https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 23:30:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881823 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 14:24:17 +0000 mrswin 2881823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: yep that’s the kind of nursing cover I had and with my sweater unzipped I was able to get hooked up and then tuck the nursing cover inside of the sides of the sweater so I was fully covered </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881777 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 08:56:25 +0000 Pollywog 2881777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I honestly have males to be so much more supportive of pumping than females, especially older females. Chances are either their wives, daughters, or sisters have dealt with pumping logistics and they just seem to get it. Or at least get it is not an option to not pump. I hope you have a similar experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881773 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 08:26:03 +0000 mediagirl 2881773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@agold: I got a second pump, this one is rechargeable so I'm taking that one!<br /> @Pollywog: thanks! I have heard of the getting ice at Starbucks trick. I took our baby (3 months at the time) on my first trip and my husband tagged along. I can't do that this time.<br /> @skinnycow: I think I have high lipase so my daughter hates my freezer stash. :( So, I'm going to be doing some extra pump sessions to build up my stash (that I will scald before freezing).<br /> @Bluemasonjar: thankfully our airport has a nursing pod and I have already used that app when I traveled to Las Vegas a few weeks ago! It's fantastic.<br /> @mrswin: what kind of nursing cover do you have? I only have the one that goes over your head and tents out. I wonder if that will do for pumping?<br /> @MrsBucky: yeah, I'm traveling with a man and our clients are all men (hey, male dominated field) so it should be interesting!<br /> @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: if it wasn't a one night trip, I'd consider taking my husband again. My mom doesn't think breastfeeding is important and has mentioned more than once that I should just feed the baby formula to make my life easier. :/<br /> @periwinklebee: humidifer!?! Haha that's too much. I've found TSA agents tend to be pretty sensitive to it, too. I did ask the TSA agents on the way to my last trip to change their gloves and they did it without batting an eye. I'll look into that ice, thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881763 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 07:42:58 +0000 periwinklebee 2881763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to do this I think 5 times during my son's first year. It was stressful but everything worked out and we are still bf at 15 months. </p> <p>I just pumped wherever it worked and did as much as possible while traveling to the work site: on the plane, in the uber, even at the airport gate, etc. (with a cover of course). Some steward on United Airlines did tell me that my "humidifier" was not permitted on the flight. But when I told him it was a breast pump, he backed off. </p> <p>I brought lots of ice (there's a tsa-approved kind on amazon) and also lots of empty ziploc bags, so that if something happened to my ice stash I could get more ice inside security. (Didn't need the extra bags, never had problem with ice at tsa, tsa was always super courteous about the frozen milk and ice). </p> <p>The lousiest part was trying to work in pumping during the day at work on site. I did arrange for this in advance, but then people saw an empty slot on my schedule and infringed on it. But it was fine. I did as much pumping as I could and a day of less pumping here and there won't affect supply. </p> <p>I was a bit shocked at how much my LO drank overnight, And that I pumped an equally large amount in the morning :silly: I just let my husband give him formula overnight while I was gone and added to my stash with what I pumped while away. But I was pretty chill about giving formula here and there when it made life easier.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881753 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 03:39:08 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2881753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: in sales too...At a recent work trip (all company people though) a nursing mom traveled with her baby and her mom. She left the meeting a few times to feed her baby and was a little late for the group dinner, but NBD. Is it possible to bring your baby with you? Just thinking that would make the flight aspect even better. If you couldn’t travel with family there is always the option of getting a local sitter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881733 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:55:50 +0000 nwm 2881733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One random tip that worked well for me was I brought two packit coolers for my milk and put both in the mini fridge the hotel provided (I generally called ahead to confirm), ideally in the small freezer compartment. When I was ready to travel I would double bag the milk in the two packits. Even when I had to open the milk for security testing (because the stinking pre check line was closed!) it still kept the milk super cold for many hours of traveling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881730 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:44:55 +0000 MamaCate 2881730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: you can do it! You have a lot of good advice already and I never actually had to travel for work while pumping but I did need to make pumping arrangements for all day trainings at other locations etc.</p> <p>I found that if I was straightforward and matter of fact then the people I was asking for help copied my tone. I said something like “I am currently a nursing mom so I need to make arrangements to pump xx times. How can we find a space with a door that can close/lock and an outlet (or whatever you think is reasonable)?”<br /> Just ask in advance and you should be fine.</p> <p>And then for planning purposes: a baby tends to drink about an ounce an hour so 24 oz in a day if that helps. </p> <p>You can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881713 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 19:48:13 +0000 MrsBucky 2881713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn’t in sales, but did client work last time around. Just let them know you need to pump. I had all male clients and regularly had to interrupt spontaneous important meetings because it was time to pump, or because if I didn’t right then I’d run into an actual scheduled meeting time. Even though they were annoying good ole boy types, they were cool about it. So I think just be straightforward and articulate what you need and assume they will be fine with it. I can’t remember what we did for milk. My kid was a bit older when I started going away one night/ week and at some point I had to start supplementing so maybe my husband offered formula? I honestly don’t remember. I wasn’t flying but I did have to pump on the go. I bought a battery pack for my PIS pump and honestly would just pump with a cover on the flight. I know colleagues who did this one long flights. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881706 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:41:03 +0000 nana87 2881706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There’s a company called milk stork that helps makes it easier to ship milk home from a trip or pack it as a tsa-safe cooler. it’s expensive but convenient! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881689 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 16:31:59 +0000 mrswin 2881689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I travelled quite a bit for work while I was still pumping. I went back to work when DD was 5 months old.<br /> My SO was home with her during the day so I had an idea of how much she would need per bottle. She also didn’t wake up in the middle of the night if I wasn’t home to nurse...lol daddy wasn’t as good an option so better just to sleep :silly:<br /> I would coordinate with the client to take regular breaks. I was never shy about asking to take time to pump.<br /> As far as while you are in transit... I have no shame when it comes to nursing so I pumped in the lounge waiting for my flight to board, in my seat while on the plane :shocked: , on the commuter train most mornings on my way to work...I had a Medela Freestyle so I didn’t need an outlet. I put my pumping bra on under my clothes and then wore a big zip up sweater over top and then put my nursing cover on.<br /> I transported my milk in the Medela cooler bag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881682 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:42:27 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2881682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can do this :happy: I pumped at the airport right before getting on the plane and again when I landed. For a 5 hour flight I didn't bother trying to pump on the plane but had a manual pump in my bag just in case there was a delay. </p> <p>Each airport I have been to has a different set up but they all offer a nursing room of some sort. Download the Mamava app, they have pods in ATL but also include crowd sourced info on where to pump. </p> <p>I would tell them up front you will need a scheduled break every 4 hours. Can you get in touch with an admin to help you get access to a nursing room on site? If not then I would be ready to pump in the bathroom if needed. </p> <p>We had given my DS a few bottles prior to my trip so I had an idea of how much he needed and pulled it from my frozen stash. Then it was replenished with the milk I brought back. We had also started supplementing with formula to top off bottles (2-4 oz/day) so DH was prepared to add more if needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881680 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:27:52 +0000 skinnycow 2881680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a similar work trip when my daughter was a baby (around 9-10 months old). I was meeting with a client and just asked them ahead of time if they would help me to make arrangements to use their lactation room. It was no big deal even though it made me feel weird to ask. </p> <p>I had a decent freezer stash built up so I wasn't super concerned with planning the correct amount of milk - hopefully you'll have enough to get by! Like posters above, I didn't set any alarms to pump and only did so if I woke up super uncomfortable. A short trip shouldn't impact your supply.</p> <p>My flight wasn't as long as yours but I would probably just find the airport lactation room and pump right before and after your flight (many airports have mamavas and they're great). I'd also have a manual pump on hand in the event you can't get to a private space to pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881675 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:55:29 +0000 Pollywog 2881675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have done a handful of trips while nursing. First trip I brought the baby and hired a nanny. The baby refused a bottle and it was way easier to have the baby with me.</p> <p>When I don't have the kid I pump before I leave for the airport and then right before my flight. For a 5 hour flight I'd bring a manual pump and pump in the airplane bathroom. For my shorter flights I'd pump when I landed, but before hopping on the train. </p> <p>I make a pumping plan as much as possible. I'm on a customer site and I use their lactation room during breaks. I asked the receptionist for the code and it was no big deal. </p> <p>I pump when I wake up and then right before I leave. Then I will bring manuals if I don't have a lactation room, and then will pump at with the hotel or airport when I leave.</p> <p>My plan was to sleep through the night for the first time in 4 years. I pumped before bed and then my body woke me up at 330 to feed. I tried to ignore it, but I was super engorged at 430 and was up for the day.</p> <p>I stored my milk in a hard sized cooler in a fridge and it was no big deal. I got ice at Starbucks in the airport for my cooler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881671 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:38:51 +0000 agold 2881671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! You are awesome for taking this trip and planning to continue breast feeding. Get your freezer supply up asap. Get a battery adapter for your pump to use it in the plane and at your meetings if you won't have a socket. And just plan to pump every 3-4 hours. If its just a one night trip, give yourself a break and sleep through the night. Don't be embarrassed. Be bold and unapologetic. If you don't feel that way, fake it. Don't shy around the subject, even with male coworkers. This isn't a forever situation. Good luck! You are awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/traveling-for-work-while-breastfeeding-share-your-experience#post-2881668 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:16:16 +0000 mediagirl 2881668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In May I have to go on an overnight trip for work. My baby will be 5 months old. I'm still breastfeeding/pumping at work. If you had to do this, how the hell did you manage it?? </p> <p>I'm in sales and will be meeting with a potential customer. </p> <p>How do I explain I need a break every 3-4 hours to pump? </p> <p>How do you plan for the amount of milk needed while you are gone? My baby wakes up 1-4 times a night, depending on the night. </p> <p>How do you plan for flights? I'll be traveling for 5+ hours each way so I'll need to pump while traveling. </p> <p>I DO NOT want to quit breastfeeding just because work is an inconvenience. I also don't want my supply to tank for the same reason. </p>