Plenty of women have recommended I get some sort of hands-free pumping bra since I started pumping breastmilk for my triplets 18 weeks (!) ago while they were in the NICU.
I poo-pooed the advice at first, though, because I didn’t have much to do while I was pumping. Pumping was quiet time I savored – time to focus on my babies (either by staring into their isolettes or simply imagining them while I sat at home), time to pray, time to just be quiet and feel like I was doing something to help them, like I was being their mother.
Then they came home.
That time became quiet time to relax – the only time to myself – and sit with Netflix while I cruised through seasons of TV shows.
And then they reached their due date. Just as my triplet-mommy friend Pam said, all hell broke loose. Suddenly, pumping became a race. I need to pump, but they need me. The people we have here to help need me. Time has shrunk, and I find myself racing to pump, racing to eat, racing to pee – all within the span of about 60-90 minutes, sometimes less. I’ve had to choose between pumping and eating. And peeing? Forget about it. Let’s just say I’m lucky to have had my bladder of steel returned to its pre-pregnancy condition.
Then one day, Wendy Armbruster Bell sent me a message on Twitter, offering to send me a hands-free bra to try in exchange for an honest review. I checked out the PumpEase site and some other reviews before agreeing, but the bra seemed to make everyone happy. Convinced it wouldn’t waste my time or hers, I agreed.
Lord have mercy, I think it’s the smartest blog decision I’ve ever made.
I normally don’t have much trouble finding time to pump. Our families are around enough that I can step aside for 30 minutes to take care of that business. It’s finding time to do everything else that’s the problem. Like eating. Like I said, I’ve had days during which I chose eating over pumping. To produce milk like a cow, one must eat like a cow.
No more choosing, ladies and gents. I take a few minutes to prep whatever snack or meal I’m having and carry that into the room with my pump, strap on my PumpEase bra, get the pump parts in place, start Netflix and sit back, eat and watch TV (currently season 5 of 24). Or blog. Or answer e-mails. I could probably read a book, but I’m not sure if my attention span has returned to a normal state.
I use a hospital-grade pump, so I’m always plugged in and thus not able to move far, but I have unhooked the pump hoses and wandered into the nursery to soothe babies with the flanges and bottles still in place. No big deal. I’m sure it’d be easy to move about the house if my pump used batteries. I can only imagine the possibilities of being hands free AND wireless. Freedom!
Hands free AND appropriate for all ages. WIN.
The material for the regular PumpEase bra reminds me of a nice bathing suit. It’s smooth and stretchy, and it maintains its tightness. It’s stupid comfortable, and I’ve never felt my bottles of precious milk were at risk of falling away.
I do produce a lot of milk, though – I use 8 oz. bottles and need to switch from full to empty bottles during a pumping session at least once a day. Those bottles get HEAVY. For my safety (gravity does enough without letting heavy bottles pull anything else down) and for my milk’s safety, I remain seated with the bottles resting on my legs once I reach the 4 oz. mark in one bottle.
Not a problem in my eyes, though. It allows me guilt-free resting time.
Good news, dear readers. I have a PumpEase bra to give away to one lucky duck. All you have to do is leave a comment here telling me what you’d do with your hands-free time while pumping. Eat? Crochet? Play poker? Work on a baby book? Or, if you’re like me yesterday – NAP!
The winner will be chosen at random, and you have until 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 5 to enter.
Disclaimer: While PumpEase sponsored this review, the opinions I’ve expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint.
I’ve wondered about these…When I had Ry I went back to work when she was 3 weeks old and pumped at work, in my office, 3 times a day…and continued to do so for the next 11 months. I would use one of these little jobbers for pumping while at my desk after my next babe! It would make things so much easier than the half-hunched-knee-balance thing I did before.
I’m starting to pump for a mama who can’t produce enough for her babe. I would love to be able to do something during that time as I still have my own nursling and a toddler to juggle! A nap?! What a wonderful thought!!
I would catch up on my online world
Now that I’ve been learning to crochet, id definitely crochet. So glad it worked well for you!!
Probably eat. Or read. Or, here’s a thought, resurrect my blog! Love the idea of this, always wondered how well it really worked, now I know, thanks!
I would give it to my sister who just went back to work after having her first child and is breastfeeding. I think this would be an AMAZING present for me to give her to show her how proud of her I am!
I would totally eat and watch tv.
I would save this for baby #2 … if only I’d known about PumpEase when I was pumping for my daughter! *sigh*
BFF is expecting #2 and this would be an AMAZING gift for her…
You are awesome BTW.
Hmm … I’d be excited to try this out! I’d enjoy some reading …. And that nap sounds like an excellent idea!
I would use it when my little one gets here and I’m wanting to do my daily blog reading through my Google app. Hell, I’d also probably do it while playing Angry Birds.
Oh man, I resisted getting one of these during the ten months I pumped. I didn’t think it would work for me! So i’d like a shot at a freebie for the next time ’round, during which I will nap, blog, or just happily twiddle my thumbs without feeling like I need to mash the flanges against myself.
That sounds WONDERFUL!!! I would be able to use the time to get stuff done before my little one comes home
I’d probably eat and catch up on the internet!
oh please, please, please let me be your random pick! i’m having twins in 3.5 weeks or less, and a hands-free pumping bra is at the top of my list of baby needs right now.
what would i do with all that hands-free time? umm, sleep?
(by the way, there is a battery-operated pump made by medela. slip that puppy in your bathrobe pocket, attach it via your hands-free pumping bra, and you’ll be good to go! i think it’s called the freestyle. maybe you can write a review for them too!)
I loved my pumping bra- couldnt have lived without it!
This sounds like not only my dream come true, but a necessity for me! I’m pregnant with twins, have a 18 month old, and just moved 1000 miles away from all of my family and friends due to my hubby’s job change. ’nuff said
Thanks for the shout-out, yo! (I mean, man, I hope you meant me or else this is highly embarrassing.) And man, if that pump had been available when mine were babies, I might have lasted more than two months.
Sorry, I just took a vicodin for my back. I don’t say ‘man’ that much in real life!
Hands-free would be awesome! I would probably use my time to eat, though a nap would be heavenly! My son is 9 months old now and it’s a whole new world now that he’s mobile. I never sit still anymore! I feel for you when your babies get to this age — I couldn’t do it!
32+0+
01+9018010100
(That was from my son. He really wants me to win!)
I would definitely use it to eat and catch up on all my DVR shows once baby number two arrives!
I’d totally be surfing netflix too!!
shahkryshel@hotmail.com
i’d have to say that pumping while napping sounds like an excellent way to use this bra!!!! i wish i had something this nice the first time around… it sure would be nice to try it this time around as i’ll most likely be chasing my toddler around while i pump, but i’d much rather be napping lol!
Oh to have more precious time when you have little ones in the house. I am going through IVF for a second child right now and I cannot imagine all the peanut butter sandwiches that will need slicing, sippy cups that will need filling and hair bows that will need fixing when another little one comes along!
Do you have any idea how much milk I spilled and how my nips I abused trying to go hands free without a contraption like that one?! PICK ME!
Dude. That should read “…how many times I abused my nips…” not whatever stupidity I wrote above.
Bed. Going there.
I would love to win this handsfree bra! I would first get rid of my homemade contraption, that doesn’t work well. I love to pump handsfree to be able to wrangle my wild 6 month old at the same time. I only pump and we 100% bottlefeed the pumped milk, therefore I pump a lot everyday. A great handsfree bra is just what I need! I think I will head on over and check out the bras right now. I have tried other handsfree bras and didn’t care for any of them, so I appreciate your honest review. Thank you!
I used one of those when I was pumping at work. I loved it because I could pull up my shirt, pull down my bra and just put it on. It was amazing. Best thing ever. I’m glad it’s helping you out! You’re life sounds insane but you sound like you’re rocking it super hard! You’re an inspiration.
I would read blogs! (and eat)
I would do charts at work. Which would enable me to get home sooner. Which would make me and my kids happier.
When I go back to work after having our first in May, I will use the time to do something work related so that I can go home earlier!! Otherwise, I have to use personal time to pump, which would make me get home about an hour later each day
So glad that this is working out for you!
I would likely do computer stuff! Esp after I go back to work!
Oh my word, I would love one of these! I would be able to catch up on email so much faster! Thanks for the opportunity!
Let’s see…catch up on my Angry Bird skills, pluck my eyebrows, organize coupons, etc. My life is so glamorous!!
I exclusively pumped with DS#1. I tried a few different hands free bras and they were terrible and uncomfortable! I wish I would have known about this one back then. I spent a lot of time sitting and holding my pump instead of eating, peeing, holding my baby, etc. I am due with DS#2 in August, so if I were to win this bra, I would do all of the above plus be able to take care of DS#1 while I am pumping!
I would totally perform my stand-up routine in it! Seriously though, I am pregnant with twins and I know how hard it was to pump for a singleton, so being prepared for twins would be super fantastic!
I would grab a glass of wine and sit back and enjoy. Oh wait, drinking wine and breast pumping aren’t supposed to go together.
I suppose for now, I would try it on and take a pic like you did and post it on my blog. My next transfer of my adopted frozen embryos will be in July. So, I will need all of the positive imagery I can muster!
I would probably play on the interwebs!
So glad it’s working so well for you. When I get the opportunity to pump (soonish I hope), I can see myself catching up on twitter & words with friends!
I wanted one of these sooo badly when I was in the thick of pumping at work. I don’t pump now as often as I did… but would still LOVE to own one… to allow me to do other things while pumping… (probably texting/reading/or maybe doing dishes or getting a drink… yes, i often pump while in the kitchen… in an attempt to get a snack or drink…which i usually fail at because i am trying to balance a boob/bottle on the counter, while i reach for a glass… usually a fail situation).
I am not pregnant, nor will I be in the near future, but I’m entering the contest to try to win for my sister who has a 27 weeker currently in the NICU and is probably going to have little to no time off work once her daughter is released from the hospital sometime in June. She would love something like this to be able to spend more one-on-one bonding time with her girl.
Thanks, and keep on swimming, you’re doing an amazing job!
Julie
I truly wish I knew about this when pumping for my son. I would occasionally do the one arm holding a bottle with the crook of my arm and my hand with the other to soothe the baby, try and eat or even just relax.
If I do not win, this will be my first purchase the minute I find out that I am pregnant with the next baby. What an awesome idea!
i have been reading your blog for a while now- prayed for your babies many times as I am a mother to multiples as well- minus one from you- twin boys tha are almost 3 months old- I am sitting here typing to you using my hands free nursing bra that my best friend gave me- it is a gift! It is falling apart and I am hoping that it doesn’t break so I would love to have one given to me!! I am sitting on my bed, typing and reading your blog as I collect my liquid gold for my babies who are laying on the bed with me one is crying and one is smiling…silly boys- so if you are giving one away please put me at the top of the list as I would love to have something free and something this nice to help me out! BTW your babies are precious- such a gift from God….my boys were in the NICU as well, only 10 days which seemed like forever but then I talk about you- what 67 days?? My gosh girl, you are my hero!!!
Work! Sad, but it will be an hour of time that I don’t have to make up and more time with my little guy.
I could sew or update my blog while I pump at home or relax and read while I pump at work. I have looked at these before but I wasn’t sure if it was worth the money.
I would read and surf the internet!
I am currently pregnant with my 2nd and plan on BFing once again. With my first I pumped once or twice a day in addition to BFing to build up a freezer stash and oh how I would have loved hands-free pumping! I felt like I had so much to do and I only had one little baby! Honestly I would probably just sit and surf the net, but to be hands free, I can only dream!
This would totally come in handy when I have to pump at work. Close the door to my office and I can continue to work while I am pumping – talk about multitasking!!!
I thought these hands free bra things sounded so silly until I read your tweets. Due later this year, I am highly considering getting one.
my first is due in July and I definitely plan on pumping (assuming all goes well in the nursing department). Since she’s not here yet I can’t know how my day is going to go, but I’m going to guess i’ll need some nap time for myself