[luckylucyrn1]

So tonight at work I went downstairs to the "mommy room" to pump, and I had forgotten to pack my horns!!! I completely panicked, as this is a 12 hour shift, and I had only nursed Luke 3 times today and had given him a bottle and not pumped. I had the bottles though and hand expressed 3.5 oz (which really hurt!). Luckily DH was on call and the hospital he was working at is right next to the hospital I work at so he brought them to me. But I was seriously fretting over what I would have done had he not been able to bring them to me! I wasn't going to ask him to bring them up here if he didn't already have to come because he had just gotten home from work and luck would have had it that he would be called in right after he got back or something. Anyway it ended up working out, but I got to thinking...

We have Medela Symphony (hospital grade) pumps in our pump room as they are used by patient's mothers. But they are available to anyone. So I am considering buying a kit for the Symphony and keeping it in my locker at work and using the steam bags to keep it clean. Then I wouldn't even have to take my pump in with me! Would you guys do that? I'm wondering if I should spend the money on the kit. It's only like $50. I feel dumb not thinking of this sooner.

[Bella_Luna]

Oh wow! I probably would have been in a panic too! One of the things I am most worried about is forgetting to pack my horns or bottles when I leave for school in the mornings. I am usually rushing around and it would be easy to forget something. Anyways, I think buying a kit would be a great idea. As long as you know the suction is fine on the pumps and that they all work well it would be great, then you wouldn't have to lug yours around. The only thing is, is there always at least one pump available? I think I would be a little nervous that I would go to pump and there were all in use or something.

BTW I nominate you for the next McMilker award!!

[luckylucyrn1]

Yeah, there's usually 3-4 symphonies down there and there's a big sign that says one has to stay in the room at all times. I could keep my PIS in the car for cases where there's no symphony available. I'd love to try the hospital grade pump though.

[Bella_Luna]

Oh ok, then it sounds like you will always have a pump! Keeping a kit in your locker would probably be less stressful too, thats one less thing to worry about before you head out the door

[tela]

I would have panicked too! I can't even hand express a single drop. I would definitely buy the kit in your situation. It sounds ideal, and then you wouldn't have to lug your pump around.

[CalFan]

The symphony is a really nice pump; I used the hospital lactation rooms while Douglas was in the NICU. I had my own pump but also had several sets of the kits (they give them free to NICU moms), and it was easier to not lug my pump to the NICU everyday. It'd be a great idea to pick up a kit - actually, if you try the hospital OB/GYN department, they might give you one for free. Explain that you work in the hospital and forgot your pump parts. Most hospitals get all that stuff for free from Medela, so they might give you a kit. It is definitely worth it.

[*Lana*]

Originally Posted by CalFan

Most hospitals get all that stuff for free from Medela, so they might give you a kit. It is definitely worth it.

Where I work, we have to pay for the Medela kits...then they get charged to the patient (then billed to the insurance).
I would give the Symphony a try! We have a Lactina pump at work (only have a Level II nursery, so most moms aren't pumping there for an extended people of time), so when I rented one I was excited that I would then have the parts and be able to use the one at work (unfortunately, my PISA works better than the Lactina for me). I thought about keeping the parts for the Lactina at work, just in case, but I only bought the yellow part (whatever it's called), so I would still need another set of tubing and horns.

[BabyBird]

I definately think it would be worth it to buy the kit. I work in a hospital too and plan on using the Symphony that is in our pump room. There should always be one in there but I will bring my PIS just in case as well. I actually saved my discs and tubing from when I was in the hospital after delivery because I knew they would have one at work. I won't leave my horns though but that is becasue I had to special order 21mm horns and only have one set. Coudos for hand expressing! I have tried and it hurts so bad!

[kerian]

OMW i would have freaked out!!!!!
but well done on hand expressing!

the kit sounds like an awesome idea! woulkd at least ease a bit of stress about worrying if you forgot a pump part.

[Dibble]

If you're planning on pumping for quite awhile longer, I'd invest in the kit so you're not stuck at work without your parts anymore. Peace of mind.