Pumping in the car - Cloth Diapers & Parenting Community

mommaroo2Lou · 03-09-2013, 12:59 PM

This summer I am going to doing an internship where I have to drive out to rural areas for half the day to do outreach among migrant farmworkers. DS will be 6 mos old and with daddy for 9-10 hrs. I am think I am going to have to pump while driving as some of the drives will be really long and its not like I can ask farmworkers if I can pump in their bathroom or something. What supplies should I get? Does the pumpease work well? other good brands? Ideas on ways to store the milk (it will be really hot sometimes)? any other tips? This will be my first time pumping for an infant for an extended period of time so I am worried there are things I am not thinking of. Thank you!

HotPotato1010 · 03-09-2013, 01:54 PM

I have an Ameda Purely Yours. It's a great pump, easy to use and clean the parts, assemble, etc. It has a strong suction. It came with a car adapter to plug it in my car. I used a hands-free bra which was essential. The only problem was that the pump was so good that it blew the fuse in my car.

Maybe go with a manual pump?...

For storage, it depends on how long the milk has to be out. The CDC gives some detailed guidelines HERE. I would get a cooler, some ice packs, and breastmilk storage bags. It's easier to keep the milk cold if it lays flat in a bag. You can lay the ice packs on top of the bags of milk.

MDever · 03-09-2013, 02:05 PM

Hands free pumping can be tricky depending on your breast size and shape. I have heard of several mamas doing it but I can't to save my life

You need a few trial runs to be sure.

KailuaMonkey · 03-09-2013, 02:46 PM

Any pump can work handsfree with a pumping bra. I have never tried it while actually driving but I have pulled over and pumped many times.

CASMama711 · 03-09-2013, 02:50 PM

I did it while my twins were in the NICU an hour away from our home. I pumped going to and from the hospital every day. For me, any double electric pump with a car adapter worked and I just pulled down my shirt over the flanges and zipped a snug fleece jacket around everything to hold it in place while I drove. I used Medela breast pump wipes to clean the parts after each use. You'll need a cooler with lots of ice packs in the summer. Be sure to store it on the floor of the car, out of the sunlight.

shortcake2386 · 03-09-2013, 03:17 PM

I pump and drive. I had to get a battery pack box my car plug couldn't handle the pump and the fuses got blown. I don't have a pumping bra. I just wear a nursing bra with shirt in top and use my left arm to hold the flanges in place. Easy peasy.

Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum

dncegrl · 03-09-2013, 03:26 PM

I pumped on my way to and from work. I didn't have a "pumping" bra..I just bought a clearance cotton sports bra and cut holes for the phalanges and they held in place. I wore a spaghetti strap so I could have easy access. I used a battery pack for pumping.

abunchoflemons · 03-09-2013, 03:47 PM

medela pump with car charger and cleaning wipes. I users insulated lunch box with ice packs.

carrollrj25 · 03-14-2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abunchoflemons

medela pump with car charger and cleaning wipes. I users insulated lunch box with ice packs.

This!!! I used to pump to and from work. It was great.

IowaGold · 03-09-2013, 07:40 PM

I pumped while driving several times a week for several months. I am large chested but had no problems with a handsfree bra. I used the Pumpin' Pals shields with my Medela PISA. I would get hooked up before I left then when I was done I'd unhook the tubing. Sometimes I'd undo everything other times I'd wait until I reached my destination. At first I'd wear a nursing cover but got over that really quick! I decided if someone cared to look, so be it (you really couldn't see much with the handsfree). I used a cooler and ice packs to keep the milk cool.

03-09-2013, 12:59 PM	#1
mommaroo2Lou Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 113 Ratings: 7 Feedback: 100%	Pumping in the car This summer I am going to doing an internship where I have to drive out to rural areas for half the day to do outreach among migrant farmworkers. DS will be 6 mos old and with daddy for 9-10 hrs. I am think I am going to have to pump while driving as some of the drives will be really long and its not like I can ask farmworkers if I can pump in their bathroom or something. What supplies should I get? Does the pumpease work well? other good brands? Ideas on ways to store the milk (it will be really hot sometimes)? any other tips? This will be my first time pumping for an infant for an extended period of time so I am worried there are things I am not thinking of. Thank you!

03-09-2013, 01:54 PM	#2
HotPotato1010 Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 162 Ratings: 3 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Pumping in the car I have an Ameda Purely Yours. It's a great pump, easy to use and clean the parts, assemble, etc. It has a strong suction. It came with a car adapter to plug it in my car. I used a hands-free bra which was essential. The only problem was that the pump was so good that it blew the fuse in my car. Maybe go with a manual pump?... For storage, it depends on how long the milk has to be out. The CDC gives some detailed guidelines HERE. I would get a cooler, some ice packs, and breastmilk storage bags. It's easier to keep the milk cold if it lays flat in a bag. You can lay the ice packs on top of the bags of milk. __________________ ~Nicole~ Mommy to Eva (7 years old!) Mommy to Olivia (5 years old!) Mommy to Giovanni (2 years old!)

03-09-2013, 02:05 PM	#3
MDever Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,873 Ratings: 37 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Pumping in the car Hands free pumping can be tricky depending on your breast size and shape. I have heard of several mamas doing it but I can't to save my life You need a few trial runs to be sure. __________________ Just in case.

03-09-2013, 02:46 PM	#4
KailuaMonkey Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2	Re: Pumping in the car Any pump can work handsfree with a pumping bra. I have never tried it while actually driving but I have pulled over and pumped many times.

03-09-2013, 02:50 PM	#5
CASMama711 Registered Users Formerly: chmom77 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,195 Ratings: 60 Feedback: 100%	Re: Pumping in the car I did it while my twins were in the NICU an hour away from our home. I pumped going to and from the hospital every day. For me, any double electric pump with a car adapter worked and I just pulled down my shirt over the flanges and zipped a snug fleece jacket around everything to hold it in place while I drove. I used Medela breast pump wipes to clean the parts after each use. You'll need a cooler with lots of ice packs in the summer. Be sure to store it on the floor of the car, out of the sunlight. __________________ Christian WOHMama to DD1 7/07 and twins DD2 and DS 11/11

03-09-2013, 03:17 PM	#6
shortcake2386 Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 26,069 Ratings: 924 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	I pump and drive. I had to get a battery pack box my car plug couldn't handle the pump and the fuses got blown. I don't have a pumping bra. I just wear a nursing bra with shirt in top and use my left arm to hold the flanges in place. Easy peasy. Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum __________________ JoAnna,wife to my first love Michael and SAHM to Mackenzie Grace(7 years), Makaela Lynn(5years),^^Meaghan Elise^^ born sleeping July 18, 2009. and Malakai Vincent(3 years) and Mackenna Kate(1year)and one DOG NEW trainer testers MotherGoose Designs ETSY store "Green co-ops" shoeszoos, diapers,squeeze pops

03-09-2013, 03:26 PM	#7
dncegrl Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,723 Ratings: 38 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	I pumped on my way to and from work. I didn't have a "pumping" bra..I just bought a clearance cotton sports bra and cut holes for the phalanges and they held in place. I wore a spaghetti strap so I could have easy access. I used a battery pack for pumping.

03-09-2013, 03:47 PM	#8
abunchoflemons Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: usa Posts: 15,301 Ratings: 63 Feedback: 100%	Re: Pumping in the car medela pump with car charger and cleaning wipes. I users insulated lunch box with ice packs. __________________ Join me making money doing the following: shopkick, Swagbucks, fronto unlock screen , Perk and Perk unlock screen, receipthog,1Q, Free Eats, panel app, qmee, bzzagent, slidejoy unlock screen, smiley360, adme unlock screen, Rewardrack, Snap by Groupon, reviewsio, swaggable, checkpoints referral name: jmnhuisman, pinchme referral code: 54K7J, lootpalace, shopalong , drizzle sms - clock, yerdle, send Earnings, yaarlo referral code JESSA398, ibotta, BrowseU, survey cow unlock referral code is8513604729

03-09-2013, 07:40 PM	#10
IowaGold Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 119	I pumped while driving several times a week for several months. I am large chested but had no problems with a handsfree bra. I used the Pumpin' Pals shields with my Medela PISA. I would get hooked up before I left then when I was done I'd unhook the tubing. Sometimes I'd undo everything other times I'd wait until I reached my destination. At first I'd wear a nursing cover but got over that really quick! I decided if someone cared to look, so be it (you really couldn't see much with the handsfree). I used a cooler and ice packs to keep the milk cool.

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