Traveling--bring pump or not

[vegas]

Just wondering what you all would do in my situation. Tomorrow I'm traveling with my 8 week old on a 2 hour flight to Colorado. I'll be gone through Sunday. I'm going back to work in a few weeks so I've been pumping once a day to build up a stash and have been getting about 8 ounces total (4 on each side). I was thinking about leaving my pump here rather than taking it on the trip, but I'm worried about engorgement since my body is used to that pumping session. I already have to carry on the car seat, a diaper bag and the baby, plus I plan to check the suitcase and stroller at the ticket counter. Would you lug along the pump just in case or would you say screw it and leave it at home?

I don't want to check it because I'm worried about it breaking, so I'd either carry it along with the baby, the carseat and the diaper bag or I'd leave it at home. I'm probably over thinking this, but I just want to be prepared.

[gibbinator]

Ugh that's tough. Do you have manual pump?
In your shoes I'd probably bite the bullet and carry it on. Engorgement is no fun

[vegas]

I actually just had the idea of checking my pump parts (tubes and all) and hooking them up to my friend's pump if necessary. I'm staying with her and she has the same pump I do. Is that weird? Or unsanitary?

[CloudBee]

Oct 10, 2012 17:17:02 GMT -5 vegas said:

I actually just had the idea of checking my pump parts (tubes and all) and hooking them up to my friend's pump if necessary. I'm staying with her and she has the same pump I do. Is that weird? Or unsanitary?

Not weird. Chat with her.

[gibbinator]

Not weird and good solution.

[satama]

I would bring a manual if you have one, you could just throw it in the diaper bag.

[af1212]

I always brought my manual pump with me when I traveled, but left my big one at home. It did come in handy quite a few times.

[marclovesme]

Definitely bring something. I've been there without, and it was awful.

[Ashley&Scott]

Oct 10, 2012 19:12:06 GMT -5 satama said:

I would bring a manual if you have one, you could just throw it in the diaper bag.

This.

[vegas]

No manual pump, unfortunately.

[curbsideprophet]

I would bring something.

[loskadoodle]

Using your friends is a good solution but if it were me, I wouldn't bring it and just put the babe on the boob to relieve some if I were too engorged.

[niki]

The idea of sharing a pump, even with different pump parts is not appealing to me at all (unless it is a hospital-grade one that is meant for multiple users-or any one designed for multiple users). I think the FDA and LLL don't recommend it either. Just put babe on if you get engorged, or you can manually express (practice before you leave).

[Deleted]

Manual pump is like $30, I'd get one and throw it in the diaper bag. Target has them. I wish wish WISH i'd brought mine on our 10-hr trip from VA to Upstate NY last weekend. I haven't needed to pump in forever, but DS would.not.nurse in the car. Too much distraction, plus he bit me several times out of frustration. So I was engorged and he was hungry, a terrible scenario. And we've been EBF for over 7 months! At 8 weeks I would definitely bring a pump in case LO won't nurse in all the flying chaos.

[MamaMaui24]

I'd leave it and nurse baby or hand express if needed.

[satama]

I would just spend the $30 and get a manual, they come in handy. I have been known to throw it in my bag if I go out for a girls night so I dont feel like I have to rush right home after a movie or whatever. I will just pump in the car to relieve the pressure and be comfortable.

It is nice to have in an emergency too, like if the power is out, or leave it in your desk in case you forget your pump parts one day or something.

[mrssandro]

Oct 10, 2012 18:47:57 GMT -5 gibbinator said:

Not weird and good solution.

I agree. Most likely you won't even need it.