Why I Love My Lansinoh

Some have been requesting for this. So here are several reasons why I love my Lansinoh Double Electric Pump:

CHEAP DOUBLE ELECTRIC PUMP
Price is number one on my list when I scouted for a breast pump. Good thing Lansinoh is there. For around 8,000php, you will have the value of a double electric pump, which is recommended if you are working. Other pumps are too costly that some working moms just settle either for a cheaper manual pump or a single electric pump which will take you almost half of your working day to collect your milk.

Lansinoh is not readily available in malls here in Manila. This is why it is not that popular here. You can ask your relatives in the US to buy one for you, or you can have it ordered online via Multiply.

EASY TO SET UP
For a working mom, this is one factor that you should consider – the time required to set up the pump. Since you will squeeze your pumping session on your working hour, then the goal should be less time for set-up and more time for actual milk pumping.

Yes, it only takes me 30 seconds or even less to set-up. Other pumps have lots of connectors and accessories that you need to arrange prior to pumping. With my Lansinoh, you just need to connect the power supply or put your batteries, and attach the tubing to the flange assembly then to the pump itself. Then you’re all set.

Oh, and if I am lucky and I have a room reserved for me the whole day, then I will just leave my pump set up and just put my nursing cover over it. Then on my next pumping session, I just have to bring my “ref tote” again, connect the flange to the tubing and continue pumping.

EASY TO CLEAN UP
Since it has fewer parts, it is very easy to clean too! Perfect for lazy moms and/or lazy yayas! LOL

PORTABLE
Again, since it has fewer parts, it is portable as well. *wink!*

WORKS WITH AA BATTERIES
This is a great plus for me since you have option to pump even if you do not have access to an electrical socket. You just need 6x AA batteries to run it. I suggest you buy those rechargeable batteries which is more practical than buying the disposable ones.

Although I would recommend using electrical power whenever possible as the suction is better compared when you’re running on batteries. Tip: Always bring spare batteries on your pump bag so you'll have a back-up when your power cord just didn't work or when there is a power interruption aka "brown-out."

NO MILK BACK-UP
It has patented design that prevents milk from going to the tubing or to the motor which means that your breastmilk will have less risk of contamination.

SPEED AND SUCTION CONTROL
It has two dials, one for suction and another one for speed. With this, you can set the level of speed and suction depending on your preference. I found the suction of this pump a bit powerful so I just put it on mid vacuum setting with full speed and then I’m okay.

VERY QUIET PUMP
A friend of mine has the Pigeon single electric pump and I told her that her pump was too noisy! I told her it might disturb her newborn who was then sleeping. My friend said for her it was perfectly okay. But not until I showed her how quiet my Lansinoh was. Imagine her regret in buying the pigeon pump. ;-)

ALL PRAISES AND NO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK? You might think I have all praises with Lansinoh. No. I have a few drawbacks too but they are manageable.

So here are some tips:

1. Take care not to over-use the speed and suction control as it has the tendency to loosen up. In my case, on my first weeks I was just so careless with the speed and suction dials that I switch them to different levels during one pumping session. Yeah, I was like a kid playing around then and now, I regret it. But my Lansinoh still works perfectly fine and I love it.

2. After some months, if you find that the suction is not that good anymore compared to when it was new, just replace the small white valve with a new one and you're back again. The Lansinoh comes with three spare sets of white valve. Isn't it great?

3. If you are one blessed cow and you pump more than 4 oz per breast in one sitting (holy cow!) then I suggest you buy a 9oz standard neck bottle to use as collection bottles. Recommended is the Evenflo brand - around Php400 for 3 bottles already. The flanges have universal thread so it fits almost any standard neck bottle.

4. If you are using Avent bottles, get an Avent breast pump converter kit and Lo! you can pump directly into your avent bottle!

Over-all, I find my Lansinoh a great buy! I treat my Lansinoh with utmost care. It's my "life-line" already. I use it 3 to 4 times daily and I can collect 4 to 8 ounces per session depending on the time of the day. Because of this, I will continue to recommend it to working moms who wants to have value for their money. And if you handle your pump with very special care then you’re off with Lansinoh for good.

So if you are working mom or if you have the money to spend, I tell you, SKIP THE MANUAL PUMP AND SKIP THE SINGLE ELCTRIC PUMP! GO GET A LANSINOH! It is the cheapest and most SULIT pump available in the market.

*As of this writing, I am buying myself a Medela Freestyle but this is not because I don’t like my Lansinoh now. You see, Medela Freestyle is more than double the price of Lansinoh so it is not really that practical. It is just that I love that Freestyle is rechargeable and it’s handsfree. It will definitely suit my busy working life. And not to forget about my primary goal- that I actually want to tie myself into breastfeeding for at least for one whole year more so that I can get the value of my money. *wink* wink*

Top Tips in Successful Breastfeeding while Working

"How did you manage to breastfeed successfully while working?"

This is the question that i have always been asked every time people learn that I have breastfeeding my little AJ who is going 6 months in two weeks. (yey!) You see, nobody from my circle of friends, neighbors, and relatives ever did this. Working full-time and managing to continue breastfeeding. So imagine how proud I am because of this achievement. And with this blog, I will share to you

I tell you it is not very easy. So here are some personal tips on how you can breastfeed successfully even if you are working:

• Arm yourself with a lot of information about breastfeeding. Ignorance is the number one hindrance why most women do not succeed in breastfeeding. Well, I myself have been attacked by this "ignoramus istupidus" bug when I gave birth to my first-born. I only have little knowledge - that breastfeeding is the best for babies. Other than that, nada.. So I was only able to breastfeed my ate Ichi for less than a month. Things were a lot different on my second pregnancy. Well, I am much wiser (I hope) and Internet was my best friend. So during the course of my pregnancy I have researched already on the many benefits of breastfeeding which made me more revved up to breastfeed my son. I also read on what I need to know and what I need to have to breastfeed successfully. Visit http://kellymom.com/ for a very nice and helpful website about breastfeeding.

• Hoard all the perseverance that you can get. If there are any "bottled perseverance" for sale, then hoard a truck-full, or maybe some more. You need all the perseverance that you can get to strive this challenge. Breastfeeding is not so very easy especially for the first few months. But when you get to manage those first months, well, you will feel like you're a master on your own right. (like me.. LOL)

• Get a support person/group. It always best when there is somebody who will supply you the good words and the best motivation that you can get to continue on your breastfeeding goal. It maybe your husband, your mom or your friends. But it is better if your support person or group have been on the same boat as you are so that aside from giving motivations, they have answers to your dilemmas. I am proud to be part of this breastfeeding moms online community from Girltalk which is actually a big part of my 6-month breastfeeding and working success.

• Set a little goal at a time. This worked very well for me. It is always easy to hit a smaller goal vs. a big time goal. When I was pregnant, my goal was just to be able to breastfeed my son exclusively while I am on my maternity leave. When I returned back to work, I told myself that I will be pumping until my little AJ turns six months. Today, barely 2 weeks for my 6-month goal, I still couldn't think of weaning my little AJ from my breast. I am still happy (and sometimes ranting) about my pumping and breastfeeding. So for now, I extended my goal indefinitely. Maybe 3 more months, or maybe on my little AJ's first year... I don't know. We will see.

• Accept it, you may or you may not breastfeed exclusively. In my case, I was able to breastfeed my son exclusively for the first 1.5 months, and I am proud of that. As I was going back to work, I learned that I couldn't pump enough milk that would match the milk requirements of my little takaw err little AJ. I was pumping around 9 oz and yet he consumes 12oz. Even today at 5.3 months, I am able to pump 15 to 17oz but he drinks 18 to 21oz. So I accepted that I had to supplement with formula. At first, I was so keen on getting more milk for him but then I tend to get less. Yes, stress is one of the many factors that could affect your milk production. From then on, I told myself that I will not pressure myself to produce more milk. The fact that I am trying my very best to provide him breast milk is enough for me. Until now, my little AJ is taking around 80 to 85% breast milk on work days and 100% breast milk whenever I am home. Isn't it a great?!

And the most important tip of all, if you are a cheapskate like me:

• GET YOURSELF AN EXPENSIVE BREASTPUMP! I am a self-confessed kuripot and my dear hubby is the master of all kuripots! LOL! So imagine his reaction when I told him that I will buy a 9,000pesos worth of breastpump! Yes, i heard all the negative words.. "It's a waste of money..." "What if you don't have any milk?" etc. I gave him the cost analysis but still he was not 100% supportive. I understand his reactions since this is a new thing to him and to all of us. But you see I was very determined and I just told him to just wait and see until we reap the benefits of this investment. I had my way and I asked my officemate to buy for me a Lansinoh in the US plus some breastfeeding accessories. After I gave birth, I was determined to breastfeed. There is always this reminder in my mind that I should not fail or else, lagot ako kay hubby. And now, I can say that if not for my lansinoh, then I will not be able to succeed breastfeeding and working during the course of my little AJ's 6 months. Right now, I am contemplating on buying a more expensive breast pump in order that I continue to breastfeed up to 2 years! Haha!