Welcome to my new review series: Pump of the Week!
This series is exactly what it says! I will be reviewing a pump each week and letting you know all the deets so you can decide if this is a pump you want to invest in.
Before we start, I want to go over some things. Especially for my new-to-pumping moms and my freshly postpartum moms: pumping is very personal. This is also a blog for exclusive pumping (EP) which is going to be different from nursing + pumping. Output, schedule, etc are going to be different for moms who EP and it’s important you know that going into these reviews. But everyone is welcome here, as long as you’re kind!
Back to reviews: what might work for me might not work for you and vice versa. I think a lot of what we are missing on social media is context. Is someone an over supplier? Under supplier? How often do they pump? How many months postpartum are they? There are so many little details that aren’t shared with us because social media is a 10 second highlight reel of someone’s life.
So before I start reviewing things, here are some things to know about me:
I am a 34 year old teen mom (if you get it you get it lol) and had my first baby at 33. He was an IVF miracle but I had a very difficult pregnancy and a very difficult postpartum. He had severe tongue and lip ties, that even after revision, still made latching so unbelievably painful due to vasospams, my only option for breastfeeding was to exclusively pump.
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I am not a CLC or any sort of licensed professional – just a mom with an internet connection and the kind of ADHD that hyperfixates on research and being an expert in whatever the thing is I am doing. I have been exclusively pumping for 11 months, I am pumping 4 times a day, I am an overproducer, I am a size 15mm flange, and I am a small C cup. My two main pumps I use every single day are the Baby Buddha 2.0 and Pumpables Genie Advanced.
I only use the Davin & Adley Amelia Bralette and the Simple Wishes Hands Free Bandeau style bra. Due to a smaller flange size, these are the only bras that I feel the most secure in. These are the only two bras I can personally speak to.
I did work with Dr Dianna, @pumpwithpurpose on Instagram, who is a CLC to learn how to use the first pump I bought and then took a Pumping Basics course with Bethany Bourgin, @theoversupplymama on Instagram. Both things were integral in my pumping journey and something that I don’t think moms should skip! Learning how your body responds to the various settings is very important – all pumps are not created equal. Neither are boobs!
Again, it’s important to have context going into these reviews because the way I respond to a pump, you might not! And the reason some pumps work great for me is because they have a similar vacuum pattern. Also, I’m a chronic oversharer and my brain cannot function without ALL of the context.
This series is me just sharing my honest review and opinion on the pumps brands either send me to test out or that I personally buy. There is going to be a mix of both and I will make sure that you know which ones are which! But please know I only work with brands who are open and willing to take my honest review. My goal is to do my best to present you with the facts along with my personal thoughts so you can make the best decision for YOU as pumps, flanges, bras, etc. are all investments in you and your baby!