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>Anyone know about a hands free bra from M----a?  Or about these new kits?
>
>Michelle

I'm not sure what you would like to know about the Medela hands free pumping system.
The Medela bras (softcup & underwire styles) are 100% cotton, actually very nice nursing bras whether you pump or not. They actually have considerably more support than other nursing bras we carry or have seen, probably to help support the bottles when pumping hands free. Other that the extra support and small loops inside the nursing flap, no one would know it is anything more than a nursing bra.The only drawback, which is temporary, is that their sizes only go up to DD cup.

Pumping hands free is accomplished by clipping a special plastic piece around the neck of the regular breast shield. A couple of rubber bands connect this piece to the extra loops inside the bra, and another connector hooks into the ladder hooks normally used to close the nursing flap on the bra. I've not seen anyone using it yet, but have "tried it on" and it seems very secure and comfortable.

Most people's reaction to the hands free idea is laughter & amazement. But we have actually been asked for something like this on occassion: a mom in the car all day (yes to pump while driving!), or for moms who are doing nothing but pumping for weeks & months which gets very tedious, this is a bit of freedom.

Were you also asking about the Advanced kits? We love them probably more than our moms (unless they've used both, they don't know the difference). In the case of the Classic (015), our #1 problem call (why does it seem it's always at 9:30pm?) is lack of suction because of wet filters. The new kit puts the filter at the other end of the tubing, next to the pump, farther from the milk, easier to see as part of the pump and not needing to be washed.

Hope this answers your questions. If you would like to see a picture of the bras or the hands free attachment, check our web page (www.bosombuddies.com). We do not have new artwork to show the advanced kits yet.
Sue

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Sue Petracek, Bosom Buddies, Inc., (303) 860-0041
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
web page: www.bosombuddies.com

Helping mothers breastfeed successfully.
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