My Faithful Companion: My Breast Pump

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I had my son in February of this year and looking back, I wish I would have kept track of the countless hours I sat attached to my faithful breast pump. I really think that I spent more time with my pump than my husband this year! As a working mom, I hook up to my Spectra S2 at least two times per day. Pumping is not exactly something I look forward to, but The Breastfeeding Shop plus a hands-free pumping bra have made this whole process a little less painful!

I had my first child in 2014. At this time, Tricare did not cover breast pumps. It was frustrating to say the least. I wasn’t sure how often I would need to pump, so I took a hand-me-down pump from a friend (I know, not advised) and got new parts and tubing.

As a new mom, I didn’t really know how a pump should work, but I knew the result should be milk!

I can definitely say that a good breast pump is the key to a successful breastfeeding relationship for a working mom. With my daughter, I returned to work when she was 5 months old and was using the hand-me-down pump from my friend. It worked, but not well enough. Since it was an older pump, I think the suction just wasn’t as strong as it should be. My supply ended up dwindling, and I had to start supplementing.  

I had my son in February of this year. I was so excited to get my prescription from my doctor and place the order for my pump. (I was still bitter that Tricare did not cover them when I had my daughter in 2014).

The Breastfeeding Shop made this process easier than I could have ever imagined. I literally took a photo of the prescription and uploaded to the online form on their website. The most time consuming process was determining which pump to choose. There were so many options! I decided on the Spectra S2 and less than a week later, I had a huge box from The Breastfeeding Shop on my doorstep.

I opened the box and couldn’t believe all of the “goodies” in my box. In addition to the pump and parts, I also received several boxes of pump bags and the Kiinde Twist system.

The Kiinde Twist has changed my life. No joke.

I’m all for disposable options and simplifying life. With the adapters provided by The Breastfeeding Shop, I pump directly into the bags so there are no bottles to wash. I screw the caps onto the bags and store in the fridge or freezer until I am ready to use them. They pop right into the bottle insert and the nipple plugs into the bag and it does not leak! It really is so simple. At the end of the day, I throw away the empty bags and only have to clean the nipples and caps. It saves at least 10 to 20 minutes per day. I’m so grateful for this system.

Also, when you are done breastfeeding, you can use this system for homemade pureed food pouches.

Many moms don’t know that Tricare also covers your supplies. You can upload prescriptions for bags or additional parts on The Breastfeeding Shop app or website.

I even had one of their customer service agents text and call me to follow up on an outstanding order that my doctor needed to approve. Their customer service and attention to detail is truly amazing!

My breast pump has been on an airplane (did you know some seats have outlets on them??), to Mexico, on a bachelorette party (where another mom had the same pump as me), to the spa and the list goes on. As a working mom who pumps 2-4 times per day, I am happy to say that my breastfeeding relationship with my son has continued to flourish and that it is partly because of my pump and The Breastfeeding Shop. I highly recommend the Spectra pump, and I really need to buy stock in the Kiinde company.

The Breastfeeding Shop has an awesome website, interactive app and they are also on Facebook. Check them out today and happy pumping!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with The Breastfeeding Shop, but all opinions are our own.
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Allison Chance
Allison is a Navy spouse currently stationed in Monterey, California. Allison is a licensed REALTOR® in Florida and California. She currently works for Over the Moon Realty, Inc. and offers the Homes for Heroes Program, where she gives back a portion of her commission to heroes! Her family consists of her husband, Kyle, their daughter, Charlotte, and their miniature dachshund Macey Jane. Photography, Lilly Pulitzer, working out and organizing are just a few of Allison’s favorite things. Allison was a contributor with Jacksonville Moms Blog at her last duty station and loves blogging and interacting with other moms! You can follow along with "The Chance Clan" at thechanceclan.blogspot.com !