Balancing Work and Feeding My Baby

When my husband and I decided to share parental leave, I knew I’d be heading back to work when my daughter was 6 months old. That had me reassessing my breast pump situation, as I needed something that could fit into my new routine. Thankfully, I was working remotely, which meant I could continue breastfeeding while laying the groundwork to find my perfect pump.

Trying the Tommee Tippee Wearable Pump

One of the first pumps I tried was the Tommee Tippee Wearable Pump, which was unique because it used continual suction. What really stood out to me was the fact that Tommee Tippee offers all of their replacement parts completely free. That’s a huge relief when you’re trying to avoid the ongoing costs of pumping!

My second Tommee Tippee packed up to go back :(

When it worked, I genuinely loved the pump. It was quiet, discreet, and I responded really well to it. Plus, the lack of ongoing costs for parts was a big bonus. I wanted so badly for this to be the one. But, despite all the positives, the pump had a tendency to malfunction. After returning two sets of pumps—though I must say, Tommee Tippee’s customer service was excellent—I was back at square one, still searching for my ideal setup.

BabyBuddha: So Near, Yet So Far. . .

Next, I moved on to the BabyBuddha Pump with their Express Cups+ wearable cups. It was a compact and powerful option, and I loved the idea of being able to pump on the go. But as BabyBuddha is an American brand, I quickly ran into issues sourcing replacement parts here in the UK. Between the long wait times and high costs of shipping, maintaining the pump became more of a challenge than I anticipated. I also had trouble finding suitable flanges for my smaller nipples, which meant this pump just wasn’t going to work for me in the long term.

Tell me you're a working breastfeeding mum without saying you're a working breastfeeding mum.

Flange Experiments: Lactek BabyMotion and Pumpin’ Pals

From there, I tried the Lactek BabyMotion and Pumpin’ Pals flanges, hoping they would offer a better fit. Both provided decent results and helped me make some progress, but they didn’t work as well with the wearable cups I was experimenting with. The standard inserts just didn’t give me the same level of stimulation as a hard plastic flange, which I found crucial for triggering my letdown reflex. So, while they got me further along in my journey, they weren’t the perfect fit.

Finding My Perfect Setup: The Spectra Synergy Gold

Finally, after a lot of trial and error, I found my perfect setup: the Spectra Synergy Gold paired with 12mm Maymom Pano flanges. This combination was a game changer. The Maymom flanges offered a wider cup for the breast and came in the correct size for my nipples without the need for inserts, which was such a relief. Paired with the dual-motor power of the Spectra Synergy Gold, I started seeing output I had only dreamed of in those early days.

The Maymom Pano 12mm . . .for she of the large boobie but teeny tiny nips. <3

The lack of portability, which I had initially been concerned about, turned out to be a non-issue since most of my pumping happens at my desk while working. I had wanted wearable cups to be my ultimate solution, but I realised there’s so much more to get right with wearables—flange size and bra fit are both critical. In the end, I’ve found the Spectra setup to be ideal for my routine.

While I haven’t fully settled on a more portable option yet, I’ve been impressed with the Elvie lineup, especially the Elvie Stride cups. The slim profile and lovely cushion sizing inserts have made them a great option for pumping on the go. Plus, I love that I can pair the Elvie Stride cups with my Spectra pump, and I’m leaning towards using this combo as my portable solution when I return to the office in November.

The Final Chapter… For Now

Through all this trial and error, I’ve come to realise that many women struggle to find their perfect breast pump. Too often, our ability to breastfeed is tied to the results we get from pumping. But here’s the thing: with poor pump configurations and a lack of knowledge around how these machines actually work, the results we see from pumping can give a false idea of our actual milk output.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the means to invest time and money into working all this out. But that’s not the case for many women, and it breaks my heart to think that so many might give up breastfeeding based on what could be a simple configuration issue with their pump. This journey has inspired me to help other mums save time, money, and, most importantly, their breastfeeding journeys. That’s why I created The Pump Library—to provide women with the knowledge and tools they need to ensure pumping is a help, not a hindrance, to their breastfeeding goals.

The Pump Library was born out of a desire to make this process easier, so mums can focus on what matters: nourishing and bonding with their babies.

My Own Pumping Journey Part 3: Trial, Error & Success