Breastfeeding Tips & Breast Pump Guide | Lactation Connection

One question moms ask is about cleaning their breast pump parts, specifically after-market parts that have been purchased to enhance their pumping experience.  A customers favorite is the Pumpin' Pal Super Shield because this pumping accessory allows for a wider range of breast flange sizes and also allow mom to sit back and pump due to its angled design.  But once the investment has been made in these, you do want to clean them properly to prolong the life of your breast pump parts. Below are the recommendations from the manufacturer. " Pumpin’ Pal Super Shields are made of BPA-free medical grade polypropylene and High Grade Platinum Silicone. Both can be boiled ( do not let them sit on the bottom of the pan! ) and steamed using a steam bag but that should only be done prior to first time use.    Caution : If microwaved too long to the point the water is steamed away, the parts may melt and become deformed. A couple of minutes of steam is plenty. From then on thes...

Especially now when we have seen viruses run rampant, moms want to know how to sterilize their breast pump parts.  Boiling was always an issue because it is so easy to get busy taking care of the baby and leave the breast pump parts boiling on the stove so long that they melt.  Microwave sterilization was the answer!  Back in the day, there was only one Microwave Sterilizer Bag made specifically for breast pumps and parts.  No, it was not the Medela QuickClean.  It was made by a breast pump company no longer in business called White River.  Of course, their bag was soon copied by Medela and others.  But as in most things, they are not all comparable.  The question is which bag is best?  Which holds the most?  Which is the made with the safest thick BPA free plastic?  Which bags are the best value for your money? Here are our top picks! #1 Ameda CleanEase - These bags are our favorite because of the superior RCPP thick plastic whic...

If you have general tenderness or even trauma from a specific feeding, over the counter nipple creams such as lanolin cream,   Motherlove Nipple Cream  or Bamboobies Nipple Balm are very effective.  But if you have ongoing soreness which cannot be resolved by a corrected latch, Dr Jack Newman has formulated an all-purpose nipple ointment or APNO cream that is a life-saver. Copied with permission, the information below is essential in getting a prescription written for this cream as it does contain ingredients not found in any over the counter formulas. There is a link in the information below or you can search for the term "compounding pharmacy near me" in order to locate a pharmacy that can make the formula once your doctor has written the following RX: Mupirocin ointment 2%, 15 grams Betamethasone ointment 0.1%, 15 grams Add miconazole powder to a concentration of 2% miconazole Combined yield about 30 grams Directions:  Apply sparingly. Do not wash o...

We were recently contacted by a mom looking for larger flanges for her Hygeia breast pump.  If you have the Hygeia EnJoye or Hygeia EnDeare breast pump, Hygeia breast pump parts are available at Lactation Connection.  Please note that the Hygeia Evolve and FIT Pro use different parts! The accessory kit for the Hygeia Fit Pro which also works with the Hygeia Evolve is pictured below. You can find the personal accessory kit and Hygeia Fit Pro breast pump parts  here . Again, this kit also works with the Hygeia Evolve breast pump.  In addition, the original Hygeia FIT breast pump you may have received through insurance called the Hygeia Fit (pictured below) does not work with the other Hygeia brand breast shields so you will need specific breast shields which are sold as Hygeia Fit 24mm Breast Shields or Hygeia Fit 28mm Breast Shields .  Additional replacement parts are available for the Hygeia Fit Breast Pump including the Hygeia Fit Backflow Protectors , H...

Although Spectra breast pumps are lightweight, their round shape can make it hard to decide which breast pump bag will fit your Spectra best.  We've curated the best breast pump bags for you!  Here are some great options at affordable prices. JuJuBe Breast Pump Convertible Bag We are always amazed at the design details that go into JuJuBe bags.  Not only is the JuJuBe breast pump carrying bag large enough to hold your Spectra breast pump and accessories, there are soft lined pockets for cell phone, a key fob attachment so you can always find your keys, lightly lined interior to make it easy to find all your tiny parts and extra pockets for everything else!  This bag has a staging pad for your breast pump parts that converts to a changing pad or even a makeup mat! Landuo Breast Pump Backpack This breast pump backpack bag provides a perfectly organized space for you to shuttle your breast pump to work, events or anywhere! The side zippered pocket of the bag o...

Have you ever wondered how many hours you have actually pumped?   Or if the breast pump you used with the last baby still has life left in it?  Spectra S Series breast pumps allow you to check how many hours you have pumped or if your pump is nearing it's 1500 hour life span.  Please note that your pump may have exceeded it's time perior warrany before it reaches it's life span. To find the number of hours you have pumped, go to your control panel on the Spectra S1 Spectra S2 breast pump or S3 Pro Hospital Grade Breast Pump and follow these steps: 1.  Press the Power On button 2.  Press the Let Down button 3.  Press the Cycle+ button 4.  Press the Vacuum- button 5.  Press the Cycle- button 6.  Press the Vacuum+ button 7.  Press the Let Down button again 8.  Read the four digit smaller numbers between the Cycle and Vacuum numbers to see the hours.      This is normally where your ...

Holidays with family are priceless, but you want to keep a few things in mind to make it easier when breastfeeding.  Here are a few tips that you may find to be a great help! 1.  Latch and Cover Babies can be easily distracted from feeding properly when around the hustle and bustle of the holiday gatherings.  One way to keep them on task is to latch and cover in another room before joining the group.  Full feeding can keep baby happier and help you avoid clogged milk ducts. 2.  Protect Milk Supply Families want to participate in caring for baby and it may be hard to tear the new grandbaby away from the new grandmother.  If you want to allow the feeding of breastmilk from a bottle, make sure to prepare bottles in advance, but take the time to double pump for a full 10-15 minutes to protect your breast health and milk supply. 3.  Moderate Your Intake Although not a popular thing to say, alcohol does get into your blood stream and while one or ...