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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Silent manual pump?

18 replies

jasperc163 · 30/09/2009 12:04

I am going back to work next week. I don't have an office and have meetings in other people's etc.

I would like to be able to quickly pump at lunchtime or something but it would end up being in toliets somewhere and the manual pump i have (which i dont like anyway) has a creaky handle. Anyone got one that makes no noise?

thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
jasperc163 · 30/09/2009 15:28

OR anyone managed to hand express efficiently enough that this is an option when out and about?

OP posts:
Original poster
jasperc163 · 16/10/2009 07:13

uping this in case anyone else can help. I am back at work - am torn between trying to just feed morning and night and letting my daytime supply die down and trying to carry on (normally only 2 days a week where i am out and about and have a problem, one day at home so i can express (work a 3 day week). At the moment I try to manage the days I am working and get pretty engorged, so not ideal.

Anyone managed to hand express effectively in this kind of situation?

DD is 6.5 months
thanks

OP posts:
bumpyandfrumpy · 16/10/2009 07:23

Hand expressing (once you get the hang of it) can be much more efficient than pumps.
I would say, however, that your work should be providing you with somewhere private to express. You shouldn't have to hide out in the loos.
I would have a word with them, if I were you, you never know...they may have an office that can be all yours for half an hour. Ask them if they would like THEIR food prepared in the toilets....

Original poster
jasperc163 · 16/10/2009 08:08

Thanks - problem is i am not in my work but other people's 2 days a week - so its just not viable.

How easy is it to hand express into a bottle?

OP posts:
ProcessYellowC · 16/10/2009 08:53

I think hand expressing into a bottle would be pretty hard, but you could use a kitchen jug and pour the milk into a bottle/little milk bag.
I hate advertising them but I found the phillips Avent pump pretty quiet, although there is a bit of a "whooshy" noise. I was able to fit it into a little insulated lunchbag which was quite discrete.

I'm racking my brains to think of somewhere you could express in peace; is there any chance you would be able to get to a Mothercare/John Lewis feeding room in your lunch hour?

If this helps, when I went back to work I was expressing twice a day, but due to time pressures that gradually went down to once a day and now I don't express at all: but I still feed DS during the day on the 4 days that I am home during the day. He is older than your DD, but still an absolute milk monster yet my breasts have cottoned on and I am able to go for a long time without feeding him without too much dicomfort.

chipsticksmammy · 16/10/2009 08:55

I think by law your workplace is required to provide you with somewhere private to express and a fridge to store your milk in.

My work showed me the room I can use when I go back just before I went on maternity.

I might be wrong though.

ProcessYellowC · 16/10/2009 09:13

It is easier to ask (or take in my case) when you have a set workplace. The OP has to go to these various firms, and while most of the people she deals with might not bat an eyelid at such a request, I can understand her reluctance to ask.

ramblingmum · 16/10/2009 09:30

I'm not back at work yet but am finding hand expressing better than my pump at the moment ( tommie tippy hand pump). I express into a wide neck bottle. There can be a bit of spray so make sure you have a muslin handy.

chipsticksmammy · 16/10/2009 09:44

Ahh sorry, tired and half awake re:the workplace issue.

My Tommy Tippee Closer to Nature hand pump is not silent or subtle, so not one to take with you!

I have a Lansinoh one too which is quieter but doesnt work well for me.

John Lewis were brilliant when I was looking at electric ones the other day. Do you have one close to you that will let you try the different pumps? Not to express in the store, but just to have a play to see if there is a quiet one?

BertieBotts · 16/10/2009 10:05

Could you take a small portable radio in with you which would cover the noise of any pumping?

BertieBotts · 16/10/2009 10:06

Oh sorry - in the toilet Probably not then!

Original poster
jasperc163 · 16/10/2009 14:29

thanks everyone. It is a dilemma....

ProcessYellowC - interested to hear that you have managed to keep going without expressing during day. I know in reality it would be easier if I just gave it up during day when i am at home (she is on formula anyway at childminder so its not like she is exclusively bf anymore). Just find it odd to make up a bottle during day when i am there!

Maybe have to give hand expressing a bit more of a go...

OP posts:
cheesebaby · 21/10/2009 15:43

I have the tommee tippee one (when it was on offer for about £6!), and it is pretty awful, imo, not comfortable, very creaky and a pain to assemble. I have been using Medela's harmony for about 7 months, including the last 2 I've been back at work, and it's pretty much silent, and comfortable too.

cheesebaby · 21/10/2009 15:45

Oh, but the box the TT one came in makes a god steriliser for the Medela, and I use it as a carry box in the day to, so not a complete waste of £s

cheesebaby · 21/10/2009 15:46

god good

Original poster
jasperc163 · 11/11/2009 09:55

up!
Not getting on with hand expressing so if anyone knows of a silent manual pump (suitable for covert use in toilets!) pls shout!

OP posts:
runnervt · 11/11/2009 11:32

I hand expressed at work for both my babies. I just expressed into a wide necked bottle. It did take a wee while to get the hang of first time round but it is worth persevering as it means you only need to take a bottle with you rather than a pump. I do take a muslin though to wipe up any errant spray!

reservejudgement · 11/11/2009 15:25

I want a god steriliser!

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