Can you Pump Directly into Breast Milk Storage Bags with Spectra Motif Hygeia and Lansinoh Bag Adapter?

Moms who store breastmilk in the freezer know that breast milk storage bags are the most space saving efficient way to stockpile your breastmilk.  But did you know that pumping into bottles and then transferring the milk to storage bags looses some of the fat meant for your baby?

Small amounts of fat cling to the side of the bottle and never make it to the storage bags.  The more times you transfer your breast milk from one container to the other causes more and more of the healthy fat to be lost.

The solution is pumping directly into the breast milk storage bags.  But how do you pump into storage bags such as Spectra?  While there may be hacks to rig your bag to your pump, they are not worth crying over spilled milk.  The most secure way we have found is a breast milk storage bag adapter.  It works with popular wide mouth breast flanges such as Spectra, Motif Duo, Motif Luna and Ameda Mya.  It attaches very well to common breast milk storage bags like Lansinoh and Nuk and works great with our best selling breast milk storage bags such as the Hygeia Milkies, Motif Breastmilk Storage Bags and Spectra Breast Milk Storage Bags.  For the purposes of this blog, we tested the compatibility and the security of the adapter to the flanges and the bags mentioned.

Motif Breastmilk Bags go on easily.  The clasp grips right below the zipper holding your the bag in place securely as shown.

The Hygiea Milkies Breast Milk Storage Bags have a flap.  So after tearing off the perforated top, fold down the flaop and then insert the bag adapter into the bag.  The grips should be just below the zipper line for security.  Lansinoh and Nuk have a similar flap and work much the same way.

Pumping into the Spectra Breast Milk Storage Bags work much like the Motif  Breastmilk Bags.  After opening the bag, insert the adapter into the bag and make sure that the spring-hinge grips the bag firmly just below the zipper line.  You can even give it a tug before you start pumping just to make sure that you have attached it properly.

It is nice when a product makes it easier for moms to pump and store their breast milk.  Kudos to MayMom for the design of this breast pump storage bag adapter!

Here is to direct pumping!

Tanya

Which Breastfeeding Supplies are FSA HSA Eligible? - FSA HSA Breastfeeding Supplies Eligible List

One of the questions we often get is, "Can I use my HSA credit card to purchase breastfeeding supplies?" or "Which nursing supplies are eligible to buy with my FSA card?".  You can use your HSA or FSA card to buy breastfeeding supplies but you do need to purchase from a DME, durable medical equipment supplier such as Lactation Connection.  Health spending accounts and savings accounts are great to use for breastfeeding accessories, but you will want to know which supplies are eligible.

Here is a list of  FSA and HSA eligible items:

Breastmilk Storage Bags

Breastmilk Storage Bottles

Breastpump Accessory Set

Breastpump Bags
Breastpump Battery Pack
Breastpump tubing

Breastmilk Cooler Set
Breastpump

Breastshields (all sizes and brands)
Hands Free Bustier (all sizes and colors)

Lactation Aid Feeding Tubes

Microwave Steam Sterilizer Bags

Nipple Cream
Nursing Pads

Portable Vehicle Lighter Adapter

Replacement Valves (all types)

Replacement Valve Membranes

Please note that LCFSA and DCFSA limited care accounts cannot be used for the above items.

Here is to healthy saving and spending!

Tanya

Haakaa Breast Pump - Breast Milk Catcher

Whether you are using a double electric breast pump for work or exclusively breastfeeding at home, having a breast milk catcher is beneficial.

In the first six to eight weeks postpartum your breast milk supply has not yet regulated.  Using a silicone breast pump as to catch milk on the opposite breast is a great way to improve milk supply and begin storing milk for upcoming work or emergencies.  Many exlusively nursing mothers have called us with questions as to how to get a stash for an unforseen trip or medical procedure.

A silicone breast pump, when used properly is a great tool.  To use the Haakaa Breast Pump, squeeze out the air.  Then make sure you are establishing a seal with the flexible flange by everting the mouth of the flange, much like you would roll a pair of socks.  Then as you place the silicone breast pump on the breast empty of air, the suction will be created and the lips of the flange will roll back into place and securely onto the breast.  Watching the How to Use the Haakaa Breast Pump video is helpful.

If you prefer to manually express milk, rather than passively collect milk while nursing, the Hygeia Manual Expression Cup is a wide mouth cup with bottle that will catch milk when hand expressing.  We recommend using a heavier glass bottle so that it will be more stable or using a bottle stand
with your bottle to keep you from crying over spilled milk!

For the best hand expression technique, the Marmet Technique for hand expression is widely used.

You will want to massage the breast first, place your hand is a C hold and then follow the instructions for manual expression as outlined by Chele Marmet, MA, IBCLC. Below is a short summary, but I would encourage you to view the full article.

Collecting breast milk passively or hand expressing breast milk is a helpful tool in using expressed breast milk to entice the baby to the breast, using manual expression or the Haakaa to evert the nipple and even later on to collect breast milk for storage or adding to baby foods.  If you have flat or inverted nipples, Haakaa also has an Inverted Nipple Corrector that works well.

Cheers to breastmilk, however you cghoose to extract it!

Tanya