? for nursing mothers...pumping at disney??

[aes74]

Well, my birthday is this Thursday, and I am fortunate to live only 1 1/2 hours away from disney, so I am going to be taking my two daughters (8 and 5) to MK for the day. My ever-so-darling husband is going to stay at home with my ever-so-colicky 4 month old son so that we can run around the park and ride some rides and have a girl day. I am nursing him most of the time, but he does take supplemental formula just fine.

So please help me figure out how to do this...I figure I will have to pump at least once that day or I will explode. Engorgement and disney don't go so well together. But how do I do this? If we stop what we're doing, go all the way out to the parking lot and pump in the car, that could sap at least an hour out of the day, don't you think? My husband suggested I take the pump into the park, rent a locker and store it there, and go pump in a private nursing room at the baby center (do they still have those? It's been so long since I needed the baby center...). I have a medela pump in style, and I have no idea how big the lockers are and if it would fit in there. And the thought of carrying a breast pump bag into the park is a little embarrassing for me.

Security guy at the table: what's this? (pulling out tubes, etc)
Me: uh, it's a...you know....breast.....pump.
everyone around us: hee hee hee

Do you have any other ideas or advice? Any thoughts on how to solve this problem? I really want us to have a great day, the economy has been hard on my family and we haven't been to the parks in a long time. I am really looking forward to getting away for a day, but I don't know how to do this.

 

[snoopy5386]

yes, you can pump in the baby care center, I've seen several women in there doing that. If you are going to MK it is near the crystal palace. There is a room with a tv for your older kids, they can relax while you pump. I would rent the locker for your pump and don't worry about security, I'm sure they have seen it all!

 

[aes74]

yes, you can pump in the baby care center, I've seen several women in there doing that. If you are going to MK it is near the crystal palace. There is a room with a tv for your older kids, they can relax while you pump. I would rent the locker for your pump and don't worry about security, I'm sure they have seen it all!

really? that makes me feel so much better. This is my first baby to be able to breastfeed, so even though he's my third, I am really new at this.
Do you think it will fit in the locker?

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

I agree with the other poster. I am sure they have seen EVERYTHING!! Don't worry about it! Just take your pump, rent a locker, pump, and TADA! Have a wonderful Birthday!!

 

[joolz1910]

Hi, I would agree with the others - store the pump in a locker and use the baby centres. I am a breast-feeding mother and I have used my pump all over the place! It depends on how much milk you produce, but you might find that you only need to pump once or twice. Have a great birthday trip - I wish I lived close to Disney!

 

[missfigment]

I went to epcot without my 5 month old and was nursing at the time. i pumped twice during the day (I had nursed him before leaving that morning)...took the pump in a small soft sided bag in my park bag...security didnt even look in it...(which when you think about it...kinda disturbing they didnt even look )...anyway...pumped pretty quickly in the nursing center (thank you disney for having this! Nursing mommies everywhere thankyou for not having to subject themselves from nursing in a bathroom yeccchhh I could never do that!) the worst was having to discard my milk. I couldnt store it properly being in the park. Like throwing away liquid gold lol .

 

[geogirl0626]

Yes, just pump at the baby care center. If you put ice packs in your pump bag, you can keep the milk you pump. The pump will fit fine in the locker, so it shouldn't be a hassle. And please don't worry about security. There is absolutely no need to be embarrassed about pumping milk for your baby!! Most people won't even know it's a breast pump anyway.

 

[El&Asmom]

I think your idea of storing the pump in a locker and using it at the baby care centers will work out fine. And really who cares what the security guards say. I doubt they'll even notice.
You shouldn't have to pump and dump. I have one of those plastic thingys that you freeze and put into the cooler that goes with the Pump in Style. Even if it's really hot out, I'm sure that it will stay cool with the ice pack.
Congrats on being able to BF your third.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

That will work just fine! I went to DLR for 2 days with my husband in dec and left my kids with my parents. Well my youngest was 6 months and we were still nursing exclusively. I just brought a plastic breastmilk storage bag with me and I hand expressed milk when I went to the bathroom and then dumped the milk into the toliet. However not being on your own that'd take some time. I didn't know about the baby care center or I would have been there for sure! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[aes74]

These posts have been such a huge help for me. I didn't even think I could store my milk, i actually forgot about the cooler part of the bag, so that's great. I will do that. I am thinking I will have to pump probably twice that day. Once in the morning, and once in the late afternoon. My girls will be happy to watch TV while I am taking care of business. Out of curiousity, do they still have the private nursing rooms at MK? I know they did a long time ago. If not, I guess I could bring my hooter hider and throw it over me. I've never pumped in public before, but I guess all of us women there are in it together, so it will be fine. Glad to know it will fit in the locker...I'm guessing the larger one?

I am really excited about this day and getting quality time with the girls. I haven't had a break in a long time.

 

[Jenniferb]

When I was pumping for my girls I read a lot about milk storage. It seems like breast milk was able to stay out, unrefrigerated, for several hours. Double check with your lactation specialist on storage. You just may be able to save that liquid gold. I was able to pump and store over a months worth of milk with both of my children.

 

[aes74]

I really want to store it. Right now I am thinking of putting one of those frozen thingys in the bag to help.

Anyone know if they still have those privacy nursing rooms?

 

[msmama]

MK doesn't have private rooms. It's one nursing room with several rocking chairs. Still, it's only nursing Mom's so don't worry too much.

 

[javamoma]

I went out to my car and pumped since I have an ac adaptor. Then I didn't have to bring anything into the parks.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you are nursing full time, I would pump more than once. Once is not enough. You will be super uncomfy and risk plugged ducts!

I would consider buying a manual pump that you can keep in a backpack. It will take longer and is not as efficient but that way you can just stop in whatever bathroom you need. The Avent Isis is a nice manual, not too pricey. It does take some getting used to, though so I'd practice a bit, esp if you are used to the pis!!

 

[Captain_Hook]

I was going to say that you should make sure you pump as often as you nurse. If you don't, you may diminish your supply. You can try to nurse extra the next day to get your supply back up, but if you are anything like me -- once my supply decreased, I couldn't get it back to where it was.