Work travel while bf'ing

el_twirpo · January 2012

does anyone have experience with work travel while you're still breastfeeding? i thought i'd get a break at work from the travel for these first few months, but the possibility of having to travel within the next 2-3 weeks is very real.

i'm really nervous about this for a few reasons. 1) storage and transport of bm through the airport system. 2) storage, transport and ability to pump while in another office. 3) kid is starting to take a bottle at daycare ok, but we haven't had success at home.

if anyone has tips or experiences with this, please share! the transition back to work is hard enough, but this is just the icing on top.

Slobina · January 2012

I didn't do this myself, but I know several women in my office who did it and it was definitely stressful for them. It was so much the storage and transport, as they had no problems getting BM through security or keeping it cold with icepacks. It was more of when they could pump, and having to pump in airport bathrooms. I think if you are in an office where they have a space you can use, and you establish up front that you need to pump and what time, that part will be fine.

The problem with the business travel our team has to do (and you may have this as well) is that they are in front of clients all day, doing presentations, taking them out to lunch, dinner, etc. So it isn't like a normal workday where you are at your desk, have some time on calls and some time working at your computer, etc. Given that they are leading all of these presentations and meetings, it is harder to take time out to pump. If you a job where you are traveling and then doing similar work to your work in your home office, and not having to be the leader/orchestrator (if that is a word), then it would seem to be easier.

Good luck! I hope other posters have more tips for you.

Amy

Abrooks · January 2012

I had to travel quite a bit while bfing N. Not the funnest thing in the world, but very, very doable.

As for the airport, you can take your BM with you. Just let security know you have BM. They may hand check it, they may not. Just depends. I stored my milk in the Lansinoh bags in a soft sided cooler. And I had blue freezer blocks that I took with me. However, if you're in a hotel, their "freezers" aren't always good in the mini fridges. So, I'd take freezer size ziplocs with me and after I got through security, I'd go to the food court and fill the bags with ice. Be sure to double bag though in case of leaks and make sure your cooler has enough room to fit the ice bags.

As for the hotel, you should have a mini fridge. If not, you can request it. You can tell them it's for "medication." They don't need to know it's for BM and they are required to be able to provide a fridge. But you'll likely be staying somewhere w/ a fridge anyway.

As for pumping - if in an airport, use the family restrooms. They usually have outlets. And more space to pump. On clients or office sites, I'd usually use the bathrooms. Or if you can get an office space or talk to a receptionist, then ask if there is a place there for pumping. Lots of places have spots you can use. It just depends on the environment and if you can find someone to help you out.

The day you're traveling back, put your cooler of BM in the break room fridge and then put a reminder on your phone to go pick it up before you leave. An alternative is to fill the ice bags in the hotel in the morning so you can get the milk cold during the day. Just be sure the dump the ice before you go through security.

kirknsarah · January 2012

I've seen people do it so I know it can be done, but I have no experience in this. It makes me nervous to think about in the future though!!

el_twirpo · January 2012

Slobina:
I didn't do this myself, but I know several women in my office who did it and it was definitely stressful for them. It was so much the storage and transport, as they had no problems getting BM through security or keeping it cold with icepacks. It was more of when they could pump, and having to pump in airport bathrooms. I think if you are in an office where they have a space you can use, and you establish up front that you need to pump and what time, that part will be fine.
The problem with the business travel our team has to do (and you may have this as well) is that they are in front of clients all day, doing presentations, taking them out to lunch, dinner, etc. So it isn't like a normal workday where you are at your desk, have some time on calls and some time working at your computer, etc. Given that they are leading all of these presentations and meetings, it is harder to take time out to pump. If you a job where you are traveling and then doing similar work to your work in your home office, and not having to be the leader/orchestrator (if that is a word), then it would seem to be easier.
Good luck! I hope other posters have more tips for you.
Amy

when i'm in our other office, it's usually meetings after meetings since we're trying to take advantage of face-time. at work right now, i've been getting in a little early and pumping before everyone else gets in. i also pump at lunch and then one more time in the afternoon. i think the afternoon one would be the only big interruption.

i guess i'd have to think about my evenings too when i'm traveling because sometimes they do team dinners.

el_twirpo · January 2012

Abrooks:
I had to travel quite a bit while bfing N. Not the funnest thing in the world, but very, very doable.
As for the airport, you can take your BM with you. Just let security know you have BM. They may hand check it, they may not. Just depends. I stored my milk in the Lansinoh bags in a soft sided cooler. And I had blue freezer blocks that I took with me. However, if you're in a hotel, their "freezers" aren't always good in the mini fridges. So, I'd take freezer size ziplocs with me and after I got through security, I'd go to the food court and fill the bags with ice. Be sure to double bag though in case of leaks and make sure your cooler has enough room to fit the ice bags.
As for the hotel, you should have a mini fridge. If not, you can request it. You can tell them it's for "medication." They don't need to know it's for BM and they are required to be able to provide a fridge. But you'll likely be staying somewhere w/ a fridge anyway.
As for pumping - if in an airport, use the family restrooms. They usually have outlets. And more space to pump. On clients or office sites, I'd usually use the bathrooms. Or if you can get an office space or talk to a receptionist, then ask if there is a place there for pumping. Lots of places have spots you can use. It just depends on the environment and if you can find someone to help you out.
The day you're traveling back, put your cooler of BM in the break room fridge and then put a reminder on your phone to go pick it up before you leave. An alternative is to fill the ice bags in the hotel in the morning so you can get the milk cold during the day. Just be sure the dump the ice before you go through security.

THANK YOU. i need to just print this out and take it with me. does the soft-sided cooler count as another carry-on? i usually have my suitcase and work bag with me as my 2.

flymansWife · January 2012

i think you've gotten a lot of good tips already. i'd add that if you are making your own schedule, BUILD IN TIMES TO PUMP. or if someone else is making it, just tell them you need a couple breaks to pump. every time i travel, i end up forgetting to pump if i don't build it into my itinerary -- your days are jam packed. last day trip i had, we left at 6am. I couldn't sneak away from meetings until 3:30PM!! ugh. not good for supply and uncomfortable!

depending upon the reason for travel and where i'm going, i've also made plans in advance where i can to figure out where i'll pump (asking the office admin/receptionist if an empty office can be made available, etc). then it saves time trying to figure out where/how to pump.

hope you don't have to travel so soon!

BLONDIE6FT · January 2012

pack an extension cord

el_twirpo · January 2012

BLONDIE6FT:
pack an extension cord

good call.

el_twirpo · January 2012

MrsRosie:
This blog has a lot of info: https://worklifeunbalanced.blogspot.com/.

adding this to my google reader.

atlantic · January 2012

PP advice is good! The only thing I did differently was to pack my soft-sided cooler of milk in may suitcase. I just bagged everything VERY carefully to ensure no leaks and included lots of ice packs. It was just much easier that way. I often was able to be provided with a space to pump -- like PP said - the receptionist/admin, etc. is often a good ally. If not, I'd do it in the bathroom. I have some funny stories there... if it was gross, I'd dump it. Oh yes, so make sure you have batteries in case you do have to pump in bathroom - i never plugged in in a bathroom.

BLONDIE6FT · January 2012

atlantic:
PP advice is good! The only thing I did differently was to pack my soft-sided cooler of milk in may suitcase. I just bagged everything VERY carefully to ensure no leaks and included lots of ice packs. It was just much easier that way. I often was able to be provided with a space to pump -- like PP said - the receptionist/admin, etc. is often a good ally. If not, I'd do it in the bathroom. I have some funny stories there... if it was gross, I'd dump it. Oh yes, so make sure you have batteries in case you do have to pump in bathroom - i never plugged in in a bathroom.

yep, i just had to dump after pumping in the airplane lav. my 2 year old playing with her doll on the floor (***gag****), me sitting on the toilet pumping. yuck, yuck, yuck. it doesn't get grosser than that.

BLONDIE6FT · January 2012

atlantic:
PP advice is good! The only thing I did differently was to pack my soft-sided cooler of milk in may suitcase. I just bagged everything VERY carefully to ensure no leaks and included lots of ice packs. It was just much easier that way. I often was able to be provided with a space to pump -- like PP said - the receptionist/admin, etc. is often a good ally. If not, I'd do it in the bathroom. I have some funny stories there... if it was gross, I'd dump it. Oh yes, so make sure you have batteries in case you do have to pump in bathroom - i never plugged in in a bathroom.

yep, i just had to dump after pumping in the airplane lav. my 2 year old playing with her doll on the floor (***gag****), me sitting on the toilet pumping. yuck, yuck, yuck. it doesn't get grosser than that.

Abrooks · January 2012

Oh - I will add that while I pumped - I checked. Between my pump, computer bag, milk, suitcase - it was too much to carry on. I was able to consolidate for security but did have to check my suitcase.

el_twirpo · January 2012

BLONDIE6FT:
atlantic:
PP advice is good! The only thing I did differently was to pack my soft-sided cooler of milk in may suitcase. I just bagged everything VERY carefully to ensure no leaks and included lots of ice packs. It was just much easier that way. I often was able to be provided with a space to pump -- like PP said - the receptionist/admin, etc. is often a good ally. If not, I'd do it in the bathroom. I have some funny stories there... if it was gross, I'd dump it. Oh yes, so make sure you have batteries in case you do have to pump in bathroom - i never plugged in in a bathroom.

yep, i just had to dump after pumping in the airplane lav. my 2 year old playing with her doll on the floor (***gag****), me sitting on the toilet pumping. yuck, yuck, yuck. it doesn't get grosser than that.

gross.

el_twirpo · January 2012

Abrooks:
Oh - I will add that while I pumped - I checked. Between my pump, computer bag, milk, suitcase - it was too much to carry on. I was able to consolidate for security but did have to check my suitcase.

ah ok. i have this bad mental image of milk spilled all over my clothes in my suitcase and leaking.

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