We have rented the Ameda Elite breast pump from our lactation consultant, and for the past several days 40 minutes out of every three hours (or so) has been spent running through the pumping ruitual:
- Alarm clock goes off; I smack it and shuffle into the bathroom.
- I rinse and dry the flanges, filters, collection cups and a couple other parts that I don’t know what to call.
- I assemble each attachment, bring them into the bedroom, hook them up to the Ameda Elite and hand them to Jessica.
- I crawl under the covers to try to catch a few minutes sleep with the lights on.
- Jessica shakes me back to consciousness and tells me she’s done; we try to break the seal of the flange without spilling milk everywhere.
- I carry the attachments back to the bathroom and pour the milk from the collection cups into storage tubes.
- I break down each attachment and let it soak in warm water with a gentle detergent.
- I take the milk tubes downstairs and put them in the fridge.
- I shuffle back to bed and try to catch another 2 hours and 20 minutes sleep.
- Repeat ad infinitum….
I can now assemble, clean and reassemble the Ameda Elite breast pump and its attachments much like a Marine can field strip an M-16. I am a breast pump god.
Finding a routine that works is half the battle…
and since you already started down this path..
This is my breast pump. There are many like it but this one is mine????