Medically reviewed by Alyssa Copeland, RN, IBCLC
Setting Up Your Pumping Station
When you’re exclusively pumping, you spend at least 120 minutes a day pumping. Since it takes up so much time, it’s nice to have a place where you’ve got everything you need in one spot and ready to go, so you don’t have to think about it.
You can set up your pumping station anywhere you want to pump— the nursery, your bedroom, the living room, your car, outside on the patio, etc.
Your station can be portable, like a tray or a tote, or stationary, like on a table or a window sill. If you pump in different places throughout the day, you could set up multiple pumping stations in different rooms. Or you could have a caddy or a rolling cart that you take with you so everything stays together and you don’t forget anything.
5 Must-Haves for your Pumping Station
There are a lot of things you might want to consider having at your pumping station. Here are the 5 things you absolutely must have, and they might not be what you’d expect!
1. The pump, obviously
Most exclusively pumping moms use a double electric breast pump. But some moms find they respond better to a manual pump or hand expressing.
2. Something beautiful
Let’s be honest, pumping sucks. (Betcha haven’t heard that pun before..) So try to do absolutely everything you can to make it as enjoyable as possible. Having something beautiful at your pumping station can help to lift your spirits. This can be..
- Something that looks beautiful: a vase of flowers, a cute little plant, a photo of your baby
- Something that smells beautiful: an essential oil diffuser (just be careful when choosing oils and when using them around your baby)
- Something that makes you feel beautiful: a framed quote or affirmation cards
3. Something entertaining
You gotta have something fun to do while you’re pumping. You could read a book, write in a journal, feed or play with your baby, paint your nails, do your makeup, scroll your phone.. and if your pumping station is by the tv, make sure you have the remote!
4. Something to eat and drink
- Water – It’s no secret that breastfeeding makes you thirsty. Drinking a glass of water each time you pump is a great way to stay hydrated.
- Coffee – You can check with your doctor, but for most women, drinking a couple cups of coffee a day is fine.
- Tea – Drinking a cup of tea is so calming and relaxing. Just be careful when choosing your tea. Some herbal teas can decrease milk supply and others can be harmful to your baby.
- Galactogogues – While there is no food that will magically increase milk supply (You gotta remove more milk to make more milk), some women have noticed a boost in supply when they eat certain foods like oatmeal or lactation cookies.
- Something sweet– Treat yourself. You deserve it! I used to keep a little bowl of chocolate at my station and ate one each time I went to pump.
5. Backup Bottles or a Pair of Clean Socks
- Backup bottles for an oversupply – If you have an oversupply, there may be times when you fill up the bottles and need to switch them out mid-session.
- A pair of clean socks for an undersupply – If you have an undersupply, it can be discouraging to look down and not see much milk coming out. But stress can affect the release of oxytocin, a hormone which is necessary in breastfeeding. To help you stop stressing, you can try the “sock hack”. Put socks over the bottles as you’re pumping so you can’t see how much milk is coming out, and then try to focus on something positive.
Bonus Items
Now that you’ve got the essential items, here are some other things you might want to consider having at your pumping station.
A few just-in-case items:
- Towel – to wipe up any spills
- Pump log – so you don’t forget to record everything
- Breast pads – a reminder to change them often
- Phone charger – in case your phone dies
A few nice-to-have items:
- Hands-free pumping bra – if you’re not already wearing one
- Coconut oil – to lube the flanges if you’re having pain while pumping
- Nipple cream – to soothe sore nipples ((breast milk can also help!))
- Support pillow – to save your back
A few feed-the-baby items:
- Boppy or infant seat – to hold the baby
- Bottle – to feed the baby
- Extra milk – in case baby is still hungry
- Burp cloth – for puke, duh
- Baby toys or books – in case baby finishes eating before your done pumping
A few middle-of-the-night items:
- Clean bottles and pump parts – have a set of clean pump parts and extra bottles ready to go
- Mini fridge – so you don’t have to walk all the way to the kitchen to store the milk
- Cooler & ice pack – you can use this if you don’t have a mini fridge. Put the ice pack and bottles for feeding in the cooler before you go to bed. Then put the expressed milk in there once you’re done pumping. Breast milk stays safe in a cooler with an ice pack for 24 hours.
- Night light – so you don’t have to turn on any bright lights
Was this helpful? Let me know in the comments and tell me one thing you always keep at your pumping station!
This post has been medically reviewed by Alyssa Copeland, RN, IBCLC
Alyssa Copeland is a mom of 3. She is a graduate of University of Michigan School of Nursing, and has been a pediatric RN since 2010. She has been an active La Leche League Leader since 2016 and an IBCLC since 2020.
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