Today’s Blogiversary Celebration features Easy Expression Products – the original hands-free pumping bra! Easy Expression Products was founded in 1998 by Gretchen Penny. At that time, she was a new mother getting ready to return back to work after her maternity leave and she found pumping tedious and was looking for something to make it easier. Her idea for Easy Expression Products was born! In 1999 she received her first patent for the Halter design of her hands-free pumping bras and in 2002 she introduced the Bustier style, which quickly became her best-seller. Just like a lot of momtrepreneurs, Gretchen worked out of her home when she started her business. In 2007, her business out-grew her home and she opened an office outside of her home. She is proud to say that all of her products are manufactured in the USA – locally in Houston TX, just a few short blocks from where she lives!
I have been carrying the Easy Expression Bustier and Halter in my boutique since I opened in 2007. A friend of mine exclusively pumped for her baby when my son was little and she had used one. I love them! The styles are great.
The bustier is the most popular because it is the easiest to use. It has a zipper up the front so you just put it around you and your bra and zip it up, insert your breast flanges from your pump (it works with most if not all pumps!) and you are ready to pump – completely hands free! This is one of our most popular styles of hands-free pumping bra. Just last month, Easy Expression Products introduced a new black colored bustier which is fabulous! And they have more colors coming in the coming months!
The halter is great for a few reasons. Firstly, it is very inexpensive, so anyone can afford it. And if you have a larger bust, it is great because it has a halter that goes around your neck and gives added support to hold up those heavy, milk-laden breasts! The only down-side to the halter is that it has to be put on over your head (no zipper) so it is a little bit less convenient. But for moms on a budget or those who need the added support, it is wonderful!!
I pumped and worked until my son was 15 months old and having a hands-free pumping devise was KEY to my success. My son never had to be supplemented and I was able to keep my supply up despite working long hours and traveling for business. I couldn’t have done it without hands-free pumping. If you are a working mom – or even if you just pump a lot, be sure to take a look at my Pumping Tips Article for great pumping and working tips. It also has lots of tips for increasing milk supply – so even if you aren’t pumping at work, take a few minutes to read it over anyway.
As part of our Blogiversary Celebration, Easy Expression Products has offered to give TWO Mommy News & Views readers their choice of hands-free pumping aparatus. You can choose from the bustier or halter style and you can choose which color (bustier only) and size you’d like.
To be entered into this contest please leave a comment on this post which tells us about your funniest breast pumping story! – This is MANDATORY in order to be considered for a prize.
But you don’t want just one chance to win do you? How about a few more! You can enter for extra chances to win one of these bras by doing any of the activities below. Just be sure to come back here and leave us a comment for each one – letting us know which ones you completed.
1) Visit our Pumping and Working Tips Article and tell us which tip helped you the most.
2) Sign up to follow Easy Expression Products on twitter.
3) Sign up to be a fan of A Mother’s Boutique on facebook.
4) Spread the word! Tweet about this post and link back to it – be sure to include @MommyNews in your tweet and a link back to this page, and leave a comment here with a link to your tweet (you can do this once per day during the contest).
5) Spread the word some more! Post about this contest on facebook and tell all of your friends about it!(you can do this once per day during the contest)
6) Don’t have a blog, not on facebook or twitter? No problem, we want you to have extra chances to win too – so go ahead and send an email to any of your pregnant or nursing friends. Be sure to cc: us on your email (blogiversary@blog.mothersboutique.com) and leave a comment here too! We promise not to add anyone to any mailing lists unless they specifically request to be added.
7) Purchase anything in our Boutique Store – and leave a comment here with the last 4-digits of your order number. You will get 4 extra chances to win for every purchase!
That’s it! Lots of ways to win one of two Easy Expression Hands Free Pumping Bras!! This contest ends 10/23/09 at 5 PM. All entrants will be verified and must complete the mandatory entry before completing the ‘extra’ entries. Invalid entries will be disqualified. This contest is open to people with US-based delivery addresses ONLY. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or we reserve the right to choose another winner.
[…] – ends 10/22/09 Breast Is Best Clothing For Nursing Mothers Easy Expression Products – Two Hands-free Pumping Bras! – ends 10/23/09 Expressiva Nursingwear Fancee Free Manufacturing FertileMind Maternity & […]
My first week back to work, I spilled 2 onces of milk and cried. When I left my office and saw some work friends, they asked why I was so upset….they thought it was because I missed my baby boy….while I did miss him, I was more upset that I spilled SO much of that precious milk!
.-= Stephanie CB´s last blog ..Ephraim at 16 and 17 weeks! =-.
Here’s the tip I found most useful:
“Pump both breasts at the same time; they help each other to let-down.”
I always only pump one side at a time (even though I have the double Medela pump). I just could never figure out how to hold both pumps and also massage at the same time.
A pumping bra would help me immensely!
I am not sure that I have any funny stories, like Stephanie, I spilled an entire bottle. It was early in my work pumping days and I still did not have blinds on my personal office so that I could just pump in my space so I was moving all over the office, where ever there was an open space. One day I was using the conference room and I knocked a full bottle over and it went all over the huge conference table and on to the floor. Another time I was used the conference room in the morning and left my pump pack in there for the afternoon. I was going ot grab it on my way out for the day but there was a meeting going on. I had to interrupt the meeting so that I could get my “backpack”. I wonder what they thought about my backback needing to be plugged in.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Judy Masucci. Judy Masucci said: Today's Blogiversary Celebration is from @EasyExpression Products! Win one of TWO hands-free bras! http://bit.ly/19MJcy #bfing #breastpump […]
Funniest story? I have a good one. I was pumping at work one time and one of the District Attorney’s came in to see me (it was trial week). My door was shut and he was insistent to my staff that he had to see me now (he’s kind of obnoxious). When they told him I was occupied right now, he called me. He kept demanding to know what I was doing and why I couldn’t come out and talk to him right now. I finally told him that I was pumping breastmilk. He actually was speechless (never stops talking usually). My staff and I still joke about it to this day. He’s the kind of guy who is never shocked and never quiet, so it was quite an accomplishment.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Threadless Tshirt Giveaway at jaypeeonline.net =-.
I was pumping in the restroom at work when one of the owners came in and started talking about how she remembers breast pumping after her kids were born. After we came out we found out that the walls are not very thick and EVERYONE heard us talking, there were about 10 guys standing in the office at the time, I was mortified.
Once when I was pumping at work I started feeling something wet on my leg and realized I had forgotten to put one of the bottles on. Oops! 😉
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Stalling =-.
I’m a fan on facebook
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Stalling =-.
and again I think one of the best tips is to get a handsfree pumping device similar to this. Also adding a pump in the morning if you have trouble keeping up with supply can really make a big difference
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Stalling =-.
This isn’t exactly about me, but one time after I had been pumping, my two year old son took the flanges and held them up to his chest while he walked around.
The tip that helped me the most was to make sure you are using the proper sized flange. I am pretty sure I did not last time.
Mine has to be the time that I had to pump on the plane (I had to exclusively pump) because my daughter was very insistent that she be fed. I got lots of great looks for that one 😛
.-= Felicia Eis´s last blog ..Will We Make It? – Encoragement For Those in the Middle of Parenting =-.
I am a fan on facebook!
.-= Felicia Eis´s last blog ..Will We Make It? – Encoragement For Those in the Middle of Parenting =-.
I pump daily for my little one, but still have never bought a pumping bra. Would love to win this.
My finniest story is when I was nursing my baby at my small family gathering and right when letdown was occuring, he unlatched and made a very loud cry which made everyone’s head turn to see my milk squirting everywhere! I blushed, they laughed and we all moved on.
I am a fan of A Mother’s Boutique on facebook.
.-= Jasmin´s last blog ..JazmynLeigh: hoping to win a bravado designs nursing bra from @MommyNews ! http://tinyurl.com/yfoesjj =-.
I follow easy expression on twitter.
.-= Jasmin´s last blog ..JazmynLeigh: hoping to win a bravado designs nursing bra from @MommyNews ! http://tinyurl.com/yfoesjj =-.
i tweeted this. http://twitter.com/JazmynLeigh/status/5060564618
I am a working nursing mother and this is just fabulous! Sometimes I have to “hurry” at work through my pumping session due to work constraints. This would help me tremendously. I am always worried about getting mastitis since I have to hurry sometimes. This is great!