There’s no way to sugar coat it: pumping sucks. Literally. It’s time consuming, finicky, and can be extremely frustrating. There’s no way to make pumping enjoyable but there are ways to make it suck less. Hacking your pumping routine can save you time, energy, and even breast milk.

Don’t Store More, Store Smarter

It can be easy to get caught up in the spiral of counting ounces going into the freezer and ounces going into the baby. You don’t need to worry about having a massive freezer stash if you manage your stash smartly. The Milkies Milk Tray, a breast milk freezing system, alleviates the stress of a diminishing freezer stash by making it more manageable and convenient. Nothing feels quite so terrible as pouring discarded breast milk down the drain. The Milkies Milk Tray helps moms portion their breastmilk into one-ounce frozen sticks that can be stored in freezer bags and defrosted as needed. There’s no need to defrost a full freezer bag of breast milk and hope your baby drinks it all; the one-ounce Milk Sticks™ can be portioned and thawed in serving sizes appropriate for your nursling. Milkies Milk Trays are specifically designed for expressed breastmilk, and are made from food-safe PET plastic that contains no bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, or dyes.

Ask for Help

Pumping can be overwhelming. If you’re confused and need direction, find a trusted source to ask for help. Milkies Milk Tray was created by Tobi Porter, a firefighter and mom of two who has a passion for pumping. She makes up half of The Milkies Moms and hosts The Boob Tube with mom of three Helen Anderson, RN, BSN, MSN, CLE (and inventor of the Milkies Milk-Saver!). Speaking to women who have been there before, who have seen the highs and lows of pumping and breastfeeding firsthand, can be an incredibly validating and helpful experience.

(Try to) Relax!
Just like a watched pot never boils, a watched bottle never fills. As difficult as it may be, try not to focus on how much breastmilk you’re pumping. Look at photos or videos of your little one, or better yet, pack a sleeper they’ve worn in your pumping bag to sniff and “trick” your body into thinking your baby is with you. Many women are able to pump more breastmilk, more quickly, when their bodies and minds are relaxed.

Treat Yo’ Self
Milkies makes a variety of products to make your pumping and breastfeeding experience as easy and stress-free as possible. Find what works for you and supports your pumping or breastfeeding routine. Pumping and breastfeeding aren’t always easy, but they don’t need to be difficult.

Celebrate Your Success

Every ounce counts. Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing endeavour. Whether you breastfeed exclusively, pump, combo feed, or formula feed, know that you’re doing the best for your baby, and making the right choice for yourself and your family. If your baby is fed and loved, you’re doing it right.

You can get your own Milk Trays here.

{Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this review; all opinions stated are my own.}

Hillary Moran is a thirty-something, mama of two, lover of lists, somewhat crunchy, kitchen dance party phenom, introvert, navigating life after cancer. You can find her on her blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.