Drink enough water, it will help your supply
Eat Oatmeal - a lot of moms live by this rule when pumping
Start pumping early on, when you are still at home and get your supply up and start freezing early. This way you can keep feeding the good milk even after you stop pumping. I know moms that had 2+ months left after they were producing and never used formula
Rules come in 3's. 3 hours out, 3 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer
Feeding hints -
Yes, it hurts a little at first, but use the lanolin every day for at least the first two weeks if not longer
yes, you are going to want and drink a lot of water
get a table near where you pump, on it you should have 2 baskets, one for you and one for baby
You basket: breast cream, lotion, vitamins (in case you forgot them earlier), a magazine or book, Tylenol(at first you need it sometimes), extra breast shields, extra membranes for your pump (if pumping in that area too),
For Baby: finger nail clippers (best time to clip is after they eat when they are sleeping), lotion, burp cloths, small Ziploc bags for trash, small container of wet wipes (for anything), q-tips, gas drops, Tylenol (after the 2 month visit and first set of shots), a small flashlight for those mid night feedings.
on the table keep your water, a tap light (not to sell that product but it's the perfect amount of light and easy to shut off)
Pumping hints-
Freeze on Fridays to save for Monday back at the sitter...
Pump for 2 to minutes after feedings to increase supplies and get the "good milk"
Pump for 2 minutes before to let down, mark this milk to save for cereal as it's mostly foremilk and watery
Save on bags and get 20 to 32 oz Rubbermaid or Tupperware containers to store milk during the day, trade these out with the sitter ( I have 3 that I switch out) they wash easy with a bottle brush too!
Get a good sterilizer if you are going to get one, not a microwave one, the plastic parts and microwaves don't go together well
Check your pump parts, Madela won't replace parts that you have microwave sterilized or tubes that have been in the dishwasher
Get extra pump parts, it's always best to have at least 2 sets if not more
After Pumping, leave your tubes on the pump and start it up again, the air movement will get any moisture out of the tubes and help them dry
**Also, after cleaning your tubes, rinse them with a little alcohol to help them stay dry better**
(Simple tip for this, keep an old medicine dropper and use that to flush the solution in the tubes, roll back and forth and then let the rest drip out and dry)
Always boil or sterilize everything once a week!
After Sterilizing and or cleaning tubes, run a little alcohol in them to keep them dry longer
get a small mesh bag to keep all your supplies in and keep them dry
Great sites:
http://www.kellymom.com/
http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/pumps101.html
http://www.pumpinpal.com/index.htm
Any additional hints, tips or tricks please let me know and I will add here...
