty bag. The whole process was very quick once I did it a few times. I was able to pump three times using only 45- 60 minutes worth of break time total for the day, which was the time of my regular break periods.

I used a pumping bra to be hands free and usually read for pleasure or did work-related reading.

I washed completely disassembled parts at night with soap and water and sanitized every 2-3 uses.

I used the hands free pumping bra, and brouhgt my computer with me. After I am done, I just rinse it out. I pumped 2 times a day at work.

Check the laws .. I think some companys can not doc you for pumping time, but maybe that is not all states. or mabye it is just a comany thing.

I never sanitized the parts after each use. I washed them with dish soap and water, but steam cleaning each time is not necessary.

I think you should get a second set of parts. That way, you can use one for the first pump session and one for the second, without having to worry about whether they get cleaned and dried in between. Simply rinse the first set and throw it in a bag or tupperware container, then give it a full washing at home. If it takes too long to disassemble, keep them attached and do it all at night.

Another way to speed things up would be to preassemble the pump in the morning before work. You might need to get a bigger bag to carry it in, but if you didn't have to spend any time putting the pieces together, you'd be finished faster.

Also, I don't know what you do, but is there any part of your job that you could do while pumping? Anything you have to read over? Can you get the hands-free bra and return emails while you're pumping? I used to be able to hold both pumps in one arm (one in my hand, the other on my forearm), so my dominant hand was still free to write or type while I pumped. If you can do work for the 15-20 minutes that you're actually pumping, the remaining time could count towards your paid 15 minute breaks (assuming you get them... not sure if the law in MN is different than in CA). In CA, all employees can take two 15-minute breaks if they work an 8-hour day. A typical day is 8:00 - 5:00, with two breaks and a one hour lunch. It is considered a 40 hour work week, as the one hour lunch is mandatory but unpaid.

There isn't any need to wash the parts in between pumpings. Just store them in your cooler. Have them already assembled and don't unassemble them. Clean the parts at night. Can you use your lunch breaks and breaks for the time you are pumping-you should be able to. Also, if you aren't using a hands free pumping bra, I highly suggest using one.

Yup. I just rinsed and wiped my pump at work, then sanitized at home. I actually had a few "spare" parts, so I was able to just throw everything in the dishwasher each night for sanitation each night instead of worrying about it during the day.

Eta- I left mine assembled. Just ran some water through it, wiped it, then tossed it in my case. (In a plastic baggie, just in case I didn't wipe quite well enough.) I didn't use the case hat came with it... I found an insulated lunch box, and would put the pump in there along with the milk.

Friend of mine put them in a ziplock til the next session. I rinsed them out (kept a small thing of dish soap with me or just used water) and boiled them at night. My LC said not to use the steam bag for tubing, so I didn't use the bag. What you might want to do is not disassemble the "horns" from the smaller parts every time. Just put it together before you go in the AM and then leave them together for the day. If you are using bags, use bottles for stability. Over time, you should get faster/more efficient. I pumped for a year for DD, so I know the drill very well. I once had to use a restroom at a client's building, so I hung the pump bag off the hook in the stall and just tried to ignore where I was and not let the pump parts touch anything. I also used hands' free on my long commute, so if that is also an option...or your lunch break...I ate in the pump room often. Or I took work with me (docs to review/mark up). Etc. The things we do for our kids!

When I pumped at work, I had to take the time away from my lunch and breaks. I had no way to steam anything as I had to use the only available private space. So, since I did have a sink available to me, I rinsed everything out really well and dried it. Then I took it home and sterilized it all. I figured out the best way to assemble everything and still fit into my pouch. Not sure how the prts for the pump you use can be stored. I had a Lansinoh double pump but I think they are similar.

Ok, it's been awhile and I never had to pump at work, but I don't remember doing near the work you are doing. I put all the milk in one bottle and set that in the fridge (or a bag and froze it). The only thing I did during the day was to rinse the shield and membrane. I washed them daily. I didn't disassemble anything. Are you talking about the tubing?

Honestly, I just ran a little water through it (still assembled) and washed them each night. I'm not even sure I sterilized (steam cleaned) everyday after my son was 3 months old. I think I did that every couple of days.

Really, if I were you I would pump, store, rinse and go.

ETA - I forgot about having more than one set of everything. Even as a SAHM I had 3 sets of shields and everything. It would be absolutely worth it to you to purchase extra parts and even have an extra bag to tote them all in. If you have 3 sets, pump when you get to work, at lunch and towards the end of the day.

Also, most of us get the highest amount of milk early in the morning. So, it's a great idea to feed baby when you first get up and then pump right away. Pump again when you first get to work. It will get you more milk for baby and possibly increase your supply.

I don't think it is necessary to steam clean after each feeding, I think I only did that every few days! Just rinse or wipe off the parts that touch your skin after each use with hot water. Pull the tubes off the pump so that you can see if there is still leftover milk in the ends of them. Regardless, just run hot water through the tube after each use. All that should take no more than a few minutes after pumping. Finally, use an old exercise bra with holes cut in it to do hands free pumping. Made pumping much more enjoyable and faster. Good luck!