Breastfeeding while being a working mom is hard. I’m not saying it isn’t hard for moms who stay home with their littles; however, the challenges are different from those that stay at home with littles all day and for me, my challenges are even different from those moms that work in an office. I am a working mom who travels for work, a lot. Every few weeks, I hop on a plane to meet up with the folks from my company, who for the most part, works virtually.
What have I found? A lack of support from so many airports, and thus it is really challenging to fly and pump.
As a mom, I feel like I learn something new every day; however, lately I feel like I am starting to nail this whole flying and pumping thing, the second time around.
You would think with my second child, I would have master the in’s and out’s of traveling while pumping, but I can’t quite say that I am an expert by any means. Why? Primarily because each airport and TSA person you meet has a different interpretation on your nursing needs and the laws around it.
For me, I have pumped in the corner of an airport restaurant hoping not to bump into a coworker who was traveling to the same destination. I have routed myself with longer delays to rush to a mother’s room in between flights. I have found inconsistencies in between one TSA guy to the next, rules varying from week to week on what milk needs to scanned and what milk doesn’t, if I can touch my milk during the screening process or if it has to lay in the same TSA bin that some dude’s shoes have been in just moments before. I have found gorgeous, accommodating mother’s rooms that are almost “spa-like” to an airport director (a mother herself) saying that the family restroom would have to work for now.
I have seen visions of good, but I also have seen too many areas not supporting nursing mothers, specifically mothers that have to travel for work.
What I do know is that I hope to make a change for the better in this. I do not want to put my career on hold or even pause in my current career growth because I am a mother to young children. I want to be able to show my children that being a mother does not mean that you have to choose in between staying home or being in the workforce. I want to use my breastfeeding journey to show all mothers that they can do both if they want to. It is possible, and you can continue to do a job you love while breastfeeding, no matter the obstacle or challenge.
I know there is a lot of anxiety around flying without your babe, so here are my top tips for pumping and flying:
1. Pack the right supplies.
From not having enough storage bags to completely forgetting bottles to attach to my pump, I have missed packing something here or there. Thankfully, I have always spotted the mishap early and there’s never been a Target too far from my hotel. Beyond the standard materials (you can find my packing list here), I always make sure I have a backup Sharpie marker to label my milk bags, a nursing cover just in case there is no nursing room (here is my favorite), some Thieves cleaner to help support a cleaner pumping space, and some wet wipes to wipe down my surroundings. Unfortunately, it is common for housekeeping at a hotel to not wipe down every surface and you can bet that a Mother’s Room (or worse… a family bathroom) could possibly need sanitized.
Pro tip: Pack more milk storage bags than you think you need. I always carry on my milk and pump and cringe at the idea of it being tossed around in security if I would have to check it. Because of that, I try and store each session into 3.2 ounce increments or less. Hypothetically, TSA should not have to scan your milk either at this measurement; this isn’t always the case though. Regardless, I fill up bags so much quicker than I ever think I’m going to. Be prepared in this part and always check your bag supply before you leave for your trip.
Second Pro tip: Take milk-making snacks. I never seem to get enough calories when I am on the go, so I make sure that I take a few Milkful Lactation Oat Bars. They are soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and wheat-free, full of nutrition, and made from real ingredients. They are really delicious too. Use the code “heatherbahorich” if you haven’t tried them yet for 20% off.
2. Make sure your cooler is large enough.
Like I said, I pump far more on the road than I do when I’m home, and I almost always come back with more milk than my baby eats. This is far different than when I’m working from my home office. On a typical day at home, I pump exactly what I need every day… however, on the go, I always come about about 10-20 oz. positive!? Go figure! With that being said, make sure your cooler is large enough to hold your milk and that you pack more storage bags than you think you will need.
According to the work trip and the availability of refrigerators, I sometimes pack a freezer pack… and sometimes I don’t. A freezer pack also takes up room, so if my flight is direct and my milk is going to be straight from the refrigerator to the airport, it is still cold 2-3 hours later when I land. However, if I have a layover or a long wait time from my meetings until flight time, a freezer pack is definitely necessary.
Pro Tip: Most hotel refrigerators don’t have freezers to make sure the pack is cold enough; however, I have not met a front desk that won’t freeze it for you. Just don’t forget it at check out.
Second Pro Tip: If you don’t end up taking a freezer bag or you forget (which has happened to me), I have taken storage bags and asked for ice at the airport bar to fill them up. It worked perfect!
3. TSA is never consistent.
There are rules around breast milk and flying. There are guidelines. They are on the TSA website. I have read them all.
And then there is real life. I have yet to meet a TSA attendant that was in line with the previous one. Actually, I have never met one that is consistent with another in all of my travels. I chat with the as they scan or swipe or look through my milk every few weeks and not one of them has the same interpretation of the guidelines as the last.
Just know the rules and stick your ground. Most of all, give yourself some time to get to your gate for your flight. Sometimes it takes an extra 30 seconds. Sometimes going through security takes an extra 30 minutes.
I have had so many different ends of the spectrum. One scanned each 125+ bags individually. One didn’t scan them at all, but patted me down. One said that as long as they were under 3 ounces a bag, nothing needed to be done. One said that the bags were measuring wrong and there was obviously more than 3 ounces in there… I must have bought misprinted bags? One said that he could scan it all at once. One just merely looked inside and waved me on. One swiped everything on me, including my additional baggage that had nothing to do with my pumping bag.
I have had to ask for a supervisor twice for clarification. I have had to wait for a female because male wanted nothing to do with me and my milk. I have had no problems at all. Each time is a new experience.
Pro Tip: Keep calm, know the basic rules, don’t argue, don’t let them throw away your milk, and ask for a supervisor. It’s honestly not as scary as all of that sounds but as long as you are nice and polite, they will be too. Those are my baseline rules for TSA.
4. Know before you go.
The first thing I do anymore before heading out for a flight is jump on over to Mom’s Pump Here website to see if the terminals that I will be visiting have a pumping room or mother’s room. This has been accurate and allows me to plan (especially for my layovers) 99% of the time and has found to be really helpful.
Most mother’s rooms seem to be old family restrooms where the airport has ripped out the toilet and placed a well loved rocker or recliner in its spot. The outlets are not necessarily convenient nor is the bathroom all that updated. Most rooms actually don’t look like they have been touched since the airport has opened.
A few airports, however, have really stepped up their game. If you are lucky enough to visit an airport that has installed a Mamava, you are super lucky. These modular suites offer nursing mothers a clean and beautifully designed space to pump/nurse when they are away from home. My only experience with these pods was in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and it was so nice to have! I also really enjoy Chicago Midway International Airport’s Mother’s Room! It is one of my favorite and although not the most conveniently located for a Southwest flight, it is truly appreciated!
Pro Tip: You can pump anywhere, not just in these nursing stations. There is always a family bathroom or something similar that you can find; however, you may find yourself standing and pumping while a family of five is pounding on the door or in the floor of a less-accommodating airport. Just stay calm and be patient with the pumping process and others.
Second Pro Tip: I have found myself pumping under a nursing cover a few times. Typically I try to find a very low traffic restaurant at one far end of a terminal and ask if I can sit in the corner. There is usually not an outlet. This pregnancy I invested in a small, battery powered Motif Duo breast pump; however, during my first little one, I carried with me my Medela In-Style and its battery pack (along with a car adapter) for different situations.
5. Invest in a good pumping bag that is right for you.
I was really surprised when I was pregnant with my first the lack of options there are out in the market for breast pump bags. My insurance-provided pump did not supply a bag with it and the Medela bag that was marketed with it was outrageously priced.
Thankfully, there has been companies out there that has made some great options over the past few years. With my first, I snagged an insulated cooler tote for less than $20 on the clearance aisle at Target. However, after about a dozen of flights, it started to show quite a bit of wear and tear.
With my second child, I actually invested in this Idaho Jones breast pump bag and love it! It not only holds my breast pump, but also has a separate spot for my laptop and notebook for my meetings. I only have to carry this one bag in and out of my appointments when I travel and it looks as good as it did the day I got it. I am now a huge advocator for investing a little bit of money if you plan on traveling a few times a month or more throughout your pumping journey.
What are some of your pumping tips for working moms on-the-go? Hop on over to my Instagram and let’s chat! I would love to hear your ideas!
