A Guide to Pumping While Traveling

This post is sponsored by Pumps for Mom. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Picture this – the summer months are approaching and you find yourself daydreaming about a tropical vacation. Just you – beautiful weather – and a cold drink in hand. Just as you close your eyes to visualize this breathtaking trip, your alarm suddenly goes off reminding you that it’s time to pump. Reality sets back in and now you find yourself wondering how this trip is even possible when you’re a pumping mom.

I vividly remember the first trip TJ and I took as new parents. It was a quick over-nighter that was only two hours away. As exhausted new parents, I knew we desperately needed the time alone but I couldn’t help but worry how this trip would be possible with my need to pump every 2-3 hours. I put my worries aside, packed my bags and breast pump, and headed out for our trip. It wasn’t until after we arrived (with fully engorged breast) that I realized I had left one of the pumping valves at home.

Fast forward an hour later – TJ returns back to the hotel room with a replacement valve after desperately driving around the city. I quickly finish setting up, position the flanges into my bra, reach for the adapter and find myself sitting in complete silence. It was missing. Yes – I in fact forgot to pack that too. I’ll spare you the painful details, but know TJ spent another two hours driving from store to store trying to find an AC Adapter just to return empty handed. This meant I was unable to pump. While this may seem like an isolated series of unfortunate events, our second trip away was an eerily similar repeat of the first. Needless to say, I’ve learned a lot along the way and thought I’d share my top five tips for traveling while pumping to help others avoid the same mistakes I made.

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1. Choose the Right Breast Pump to Travel With

If you don’t already own a breast pump, I highly recommend getting one that is travel friendly. This means:

• Light weight
• Portable
• Preferably cordless (but this isn’t a must)

I recently received the Lansinoh Smartpump 2.0 Deluxe Double Electric Pump from Pumps for Mom which is perfect for travel. What I love most is how compact the pump itself is. I’ve tried several pumps during my breast feeding journey and this one by far is the smallest double electric pump that I’ve owned. I also love that it connects to an app which tracks when I last pumped, the duration of the pumping session and the ounces pumped per breast. You can even track your daily water intake, the last time you breastfed and the duration of the session, diaper changes and bottle feeding. How cool, right? The pump is extremely quiet and the best part – it can operate on batteries which is perfect for pumping on a plane or the backseat of a car!

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, breast pumps are now covered under most health insurance policies for free. Pumps For Mom supplies new and expectant mothers with the highest quality compression garments and breast pumps from top brands through health insurance. They’re associated with Neb Doctors, which is a specialized Durable Medical Equipment (DME) company that sells the highest quality Breast Pumps, Nebulizers, Maternity Compression Garments, and Phototherapy. Their simple order form helps moms immediately see which breast pumps they’re eligible for through their insurance, so there are no hidden fees or long waits while a representative calls you back.

The process to obtain a pump is simple:

1. Provide your email address, the state your insurance is issued and your primary insurance name.
2. Choose from the available breast pumps covered by your insurance.
3. Provide your required contact and insurance information.
4. Pumps For Mom will verify your order, prescription and insurance coverage.
5. A maternity intake specialist will contact you to discuss your product selection and confirm your shipping information.
6. The breast pump will be shipped to your door free of charge!

2. Make a Checklist of All Pumping Supplies Needed

Breast pumps come with many parts – both big and small. It’s those smaller parts that are easy to overlook and accidentally leave behind. I recommend making a checklist of all the parts needed for your breast pump and referring to this list any time you travel. Be sure to include non-pump related items on the list as well (ie: breast milk bags, ice packs, permanent marker, cleaning supplies, resealable bag for pump parts (this one is super cute), cooler, pumping bra, pumping cover).

3. If Flying, Review TSA Guidelines

Although this can be a tedious step, I promise it will save you so much stress while at the airport. Knowing what you can (and can’t) bring ahead of time is always helpful. You can find the latest TSA guideline which outlines their breastmilk policy here (as of June 2021).

Pro-Tip: Never check your breast pump, even for a short flight. You never know if the flight will be delayed, which will require you to pump at the airport.

4. Request a Refrigerator For Your Hotel Room

I learned the hard way that not all hotel rooms come with a mini fridge. Even worse – if you don’t request one ahead of time, you run the risk of either a) a fridge not being available or b) waiting for one to be delivered (which also takes time to get cool). Be sure to call ahead and request a fridge to safely store your freshly pumped breast milk. If you’re curious, I’ve never had an extra fee tacked on for requesting a fridge, but it could be because I always inform the front desk that it’s to store my breastmilk, which is technically a medical need.

Pro-tip: Request that the mini fridge be cold when you arrive.

5. Have Supplies Ready To Transport Milk Home

Having the right supplies on hand will make transporting milk back home a breeze. This can be done through icepacks, or my personal favorite, dry ice, along with a breast milk cooler. You can choose to fly or drive with the milk, or have it shipped to your home.

If flying – I strongly recommend printing out the TSA guidelines and having them on hand in case any breast milk related questions arise. These guidelines currently do not define how much breast milk you can carry on, and rather state “a reasonable amount.” Unfortunately, this leaves room for interpretation amongst TSA officers. If you have a significant amount of breast milk from your trip, I suggest either checking it or having it shipped to avoid any milk from being discarded. Milk Stork is a great option for shipping fresh and frozen breast milk.

If driving – be sure to pack enough icepacks or dry ice for the duration of your trip. Also, refrain from opening the cooler if/when possible so that the milk inside remains as cold as possible.

I hope these tips leave you feeling better prepared to take on a trip as a pumping mom! As a reminder, be sure to check out Pumps For Mom to get your high-quality breast pump for free through your insurance! 

Happy traveling, mama!

Xo,