Spectra2

Just started using yesterday. Anyone have any tips? Should I buy the hands free bra? Do I need to clean all pieces every single time minus the tubing? How much do you usually pump out on average for 15 minutes? How do the freezer bags work?

Spectra2

A hands free bra is a good idea. I recommend the simple wishes one.

I cleaned the pump parts once a day. In between pumping sessions, I put them in the fridge.

I would pump from 15-30 minutes depending upon how much milk I got. I think you said you just had your baby, so if you are nursing and pumping, do not get discouraged if you do not get a lot of milk. A lot of different factors will play into how much milk you get: time of day, last nursing session, etc. Since you are still early on, I would not pump too much - my sister did and she wound up with a huge over supply issue. Like at 10 months post partum, she would still be leaking if she did not nurse/pump every 2 hours.

I would just dump the pumped milk into the bag and then label it with the date, how many ounces, and my son's name. I would try to store the bags with the amount of ounces your DC will need when they go to daycare - so some I would put 4 ounces in and others I would put 5 ounces in.

Spectra2

Simple wishes hands free bra is a lifesaver! I put the pump parts in the fridge in between pumps and then washed at night.

I had a very small supply no matter what I did to increase it so I can't answer the rest of your questions unfortunately.

Spectra2

Thanks! Can you use any freezer bags?

Re: Spectra2

Spectra2

I'm not sure what bottles can connect to the spectra but I pumped directly into dr browns bottles which cut down on washing. I used a medela pump though. I'm also part of an exclusively pumping site on facebook. They always share a lot of good information.

Re: Spectra2

I bought the Medela handsfree bra and it was terrible, waste of 30 bucks. Then I just cut two holes in an sports bra and it was perfect.

I also just put pump parts in a Ziploc and placed in fridge in between pump sessions & then just washed at night--big time saver. I like the Target storage bags the best--they are thicker than the Medela and Lansinoh ones, and cheaper.

Re: Spectra2

I have the simple wishes hands free bra and it's useless to me. I still wind up holding the pump. I can now maneuver a way so I can pump on both sides and still hold my cell phone and play a game/read a book with one hand.

I have the Spectra2 as well and I love it. I also have the Spectra9 to take on the go. I usually clean all the pump parts except tubing in between sessions, but I also have an extra set of parts since I have the two spectra pumps. So I pump twice a day at work and just rinse the pieces after each pump then clean it all when I get home. You can pump directly into Avent Natural bottles. We've never tried any other bottle with DD, but she took to them easily so we never had to. I use Dr. Brown's storage bags- I've tried a few- Avent, Lansinoh, and Dr. Brown's- so far Dr. Brown's I like best though they are pricey. I'm going to try the Nuk storage bags next since I pump SO much and the Dr. Brown's are expensive.