Those middle of the night pump sessions are enough to make you want to quit sometimes, but you power through to provide those sweet drops of liquid love to your little one. Let's make it a little easier by sharing how to setup a bedside pumping station, complete with a printable checklist.
What are the benefits of a bedside pumping station?
If you've ever scrambled to find your pump parts in the middle of the night or tried to get your pump connected without disturbing your partner in the dark, you need to build a pump cart! Carts themselves are relatively inexpensive and will run you about $29.99. Here are a few examples:
Having all your items organized, in one spot, within arms reach helps immensely when you are recovering from postpartum as well as when you are just plain tired. Not only that, but it also helps you stay on top of when your supplies start getting low and allows you to easily toss your dirty pump parts into your wet/dry bag or designated washing basin if placed in your bedside cart.
What should I put in my bedside pumping station?
Many manufacturers today are finally wising up (including Amaris!) and making their breast pumps chargeable via USB-C, which means you should absolutely have not only your fully charged breast pump, your collection containers, your breast pump parts, but also a battery pack and USB-C cord in the event your pump is dead. Nothing worse than reaching over to get things going, getting the girls ready, hitting the button and nothing happens! Using small organizers for your pump parts would be a welcomed addition, and keeping extras on hand is wise. Those tiny valves and membranes are easy to lose, especially in the dark! Having a silicone insert kit on hand like this one from Amaris, will ensure you have the proper flange fit throughout your pumping journey and is a great add to your cart. You might also consider having a manual breast pump like the Haakaa or a passive milk catcher like the Boon Trove for those times when baby is nursing on one side and you would like to catch milk or manually pump on the other. Some other items to consider would be pumping spray to lubricate your flanges, nursing pads for after you're done pumping, lanolin free nipple balm, burp cloths in case you are bringing baby to breast, and in case baby isn't nearby and you are having trouble triggering a letdown --- sweet photos of baby and items that smell like him or her are great ways to help get that milk moving.
Once your pump session is over, if you are too tired to clean your parts immediately, you'll want a wet/dry bag to toss them into for cleaning later or a pack of pump wipes for a quick clean. If you are on the second floor and your main wash area is downstairs, consider having a small wash basin and gentle dish soap as part of your pump cart as well so you can clean your pump parts upstairs, without having to traverse back down before your next session.
For storing your precious liquid gold, you'll want to snag some of our beautiful Amaris Milk Storage Bags with inspiring affirmations to keep you motivated and keep that milk moving. Make sure you have a marker nearby to write the time & date on your milk bag and if you aren't getting it right to your fridge or freezer, consider storing in your pre-chilled Ceres Chill, then transferring in the morning!
And don't forget, fed is best and that applies to you too mama! Keep your cart stocked with all your favorite snacks (even a few of your guilty pleasures!) and keep your favorite flavored water nearby.
