Pumping and flying

KRB8 · November 2010

This kind of relates to the post below about traveling for work and pumping... I too travel for work (1 week per month) and this month will be my first trip. Have any of you pumped in an airport? If so where did you do it?

I have to pump every 4 hours or I get issues with blocked ducts. Where I'm going in two weeks, I'll be leaving my house at 3pm and won't get to the hotel until 9pm. That includes time to drive to the airport, fly, and then drive to the hotel. So I will have to pump somewhere during that time period. I was thinking in the airport would be better than on the plane. I'm thinking the only place to do it is the bathroom (gross). Clearly I wouldn't keep that milk. I would just throw it out and then clean the pump and all when I got to the hotel. Thoughts? Experiences?

azuremama · November 2010

I pumped in airport bathrooms. Definitely not my favorite thing, but not the worst thing in the world. Make sure you have batteries for your pump.

I never had to do it on the plane. But I wouldn't throw out the milk, either way! Why would you? It's not like the milk is getting contaminated because you're in a place you'd rather not be.

xmasbabymama · November 2010

I would pump in the bathroom - just make sure you have batteries. I would keep the milk too. Good luck!

KRB8 · November 2010

Okay, I'll keep the milk. Good point! I have no idea how long those batteries last in the PISA. I have only used the battery pack once. But I'll definitely have plenty of batteries with me to be on the safe side.

Wilwarin · November 2010

Call the airport and ask if you can use the room they have designated for pumping moms. They have to have one with that many employees. No way would I pump in an airport bathroom.

KG91705 · November 2010

I was wondering about this issue as well. Thanks for posting it. I'm not looking fwd to it, but i vow to give my 2nd son breastmilk for at least a yr. Hopefully it won't be a pain. I guess we have to carry cooler to store milk.

mandarod · November 2010

I had to pump in the family bathroom of the airport once. I didn't have my battery pack and it was the only outlet I could find... It wasn't too bad (and I had privacy, which was nice) - I just laid down plenty of towels on the counter before setting my pump down, stood there for however long it took me to pump, and then made sure to clean my pump really well after I got to my destination. And yeah, I wouldn't throw the milk out either!

Good luck!

KRB8 · November 2010

mandarod:

I had to pump in the family bathroom of the airport once. I didn't have my battery pack and it was the only outlet I could find... It wasn't too bad (and I had privacy, which was nice) - I just laid down plenty of towels on the counter before setting my pump down, stood there for however long it took me to pump, and then made sure to clean my pump really well after I got to my destination. And yeah, I wouldn't throw the milk out either!

Good luck!

Good idea! I'll definitely have to track down the family bathroom and hopefully no family with kids wants to use it.

But at least I could set the pump on the counter like you said and stand there. Rather than in a cramped bathroom stall.

TarzansWife · November 2010

I was going to ask you what airport(s) you would be going to as I have pumped in almost every one on the west coast but see that you are east coast. :-). That being said most family bathrooms are equipped to handled pumping OR some airports now have "mother's rooms" where mother's can go to nurse and pump. I most always had to get a rental car so I would usually pump in my own car when I got to the airport under a towel or nursing cover. Then pump once I got to my rental. Sometimes before I even left the lot depending upon how full I was. When I traveled I always had a battery pack, car charger and wall plug in for my pump. You never know when you might have to get creative. Plus, you will notice once you travel with a pump how many other working mom's (and non working mom's) out there travel and pump too.

KRB8 · November 2010

TarzansWife:
I was going to ask you what airport(s) you would be going to as I have pumped in almost every one on the west coast but see that you are east coast. :-). That being said most family bathrooms are equipped to handled pumping OR some airports now have "mother's rooms" where mother's can go to nurse and pump. I most always had to get a rental car so I would usually pump in my own car when I got to the airport under a towel or nursing cover. Then pump once I got to my rental. Sometimes before I even left the lot depending upon how full I was. When I traveled I always had a battery pack, car charger and wall plug in for my pump. You never know when you might have to get creative. Plus, you will notice once you travel with a pump how many other working mom's (and non working mom's) out there travel and pump too.

Oh yeah I'll have a rental car but sharing it with two male co-workers....Not ideal for pumping. I'll have to look into these mothers' rooms. I fly out of Philly but go all over the east coast and central states. I rarely fly to the west coast, maybe one per year. Thanks for the advice!

flyer23 · November 2010

Definitely look into mother's rooms... I used to fly out of San Francisco a lot, and still fly out of Seattle a lot, and both have mother's rooms. Otherwise, yes, a family bathroom works pretty well.

Darn, I've been to the Philly airport a lot of times, but I think I've always had my nursing baby with me, so I've never had to pump there. But I do remember taking DD into a family bathroom last time we flew there (to use the potty, not to pump! LOL), so I'm pretty sure they have those.

I have pumped in bathrooms quite a bit, never thrown away the milk (the horror!) and never had any issues.

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