Pumping on The Go: A practical guide for mobile pumping
Many people picture pumping as a monotonous existence tethered to the wall, holding pump parts in both hands while milk slowly drips into a bottle. Doing this every day, and even multiple times a day is enough to make anyone go mad. What if we told you there was a different way?
For this blog post, we talked to Rachel Killorin Hemminger about her set up and routine for pumping on the go. Rachel is a first-time mother of a 4-month-old baby boy. She is doing a combination of pumping and breastfeeding around the clock.
Why do you pump on the go?
I am a new mom with an infant. I just transitioned back to work full-time and baby is now in daycare. My goal is to continue providing as much of my milk for my baby for as long as possible. I needed to figure out an easy, sustainable and low-stress method and set up for on-the-go pumping. It is also the middle of a very hot summer in Texas, and I need to keep the milk cold all day.
What equipment do you use?
I use a Spectra S2 Plus Hospital Strength Double Electric Breast Pump with a rechargeable 12 volt battery pack.
“I keep my Spectra pump in the front seat in a basket with the battery converter along with a small lunch box with freezer blocks to hold pump parts and milk until they could be transferred to the large cooler.”
What is your routine for pumping in the car during a work day?
○ Breastfeed baby in the morning at home before leaving for work.
○ Pack pump parts into car.
○ Drive to school or work while pumping. Each pumping session lasts anywhere from 10 minutes to 30+ minutes.
○ Breastfeed baby in car right before daycare drop off.
○ Pump in the car on way to destination.
○ While at work, pump in the car every 2 hours. (Total of ~ 3 sessions).
○ Wash pump parts thoroughly with soap and hot water after 1 to 2 pumping sessions max. Pump parts kept cold in between washes.
○ Pick up baby from daycare. Breastfeed in car.
○ Pump in the car on the way home.
○ Bring pump parts inside.
○ In the evening breastfeed on demand, pump between feeds and after baby goes to sleep.
○ Sanitize pump parts and let air dry, replace freezer blocks into freezer, clean inside of small lunchbox. Charge battery.
How did you keep your milk cold and the pump parts clean all day without access to a refrigerator?
I make sure I keep all the pump parts cold throughout the day so I did not need to sanitize them after each pumping session. I keep my Spectra pump in the front seat in a basket with the battery converter along with a small lunch box with freezer blocks to hold pump parts and milk until they could be transferred to the large cooler.
“I store my pumped milk in a hydroflask that I keep in a large cooler in back seat with a reflective cover over the top and 4 large freezer blocks inside. With this system, the milk and the pump parts stay cold all day and I never had to worry that it wouldn’t. “
I store my pumped milk in a hydroflask that I keep in a large cooler in back seat with a reflective cover over the top and 4 large freezer blocks inside. With this system, the milk and the pump parts stay cold all day and I never had to worry that it wouldn’t.
You’ve now been pumping on the go for several months. What are some things you’ve learned?
Pumping on-the-go is still a part-time job. It hasn’t been easy, but it is important to me, so I make it work and keet a positive attitude about it. I give myself a lot of grace trying to do so many things all at once, and still trying to provide the best nutrition for my baby. Although it does take a lot of effort, it becomes easier over time and with practice, it becomes a habit.
Like most new moms, we had a rocky start to our breastfeeding journey. Despite all the preparation and research I did beforehand, breastfeeding is a journey that does not follow a plan. We still have to supplement with formula, but I decided I was okay with that after a lot of personal reflection.
Once we began to establish more solids to his nutrition and were relying less on milk, I felt myself start to relax some and l was able to lessen the pressure I was putting on myself with breastfeeding, and with mothering in general.
Is there anything you’ve tried that didn’t work for you?
I tried both the Willow 3.0 pumps and Haaka. The Willow was not efficient at milk removal and the batteries die quickly. It is also VERY VERY finicky! It has to be cleaned THOROUGHLY after every use with vinegar water and shaken vigorously for one minute. It is not very reliable, and I found that the amount of milk the app claimed it was removing was inaccurate, sometimes vastly so! I also tried the Haaka but it did not remove my milk as efficiently as the Spectra. I am sure there are so many pumps out there are work very well, and these are the pumps that I initially purchased based on the information I had.
What are your tips for pumping on the go?
● If you are using this same set up with the Spectra S2 and battery converter, don’t forget to charge your battery pack fully so you don’t run out of charge in the middle of the day. If you do, it is handy to have the charger with you and find an outlet while you wait for it to charge.
●You absolutely have a right to pump whenever you need to. You are both your own and your baby’s advocate!!!
●Remember to use correct flange sizes- most pumps come with standard sizes, which are commonly too large for most women. My IBCLC recommended different sizes for each breast and I bought my parts on Amazon. Remember that pump parts have to be replaced ever so often to work to their max capabilities.
●Find a secure pumping bra (or hack a nursing bra) that fits and buy two of them. A good bra will make it so that you don’t have to continually readjust your pumps
●Wash your pump parts thoroughly after/before each pumping session or keep them cold until you get home. Then wash them thoroughly for the next day. I washed them one to two times during the day while I was working, and then kept them on ice until I got home. If you drop a part and are in a pinch, you could use pump wipes or a spray until your next wash.
●Pumping IS breastfeeding. Any amount of milk you are providing for your baby is beneficial. No one should tell you when to stop breastfeeding. That is something that has to be mutual between you and your baby.
●Have an IBCLC in your corner. If you can, schedule a consultation with them during your prenatal period to come up with a plan that will work best for you. In my case, my own personal research and preparation was insufficient, and I wish I would have scheduled sessions with her much sooner instead of after I was already experiencing difficulties.
●Use the system that works best for you! This is just one way to do it, I am sure you all have come up with some incredible pumping systems for on-the-go.
We would love to see your set ups- share them in the comments!
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