Blog post about pumping in an airport

Re: Blog post about pumping in an airport

• hopefuldog member

  June 2014

  I traveled this weekend with DH and another couple. I bought a pump that can be battery operated. I pumped (with a nursing cover), in a quiet section of an airport restaurant facing a wall, on the airplane in my seat, in rental cars, and in a comfy chair in the corner of a fancy bathroom. Again covered, and most people didn't even realize what I was doing. While it was certainly annoying (more for me), I never felt exposed or judged. The TSA agents didn't bat an eyelash at the 45+ oz of milk I brought through security on the way home. I know not everyone is this fortunate, nor is everyone in the position to be able to afford a pump with the capability to be battery operated.
  

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• sdlaura member

  June 2014

  Yeah I keep waiting for TSA to give me a hard time about breastmilk or ice packs - I agree I'd raise a huge stink. I'm thrilled when I find a family bathroom with a bench seat. And I have the Medela Freestyle so no outlet needed. But it still should be easier. The San Jose airport has a little nursing/pumping room next to each ladies room and it makes a huge difference.

  BFP #1 9/2010 (lost our baby at 21 weeks) BFP #2 8/2011 (ectopic pregnancy) BFP #3 10/2011 (chemical pregnancy) BFP #4 12/2011 (Abigail born 8/15/12) BFP #5 5/2013 (Griffin born 1/23/14 with heart defects, now repaired!)

  
  

   

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• MamaAllison member

  June 2014

  I love the point he made about pressuring moms to BF and then not making it feasible for when we go back to work after our (ridiculously short) maternity leaves are over. That point needs to be said over and over til the general public gets it!

  DD1 - Evelyn Riley - 9/30/11

  DD2 - Charlotte Avery - 1/27/14

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• shellbell3845 member

  June 2014

  My heart goes out to EPers (or other moms who are traveling). It's so easy for me to bf almost anywhere, but I wouldn't be comfortable at all pumping in the places I've BFed. We have a lot of work to make our BF/pumping mamas a little more comfortable.

  F14 January Siggy Challenge: Gym/Fitness Fails

  
  

      

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• sdlaura member

  June 2014 edited June 2014

  @bluedot818, I've pumped in the plane bathroom while sitting on the closed toilet seat, and it wasn't bad. @bribbon, I think a woman recently won a monetary settlement from the. U.S. Govt due to harassment related to a breast pump and breastmilk. Maybe they've recently gotten a memo about it or something? I agree they've been better than when I traveled after DD, which wasn't that long ago.

  BFP #1 9/2010 (lost our baby at 21 weeks) BFP #2 8/2011 (ectopic pregnancy) BFP #3 10/2011 (chemical pregnancy) BFP #4 12/2011 (Abigail born 8/15/12) BFP #5 5/2013 (Griffin born 1/23/14 with heart defects, now repaired!)

  
  

   

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• hopefuldog member

  June 2014

  BlueDot818 said:

  Is it weird to use a manual pump, while on the plane? I will be traveling without LO next weekend and I won't have time to pump in between flights...should I pump in the airplanes bathroom... my seat with a cover... ugh this sucks already..

  I have a friend who sat near/with the stewardesses, so you could always ask them. I used a cover in my seat, but was sitting next to a friend. Depending who you are sitting next to, you may or may not feel comfortable?
  
  

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