Packing Your Breast Pumping Bag for Work

This list maximizes space in your bag and convenience for your day, so that you can pump, clean it all up quickly and go on with your day.


Here’s what to make sure is packed in your bag each day:

• Baby bottles – one for each pumping session you’ll have at work. Ideally, these will attach directly onto your breast pump attachments.

• Milk storage tube – just one for the whole day; you’ll pour the milk collected in each session into one baby bottle, so you can clean out the tube each time and re-use it for subsequent pumping sessions for the day.

• Hands-free pumping bra – this allows you to pump while still having your hands free to check email or do any other tasks that don’t require you to move around a whole lot; this is the most important pumping item aside from the breast pump, hands down (no pun intended).

You’ll want one of these for any time you’re pumping, whether you’re at work or not; how do breast pump manufacturers honestly expect us to hold both of those “horns” AND turn on the motor?!

I use one made by Easy Expressions; it still requires you to hunch over when you’re pumping, but it zips up the front so that you can keep your bra on (and your shirt, if you’re wearing something that buttons or pulls up easily).

• Cleaning wipes – Medela makes packages of wipes that allow working mothers to clean off their pump accessories without having to leave their desk. Yes, it means you’ll be going through three or four wipes a day (which adds up, especially at $9 for a pack of 40), but if you don’t have easy access to a sink or you work in an environment full of men (making it more difficult to discreetly trot your milky breast pump items over to the nearest sink), these are incredibly handy. I think they’re worth the extra expense.

• Microwave steam cleaning bags – keep one of these tucked into your bag, in case you run out of wipes during the day (something that has happened to me more than once) and you just need to get everything clean for the next pumping session(s).

• Frozen cooling unit – one of these is usually included with your pump, along with a little cooler bag; these will keep milk cold and fresh for around eight hours. If you have the money and/or space in your working area, a mini-fridge would help keep expressed milk cold AND store tasty treats to keep your energy and calorie count up! Check on Craigslist for a cheapy one, if you don’t still have one rattling around from college.

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