OT - Question for breastfeeding moms

[SDFgirl]

I'm BF-ing my DD, 8 weeks. So far, I haven't really left the house for long stretches at a time without her, so I haven't really had to pump outside the house.

Well, on Saturday night I'm going out to dinner and a Nickel Creek concert. I know I will probably need to pump while I'm out to relieve pressure and prevent engorgement.

My question is - how do I do this? I have an Medela Pump In Style. Do I just take it with me and pump in the ladies room? How do you handle this kind of situation? As Claire gets older, I want to be able to leave the house without leaking through my shirt...

 

[Princess Roo]

Claire is my niece's name...I love it!

Does your pump have the battery pack with it? Mine did, so I would just go into the stall at the bathroom, set the pump up on my lap and pump away. If you have enough milk, you can just dump what you pump, especially since it's just one feed. But, I had to do a lot of my pumping in a bathroom while I was in grad school (or trek 15 mins across campus to the lactation room, which might be occupied) and got good at keeping things clean. I've seen other women pump "out in the open" in the bathroom, with a shawl of some sort covering them.

ETA: In a few months the leaking will get better, too, and you will likely be able to skip one feeding occasionally without being uncomfortable, then just pump when you get home.

 

[bellastella227]

I would try and time it so you don't have to pump...feed/pump right before you go and then again right when you return home. But if it will be a really extended amount of time and pumping is unavoidable, you could try pumping in your car in between or just do as the PP said and use a clean bathroom stall or private area with a shawl. That is, if you have a batter pack. It might be more tricky if you have to plug the pump in.

Have a great night!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I wish I could help you, I am the self-crowned queen of breastfeeding.

Alas, at 8 weeks, hadn't even had a moment's thought about leaving DS for even an hour, and I have never pumped in public (gotta be even more bare-chested than for the early days of nursing!), so I'm sorry I can't help.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Just a thought...could you hand express at the concert if you get uncomfortable? Just a pain to bring a pump on an adult evening out (during which I'm sure that you want to bring the smallest purse possible now that you have been lugging huge diaper bags around!)

 

[ChrisAlli]

i only ever had the avent on the go type of pump. very easy to travel with. I've hand expressed in a pinch, but that's not fun.

If you can plug it in in the car, I would pump in between dinner and concert and wear pads to catch any leaking.

 

[mama4]

Well, I have a little experience with this after bfeeding 4 babies and I have to say it's a pain to carry around the Medela. For an adult only trip to Epcot last Christmas I bought an Avent manuel pump and it was easier to carry and much more discreet. If you think you'll have easy access to the car then it may not be too bad since you can leave the Medela there and pump in the car- but if you would have to carry it around and pump in a stall- I'd get a hand pump. Also, don't forget those nursing pads because no matter how quickly you get to the car/bathroom to pump, you will surely leak at some point.

 

[NotUrsula]

The best disposable pads are Johnson's -- no contest.

You will probably be able to go about 4 hours before you get uncomfortable. Can you pump in the car after dinner and before the concert? I have a DC adaptor for my PNS; works great.

 

[GoinToDisney]

I had the avent too, and preferred pumping in the car. Something about pumping in the bathroom seemed yucky to me. I aree with the other posters about how I only needed to pump in the beginning. Later, I could skip 1 feeding no problem. Oh, and Lansinoh pads were my favorite but that was 3 years ago, so things may have changed.

 

[betsywdw]

I had to pump several times while out too. My Medela came with a battery pack and I would just go to the bathroom and pump. I also have a hookup for the car that I could pump in the car if needed. Have a great time out!

 

[SDFgirl]

Thanks everyone! I forgot that the Medela came with a manual hand pump. I've tried to use it once and it was a pain in the butt! However, I think I'll give it another shot on Saturday night so I won't have to carry that huge bag around.

Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

I don't know if it's still around, as my youngest child is now 7, but the Avent Isis manual pump was great for discreet pumping in a restroom. It's very efficient, fairly comfortable, and because it's hand operated there is no noise.

Congratulations on your baby!

 

[mommy2savannah]

I have a 4 month old and I pump in the car all the time. If I were you I'd just go to the car after dinner and pump before the concert. I just put a blanket over myself and pump (battery operated medela). Bring at least 2 containers to store the milk and leave everything in the car before going to the concert! After the concert is over you may need to pump again-your dh will drive the car while you pump. This is what I do and I have never had to pump in the bathroom- I don't think it's very hygenic!Enjoy!!!

 

[tanyaandallie]

I would pump in the car before the concert. That would likely be a few hours after you left your baby and a few hours before you will be home. I was never able to figure out the medela hand pump that came with my pis but I did borrow a friends avent isis. It worked great and could be carried in your bag.

 

[monorailsilver]

Yep, I would pump right before the concert too.

I had a leakage problem with all 3 of my kids & the nursing pads did squat for me so I used these:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403352

They were great when I was nursing on one side & the other side had let down. I would have an ounce or so in there before I flipped sides (so I'd freeze it).

I never had to worry about a wet shirt but they are hard & have these 2 funky dots on them so I did put a 'pad' over the dots so it didn't look funky.

 

[pperfectmom]

I don't know if it's still around, as my youngest child is now 7, but the Avent Isis manual pump was great for discreet pumping in a restroom. It's very efficient, fairly comfortable, and because it's hand operated there is no noise.

Congratulations on your baby!

This is the one I used most as well. I kept the big ole medela at home and actually preferred the manual Avent most of the time. I did it in the car several times and you can put it under a shirt fairly discreetly. If you don't need the milk for another time or would like a drink or two(just my opinion-no flames please) you can pump & dump and not even have to worry about a cooler or anything.

Wish I could go see Nickel Creek. OT here, but I just read where they have decided on an amicable break-up. You're lucky to catch them now.

 

[Tricialiv]

I would try to get through the night without pumping. You may be slightly uncomfortable but I wouldn't mess with a pump for 4-5 hours. I also would suggest wearing a dark shirt. If a little leakage happens it is not noticable. Good luck and have fun on your first night out.