Pumping Accessories

Breast Pumping is hard. But, there are many items out there to make your journey a LOT easier. These are accessories that make your life easier when it comes to pumping.

Which Breast Pump Accessories Do You Need?

A Hands-Free Pumping Bra

A hands-free pumping bra is an absolute must! This is one of those items that really make pumping soooo much easier. Many of these have a zipper in the front and two holes for the flanges. You can put the bra on over your nursing or regular bra and then put the flanges through the holes. The bra keeps the flanges in place so you don’t have to hold them both while pumping. Here are some good options:

This bra can be put on just for pumping. It has a quick zipper front so it can but put on over a nursing bra and then taken off when done.

This bra is a combo pump and nursing bra. Could come in handy for days when you nurse and pump a lot in the same day.

Extra Sets of Pump Parts

This is a very good idea to have because sometimes your dirty ones are in the dishwasher or just to have backup parts in general. Here are some parts for the more popular pumps. A lot of time they come in sets but you can buy the parts individually if you would like. Here are some good options:

This set if for Spectra Pumps

Lansinoh Extra set of pump parts for Lansinoh Pumps:

Extra Set of Parts for Medela PIS:

Battery Pack for Your Pump

A battery pack is a great thing to have if you have a pump without a rechargeable battery. Its a good accessory to have just in case you are in a place where you really need to pump but you cannot find an outlet. Its a good backup option to bring with or even to just use so you can use your pump without a cord. Just remember to re-charge it! Usually these battery packs don’t give enough power if they haven’t been fully charged. Here are some good options:

This battery pack is 12V and can be used for Spectra S2 and some Medela Pumps.

This battery pack is also 12V and another popular option:

Battery pack for Medela Pump in Style:

**Make sure you get the right voltage for your pump. Most Spectra pumps are 12V and some Medela pumps are 9V**

3. Wash Basin

Something to think about after you pump is that you need to rinse and wash all of your parts. This is very important because these parts can develop mold and bacteria if they are not properly cleaned after each pump session. Here are some good options:

A collapsible wash basin like the one below can be a good option if you’re using your pump at work or on the go in a public bathroom.

If you can’t get to a sink sometimes its nice to have a set of wipes to wipe down your parts after a pumping session:

Breast Milk Cooler

It is a good idea to have an extra cooler if you don’t have a bag that has a built-in cooler. Especially on a hot day this helps the milk stay nice and cold. You can also buy just the ice pack if you do purchase a bag with a built in cooler. Here are some good options:

Medela Cooler, which is small and fits 4 bottles but good for transport.

A bigger cooler for 6 bottles with a strap and extra pocket:

A combo pump organizer and cooler to put in your own bag:

Nursing Cover 

A nursing cover of some kind is nice to have so you can pump anywhere. If you need to pump in your car (not while driving of course!) this comes in handy. You can use an actual nursing cover or the lightweight muslin blankets work really well too. Here are some good options:

A traditional nursing cover you can keep with you in your pump bag:

Just a simple muslin lightweight baby blanket can be used to throw over yourself while pumping:

Breast Pads

Some women need breast pads, especially the first month or two after having a baby. Otherwise you can have leaking through your shirt! There are several options that could work, from disposable to re-useable. Here are some good options:

Re-useable pads are nice because they can just be thrown into the wash after use:

Another option is disposable breastpads that you can just toss after use:

Extra Bottles

If you have to work these bottles come in handy for storage in either the fridge or freezer. For many pumps you can buy additonal bottles that work with the pump so you can just pump, screw on the cap and you’re done. If you need to pump again, just grab another bottle.

Breast Milk Freezer Bags

If you pump A LOT then most likely you’ll run out of bottles. Breastmilk storage bags are a good option for storing, especially freezing, breastmilk. You can write the date that the milk was pumped and can easily organize your milk in the freezer. There are several different kinds to choose from. Here are some good options:

Haakaa has reuseable bags! This is a nice option to save space and not create as much waste.

**Disclaimer: Breast-pumping.com site owner can receive commission from items sold via the affiliate links