Breastfeeding While Traveling

You may wonder how it's even possible to breastfeed while traveling in certain situations, but there are ways to breastfeed while traveling. Even if you're shy about public breastfeeding, you can plan ahead so that you have breast milk with you and find private ways to breast pump.

Pump and go

Before your trip, have some pumped breast milk on hand in case you can't find a place where you feel comfortable nursing in public. You can do this by bringing frozen, stored breast milk with you, but just know that once it thaws you need to serve it.

You cannot refreeze it. So only bring what you will use in a short time frame. If you get to the point where you may have to dump it, you can always opt to give a bottle and pump to keep your breasts producing properly. Also don't bring any amount that would be devastating to lose. An airport security official could decide to confiscate it, so be prepared and have plans in case that happens.

Giving bottles of breast milk

You will want to store the breast milk cold in a cooler with ice packs, but you will need a way to warm it. There are bottle warmers that can be powered with a car charger. You can also take the bottle out of the cooler about a half-hour before a feeding, but it won't get warm. If you will fly, ask the flight attendant for a larger container and hot water. Do not give the bottle to the flight attendant to microwave, as that can lead to dangerous hot spots even if the bottle feels deceptively safe.

Don't be afraid to breastfeed

Women have the right to breastfeed anywhere they have the right to be, which means any public place. You might consider printing a copy of your breastfeeding rights (BabyTalk features a printable license to breastfeed card that is a great thing to bring along). You obviously can't breastfeed while on the road (babies must remain in car seats at all times), but you can breastfeed even at a rest stop.

If you're shy, do it in the car with a light blanket draped over your breast for privacy. You can do the same thing on a plane, but it might be a good idea to get two seats that include a window seat for the trip. That way, your husband can sit in the middle and you can have the privacy by the window seat. The same goes for a train ride.

Pumping along

You can even breast pump while you travel. Use the same blanket to conceal. Even if you will bring your super-powered massive breast pump with you, consider also buying a small manual pump. For one thing, you never know when you will have no access to a power outlet (and sometimes those battery packs and car chargers don't work). You also might have difficulty finding a place to put a large breast pump while on the go.

The last thing you want is to be engorged, without a way to pump and without the ability to breastfeed. A small manual pump, while it does not extract as much breast milk as its powerful counterparts, is a great emergency backup. It's also handy when you really need to pump and you're going down the highway at 65 miles per hour.

Breastfeeding-friendly accommodations

If you are breastfeeding and traveling, there is one amenity at a hotel that really is non-negotiable. You must have a small refrigerator. Unless you are sure you will only nurse and never pump or use expressed milk, you will need a place to keep your milk. Even if you bring a cooler, that ice pack is useless if you can't freeze it again later.

You also might consider a hotel with a small kitchenette that has its own sink for washing bottles and breast pump accessories. It isn't terribly fun, but is possible, doing it in a cramped hotel bathroom.

Traveling away from your baby

Sometimes, a breastfeeding mom must travel away from the baby, which has a whole different set of challenges. The best way to handle this is to plan well ahead of time, if possible, to pump enough milk that the caregiver will be able to continue using breastmilk. Bring your breast pump (both a manual handheld and a powered dual pump) with you on the trip, as well as a cooler, breast milk storage containers and ice packs.

You will need to keep the milk as cold as possible, as it can only be used for a short time and there isn't a realistic way to freeze it and keep it frozen during your travels. Even if you can't store it, be sure you pump and pump often even if you must dump the breast milk. One trip could destroy your breast milk supply, and pumping isn't as effective keeping that supply up as nursing is. So pump more than the number of times your baby nurses.

Breastfeeding while traveling

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