More BFing talk--legitimate question

KaylaL08 · August 2013

I would ask this on the BFing board, but I think I might get more responses here.

I am going on my first non-work outing tomorrow. I expect to be gone 8-10 hours. I am going to the mall shopping and out to dinner for a bachelorette party. DS is 5 months old and never STTN, so I have never been more than 5 hours without pumping/nursing.

Since I won't have access to a fridge, my plan is to bring a small thermal lunchbox type thing and my manual pump. I am hoping to just have to pump once. I am planning on sneaking off to a dressing room or bathroom to pump. Is this a good plan? Is there another solution I'm missing?

Louiej · August 2013

Make sure the ladies don't get crazy and do shots with your milk...says DH. Sigh.

bridein08 · August 2013

Whenever I pumped because of necessity, I dumped. I didn't want to have to cart the milk around with me, but then again, I rarely pumped. If a stash is important to you, obviously don't toss it!

KaylaL08 · August 2013

Duh! Ice packs! I can't believe I didn't think of that! Hello captain obvious.

@bridein08 I don't have supply issues and I have a modest freezer stash, but the idea of dumping out perfectly good breast milk makes my stomach turn. I don't think I could do it!!

Thanks everyone!

bumpuser8448316 · August 2013

bridein08 said:

Whenever I pumped because of necessity, I dumped. I didn't want to have to cart the milk around with me, but then again, I rarely pumped. If a stash is important to you, obviously don't toss it!

Same here but I also can't freeze my milk. We have a work event for DH when dd will be 10 weeks and ill be pumping and dumping. Currently looking for an evening bag to hold my small manual pump lol

jesspomales · August 2013

Ahh you so don't need to dump that precious milk!

Once I was away from 5 mo. DS and I brought a thermal lunch bag and three ice packs. I put one on the bottom and the two on the sides. I would get away to bathrooms (not sanitary but totally fine if you're careful) and put the milk in the lunch bag. It was a little of a hassle to keep all the things (manual pump, milk bags, pen for marking the date, thermal lunch bag...) in a bag and lug it around but at the end of the day, it's all worth it.

By the time I came home, ice packs were really cold and so was the milk. DS had no problems drinking them.

Make sure to keep the water going, though. It's easy to forget to get fluids when you're on the go.

lightgetsin · August 2013

I think your plan sounds good. My son is the same age and I would pump once in that timeframe.

lightgetsin · August 2013

Sorry just reread...i thought you were going to be gone 5 hrs but since it is 8-10 definitely pump twice!

lollitots · August 2013

I would add to wear breast pads. I would totally have leaked if I only pumped once in that length of time.

Angela814 · August 2013

I'd pump twice. Are you going to have your car? I usually pump in my car if I'm out and need to. The milk is good is a cooler with ice packs for 24 hours.