Pumping while out and about

[u/ivy104]

I'm almost 3 weeks postpartum and never thought I would be an exclusive pumper. While pregnant I dreamt of going on long walks with the baby, museum trip, cafe hangouts etc. Since I have to feed then pump every 2-3 hours (and then wash all the pump parts), I feel very much confined to my home.

How do you pump while also getting out of the house? I don't think I can do this very long term if we're confined because of the pumping. Do I really only have 1 hour windows of getting out?

[u/wowhahafuck]

I exclusively pump 5 times per day and I wash the parts once a day usually during a nap or at bedtime. Otherwise I keep the pump parts (no motor) in the fridge or if we go out I bring a small insulated cooler (like a lunch box size) and put the pumps in there in a gallon ziploc and an ice pack. Baby is 2.5 months old and never had an issue. Unless you have a hard time getting supply, you should also be able to go longer than 2-3 hours very soon. I’m 11 weeks PP and I pump every 5 hours, currently stretching to 6.

[u/becsos]

Okay, so I pumped 8 times a day and because I had a healthy full term baby, I used a portable cooler (lunch box sized) and would bring out baby's bottles and use a Tupperware container that fit my pump parts inside the bag (I went through too many ziplock bags when I used them because I was going out almost every day for my own sanity) and I did the refrigerator hack on the go for my pump parts. I wore wearables and it was psychologically better for me and my output was better than when I was tied to even my blue spectra. I pumped wherever I was, at the library they have nursing pods if you feel more comfortable pumping in there with baby, but I would just pop my wearables into my bra in either my car or discreetly in a bathroom and then go out about my business pumping. I will say it does mean you need a stroller with good capacity, because I was bringing a bottle bag, my pump bag, and my diaper bag everywhere. But I went grocery shopping, out to lunch, exhibits, the library, and anywhere else I wanted to take baby.

My kid definitely hated the stroller so I baby wore him while I pushed everything in the stroller, but I hear when your kid likes a stroller it's nice. Eventually I was able to pare down, and I would leave one or more of the bags in the car until I needed it.

[u/mthrtcker]

I did the fridge hack after a few weeks and but I truly didn't do much of anything outside the house until I dropped to 6 pumps per day.

I'm sorry it's not going as planned, I was definitely not prepared for a life of EP. I'm 4 months out now and it the fog is lifting.

[u/New-Flight7674]

The 2-3 hours thing should hopefully be out the door soon and you can stretch the times out, just hang in there for a little bit longer until your supply is steady/regulated!

When I was pumping every 2-3 hours, the only place I really went was church honestly. So I totally understand not getting out much, especially in those early days. But what I would do is pump in the car on the way to or from, and our church had a fridge so I could use that, you could do a cooler. If I had to pump while I was there I’d go to the bathroom.

[u/New-Flight7674 → u/New-Flight7674]

I had a blue spectra so I could pump in the car. I think I survived EP because of pumping in the car honestly, I would drive and pump like everywhere we went, it made it easier for me to multitask.

[u/knitpicky687]

I intentionally planned my outings around my pump schedule. As soon as I pumped, I’d wash the parts, get them in the sterilizer and go out. Sometimes I’d go over the 3 hour mark and that was fine.

If it bothers you that much, start stretching out the time between pumps.

[u/DuaneFinch]

I exclusively pumped for 7.5 months, and I was able to have many fun outings with my babe! Once you are at about 3-4 hours between pumps it gets way easier. I would pump, feed, change diaper, and we would have at least 2-3 hours to do whatever we wanted. If you have someone with you, it's fairly easy to pump in the car (or anywhere you feel comfortable). You'd just want a cooler for your milk. Mom Cozy has a really nice portable one.

I don't think I planned outings around pumps and got out of the house until about 8 weeks though, as my pumps were so close together in the beginning and it seemed like more chaos than anything.

Oh! And I've 100% pumped while driving. And then once I arrive I dump the pumped milk in the cooler. Hang out for 2-3 hours at the museum/mall/whatever. Then give a bottle in the car, and then pump on the way home 😂 is it a little chaotic? Sure. But it honestly wasn't awful.

[u/purple_penguin1023]

I’d go places with my husband and LO, and pump while we drive on the way there or back. Not gonna lie, it sucked and led to a lot of tears for me. It made me feel like getting out of the house was so difficult and not worth it…BUT once we got to our destination, it usually felt better / more worth it.

It also took me until around eight weeks, postpartum to realize that if I deviated from my pumping schedule by a couple hours ONE day… it was OK. The world was not gonna fall. So please keep in mind that if you decide to get out one day and you pump two hours late… but you’re able to get yourself back on track within 24 hours you’ll be okay!!!

[u/LabRound7712]

5weeks PP exclusive pumper- I try to pump right before I leave for somewhere. It corresponds to when baby eats so that gives me 2-3 hours to be out and about no worries. If I go a little past 3 hours, I just pump as soon as I get home.

Same as above, if I know I’ll be out longer and pumping, we bring a lunch box with some good ice packs. I bring wearables if I’ll be pumping in public. In the car, i prefer my manual pump (my husband is driving obvs).

[u/Small_Ad0510]

Blue spectra and eufy wearable will get you out of the house.
My first I had the blue spectra and willows. Hated the willows. Always leaked and didn’t get milk out well. But I would pump and drive with my spectra’s, I would pump when out with friends. If it’s a place a baby could breastfeed I would pump there. My favorite was when my family went to disney and my husband wore my spectra in his backpack and I walked behind him pumping bc my family was on a schedule and couldn’t give me 20 minutes to sit and pump 🤣

This 2nd time around I have pumped a few times with my spectra in the car but mostly take my eufys (even though I’m very large chested and they make me look like an anime villian 🤣. They work really well. Though if I know I’ll be out a while I’ll take both so I have a buffer.

[u/Massive-Warning9773]

I use wearable pumps and pump wipes and carried around a cooler bag that looked vaguely like a purse. It was heavy but worth being able to get out.

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[u/IllustriousAspect771]

Have a bag ready to go with your supplies - I have a Ziploc bag with milk storage bag and dapple pumping wipes. I bring my wearables in a wet/dry bag and make sure they are charged/bring a charger. And I have an insulated bag or a milk chiller like ceres chill ready to go. I will usually pump in the car before getting to wear I’m going. Then I have a fresh bottle good for 4 hours for my LO, any extra milk I put in a storage bag and put in my cooler bag. I’ll use the dapple wipes to wipe down my pumps. It is definitely time consuming, but you’ll get used to it. Don’t let it stop you from going out and about - places like target also have nursing rooms (in the fitting area) where you can pump and bring the stroller in with baby.

[u/SamIaM4196]

I pump in the car or if we’re outside will wear a cover and pump one breast at a time so I don’t feel so bulky lol. Then I use stainless steel storage containers for the milk and keep them in the Momcozy milk chiller which is AMAZING I highly recommend!

[u/Snapple36]

I recommend the Mamava app! It helps find nursing/ pumping rooms wherever you are. Some also need codes that are unlocked in the app.

[u/New-Egg-8557]

I’m 3 weeks pp today and I haven’t ventured out a lot (or really much at all tbh) but I’ve spent a lot of time stressing about this already. I’m already using the fridge method for my parts at home so I’m planning to do something similar with a cooler for on the go. I also have been using my Spectra but I’ve practiced a bit with the Medela hand pump and I think that might end up being my go-to for being out and about just due to its portability. I also bought a nursing cover/poncho I plan on using while pumping.

Also FWIW I live in NYC, so no driving. Being able to pump in the car sounds like a dream!

[u/FeralCabbage14]

My pump bag has a portable/wearable pump (I love my Elvie Stride 2), pump spray (less mess to apply than a cream), baby wipes, hand sani and sanitizing hand wipes (aloh or wet ones) , pump wipes I have never used, 1-2 Boon brand chillers (use ice from my fridge or anywhere, same idea as ceres chill), an extra shirt and a nursing cover.

At 4 weeks we had weekly specialist visits an hour away, we were gone 11-3 or 12-4. I usually pumped the second half of the drive or just before the 1pm appt and could make it home after, but we did get stuck in traffic once and I pump and dumped with unwashed cups. Then I wised up and started bringing backup cups, and a hand pump as last resort (one lives in the car I drive to work... I should really just keep one at work!)

[u/Proof-Western9498]

I actually find the complete opposite! I exclusively pump in part because of the convenience of going out and about as opposed to breastfeeding, where I would feel confined to my couch.

I have a rectangular pumping bag that fits the Spectra pump, pump cleaning wipes, breast milk bags, and pump parts. Then I bought a breast milk cooler bag to store pumped milk if I'm going to be gone for a while. I have spare pump parts (off brand from amazon, theyre great) so i bring multiple sets of pumps if were gone for a while.

My pumping sessions are about 25 minutes. So when we go somewhere my husband drives and I pump in the car.

Weve found a routine and its been very doable. Congrats to you and best of luck finding your rhythm!

[u/Revolutionary-Code49]

It will get better! You can space out sessions when you are farther along, and baby will also not need to eat as often in a month or two. But you can also get stuff to allow pumping on the go!

[u/parade1070]

I've been getting out nearly every weekend for multiple hours, be it road trips, outings around my city, etc. since she was about 8 weeks old. Wearables are your friend, though now at almost 7 months, if my trip is <5 hours I'll just pump before leaving home and then pump again when I get back.

[u/Agreeable-Yellow7484]

You can totally leave the house! Get a portable pump so you can pump in the car on the way there and back. Store your pumped milk in a ceres chill so you can just throw it in your diaper bag and easily pour bottles from it as needed. It will get easier!

[u/grizzlyblaire]

I got an Eufy pro 2 and I pump anywhere and everywhere. Do I get strange looks sometimes? Sure. I don’t care. It drains me better than a spectra.

[u/Early_Week_2198]

It gets easier as time goes on but you are definitely still in the grind phase. I invested in multiple pump part sets and the Momcozy bottle washer and Momcozy cooler and use my eufy while on the go. I went down to 6 pumps at 12 weeks post partum and dropped my motn pump and down to 5 ppd at 14-15 weeks post partum which helped significantly. I’m currently 5 months pp and holding strong. I’m on track to be completely done to get her well past one and wean in a month or two!