A mom’s review of the Spectra S1 breast pump

Looking for the right breast pump among so many options can be so difficult, especially if you’ve never had to deal with one before. The only breast pump I had any experience with was the Medela Symphony and that’s because it was what we lent out to new moms in the hospital. I thought that I wanted a Medela pump, but after reading so many mom reviews, I decided on the Spectra S1.

There are so many great things about this pump. Some of the features that are included in this pump are:

• Quiet hospital grade suction with different cycle settings

• Differentiate from expression and letdown (massage) mode

• Closed double pumping system

• Rechargeable battery

• Night light - super useful at night so you aren’t fiddling with your cellphone!

• Lightweight approx. 3 lbs

• Price: $200 (Can be covered by insurance!)

Why the cycles of letdown and expression are so great

I really like that this pump has both of these functions, my travel pump does not have this option. The different cycles are supposed to resemble how baby would be on your breast. The letdown cycle, controlled by the top middle button with 3 wavy lines, is locked in at 70 CPM, with 5 different suction levels. This is supposed to mimic the first time baby latches when they’re sucking fast to get the milk to release from the ducts. This normally takes about 2 minutes on average to happen, and you can help it along by massaging your breast in the beginning. The only thing that you have to keep in mind is that the pump does not automatically start on letdown, you have you press it once you turn it on.

The expression cycle is when the milk is steadily flowing and this is when baby will have a suck, pause, swallow motion. There are 5 speeds of 38, 42, 46, 50, and 54. It has 12 different suction levels as well. I would recommend starting at a slower cycle and lower suction speed when starting. Having a strong and fast suction does not always yield more milk, in fact, if you’re uncomfortable it may actually hinder your milk production. Another tip to make this easier on your nipples is to lube them up with nipple balm so they slide comfortably in the flanges.

A pump that suckles, not sucks

A small thing that I noticed was the vibration of the flanges when pumping. It’s actually kind of soothing to have a different sensation so it’s not just a straight suck from the pump. Spectra prides itself on it’s natural nursing technology which mimics a more natural feeding session that other standard pumps may not offer.

Closed Pumping system feature

The closed pumping system just means that as you’re pumping, the milk will never come into contact with the pumping motor. The Spectra has a good back flow system set up as well so the milk you’re pumping is going directly into the bottle or bag that you’re pumping to. Pretty much, the milk isn’t going to be exposed to unnecessary bacteria.

Spectra S1 with night light on

Stay at home pump or travel pump?

I definitely do not see myself traveling with this pump to work or anywhere else. The odd shape of the pump makes it a very awkward thing to pack in a tote bag. I did originally choose this pump so I could bring it to work without the worry of having the find an outlet in a private space just so I could use it. I do like that I can carry it anywhere in the house though.

If you had to only have one pump though, at least you know traveling with this pump, you’ll always get a good milk turnout. Plus it’s very easy to clean if you did have to travel with it!

What’s all included in the box?

• 1 Spectra S1 breast pump

• 4 Breast flanges (2 x 24 mm, 2 x 28 mm)

• 2 Tubes

• 2 Duckbill valves

• 2 Back-flow protectors

• 2 Spectra wide neck storage bottles

• 1 12-volt AC adapter

Top 10 Postpartum Must-haves for Mama

If you’ve been stressing out about what you need for your baby’s new arrival, let this blog help ease some of that stress. I feel like a lot of new moms stress about what they need for baby and forget about what they need for themselves. So I’m going to go over a few items that helped me through the first few days of postpartum and they are still items I’m using right now. Giving birth is hard enough, the time after it shouldn’t be as hard.

Depends | Don’t knock the diapers until you try them! You’ll most likely be given mesh undies, small chux pads, and a maternity pad (a normal period pad) after labor. You may be surprised at how much you’ll be bleeding after labor. You have to remember that you just lost a fairly large organ and you have a wound inside that needs to heal. Changing your pad after you use the restroom can become very tedious when you have multiple items you’re trying to shimmy up your legs. Lining a Depends with your tucks pads is so much easier than trying to make sure your pad stays in place in your Asian pear undies.

Dermoplast and Tucks | Your punani is going to hurt, and so is your butthole. You just had a human and an organ pass through your punani, so don’t be surprised if it’s super sore for a few weeks. Plus all of that pressure from baby’s head on your rectum is going to give you some mean hemorrhoids. Dermoplast has benzocaine and menthol in it to help give a nice numbing feeling to the area. It’s a spray you can use 2-3 times a day. Tucks contains witch haizel which helps with the pain from swelling and the itchiness that comes with hemorrhoids. These two items will make using the restroom a lot less scary for the first time.

Disposable Ice Packs | Sit on these, sis. Ice packs will help reduce swelling which helps with pain. That gate control theory is real with these ice packs. So the idea is that your brain can only process one sensation at a time. The receptors that process temperature differ from the ones that process pain. So if you overwhelm these nerves with a cold or hot sensation, then it’ll reduce the way you process the pain. So sit on it sis.

Aloe Vera and Vitamin E lotion | You will be so itchy after you give birth. During my pregnancy, I was so adamant about putting on my almond oil, Vitamin E belly balm, and lotion on that I didn’t think it’d be as bad after birth. BUT I WAS WRONG. My stomach was (and still is) itchy AF. So I’ve been using both lotion and aloe vera on my tummy to help soothe the itchiness. Both are good for helping keep your stretch marks hydrated. A plus for the aloe vera is putting it on your perineal pads to help soothe that area too.

Peribottle | Touching your punani is going to be scary the first few times around. Wiping your butt is going to be scary the first few times around. But I can’t stress enough how important it is to keep your area clean after delivery, especially if you were the unlucky few to get stitches during delivery. The last thing you want after delivery is an infection. So using a peribottle with warm water and some soap will save you the hassle of constantly wiping to keep yourself clean. Plus it makes peeing a whole lot easier when you spray at the same time. Your hospital should give you one to use, but if you want a better one, the one from Frida is a good purchase!

Motrin | The Army’s holy grail of pharmaceuticals; heals all ailments. LOL, just kidding. But after 9 months of not being able to take Motrin, it was the first drug I requested after delivery. You’d be amazed at how limber you are after delivery with all of the adrenaline rushing. Motrin helps with those afterbirth pains. Your uterus contracting back down, your perineum throbbing from having spit out a human and an organ, and the rest of your body aching from delivery and being so tense. This is one drug I would not pass up on.

Lanolin | I’ve been using lanolin for awhile now. I bought Lano’s Multipurpose balm and I use it for my lips and dry patches on my hands due to the constant handwashing. Lanolin is made from wool grease, or the oil from animals who have wool (sheeeeep, baa!) It’s widely used by breastfeeding mamas as nipple cream. If you and your little nugget are going to go on adventure together into the world of breastfeeding, then this is a must have. Cracked nipples are no joke. It increases the risk of infection for you, and can be really painful when baby is feeding. No one wants to be in that kind of pain. Trust me, it isn’t fun. The one I recommend for breastfeeding and pumping is Honest Company’s Nipple Balm!

Haakaa | This won’t let you down when it’s catchin’ your letdown (lol, bad mom jokes.) Honestly though, I’ve caught almost 2 ounces each time I stick this baby on to my other boob while Maverick feeds. It’s such a good way to build a small refrigerator stash. I don’t freeze it (… yet) because I only catch about 2 ounces. But it’s a nice lil snacky snack if baby is still hungry and you’re over breastfeeding for 40 minutes. Babies get heavy after awhile. This was a great gift from our sis Amanda. So if you know someone who is pregnant, get them a haakaa.

The great thing about most of these items is that you’ll receive them after delivery, so you won’t have to buy your first set, but it’s always good to buy a set for home. Or if you’re not wanting to buy a bunch of different products, you can grab the Frida Mom Postpartum Kit that includes disposable undies, cooling wipes, perineal foam, and ice packs. There’s a peribottle that is also available for a separate purchase! Regardless of how you decide to get your hands on these items, they’ll all be super helpful in helping you heal so you can take care of your little baby.

Breastfeeding: Getting comfortable for a pumping session

Isn’t it such a crazy thought that your body makes the perfect nutrition for your child every day? It still boggles my mind when I think about how my breastmilk changes to fit Maverick’s needs on a daily basis. That’s why I believe that if I can pump milk for him, then I’ll do that. In my previous post, I said “fed is best.” Some moms may have a different opinion on whether [exclusive] pumping is considered breastfeeding, and in my personal opinion, it is. Breastfeeding is hard. Pumping is hard, and it can be discouraging in the beginning if you aren’t getting “enough”. So to try and make your sessions a little more relaxing, make sure your environment is set up so you can just chill for 20-40 minutes while you pump.

How I started pumping to start building my supply

I started hand expressing as soon as Maverick was born and I tried to get him to latch. When he was admitted to the nursery, I started hand expressing and manually pumping to try and get colostrum for him as supplementation to breastfeeding. In the beginning, Maverick was jaundiced, so we did breastfeeding, expressed milk, and then formula to supplement. You always want to start with breastmilk first if you plan on supplementing with bottle feeds. I wasn’t getting very much out in the beginning, but by day 5 my milk came in. That’s when I started using my Spectra S1.

I would pump about an hour after feeding him or 30 minutes before I knew he was going to wake up again. Luckily Maverick is like clockwork and wakes up at 2 hours on the dot, so it’s been easy to guesstimate when would want to feed. I wouldn’t get very much in the beginning when I’d pump. I’d actually get more from my letdown in the Haakaa. But the more I pumped, the more I got. I’ve learned that my biggest supply comes early in the morning around the 0600-0700 feeding. That’s because Prolactin is highest throughout the night, which is what stimulates milk production. So in the morning before I start pumping, I make sure that I have everything I need so I don’t have to get up or be interrupted.

Related Reads:

> What is hyperbilirubinemia?

> Our breastfeeding journey

Setting the scene for your session

First off, you want to make sure you’re comfortable where you’re pumping. Whether it’s in your glider, on your couch, or cuddled in your bed. If you’ve got a pump that can’t be wireless, then this is even more important. I’ve found that when I’m uncomfortable on my couch because I sink into the crevices, I stop my session a lot sooner. Have your blanket and pillows if you need them, and adjust yourself so your legs aren’t asleep by the time your session is over.

If you’re like me, then you know nursing and pumping make you a savage hungry beast, also a dehydrated one. It’s so important to stay hydrated if you’re breastfeeding or pumping, and it’s also very important to maintain the appropriate amount of calories. I know a lot of women postpartum want to get back to that “pre-pregnancy” body quickly, but don’t let your focus on losing weight effect your supply. So choose a water source that helps you easily keep track of how much water you’re drinking, and have nutritious snacks that help with milk supply. I’ve tried Munchkin’s Lactation Cookies and Milky Mama’s Emergency Brownies. I noticed an increase in my milk supply when I was eating them, but it is important to be aware of how much sugar you’re taking in when you indulge in these treats. I’ve also made lactation cookies! I’ll post the recipe in another blog soon!

Now that you’ve got your environment set and your snackies on the side, let the pumping commence! The first night I tried pumping at home was awful. Not only was it in the middle of the night, but I didn’t have a hands-free pumping bra. Trying to hold two flanges up to your tatas when you’re half asleep is ROUGH. I invested in a Lansinoh bra and 3 Kindred Bravely bras. The Lansinoh bra is great if you’re just going to pump, otherwise it’s very difficult going back and forth between a nursing bra and that bra. The Kindred Bravely bras are worth the money though! There are two clips: one for pumping and one for nursing. So it makes it very easy if your little one is attached to you during a pump session.

Before you attach those flanges to you, make sure you have some lubies for your boobies. I hadn’t realized that pumping can be super uncomfortable after a few sessions and nursing in-between. To prevent chafed or cracked nipples, slather on some nursing safe lanolin. It helps prevent your nipples from getting sore due to all the suction that goes on. If you’re new to breastfeeding, you might still be getting used to the little one constantly trying to tear your nipple off (I’m 4 weeks in and it’s still a battle), so the lanolin helps heal those small cracks too. The one I use now is from Honest Company! It’s a lot easier to apply than the one I was using from Medela. I find that it glides on a little easier which is nice when your nips are super sensitive.

And lastly, make sure you have something to entertain you for those 20-40 minutes that you’re pumping. Use this time to read a book, catch up on a show, or like me, write a blog. Pumping has become a part of my “me” time, so make the most of it!

Breastfeeding: 3 weeks into our journey with Maverick

Breast is best. That’s what I’ve always learned as a nurse, and that’s what I’ve always believed. There is so much science to support why breast milk has a step up on formula since it’s pretty much an individualized recipe formulated just for your baby and their needs. When I’d give my breastfeeding patients education, everything I was saying seemed so easy to do. I wasn’t naive. I knew before having Maverick that breastfeeding was challenging for any mom, whether it was their first kid or their fifth kid. And after three weeks, I can see why my thoughts on Breast is Best changed to Fed is Best.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

In the first week of Maverick’s life, we were still supplementing with formula because of him being jaundiced and my milk not coming in. There were nights where I told Sean to feed the baby formula if I was too tired to get up and breastfeed. Breastfeeding is taxing on your body. Every time I feed I have to eat something or I get dizzy. After feeds, I’m hit with such a hard headache that I have to take a gram of Tylenol every 8 hours just to be able to function or even sleep. And it seems like no matter how much water I drink (almost 96 ounces) a day I still feel dehydrated.

Week two came, and my milk finally came in (it sounds like it’s a package you’re anxiously waiting for from Amazon Prime…) I go back to working 12-hour shifts after maternity leave and I’m nervous about what it’s going to do to my supply especially when I’m more tired, more stressed, and more active. I’ve heard many women say that when they go back to work and when they start working out again that they notice a major drop in their supply. I’ve made it a priority to try and pump at least twice a day now. So far, I’ve been pretty lucky to stash 1-2 pouches in the freezer for my lil’ stash but I’ve noticed that my sleep takes a toll on my supply. Then there was a few days where I was taking antihistamines for PUPPPs and my supply dipped. Thankfully it came back when I stopped taking the meds.

Museum of Agriculture, El Paso, Texas during the poppy season

It’s been a rocky road

This journey has brought on many sleepless nights. Maverick likes to feed every 2-3 hours. It becomes tiring when 30 minutes of that is spent feeding him and another 20 minutes trying to put him down to sleep. It’s been hard on Sean and I because I become very frustrated at night when it’s hard to console Maverick after feeding. I’ve read so many stories from women who say trying to breastfeed made them feel so bad that it lead to PPD (postpartum depression). This worries me a lot since I already receive mental health treatment. And last night, my son broke me. For the past three weeks we’ve been running low on energy and last night I hit a wall. At 3 AM when my son wouldn’t fall asleep, I gave in and gave him to Sean. I didn’t ask for help, I gave up and made Sean take over. I cried myself to sleep because I didn’t know what else to do and I could feel my patience slipping. The last thing I want to do is let it get too far where I start to resent breastfeeding Maverick.

I’m really hoping that we can find our groove together as a unit so we can avoid that. It’s still a learning process for all of us, so if you have any recommendations or suggestions, we’re very open to them. We’re new to all of this. No matter how many babies I’ve taken care of at work, I definitely was not prepared to be a mom.

Hyperbilirubinemia: My baby is yellow and it's not because he's Asian!

You should’ve seen the unease in our pediatrician’s face when they told us Maverick’s bilirubin levels went down, and we said, “oh so he’s just yellow because he’s Asian then.” We never fail to make people feel uneasy with our Asian jokes. But with all of that aside, the word hyperbilirubinemia can already be scary to someone who can barely break it down to pronounce it correctly. So I’ll try to do a quick breakdown on what it is.

Disclaimer: The content on my website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

A tough time trying to be the mom and not the nurse of Maverick

Maverick had to be under the phototherapy lights for 2 nights. The first night we had him back in our room was extremely difficult on me and Sean. We were up every 2 hours to go to the NICU and feed Maverick on the first night and we were up the entire first day after delivery. We were extremely excited to have him in the room with us, but he was not excited about the phototherapy lights. I thought I would do okay with this since I’ve helped treat so many “bili-babies” as a nurse, but I was so wrong. The emotional attachment that I had as a mother was hard to overcome. Every time Maverick started crying, my first instinct was to take him out. It was extremely hard to not soothe my baby. When I would breastfeed him, I’d still hold the bili-blanket underneath him, but even that irritated him.

His level at initial testing was 11.4, and after one night of therapy it went down to 11.3. Not much progress was made and that was probably due to the fact that breastfeeding was new to us both, and because we kept pulling him out from the lights. We opted to put him back in the NICU for phototherapy hoping that a more controlled environment would help him get better. His levels did go up to 15 the second day, but since he was getting older, the threshold for therapy went up as well. It wasn’t enough to keep him admitted for phototherapy, so we changed the treatment to breastfeeding with formula supplementation and was seen the next day as an outpatient. When we came back, his level dropped a little bit, and we decided to treat his tongue tie by having the pediatrician do a frenulectomy. After a few days of great breastfeeding sessions, formula, and sunbathing, we noticed his jaundice start to go down. At his first well-child check up, they drew labs and said the would call us if his levels were abnormal. It’s been a week since the lab was drawn and we’ve heard nothing back, so it looks like we’re in the clear!

What is hyperbilirubinemia, and is it normal in babies?

So let’s just break down the word: Hyper as in excess of; bilirubin as in the compound that is made due to the breakdown of RBCs (red blood cells); and -emia as in the suffix that refers to something to do with blood. So basically, there is an excess of the remnants of broken down blood cells circulating in babe’s blood. It isn’t uncommon that a baby will be slightly jaundiced after birth. The reason that babies appear yellow when jaundiced is because bilirubin is pigmented yellow!

When a baby is in utero, the placenta works hard at removing bilirubin from the baby’s bloodstream. After delivery, the baby’s liver takes over and sometimes needs a little time to catch up. Don’t be surprised if your baby is more jaundiced after a more traumatic delivery that causes bruising or a hematoma. There is a certain level that babies have to reach to receive phototherapy, so not all jaundiced babies need to be put under lights.

How is hyperbilirubinemia tested and treated?

So this is where nursing comes in! Aside from physical assessment of the skin every shift, at the 24-hour mark, every newborn is screened. This screening includes things like hearing screen, congenital heart disease test, PKU (phenylketonuria) screening, and a TcB test. TcB stands for Transcutaneous Bilirubin. This is done with a device that is pressed against the newborn’s forehead and takes a reading of how much bilirubin is detected through the skin. If the levels are above the facility's recommended threshold level, that’s when the nurse will draw a TSB, or Total Serum Bilirubin. This is done with w a heel stick and drawn in a pediatric blood tube.

American Academy of Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a chart showing the serum level vs neonatal age and what the risk zones for treatment are. If the TSB levels are high enough then phototherapy will be started. If they are considered low-risk, encouragement of breastfeeding with supplementation of formula may be recommended. This is because bilirubin is excreted in stool and urine. This could be another reason why it is more common for exclusively breastfed babies to become jaundiced after birth. It can be the learning curve that momma and baby have as they begin their breastfeeding journey and waiting for mommy’s milk to come in. So if your baby does require more than just frequent breastfeeding sessions and supplementation, your pediatrician will go over what phototherapy is.

What is phototherapy? Can it be dangerous?

The risk of putting your baby under phototherapy lights is pretty low. Proper precautions are taken to monitor the baby’s well-being under the lights, such as an eyemask, continuous temperature monitoring, and a new one I’ve seen, continuous pulse ox. Phototherapy lights are blue spectrum lights that mimic what the sun would do for Baby. It helps breakdown the bilirubin through the skin, which will come out in Baby’s diaper as soiled diapers. Most facilities have triple light therapy which just means in addition to the two lights that are placed above Baby, a special blue light fiber-optic blanket will be placed under Baby. Baby will only be wearing a diaper while receiving light therapy to maximize skin exposure. This is why it is important to monitor Baby’s temperature to make sure that it isn’t too hot or too cold under the lights. I hadn’t seen continuous pulse ox monitoring until Maverick received phototherapy. They told me it was because they wanted to make sure they could see his oxygenation was normal since the blue lights could cause him to be mistaken for cyanosis. I didn’t think it made any sense, so I just appreciated the continuous pulse ox since he had been admitted to the NICU for oxygen therapy. Good thing I’m a nurse, right?

So if it’s so common, why should we be worried about jaundice in a newborn?

Though most of the time jaundice in newborns an be harmless, the reason to treat aggressively is to prevent any brain damage. When severe jaundice is left untreated, the excess bilirubin can cause seizures and brain damage. Kernicterus is the name of the disease when bilirubin levels reach too high of a limit and cause this brain damage. Signs and symptoms of kernicterus include drowsiness, fatigue, fever, uncontrollable or high-pitched crying, trouble feeding, fever, abnormal muscle tone/spasms, and abnormal eye movement.

So if you are concerned that your newborn could be developing jaundice after you have been discharged from the hospital, make sure that you bring it up at the first well-child check up, or sooner if you’ve got a few days before.