Breastpump / Vacation ??

[S'sMom]

Hello All,

Question..........

We are going on vacation Dec. 22(DW) and Dec 24 - 28 (DCruise). I am thinkning that I am needing to take my pump with me. Do you think that that Airtran will allow me to take it on the plane or should I even take one at all ) ?

I feel like I can do without, but you just never know. I know that I need one for takeoff on the plane (maybe). Any help would be great@!

 

[all4fun]

There would really be no restriction to carrying on board the plane. If you have a big double electric, and you think that you may not even need it, then maybe you could get a small manual pump to take instead. That would be much easier to carry around vs. a bigger electrical pump.
hth and happy travels.

 

[adventure_woman]

When I was nursing I brought my pump with me everywhere (I had a Medela one, so it wasn't small). You never know when you may need it, or when you may want a break from nursing and give a bottle (I never gave formula). I'm not sure about bringing it on the airplane, but I don't see why not....

 

[rt2dz]

I would be very scared to check one. Not a good time to find out if it's damaged while in transit. I don't see why you couldn't take it as your carry on.

When I was nursing, I always took it with me. I didn't want to break from routine and I over produced anyhow so the pump was a big relief for me. I also crave the freedom of a bottle while on vacation more too. A little "real" vacation, kwim?

 

[S'sMom]

I do not want to be without it in case I need it. I am like the one poster who says that sometime you want the freedom that the bottle gives. I do not do formula at all, so I want to make sure that a bottle is available (at least one per day).

Thanks so much. I will call the airline in the AM and see what they say about checking it. Surely DH can carry the diper bag on as a 2nd carryon and I can take the pump. I have the Medela double pump.

I will keep u posted.

 

[phillmolly]

I would check with the airline and see if it would be considered medical equiment. If it is, it shoudln't count against your carry ons. My DH uses a C-PAP machine, for sleep apnea, and it didn't count against us. I am also a pumping mom, my 7 week old had latching problems. Good luck to you!

 

[all4fun]

I also wouldn't check it. I actually broke my pump once when it slipped off my shoulder (I had the older style shoulder bag Medela PIS). I had just carried it through the rain and was going to set it down and it just slipped and fell on the floor. It wouldn't start up after that. It only fell a couple of feet. Fortunately, I was able to get Medela to replace it but after that I certainly would never have considered checking it on an airplane. Definitely bring it as carry on if you do bring it at all.
JMO of course.

 

[Tanzanite]

Iflew to Canada with Medela pump i rented .The only thing that happened the custom agent asked me what it was guess his wife didnt use one it was funny.

 

[disneymoon0606]

I'm nursing as well, and although I rarely use my pump anymore, I don't want to be without one on vacation in case I need it. But instead of bringing my Medela Pump in Style, I'm going to bring the little cylinder hand pump that I got with it. It does the job, and even though it takes a little more work, I don't want to have to lug my electric pump around. But if you do pump regularly, then I'd carry it on instead of checking it.

 

[S'sMom]

I'm nursing as well, and although I rarely use my pump anymore, I don't want to be without one on vacation in case I need it. But instead of bringing my Medela Pump in Style, I'm going to bring the little cylinder hand pump that I got with it. It does the job, and even though it takes a little more work, I don't want to have to lug my electric pump around. But if you do pump regularly, then I'd carry it on instead of checking it.

Yes, I got that as well. I wondered what that portion was used for. I noticed it looked like a manual pump but I wasnt sure. I think that I will be taking that instead. I am thinking that I will only need it to use to get some milk for the plane ride going and coming. So all I have to do is take some dropin and about 2 bottles. I did contact airtran and they said that i can use it as a carry on as long as the baby is with me. Thank you to all of you for your help. If you have any other suggestions please keep em coming.

 

[nikkers]

I never had an issue traveling with my Medela breast pump.

 

[ms_missy66]

I checked a pump once and it was broken. :-( Definitely carry it on if you think you'll need it.

 

[geogirl0626]

I do not want to be without it in case I need it. I am like the one poster who says that sometime you want the freedom that the bottle gives. I do not do formula at all, so I want to make sure that a bottle is available (at least one per day).

Thanks so much. I will call the airline in the AM and see what they say about checking it. Surely DH can carry the diper bag on as a 2nd carryon and I can take the pump. I have the Medela double pump.

I will keep u posted.

I packed my pump in my suitcase once to be checked with the baggage and it was fine. That was easier than carrying it on the plane with me. But I know it's fine to take them on the plane because I've seem women with them on planes. I brought it so my husband and I would be able to go out one night without the kids and grandma could give a bottle. I would have brought a small manual pump, but I couldn't find mine when I was packing to leave.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
Have you every pumped manually without a pump? Then you wouldn't have to worry about carrying a pump. Just pump it out with your fingers. I had so much milk that I used to pump it out by hand to donate to a baby in Oklahoma that could only have breast milk. I used to be able to pump out a lot at a time. I did it by hand. Once you learn, it's very easy. Good luck and I'm glad you're nursing!!!

 

[disneymoon0606]

Yes, I got that as well. I wondered what that portion was used for. I noticed it looked like a manual pump but I wasnt sure. I think that I will be taking that instead. I am thinking that I will only need it to use to get some milk for the plane ride going and coming. So all I have to do is take some dropin and about 2 bottles. I did contact airtran and they said that i can use it as a carry on as long as the baby is with me. Thank you to all of you for your help. If you have any other suggestions please keep em coming.

Yeah, if you're not going to be needing to use it a ton, I'd bring the cylinder hand pump. It's actually really efficient at pumping - much better than I would have expected. You just attach the shield portion and the bottle to it and it really does a pretty good job. I used to keep it in the diaper bag in case I might need it. I love that it's pretty small but does the job!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Another benefit to the hand pump (I only used a manual for both my girls) is that you don't have to rely on having the electricity around. Much easier to use in an airplane bathroom, too. I travelled for meetings when both my girls were nursing and I became very adept at pumping and freezing the milk to bring home. It was a great relief to have the hand pump so handy and so much easier to carry on the plane vs the electric one my boss had.

 

[happymommy]

I found that no one minded me nursing my daughter on airplanes. It was very simple. I covered myself up with a blankie, so no X rating there.

Maybe you might want to do that? I don't know - do they not allow that during takeoff?

My DD had a seat I think, but right after she nursed a while during a flight.

I never brought a pump on vacation while she nursed (I think we went on at least 3 during that time). It was just easier for me - I think if she had taken a bottle, I would have gotten uncomfortable anyway.

Just my two cents.

 

[PenguinWaiters]

I did contact airtran and they said that i can use it as a carry on as long as the baby is with me. .

Is it just me or does anyone else find this a bit crazy? Wouldn't it be MORE likely that you would NEED the pump as a carry on if the baby WASN'T with you???

OP - I completely understand why you want it and I would too, but I also travel for work WITHOUT my kids and THAT is when I bring my big electric pump!

Airline rules make me crazy

 

[Tasmen]

I traveled recently and carried on my pump (I use a Lansinoh double electric for travel). It's on the smallish side of things and I just put it inside one of my carry ons. We were given no trouble at all. I would just make sure if you do put it in a bag, that you take it out of the bag when it goes through security. I just took the carrying bag for the pump out of my carry on and let the small breast pump tote bag go through on it's own.

You really shouldn't be given any trouble at all about bringing the pump.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I also found nursing on the flights to be easy and discreet. I used my sling as a cover.

That being said - I see all kinds of good reasons to bring a pump - especially if you are a mom with uber-milk! My friend was one of those. Had more milk that her daughter could possibly use! Another good reason - my husband and I had a deal with #2 where he covered some feedings (at night) and I got a break. I had my milk pumped and ready for him. Saved me a lot of time and headache! Plus, I really hated wasting the stuff! It's also nice to have to mix with cereal and fruit for the beginning eaters.