Peeking my little head in to bring you a great review, of a great product, that's been a MAGNIFICENT help to me. I'm currently still under the weather, and for some reason the respiratory bug I have will not leave. It's complicating some other things I have going on, so I'm anxiously awaiting relief.
Let's dive in!
As you know, I am an oversupply mama. I use my regular pump on a good schedule, and it helps me immensely. But because it isn't portable, I still rely on a hand-held pump when I need to pump somewhere besides my recliner. Since I currently pump from bed, I needed a backup.
Enter, the Pumpables Milk Genie!
Note: While the product was provided in exchange for honest review, all opinions and experiences herein are mine and mine alone, and are in no way influenced.
A good friend of mine (two good friends, actually!) referred me to the Milk Genie a few months ago. We were all talking about our pumps, what we love and what we wish was better or different. I am the appointed Queen of the Pumps, because I've tried practically every major one on the market in my quest to relieve my oversupply while still blazing along my breastfeeding journey.
When I partnered with Pumpables, I had a good feeling. I was hoping it would be light enough to sit in my gown pocket without falling or being heavy like my previous handheld. I have recently shied away from using it (the previous handheld) because the vibration is so strong, and the suction actually hurts. Plus, it's pretty loud.
I know, I know...seems like a lot of whine coming from the Queen of Cheese. But I just want sleep, and I don't care much for loud noises. I know pumps aren't silent, but the quieter, the better.
My first impression of the Milk Genie?
Heart eyes.
You see, when it arrived, I wasn't able to assemble it myself. Brother Namastè was Tayè-sitting at the time, and when he took it out of the box for me, he was able to assemble it in no time at all. Like, without even looking at the instructions! He legit just took it out of the packaging, assembled the pump kit, and hooked it up to the pump!
This was a major thing for me because sometimes I cannot assemble the pump myself. I'm either eating, attempting to balance my toddler on the other side, or simply too spent. (Sometimes I pump, and other times I am pumped. There are days when I have no energy at all, weak as water.) One of the main requirements for any pump I use is, it must be easily assembled, fairly quickly, and there's always a chance that the person assembling it will either have limited experience or none a all.
The Milk Genie is a tiny powerful thing.
It is lighter than my previous handheld, and the engine is WHISPER SILENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a lot of exclamations. More than grammar typically allows. But it is valid in this case, because when I tell you this thing is legit silent--!!!
The Milk Genie is a closed-system pump. That means no milk can flow into the tubing or motor. This also keeps the milk free of cross-contamination. Tat's a big deal to me, as I am a milk donor. The pump can be assembled quickly even by a novice! (Read, Hubby Namastè and Brother Namastè can both assemble the pump without breaking, losing, or disabling any part--which is a huge plus!) The pump is lightweight and extremely quiet. My cell phone's vibration is louder than the Milk Genie's motor, which means this pump would never wake a sleeping baby, husband, or toddler.
Don't think you'd be trading power for portability either. I compared my Milk Genie to my hospital-strength pump, and the Milk Genie is right on par with suction and milk expression. (A strong vacuum means nothing if it isn't eliciting milk flow, you know!) This little pump has excellent, fully customizable vacuum patterns, and its small size in no way compromises its power. It holds its own against any of my other pumps. It has the added benefit of full portability--I could very easily pump in the car because not only is the pump lightweight and pocket-comfy, the screen is also easily read and the buttons are in a comfortable position.
The pump kit on this baby is easy to clean. I just use regular dish soap (I like Seventh Gen) and warm water. I clean my pump kit four times a day and sterilize it every other day. I use a portable sterilizer, but when I am home I use the dishwasher.
Getting down to the brass tacks of this matter...
My first session with my new milker was a breeze. The pump has a totally customizable experience, with easily-adjusted vacuum settings. There is letdown mode and regular mode. I'm a little more sensitive than normal, so the ability to completely Tayè-fy my pumping experience was greatly appreciated.
While "successful" sessions are my norm, I was very impressed with the Milk Genie. I got about 11 ounces for my first session. Generally when I swap pumps, I notice a little drop. Per my research, it's normal. It just didn't happen with the Milk Genie! There was actually a small increase with this little pump, and I was pleasantly surprised. I especially love how it accommodates wide necked bottles. My toddler uses a cuppa now, and I can actually pump directly into his cuppa without needing an adapter kit.
I like everything about this little pump!
I got an opportunity to speak with Kathleen, who runs the Pumpables official blog, and she posed the following questions, which I am beyond chuffed to share.
K: Have you experienced any difficulties pumping while pregnant, e.g. drop in supply? How have you overcome that?
T: Other than an unfortunate increase in oversupply, and feeling more tired after pumping or nursing than ever, it's been smooth sailing. I alleviate the oversupply by pumping to comfort and nursing whenever possible. It's tricky to manage but I'm doing fairly decent. I'm only on my second shirt today!
K: What advice would you give to a mama who becomes pregnant while still feeding breastmilk to an older child?
T: I would tell them to follow their body's cues. In many mamas, a drop in supply is normal. Also, you might begin to feel touched out (tired of all the contact) or fatigued from carrying one baby inside while nourishing the baby outside! It's all a balancing act, and you will probably have a few road bumps as you navigate this new path.
K: Do you plan to continue feeding your older child after your baby is born, and if so, what are your plans on feeding colostrum and increasing supply for two after the birth?
T: Our goal is 2 years, so I'll definitely continue in tandem. My plan for colostrum is to nurse the tiny one exclusively until the regular milk comes in, then tandem feed as normal. I already have a nice stash of milk stored away for my toddler to have via cuppa, so he will not miss a beat with his liquid gold those first few days. I'll let my body do its amazing thing as far as supply increase. I know that I must move milk to make milk, so I'll allow the babies to latch and in a few weeks I'll resume pumping also. I'm actually hoping I won't have over supply as bad this time, so I can wear the cute little tops without soaking through them every hour!
The Milk Genie is definitely a solid little machine. I find it absolutely cute, also.
Do I recommend it for an exclusive pumper? Actually, I do! It's strong enough to withstand some regular use, and as I've put mine to the test, I know I'll be using it even more when the time comes. I'm looking forward to the rest of my journey with this pump.
Namaste!
Tayè K.
No comments:
Post a Comment