Founded by 2 breastfeeding and working moms (and sisters!), jay elle Breast Pump Bags are stylish, discreet and can be used for years after your pumping days are over. The jay elle brand is dedicated to supporting breastfeeding moms – donating $1 to breastfeeding causes for every bag purchased.
A good pump bag is a necessity when you are a pumping mama. You need a reliable one that has all the features and, if you’re anything like us, you’d prefer it didn’t scream “breast pump bag”!
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jay elle founders Kate and Sarah know the needs of breastfeeding mothers well and they especially know the needs of pumping moms. As they both work full time and are away from their children during the day, they’ve been in the trenches (together). It didn’t take them long to realize that being a pumping mom is hard. As business women and mothers, they wanted to do something to help others who were feeling just like them.
You see, these sisters didn’t just get into business to go into business. The desire to impact the world of pumping mothers is truly in their blood.
Kate and Sarah’s mother began the J.L. Childress brand and her very first product was a breast pump bag named The Express Bag, which she invented to bring her own breastmilk to and from work. Now, 30 years later, Kate and Sarah are working on solutions for this generation of mothers while still staying in touch with their roots.
The name jay elle is derived from J.L. Childress and the brand’s logo is their mother’s handwriting. “An ode to mom,” they call it.
Kate and Sarah are obviously passionate about pumping and have lots of motherhood experiences to share. They’ve been there: pumping in crazy places, sitting through meetings with engorged breasts and crying over spilled liquid gold. Here are a few of their favorite stories and some reasons why the jay elle Breast Pump Bags are so awesome:
WTF Moments (< – – – They might be on to something here.)
After breastfeeding and pumping for three kids for a combined total of 50 months, we’ve had plenty of mom-brain, lack-of-sleep, whatever-you-want-to-call-them episodes of pure forgetfulness and bad luck. Some examples: the multiple times Kate forgot her flanges and had to borrow from Sarah (a major benefit of working with your sister), Sarah spilling milk on her pants because she forgot to attach bottles while pumping at her desk and pumping in crazy places like Barnes & Noble bathrooms, Mexican hotel lobbies and UBER rides.
Because of these “WTF moments” and several others, we designed the jay elle Breast Pump Bags to be a complete 6-piece set – giving you everything you need to stay organized while pumping, including a checklist in the jay elle C.O.D.E. Handbook so that you don’t forget any precious parts, a dry cloth to protect your lap or anything else you need to cover while handling your precious milk and organizational bags and pockets to keep accessories in their place.
The Grind
Pumping multiple times Monday-Friday is an intense labor of love. Here are a couple tips that we’ve gathered along the way:
- Elastic Hair Bands & Zip-Top Bags: Keep extras of these items in your pump bag at all times (breastmilk storage bags preferred, but Ziplocs can work in a pinch, too). Aside from the obvious of keeping your hair back, the hair bands can be used together with the bags to collect your milk if you forget bottles. We usually pumped directly into bottles or kiinde bags. However, there were days when we forgot bottles, ran out of kiinde bags or didn’t bring the correct flange connector parts. Like a mom-MacGyver, you can use the hair band to attach the plastic bag to the flanges and PUMP ON!
- Wet Bag: To save time at the end of each pumping session, rinse your pump parts (flanges, connectors, bottles, etc.) and simply place them in a wet bag and then in the refrigerator. The temperature in the refrigerator keeps the parts sanitized and the black jay elle wet bag is discreet, even in a shared fridge. We even included a clear pocket for a business card so no one goes peeking.
- Relax: Easier said than done, but in our experience, it can be a big factor to maximize milk production and provide overall health and balance. Before starting to pump, take a long, deep, cleansing breath. Close your eyes for 1 minute to become present and to recognize the amazing thing you are about to do for your baby. Use your phone to look through baby pictures while playing calming music or do a meditation. This is your time and you are worth it!
Whether you pump 1 day or 365 days…YOU ARE AMAZING! From two generations of working and pumping moms, jay elle and the women behind it are working hard every day to make your life a little easier. Check out their stylish Breast Pump Bags below and join the jay elle community online for encouragement and support: @jayelle_byjlc #withyoueveryounce.
jay elle by J.L. Childress Breast Pump Bags: Hey there pumping mama! Every jay elle Breast Pump Bag is a complete set of 6 pieces to help make pumping anywhere and everywhere as organized & discreet as possible. Every kit comes with a Carry Bag, Cooler Bag, Wet Bag, Accessories Bag, Dry Cloth and Jay Elle C.O.D.E. Handbook. Plus, when you’re done pumping, the Carry Bag easily transitions to a purse or work bag by removing the internal divider.
Parts of this article were originally posted on PumpSpotting.com. To view the article in its entirety, visit https://www.pumpspotting.com/blog/2017/3/meet-jay-elle.
