Moms that travel

Re: Moms that travel

• CarrieB. member

  July 2014

  My DH works evenings and when I travel, he generally will take an unpaid day of work. He's part time, so no PTO. I don't travel that much though, so it's not a big deal.
  
  My manager travels more than me and her mom will stay at their house when she travels, since her DH works crazy shifts where he leaves at like 2am.
  
  Pumping and traveling is manageable. There are a lot of ladies of this board more experienced then me with some great advice. I've only have had to do one overnight trip while pumping so far.

  IVF, acupuncture, meditation and a miracle. 

  
  

  

  
  

   Our sweet Valentine's Day FET.

  
  

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• DiveFrog member

  July 2014

  I didn't start traveling for my current assignment until DD was around 8-9 months. At that time I was traveling around 1 week/month. My solution isn't an option for most, but I took DD with me. I brought my Mom along to watch her during the days at the hotel. I pumped while at work just like I did when I wasn't travelling, but was able to still nurse her 3 times a day (morning, after work, before bed).

  
  

  I kept this routine until my project progressed to a point where I was going to have to start traveling 2-3 weeks a month. She was 15 months at that point and only nursing at wake-up and before bed, and I wasn't pumping anymore (stopped at 12 months) so it made the most sense to wean and start leaving her at home with DH while I traveled. 
  

  
  

  I will say that if I had been able to pump more (I always struggled to pump enough) that I would have had an easier time leaving DD at home. I highly recommend building as big a freezer stash as possible. The biggest challenge to pumping while on the road is milk storage, transportation and finding places to pump (I've pumped in cars, restrooms, copy rooms, storage closets, conference rooms) 
  

  
  

  I think the all day interview is probably the trickiest if you don't want to reveal that you have a young child and need to pump. Once you have the job, there really isn't any reason to keep it from anyone. I would imagine there would be some break during the day that you could find a reason to excuse yourself for 20-30minutes. Even if it is just to go to the restroom, you can drag it out 10-15min and pump. A large purse can easily hold a small cold pack and a manual pump you could use anywhere, if you are worried about carrying around a big double electric pump for that day. I would think you could get by with pumping immediately prior and directly after the 'interview' and with only pumping once 'during' the interview. Assuming an 8hr day, that would be pumping every 4hrs.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• ksmedforWed236766 member

  July 2014

  I have been traveling similarly to what you are describing since my son turned 4 months old.  Just do your best and figure it out as you go.  I stressed myself out trying to keep up with my pumping while I was out of town ...including setting my alarm every 3 hours at night to pump for his middle of the night feedings.  In the end, I made it 10 months and 8 trips before having to supplement with formula, but it was rough.  I agree with PP, try to build as much of a stash as you can, get a good cooler (max cool is a really good one), and be flexible.  There is no reason why you can't breastfeed and have a job that requires travel.   I have always struggled with pumping enough  milk and we have gotten through it.  

  
  

  For the interview you won't kill your supply if you just go the day without pumping.  I have had to do that on some days while flying and you just end up engorged with a LOT of milk when you do pump.  It ended up being less stressful to do that, then to find 20 minutes to pump secretly on a plane.

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• lcr23 member

  July 2014

  As far as the interview goes, I was mainly concerned with engorgement so a hand pump is a great idea.
  Thanks for all the advice! I really hope I get the job and that everything will fall into place!
  

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• sdlaura member

  July 2014

  I travel for work and have EBF two kids for part of that time.  Ditto PPs on the hand pump to relieve engorgement during the interview.  If you end up getting the job, I recommend a Medela Freestyle pump that doesn't need to be plugged in, because then you can use it anywhere.  I travel once a week on average, and can often find family bathrooms with bench seats at airports, and I build pumping into my day in advance of each trip.  It is a bit of a logistical nightmare - I often have to have male coworkers wait at Starbucks while I pump in a rental car, and I'm constantly juggling ice packs and getting my ziploc bags filled up with ice at restaurants - but it can be done. 

  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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