Int'l travel and breastfeeding/pumping moms

[granthamite]

I'm new to this Forum, but was on TB/TN years ago, pre-kids, just never migrated over.  Wondering if any of you have traveled internationally as a BFing mom?  I have to be in London next week for work. ANY other time, this would be no big deal. I used to travel internationally frequently in my old job, pre-kids. But my youngest is four months old and still exclusively breastfed. Obviously I'll have to take my pump - and horror of horrors - dump anything I pump with no way to freeze it.

I bought the Medela battery pack and a bunch of eneloop batteries, and a manual pump as well as a back-up. Does anyone have the battery pack and know how long it lasts? I will be gone four days total.

Pumping in an airplane bathroom should be fun. Ugh. Do they have outlets in them (Delta)? If so, I could save my battery pack at least while I'm on the plane.  Any other tips from moms who've done this?

[frlcb]

Jan 21, 2014 12:45:42 GMT -5 granthamite said:

I'm new to this Forum, but was on TB/TN years ago, pre-kids, just never migrated over.  Wondering if any of you have traveled internationally as a BFing mom?  I have to be in London next week for work. ANY other time, this would be no big deal. I used to travel internationally frequently in my old job, pre-kids. But my youngest is four months old and still exclusively breastfed. Obviously I'll have to take my pump - and horror of horrors - dump anything I pump with no way to freeze it.

I bought the Medela battery pack and a bunch of eneloop batteries, and a manual pump as well as a back-up. Does anyone have the battery pack and know how long it lasts? I will be gone four days total.

Pumping in an airplane bathroom should be fun. Ugh. Do they have outlets in them (Delta)? If so, I could save my battery pack at least while I'm on the plane.  Any other tips from moms who've done this?

If there are outlets on a Delta plane bathroom (which would vary by plane) it would likely be for a shaver, so a lower voltage. I wouldn't count on it. 

[mabillon]

Jan 21, 2014 12:45:42 GMT -5 granthamite said:

I'm new to this Forum, but was on TB/TN years ago, pre-kids, just never migrated over.  Wondering if any of you have traveled internationally as a BFing mom?  I have to be in London next week for work. ANY other time, this would be no big deal. I used to travel internationally frequently in my old job, pre-kids. But my youngest is four months old and still exclusively breastfed. Obviously I'll have to take my pump - and horror of horrors - dump anything I pump with no way to freeze it.

I bought the Medela battery pack and a bunch of eneloop batteries, and a manual pump as well as a back-up. Does anyone have the battery pack and know how long it lasts? I will be gone four days total.

Pumping in an airplane bathroom should be fun. Ugh. Do they have outlets in them (Delta)? If so, I could save my battery pack at least while I'm on the plane.  Any other tips from moms who've done this?

I went to Asia for 11 days with a 14 month old who was still nursing 2-3 times a day, I pumped at roughly those times (local) to keep up supply.

First, why on earth would you pump and dump?  There is no requirement to freeze if you'll be gone for less than a week (in fact, it's best you don't).  Just request a fridge for your medical equipment in your hotel room and bring a small cooler and ice packs for your return flight.  Breastmilk is good in the fridge for up to 7-8 days.  I have a lipase issue and with no way to scald my milk in Asia, I really did have to dump most of my milk but still brought the last two days home with me.  I am dumb and forgot ice packs but grabbed ice in plastic baggies from my last hotel, refilled them behind security, then again-twice-on the plane.  Milk stayed nice and cool the whole 25+ hours.  I used the 8oz bottles with lids to make sure there'd be no leaks (combining a couple pumps together to fill the bottle).

My seat had an outlet (I flew coach in Korean Air - one of their really big Boeings that they use for trans-Pacific) so I just waited until they dimmed the lights and people started going to sleep. Then I set up my pump (with a cover on) and went about my business.  Not a single person noticed (at least, not obviously).  I was in an aisle seat but if you want to be even more conspicuous, choose a window seat.  If you use the bathroom anyhow, make sure you give the flight attendant a head's up so they're not worried about you in there (or bring a post-it for the door).  

Good luck!  I bet it will be easier than you think to actually do the set-up.  Working it into your workday overseas may be more challenging but pump as frequently as you can and don't worry too much about the time change, your body will adjust!

[jaime183]

I have not flown internationally while pumping but flew a few times as an EP'er.
I refused to pump in a bathroom so I just found an empty gate, used a cover and pumped in a corner. I put a vest on to kind of hide myself but not really.

I also pumped on the flight. Planes are so loud. Logistically it was awkward getting everything out but it was fine in the end.

For storage, you can ask for a fridge if you want to carry milk back. That's up to you for sure

[Deleted]

are you not taking your kid with you? Why would you need to pump?

Funny story but when DS3 was a baby I got held up at security at Heathrow because they wanted to see my bottles for DS3. I kept saying I didn't have any. Finally, I was all "Do you want to see my boobs".

[frlcb]

If you do bring your breast milk back with you heathrow is notorious for making you drink it(or formula) so he prepared. It happened to me more than once.

If you are on a newer delta plane it may have an outlet in the seat but the older ones do not unless you are in business class.

[granthamite]

Thanks everyone for the responses! Septimus - no, I'm not taking my son.

I suppose I could try to bring the milk back, but I don't need to. I produce plenty and have more than enough in my frozen stash.

I'll definitely bring my cover and go with what's most comfortable location-wise for pumping.

Fricb - thanks for the heads-up about Heathrow. I am flying in/out of that airport. Traveling and working with all men, that would be super fun to have to do. ::sigh::

[Deleted]

I have also pumped in the family bathrooms. They are a little larger and you can get far from the toilet. My battery pack usually lasts the work week. I was pumping to and from work so twice a day on it.

[CloudBee]

I've used a hand pump under a cover while flying, and while waiting at the gate. I've also pumped in several airport bathrooms and aircraft bathrooms.

I packed the electric pump in my checked baggage, and managed with the manual in the airport/on the flight. Much more convenient, IMO.

[granthamite]

I leave tomorrow for London and wouldn't you know it, today I got an email from BabyCenter about breastfeeding while traveling. There were some good tips and a link to a list of airlines and their policies for BFing moms. Thought it might be helpful for someone else so I'm posting here:

www.babycenter.com/0_breastfe...3897.bc?page=4

The airline list: www.phdinparenting.com/blog/2...-policies.html