Breastfeeding moms share their favorite pumping hacks

If you're a pumping mom (or planning to pump), there are so many things to consider. It can take a while to adjust to newborn life, let alone, pumping life. So we asked moms to share their best pumping hacks on the Nursing Queen VIP page. They have some GREAT tips and useful advice. 

Find a pump that works for you! 

If you're looking for a breast pump, you know there many options! We asked our Nursing Queen community about their favorite pumps and these are their top picks! These are unbiased opinions from our customers (and we don't get any commissions). 

The Spectra S1 Plus was the clear winner.

According to Spectra's website: "The Spectra® S1 Plus Premier Rechargeable double electric breast pump provides all the features of the S2 Plus, but with a built-in battery. This means that you are now able to benefit from the efficiency, power, and performance of a hospital-strength breast pump without compromising on portability."

Amy commented that she likes both the Spectra S1 and S2.

"Spectra S1/S2 is still a favorite. It's very reliable, quiet and does a great job," she posted.

Jessica agreed, "Spectra S1/S2. Prefer the blue portable one. But with the freemie cups!!! Hands free and pop into any nursing bra! Was so much easier to get work done while pumping with them!! Loved how quiet and portable my Elvie was, but no where near as good a pump as my spectra."

The second most mentioned pump was the BabyBuddha!

According to BabyBuddha's website: "BabyBuddha’s double electric breast pump gives you the freedom to move! Equipped with a rechargeable battery, six levels of Stimulation Mode, and nine levels of Expression Mode, it’s easy to find settings that are the most comfortable and make your pumping experience efficient. This hands-free breast pump gives you the ultimate flexibility to have a hassle-free pumping experience and to pump how, when, and where you want. Small enough to take anywhere and with an impressively quiet mechanism, our breast pump keeps the whole process discreet."

Rachel said, "Baby buddha! Between the regular flanges and the wearable cups, and high suction it's the best! Their Facebook group is extremely helpful for trouble shooting hacks with other brands pieces as well!"

You can read more here about the Best Breast Pumps! 

Mom with pump for breastmilk
Nursing Queen designs shirts with zipper access for easy pumping access. 
Get your insurance to cover your pump!

Did you know you might be able to get a free breast pump through your health insurance? In fact, most health plans include insurance coverage for breast pumps. The process can vary depending on your specific health insurance plan, but we’ll guide you through the steps to get started so you can check this one off your list!

Lucy noted "Many insurance companies cover not only a breast pump but ALSO milk storage bags at some quantity/frequency."

Keep snacks and chargers handy! 

"Keep a few snacks in your pump bag along with an extra long phone charger so you’re set no matter where you pump," said Julianna. 


You can zip as much or as little as you want (and stay warm) in these nursing sweatshirts. This maroon hoodie is a thicker fleece material on the inside.

Clean up and prep!

When it comes to clean up, Andrea shared this hack for quick clean up and prep: "Buy a pump part and bottle dryer/sterilizer! Last time around we just washed the parts and put them on a drying rack but this time we invested in a papablic dryer/sterilizer! I love it because if you need to wash several sets at once, you can throw them in the dryer and have dry pump parts in 30-45 minutes instead of having to hand dry everything! Plus, it makes it easy to do the daily sterilization of all 3 pump sets without having to run 3 sets of sterilizer bags through the microwave!"

Breast pumping is a big commitment and takes time and effort to learn how to do it correctly.  It is important to support those moms who choose to do it.  It is especially important for employers to accommodate those working moms who choose to pump in the work place.  By providing a private, clean and comfortable space to pump, employers can greatly help out their employees.

Find clothes that work for you! 

The right clothing can also make a world of difference when pumping.  Many moms have found that clothes designed especially for breastfeeding work the best.  Discreet horizontal zippers like these make it easy and more comfortable to pump.  Many designs have zipper access that can open as much or as little as you like for pumping or tandem feeding access. 

A dress that you can pump in?! This blue nursing dress has two hidden zippers for easy pumping access. 



Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.


Author Bio

Quinn Reitz started Nursing Queen in 2017 because, as a nursing mom, she wanted more options for nursing clothes - especially cute, non-clingy styles that still looked great wash after wash! Over the years, she has designed more than 250 nursing and pumping styles, including shirts, sweatshirts, dresses, and even medical scrubs. She focuses on trendy boutique styles and aims to use natural fabrics. Quinn started the business in her basement and, over the years, has grown Nursing Queen with the help of other breastfeeding moms.