In the world of breast pumps, these days you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to pumps.  If you're going to Exclusively Pump or pump quite frequently (like when going back to work) I highly recommend you go with a double electric breast pump.  It saves so much time pumping both breasts at the same time - even more time when you're Hands Free with our bra of course!  But if you've never looked at breast pumps, you might be in for a little sticker shock the first time you look at breast pumps.  Here's a couple tips on how to save some money!

• Look for sales online and in store ads.  Breast pumps do go on sale every couple months - especially at stores like Babies R Us and Target.
• Register for your pump - you never know some friends may want to go in on a gift together!  
• Another Reason to Register!  - Babies R Us, Target, and other stores give you a coupon for a certain % off any items left on your registry that YOU buy.  So save those gift cards and go shopping after your baby shower, complete your registry, and save!
• Babies R Us lets you combine one coupon with your registry completion coupon for extra money savings!
• Check out Amazon.com and ebay.com - if you scour you can sometimes find great deals on new unused breast pumps.  Note I highly recommend you purchase an unopened breast pump and not used.
• Remember it is an industry standard that once a breast pump box is open you may not return the pump (unless due to a defect & then you'll need to contact the manufacturer). So do your breast pump research in advance!

On January 20, 2011, Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin released The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding in the Jack Morton Auditorium at The George Washington University. 

It's exciting to see more and more support behind the benefits of breast milk.  Nobody knows better than pumping moms and breastfeeding moms the great benefits their children are receiving from breast milk (it's a sacrifice for us - but totally worth it!). 

I highly recommend checking the article and fact sheet out especially for those working moms as there is a lot of legislation & requirements coming through for businesses to make it easier for moms to continue providing breast milk for their babies when heading back to work.

Click the link below to view the entire press release...

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110120a.html

MPORTANT:  DEVICE RECALL January 11, 2011

Dear Customer:
This letter is to notify you that Medela, Inc. is recalling a limited number of the Pump In Style Advanced breastpumps.  The small percent of pumps affected by this recall were manufactured between February 10, 2010 and March 3, 2010 and shipped between February 10, 2010 and April 30, 2010.  These pumps would have been purchased by mothers between approximately March 1 and June 30, 2010.

We have determined that on a very small number of pumps produced during this period, a component on the control board, after a period of usage, may cause the motor to slow down or stop. Please see below for the list of possible symptoms.   We will replace recalled units free of charge.  The unit being replaced must be shipped back to Medela at Medela’s cost. 
  
The following is a list of the issues that are corrected by this recall.  Your pump is only affected by this recall if it was purchased in the United States and exhibits any of these signs: 
• The pump will not turn on.
• The pump turns off on its own.
• The pump reduces or loses suction during the pumping process.
• The pump is making a clicking noise.
     
If you have a Pump In Style Advanced breastpump that exhibits any of these symptoms, to expedite shipment of a replacement unit, please visit www.medelareturns.com.  For any questions regarding this recall, please email us at medelareturns@medela.com. You may also call Medela Customer Service at 1-800-435-8316 for assistance.
 

We are very sorry for any inconvenience this recall may cause to any of our customers.  It is important for mothers and their babies to have equipment that functions at the highest possible quality level.  Medela is committed to providing the highest level of quality products to support breastfeeding. 

We pledge to continue our efforts to provide you with the highest quality, research-based products to meet the needs of breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

Sincerely,

Donald Alexander
Vice President Quality Management and Regulatory Affairs

from: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/media-center/126/notice-of-product-recall

Many moms decide to enter the breast pumping world around the time they start thinking about heading back to work.  Finding the right daycare, coping with leaving your little baby, and managing a workload can be stressful enough let alone finding time to pump at work!  Here's some ideas to help the transition go a little smoother...

• Try thinking about your typical work schedule and what time the best opportunities to pump will be and start mimicking that pumping schedule at home.
• Introduce the bottle to your baby at least a week before you head back to work - this can take time for babies to adjust to, especially if you were full time breastfeeding before.
  
• Pack your pumping bag as much as possible the night before.
• Rinse & store your parts in a refrigerator at work in-between pumping sessions to save time & washing.
• If you're comfortable and have a decent amount of commute time - think about pumping while you're driving - be sure to get the Hands Free Pump Bra first!
• Bring a picture of you baby with you.

Happy Pumping!

One of my big questions as a mom was always, how much should my baby be drinking? The real answer completely depends on your baby, but here's a guideline for what most babies drink...

Baby Age    Amount     Schedule
1 month       2-3 oz.       every 2-3 hours
2 months     2-4 oz.       every 3-4 hours
3 months     3-5 oz.       every 4-5 hours
4 months     4-6 oz.       every 4-5 hours
5 months     5-7 oz.       every 4-6 hours
6 months     6-8 oz.       every 4-6 hours