Almost every day for the last month or so, I've pumped at work. Not in the basement pump room that's like a 10 minute walk to get to, or hiding out in the bathroom armchair, but AT WORK. In lab. On my microscope. At my desk. Around other humans. This is a #momlife thread 1/
I've pumped while taking care of fruit flies. While doing microdissections. While standing in the sandwich line at the cafeteria. Walking down the hallway. In the elevator. Walking home. ON THE EFFING SUBWAY. I even pumped in class a couple of times 2/
This is because @Freemie finally brought pumping into the twenty - first century with the #freemieliberty. There's a wearable technology for every sport under the sun, and now, finally, for pumping too. 3/
It uses @Freemie's new closed system collection cups. They go in your bra, which comes with the obvious caveats (i.e. you can't SEE). I wear a loose sweater and/or scarf and no one knows the difference (er, until they read this). 4/
I wear the tubing under my clothes and just leave it on all day. The pump clips onto my belt and holy cow is it QUIET. Most people who notice it think it's an insulin pump. One PI I passed in the hallway thought I was wearing a timer (I do that sometimes, too).
The only reason most people notice it at all is the light from the display (hey, @Freemie, you should really make it so the display can be shut off!). I guess I could cover that with a piece of lab tape or something but, meh.
Friend sitting next to me in class said if she didn't know I was #pumping, she would have thought the noise was the AC. I prefer not to pump in meetings and such, but when I had back to back class all day, this allowed me to participate in everything.
If I haven't made myself clear, this is a massive game-changer! Especially for women underrepresented in our fields like #WomenInSTEM. We face enough obstacles from implicit bias to harassment, and losing valuable work time to pumping doesn't need to be one of them.
This thing is pricey at $300. I paid out-of-pocket, and it's so worth it. The reduction in stress alone is worth it. If you're a #workingmom and #pumping, get this pump. Save your pennies. If you're an at-home pumping mom, maybe get it too. Pump while you grocery shop, etc. 9/
Words to the wise. Follow the instructions and use the pump once with your shirt OFF first. (I ignored this and it turned out there was a small tear in one of the backflow protectors. Big mess. Thankfully @ToysRUs sent me a replacement pump immediately. Sorry to see you go. 10/
And tbh those couple days I was single-pumping while waiting for the replacement, pumping was still less stressful than with my spectra. Sorry @SpectraBabyUSA. You're great at what you do and I still use you at home sometimes.) 11/
And secondly, when you decide to get an extra set of cups, which I recommend, do NOT just search 'freemie cups' on Amazon and buy the top hit. Those are the original, open-system cups. Go directly to @Freemie and get a set of the next gen open-system cups. 12/
Arrrgh I mean next gen CLOSED-system. Stupid autocorrect 13/
One more thought. Some #lingerie #Designers need to come up with a bra specifically for the @Freemie cups. Maybe a nursing bra with adjustable clips for the cups. #design #designthinking 14/
In sum, good things happen when #tech designs with real live women in mind. Good job freemie. Moms, buy this pump. 15/15
