Nursing moms- Breast Pump or not ?

[lundve]

I'm trying to decide if I really need my breast pump or not. My little guy feeds only 5 times a day and the only reason I would need pumped milk was if he stayed with Grandma at night while DH and I went out. What do you think?

If I do bring it should it go in my carry on suitcase or my checked bags? It is a Medela Advanced Electric one.

Thanks.

 

[DisneyGirlz]

Did yours come with the hand pump attachment? Maybe you could bring that for "just in case." It would definitely weigh less and take up less space in your luggage.

 

[lundve]

Luggage space isnt really an issue - just wondered where it should go, is it safe in checked bags?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I would at least bring a hand pump - you just never know if you will need it.

My little one went on a nursing strike and I would have been miserable without a pump!

Checked baggage gets thrown around a good bit so make sure you pack it securely if you take it in your checked bag.

 

[Princess Roo]

I have both carried mine (also Medela PIS) on and checked it several times. Both work well, but every time it has been checked, my bag has undergone extra screening (comes with the little note from the FAA) since it looks rather bomb-like with the cords and dial. Also, when putting it through the carry-on screener, I always tell them what it is. Otherwise it sometimes slows down the line as the screener stares at it, calls other screeners over, looks at me funny, etc.

I think only you really know whether you need to bring the pump or not. If it means you get a date night with DH, I'd probably bring it, but I don't get as many of those as I'd like, so I take every opportunity when the grandparents are around!

 

[amarberry]

We travel a fair amount, so when we took DD on her first big trip (to WDW at 4 months with extended family) I purchased the Avent ISIS which at the time was a highly rated hand pump. I like the security of having a pump with me in case issues come up, but I didn't want to lug my $300+ Medela with me.

I think I paid about $40-50 for the Avent. It was a good investment for me, but it really depends on how much you travel and how much you think you would use it.

 

[virginiamama]

I purchased the Avent ISIS which at the time was a highly rated hand pump. I like the security of having a pump with me in case issues come up, but I didn't want to lug my $300+ Medela with me.

I think I paid about $40-50 for the Avent. It was a good investment for me, but it really depends on how much you travel and how much you think you would use it.

My FAVE - the Avent Isis. I had a Medela PIS too but the Avent got used way more and I managed to express more quantity with the Avent also. Ultra-portable. Also great to carry along when you are away from baby and have that "I need to nurse right now" feeling.

 

[kerrynic78]

I just stopped nursing my 9 month old but we took 4 flights while nursing and I brought my pump with me everytime. I personally could not imagine not having it, it really helped me if I wanted to go out or needed a break and had my DH give her a bottle.

I carried mine on the plane each time (Medela Pump in Style) and it was so easy to bring on board. I just slung it over my shoulder and stored it in the above bin.

 

[GiGi30]

Just got back 2 days ago. My 5 month old still nurses every 2 hours during the day. I opted to leave the pump at home because it was so expensive, but I was wishing I had bought a small hand pump to take with me. It would have been nice to have had some milk pumped to keep me from going to the baby care centers at least once a day!

 

[NotUrsula]

Just to point out, you don't HAVE to go to the baby care centers. If you're comfortable with NIP, so is WDW. I just got back with an exclusively nursed 10 week old, and never saw the inside of a baby care center.

I have a pump cylinder attachment that I used with the hospital pump when my older child was born, it just attaches to the bottle. Hard work, but OK in a pinch. I packed that (in my carryon) for emergencies. I figure if it is for an emergency you need it with you; I know that having my good electric pump lost by a luggage handler would be a disaster, IMO.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you have it and you have the room, take it. I think if in doubt take it. If it were me, I'd likely leave it or take the Isis, but that is b/c the darn thing is so big and takes up so much room. Neither of my kids took the bottle so there was never a need for it when we were together.

 

[kpm76]

I'd take it with you....we're traveling to WDW in November and I plan to take mine with me. DD is hating bottles these days but will take them if I am nowhere in sight. DH and I are hoping to have a nice dinner one night and DD will stay with my parents so I want to be able to express milk if I have to.

 

[mpls_mm]

I brought mine last time just in case so I could get away with my older one and let Grandma watch the baby. Argghhh. I checked it and airline lost it!! Took three days before I got it and it had sat in water somewhere, it was disgusting and mildewed (it was inside a suitcase filled with my babys clothes too). It never worked after that, no apology from the airline or anything. They told me if it was that important I should have kept it with me. I had the Medela Pump in Style. My little guy got sick and I couldn't get away at all, we couldn't go on many rides at all. I would bring it if I were you, you never know, I got the other one after my trip, the Ameda and really liked that one,plus it is more portable. I would have kept that with me on the plane.

 

[mpls_mm]

I tried to nurse in public a few times, the last time in Downtown Disney on the grass in front of that candy shop and a security guard asked me to stop. She said I needed to go to the bathroom "where people do that kind of thing." I made a big deal about it at my hotel but they didn't really care. I wrote several letters when I got back but never heard a word from anyone. Other than that, some times I felt fine, other times people were rude and made me uncomfortable.

 

[SnowWitch]

I took my medela with us on our June '07 trip when Grace was 6 months old. We are returning next week and she only nurses 4 times daily now but I'm taking it in the event she doesn't want to nurse before we leave the room and then she decides its time before we get into the park. We also have a 2 yr old daughter who will not be patient. I like the concience of having a pumped bottle with us.

Loved the baby centers, AK's is by far and away the BEST!!!! Private nursing rooms that the whole family can fit in and enjoy some air conditioning while baby gets their tummy full. I also nursed on demand in June, I did not trek back across a park. We just found a bench in the shade in a low traffic area. Enjoy your trip.

 

[MartDM]

I'm going next month & plan to bring mine. I pump regularly so DH can give DS bottles when I'm at work so, even though I'll be with DS the whole time we're there, I still plan to pump so we have the flexibility of having a bottle available when nursing isn't feasible for whatever reason.

I also want to make sure I have a few bottles for the plane trip home (I understand that if your child has their own seat, which DS will, you can't nurse during takeoff/landing).

I will definitely be carrying the pump on with me. I've got the Medela PIS which runs about $325 so I'm not going to risk checking it!

 

[emh1129]

I won't be bringing a pump with me when we bring our newest arrival to Disney. It just seems like a pain and it's just easier to nurse wherever we are when she is hungry.
I have a sling so it will be easy to nurse whether we're on the move or sitting down for lunch, etc.
Have fun!

 

[emh1129]

I tried to nurse in public a few times, the last time in Downtown Disney on the grass in front of that candy shop and a security guard asked me to stop. She said I needed to go to the bathroom "where people do that kind of thing." I made a big deal about it at my hotel but they didn't really care. I wrote several letters when I got back but never heard a word from anyone. Other than that, some times I felt fine, other times people were rude and made me uncomfortable.

Just wanted to point out that the security guard was misinformed. You have every right under Florida law to nurse in public and- not that you should have to- but a copy of these laws slipped into the diaper bag might come in very handy to educate someone who is unaware that they are actually breaking the law in telling you to stop.

From Kellymom.com (an awesome breastfeeding site):
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/bfip.html

Some moms even carry a copy of the law in their diaper bag or purse. I know that in my state (Florida), a mother is legally allowed to breastfeed her child any place that she is legally allowed to be, so as long as you're not trespassing, you're fine.

Many mothers have sued over issues like this and have been very successful.
I don't want new mothers thinking this is common, though- it's NOT.
In all my years of nursing I have never, ever had a negative experience or have encountered someone who asked me to stop, so while it's a good thing to be prepared in terms of knowing your rights, I wouldn't expect a confrontation like this mom unfortunately experienced.

And to the pp, I would follow up with Disney and let them know that this security guard was unaware of the laws surrounding breastfeeding in Florida and this could potentially put them in a vulnerable position, legally speaking.

 

[dawnball]

I tried to nurse in public a few times, the last time in Downtown Disney on the grass in front of that candy shop and a security guard asked me to stop. She said I needed to go to the bathroom "where people do that kind of thing." I made a big deal about it at my hotel but they didn't really care. I wrote several letters when I got back but never heard a word from anyone. Other than that, some times I felt fine, other times people were rude and made me uncomfortable.

I'd have asked to speak to her supervisor. I've never been asked to stop nursing at WDW, and there are relatively few places you can take a baby that I haven't nursed. Bathrooms are definitely on the list of places I never nursed - Yuck! I do know that on rides where a child needs to be under the seatbelt (dumbo, magic carpets, triceratops spin, etc) that being in a sling is considered adequately restrained - currently nursing or not.

The Florida statute is pretty clear too.

383.015 Breastfeeding.--The breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values, and in furtherance of this goal:

(1) A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding.

I may just be oblivious to dirty looks from other park-goers, but the only time I recall someone commenting on my nursing was while we were waiting for the beauty and the beast show. A mother popped over to say that her daughter pointed us out as nursing and wanted to nurse while she waited for the show too.

 

[amarberry]

I tried to nurse in public a few times, the last time in Downtown Disney on the grass in front of that candy shop and a security guard asked me to stop. She said I needed to go to the bathroom "where people do that kind of thing." I made a big deal about it at my hotel but they didn't really care. I wrote several letters when I got back but never heard a word from anyone. Other than that, some times I felt fine, other times people were rude and made me uncomfortable.

Wow! You should have asked that security guard if she was willing to eat her lunch in the bathroom!

FWIW, I have nursed around the world without any issues. I personally like the Baby Care Centers because they are cool, dark, and (usually) quiet. I even felt comfortable nursing my toddler in public at WDW.