Exclusively Pumping 101: Must-Have Products + Tips That Actually Work

---

*Please note: some links provided below are Amazon affiliate links! At no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from the products below if you click on them and make a purchase.

I am currently exclusively pumping for the second time. With the twins, I exclusively pumped from the very beginning because breastfeeding two at a time was just way too difficult. With Cam, I switched to exclusively pumping around 6 weeks—even though he was an efficient breastfeeder—because juggling his feeds while caring for the twins became overwhelming.

Both times, pumping became significantly more challenging once I returned to work. But having done this twice now, I feel very experienced—honestly, pumping feels like a breeze to me at this point.

Looking back on those early months with the twins, though, it was anything but easy.

Exclusive pumping can feel overwhelming, especially in those early postpartum weeks. Between washing parts, keeping up your milk supply, and trying to care for a newborn (or multiple babies), it can quickly feel like a full-time job.

These are the exclusive pumping tips, products, and hacks that made my pumping journey significantly easier and that I wish I had known from the very beginning.

Need to save time? Skip ahead to what you need:

1. Shop My Exclusive Pumping Essentials In One Place

2. Start With the Right Pump Setup

3. Get a Strong Primary Pump

4. Time-Saving Exclusive Pumping Hacks

5. Pumping Products That Made My Life Easier

6. Pumping on the Go Tips

7. Pumping Products You Can Probably Skip

8. Final Thoughts on Exclusive Pumping

---

Shop My Exclusive Pumping Essentials In One Place

After exclusively pumping for twins and now exclusively pumping for my third baby, I have tested a lot of products—some amazing, some not so amazing.

To make things easier, I put together my complete list of favorite pumps, pumping accessories, milk storage products, and exclusive pumping essentials all in one place.

👉 Shop my full Exclusive Pumping Essentials storefront here!

Whether you're building your registry, preparing to return to work, or simply looking for products that actually make pumping easier, these are the items I personally use and recommend.

---

Start With the Right Pump Setup

1. Flange Size Is the Most Important Thing

Lactation consultants may or may not size you at the hospital—I wasn't sized with the twins and went home using 24 mm flanges.

Want to know my actual size? 13 mm.

Huge difference.

Proper flange size not only impacts output, but more importantly, your comfort. If you haven't been sized, start there using a kit like this one—and recheck periodically, since size can change over time.

2. Consider Whether You Have Elastic Nipples

Elastic nipples may be a factor. They are for me and a ton of other women.

I need deeper flange inserts to prevent soreness and irritation, and it made a huge difference once I figured that out. I personally swear by these Willow inserts—they're deeper than most and helped me pump without getting sore and tender.

3. Get a Strong Primary Pump

I've tried around 10 pumps at this point. A lot of moms love the Spectra—I personally didn't.

Finding the right pump takes some trial and error.

My favorite has been the Baby Buddha—the suction is strong enough that I can fully empty in about 15 minutes, which makes a huge difference when you're short on time.

That said, it's not for everyone. It can be intense! But I have yet to find anything like it.

👉 If you want a full breakdown of my favorite and least favorite pumps, check out my pump reviews here!

4. Check Your Insurance Before Buying a Pump

Lastly, your pump may be covered by insurance.

I recommend checking out Aeroflow or a similar company to see what pumps you can get for free or very discounted prices through your insurance before you buy a pump with your own money. If you qualify, you may also get free monthly pump parts! This is HUGE because pump parts need to be replaced frequently.

---

Time-Saving Exclusive Pumping Hacks

1. Find a pumping schedule that works with you, not against you

You may not need to pump as often as you think. I have a high storage capacity, and was sticking to a 3-hour pump schedule when I didn't even need to.

Check out this guide to find out how many times you need to pump per day, depending on your storage capacity and if you would like to maintain, increase, or decrease your supply ⤵

2. Try the Fridge Hack (If You're Comfortable With It)

This one can be a little controversial, but most exclusively pumping moms swear by it.

Instead of washing pump parts after every session, you can store them in the fridge between uses. It saves a ton of time—especially when you're already drowning in bottles.

If your baby was premature or medically fragile, I'd skip this and just buy extra parts.

3. The Pitcher Method Is a Game Changer

Instead of dealing with multiple bottles all day, I pump into one pitcher and use that for feeds—I use this one because it has a really easy pour spout, which makes transferring milk and bagging extra so much less messy.

Fresh milk can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, but I typically rotate daily.

It simplifies everything—especially daycare prep.

If you want to be extra cautious, let freshly pumped milk cool before combining it with cold milk. You can use storage containers like these if needed.

4. Pump While You Feed Your Baby

This saves so much time.

Instead of pumping before or after, do it at the same time.

I sit cross-legged and lay the baby across my lap to bottle feed while pumping. When I had the twins, I pumped while feeding them in the Twin-Z pillow.

Total game changer.

5. Hydration + Protein = An Underrated Combo that doesn't have to be hard

No one really emphasizes this enough, but I notice a huge difference in my supply when I'm hydrated and eating enough protein.

When I drink more water and get in quick, easy protein (think snacks, not full meals), my output feels more consistent.

When I don't? It shows.

I always keep a large thermos of water handy to encourage hydration. For easy, on-the-go protein fixes, this is my favorite protein shake mix, and these are my favorite protein bars.

---

Pumping Products That Made My Life Easier

1. Wearable Cups Are Worth It

These make you so much more mobile and pair perfectly with pumping while feeding.

Traditional flanges lasted about a week for me before I gave up—they're bulky, easy for babies to knock loose, and just inconvenient.

I swear by these Medela cups—they're simple, lightweight, and only have three parts to clean, which makes a big difference when you're washing parts and bottles constantly.

I have used them exclusively during both of my pumping journeys (this time, paired with the Baby Buddha)!

Aside from convenience, the pour sound from these is soooo satisfying.

2. Invest in a Good Wearable Pump If You Can

Going fully cordless and hands-free is worth it if it's in your budget.

I've tried several, and my favorite right now is the Momcozy M6—it's comfortable, quiet, holds a good amount of milk, and has strong suction.

I also love that it pauses instead of shutting off if you need to empty it mid-session, which is surprisingly helpful.

3. Every Exclusive Pumping Mom Needs a Manual Pump

Not that you're likely going to use one often, but this helps MAJORLY with stubborn clogs, especially when your milk first comes in.

I would not have survived my milk coming in this last go around (and been able to avoid mastitis) without my Manual Medela Breast Pump. It also makes it easy to get a super quick pump session in.

Added bonus: it's great to have as a backup in case your primary pump breaks, especially if you pump at work.

---

Pumping on the Go Tips

1. Keep Pump Wipes and a Wet/Dry Bag Handy

This is one of my favorite hacks.

I use these pump wipes because they're quick and easy when I don't have access to a sink, then store everything in a wet/dry bag so it doesn't get everything else in my bag damp or messy.

2. Invest in a Good Milk Storage Thermos

I've tried a few options, and honestly, a good thermos wins.

I use this Momcozy thermos because it holds up to 24 oz and actually keeps my milk cold all day, even when I'm out for hours.

I've also tried the Ceres Chill, which tons of moms swear by, but it wasn't my favorite.

If you want to avoid a thermos entirely and opt for something easier to carry with pump storage included, I recommend a setup like this, which I have also used and really loved.

---

Pumping Products You Can Probably Skip

1. Bottle Washer

I personally don't use this, but I can understand the hype. I just use a dish basin instead to keep bottles separate from my dishes and wash everything at the end of the night before bed.

2. Nipple Cream

I think I needed it for maybe the first week postpartum. After that, I personally had no use for it. The hospital will most likely provide nipple cream, so don't buy more until you know what you actually use.

3. Pumping Spray

I hate how oily and greasy it makes my parts feel. I've never been a fan, but some moms swear by it.

4. Lactation Heating Massagers

Some moms swear by these for letdowns. I personally have never benefited from them, although I did try them with the twins to increase supply. If I am struggling with a letdown for whatever reason, I simply watch videos of my baby on my phone.

---

Final Thoughts on Exclusive Pumping

Exclusively pumping is basically a full-time job, but hopefully these tips make it feel a little more manageable.

And remember—fed is best. Do what works for you, feeds your baby, and supports your mental health.

👉 Shop my full Exclusive Pumping Essentials storefront here!

Posted from the heart,

Mama Poe

Continue Reading

If you're looking for more exclusively pumping resources, check out these posts:

🍼 Real-Life Pumping Reviews: Every Breast Pump I’ve Tried (What’s Worth It & What’s Not)

🍼 6-Month Momcozy M6 Review: Is This the Best Wearable Breast Pump?!

🤍 Loved this post? Make sure you pin it for later by saving the image below! 📌⤵️