Official Breast Feeding Support Thread for WDW Parks

[pocomom]

When I was nursing, we didn't really use bottles at all except for a brief period of illness but I went to Disney World with nursing babies three times. I had no clue about the nursing stations, just fed dd and ds on the People Mover. It was great, relatively private, you can sit and get a nice breeze, plenty of room, most of the time you can ride multiple times in a row, and the movement always knocked my little ones out after.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I just wanted to post a link to my experience with exclusively pumping at WDW. I know I was looking for other posts about EPing before my trip and it didn't seem like there were many, so I'm hoping other EPing moms can be helped by my experience!

My experience EPing at WDW
My Top Tips for EPing at WDW

 

[HulaMinnie]

I just wanted to post a link to my experience with exclusively pumping at WDW. I know I was looking for other posts about EPing before my trip and it didn't seem like there were many, so I'm hoping other EPing moms can be helped by my experience!

My experience EPing at WDW
My Top Tips for EPing at WDW

That sounds great! I'm glad it worked out for you! It's nice to find a way to pump AND enjoy your trip instead of worrying the whole time. Great tips, too! I don't think I'll still be pumping at our next trip, which is a relief, but I feel like if I can survive Disney while pumping, then anything else will be a piece of cake!

 

[dtr_angel]

Glad EP went well for you! My DS is ebf, but bringing my pump on the trip to have in the room just in case. Did you fly? I don't want to check my pump in case our luggage gets lost. Just wondering if that counts as a carry on.

Anyone have tips for nursing a super distracted nurser in public? Nervous DS isn't going to eat in the parks and he nurses about every 2 hours. :/

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Angel Ariel]

Glad EP went well for you! My DS is ebf, but bringing my pump on the trip to have in the room just in case. Did you fly? I don't want to check my pump in case our luggage gets lost. Just wondering if that counts as a carry on.

I did fly, but I brought both pumps as carry-ons. I was also nervous about checking them. The ameda was brought on the bag in its carry bag - it was essentially my "purse" bag. The medela was put inside our rolling suitcase carry-on.

Anyone have tips for nursing a super distracted nurser in public? Nervous DS isn't going to eat in the parks and he nurses about every 2 hours. :/

A nursing cover may help, since it would prevent him from seeing everything around him. Obviously I don't have any experience with nursing itself, but there's also always the baby care centers if you absolutely need to get away from all the distractions.

 

[disneymom2003]

I have been on these boards for 10 years nd never saw this thread. I think it is GREAT! Although I no longer have nursing babies , I did. I did not go to WDW untill my 2 youngest were teens, we live in California but did go to Disneyland. I nursed both of my youngest ( maybe the 2 older ones also, just don't remember) now 26 and 23. So happy to see other moms finding they can enjoy Disney and nurse at the same time.

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

Anyone have tips for nursing a super distracted nurser in public? Nervous DS isn't going to eat in the parks and he nurses about every 2 hours. :/

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I never did well w/ nursing covers. I found in Epcot the grassy areas in WS tucked back away from the walkway was a good place to BF. Shady and usually quiet.

 

[dtr_angel]

I have a nursing cover, tried to use it at home the other day with baby and yeah, it won't be coming with us! Ordering some momma/ nursing necklaces, they seem to help.

I love my ergo, but can't nurse in it. Anyone used a maya sling to nurse in? Baby needs nursed to sleep and thought that would be good for naps in the park... Then I could keep wearing him or put him in the stroller.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

I haven't had a chance to read the thread, but I nursed my very hungry 12 week old at Disneyland. No cover.

Nursing tanks are a life saver. Easier than a cover if you as me. they allow me to nurse VERY discreetly without drawing attention.

Plus, I don't have to carry around an extra blanket or cover.

 

[Leshaface]

I just wanted to post a link to my experience with exclusively pumping at WDW. I know I was looking for other posts about EPing before my trip and it didn't seem like there were many, so I'm hoping other EPing moms can be helped by my experience!

My experience EPing at WDW
My Top Tips for EPing at WDW

Thanks for posting these tips!

At the time I took DS in December, he was 2 months and breastfeeding/bottle-feeding breastmilk, but I wish I would have brought my pump into the parks. It would have been much easier for us.

DS is now almost 7 months and i've been exclusively pumping since he was about 3 1/2 months.

Did you pump while on the plane? I breastfed him on the plane, but now that we have a trip coming up (not WDW) and we'll be flying for 5 hours, i'll need to pump. I'll be bringing my Medela Pump In Style so not sure how awkward it will be pumping on the plane. Luckily, my family will be filling up the other seats next to me, so that should be okay.

Just a personal question if you don't mind me asking Is there a reason why you pump 7 times a day? Right now i'm doing 4-5 sessions a day and I totally applaud you for doing it so much!

 

[VbChristy]

What type of carrier do you recommend for breast feeding?

 

[Angel Ariel]

Did you pump while on the plane? I breastfed him on the plane, but now that we have a trip coming up (not WDW) and we'll be flying for 5 hours, i'll need to pump. I'll be bringing my Medela Pump In Style so not sure how awkward it will be pumping on the plane. Luckily, my family will be filling up the other seats next to me, so that should be okay.

I did pump on the plane, but I used my Ameda Purely Yours instead of the Medela. My Medela was packing in my rolling suitcase carry-on for the entire flight. Honestly, the PIS would have been kind of a pain to use on the plane. There's just not a lot of room, and the PIS would have taken up all of it. It will probably work, just be prepared to not be able to move much (or have anything else on your tray table).

I'd also probably try to sit by the window during the pumping, if you can, so that you wouldn't have to get up if someone needed to get out of the row. DD was in teh window seat in her car seat, so that wasn't an issue for us, but if we'd had all adults in the row (or DD had been a lap child), I would have done that.

Just a personal question if you don't mind me asking Is there a reason why you pump 7 times a day? Right now i'm doing 4-5 sessions a day and I totally applaud you for doing it so much!

I honestly just don't know if i'd make enough BM if I dropped feedings. DD's eating b/w 25-30 oz of BM/day generally, and w/the 8 sessions I'm pumping b/w 29-31 oz. Every time I've gone down to 7 for a few days in a row (like the Disney trip), I've seen a drop in what I'm pumping. At Disney, I dropped down to 25-27 oz/day, and DD was drinking at the higher end of her average because we weren't dealing with solids during the trip. I've always been concerned about her weight gain and growth (she didn't gain well when she was first born, and she didn't eat well b/c she couldn't suck for so long) - so I just want to do everything I can to make sure there's enough milk for her. Generally everything I pump gets used w/i 24-36 hrs of pumping...I haven't added to my freezer stash since she had the stomach flu in January and she was on Pedialyte only for a while.

 

[Angel Ariel]

What type of carrier do you recommend for breast feeding?

I have no personal experience, but I would suggest seeing if you can find a Babywearers International chapter in your area. I've gone to local meetings here just to learn about carriers in general, and the Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) are extremely knowledgeable - especially about BFing in carriers. I'm sure if you have a group like that in your area, that the leader would be able to help you find a good carrier fit for yourself and help you learn how to nurse in it.

 

[Leshaface]

I did pump on the plane, but I used my Ameda Purely Yours instead of the Medela. My Medela was packing in my rolling suitcase carry-on for the entire flight. Honestly, the PIS would have been kind of a pain to use on the plane. There's just not a lot of room, and the PIS would have taken up all of it. It will probably work, just be prepared to not be able to move much (or have anything else on your tray table).

I'd also probably try to sit by the window during the pumping, if you can, so that you wouldn't have to get up if someone needed to get out of the row. DD was in teh window seat in her car seat, so that wasn't an issue for us, but if we'd had all adults in the row (or DD had been a lap child), I would have done that.



I honestly just don't know if i'd make enough BM if I dropped feedings. DD's eating b/w 25-30 oz of BM/day generally, and w/the 8 sessions I'm pumping b/w 29-31 oz. Every time I've gone down to 7 for a few days in a row (like the Disney trip), I've seen a drop in what I'm pumping. At Disney, I dropped down to 25-27 oz/day, and DD was drinking at the higher end of her average because we weren't dealing with solids during the trip. I've always been concerned about her weight gain and growth (she didn't gain well when she was first born, and she didn't eat well b/c she couldn't suck for so long) - so I just want to do everything I can to make sure there's enough milk for her. Generally everything I pump gets used w/i 24-36 hrs of pumping...I haven't added to my freezer stash since she had the stomach flu in January and she was on Pedialyte only for a while.

I was actually debating about getting a manual pump for the plane because the PIS is pretty bulky. Have you ever tried one? I wonder if they work OK.

I noticed that I dropped a bit too while at WDW. DS eats like a horse! I pump about 40-42 ounces in 24 hours and he'll eat all of that. We just recently started solids a few weeks ago so he's not drinking as much, which is great for the freezer.

Have you ever tried eating oatmeal or drinking dark beer to promote milk production? I eat oatmeal every morning anyway so don't know if it helps with me making so much milk.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I have done oatmeal, and its impact was minimal..i'm not a huge fan, so it's hard to make myself eat it when it didn't seem to do much. I can't do beer...I've tried, I just really can't stand beer. Give me wine, and I'm happy I'm not overly worried about my supply because it pretty much is what she's eating as long as I'm getting in the sessions. I just don't want to risk it depleting to see if I can reduce sessions, kwim? It took a bit to re-regulate after Disney, and it was stressful because I was worrying about it and dipping into freezer stash to cover it. 8x/day sucks, but it also gives me some time where DD isn't attached to me...so in that way it's somewhat relaxing too.

As for the manual...I have used one once or twice, when my Ameda pump broke and I hadn't had the medela in my possession yet. It worked OK - great, even, for the occasional session. For your situation, on the plane, I think I'd be more likely to use the manual.

 

[ellone]

We'll be going in a month and my 19 month old will still be bf. I'm hoping she self weans by 2, but it doesn't look good at this point (her sister did self wean by 20 months). She eats solids fine, but is not a fan of cow milk. She will not drink it at all if I am present.

I have a feeling I will be getting looks (I know I got some when bf her younger sister at 13 months) and this one is a *tall* 19 month old.

 

[Pseudacris]

What type of carrier do you recommend for breast feeding?

I always loved a good sling. You can angle them down well, multiple positions to wear the baby, and the little sling "tail" is great if the baby needs to have head covered for sun/distraction/etc. I was never successful in an upright carrier like an ergo, but I know some people are.

 

[Leshaface]

I have done oatmeal, and its impact was minimal..i'm not a huge fan, so it's hard to make myself eat it when it didn't seem to do much. I can't do beer...I've tried, I just really can't stand beer. Give me wine, and I'm happy I'm not overly worried about my supply because it pretty much is what she's eating as long as I'm getting in the sessions. I just don't want to risk it depleting to see if I can reduce sessions, kwim? It took a bit to re-regulate after Disney, and it was stressful because I was worrying about it and dipping into freezer stash to cover it. 8x/day sucks, but it also gives me some time where DD isn't attached to me...so in that way it's somewhat relaxing too.

As for the manual...I have used one once or twice, when my Ameda pump broke and I hadn't had the medela in my possession yet. It worked OK - great, even, for the occasional session. For your situation, on the plane, I think I'd be more likely to use the manual.

Thanks for your recommendation! Did your hand hurt at all from manual pumping? I have a bit of tendonitis in my hands and it acts up occasionally with repetitive motion. Not all the time, but sometimes.

 

[SweetMissy]

We'll be going in a month and my 19 month old will still be bf. I'm hoping she self weans by 2, but it doesn't look good at this point (her sister did self wean by 20 months). She eats solids fine, but is not a fan of cow milk. She will not drink it at all if I am present.

I have a feeling I will be getting looks (I know I got some when bf her younger sister at 13 months) and this one is a *tall* 19 month old.

My DD self weaned at 20 months too. My son is almost 18 months old and still nursing. He actually nursed more during our trip last week then he does at home. He nursed on most of the rides and all of the shows! I've never in all my time breastfeeding gotten any weird looks or comments. I wouldn't care anyway, a kid has to eat. I actually saw quite a few toddlers nursing last week. One actually looked older then my own....so don't think you're the only one.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thanks for your recommendation! Did your hand hurt at all from manual pumping? I have a bit of tendonitis in my hands and it acts up occasionally with repetitive motion. Not all the time, but sometimes.

It did a little bit..I switched hands about 1/2 through on each side to help that a little bit. I think I was using the manual pump accessory that came with the Ameda pump, which may not be the best - it was just what I had. I've heard good things about the Medela Harmony, though.