How to pump breast milk on the go?

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Feb 26, 2014

you need an electric pump and a hands free pumping bra so you can pump while you are driving, or at least while you are sitting in the car. Or you can try this kellymom trick to turn a normal nursing bra into a hands free bra: Hands-free pumping : KellyMom

A cooler with plenty of ice packs should be sufficient to keep your milk cool. I would keep a big water bottle in the car and rinse your supplies between uses. Unless your baby is immunocompromised I wouldn't worry about thorough cleaning during the day- just rinse between uses and then clean it thoroughly at the end of the day.

Good luck!

kiszi, RN · Mar 1, 2014

Second the above, possible to pump and drive with an electric. Or factor in a couple of breaks to sit in a parking lot. I got pretty good at hooking up and staying covered. A small cooler with ice packs works well, remember breastmilk has antimicrobial properties and doesn't spoil that quickly. I wiped out my equipment between uses and washed everything at home. My daughter is now 2 and very healthy! :)

ilikesharpthings · Mar 1, 2014

I work med surg, but I bought 3 sets of pump parts so I just put them in a ziplock bag after each pumping session and use clean ones for the next time. Then I throw everything in the sink and wash when I get home. Saves lots of time.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Mar 3, 2014

I work med surg, but I bought 3 sets of pump parts so I just put them in a ziplock bag after each pumping session and use clean ones for the next time. Then I throw everything in the sink and wash when I get home. Saves lots of time.

This is what I did as well -- plenty of "horns" and plenty of bottles, and just use clean supplies each time. Use a cooler with plenty of ice-packs. You might also want to store the cooler in your trunk or somewhere so it is not visible. It probably wouldn't hurt to put a "biohazard" label on it, too. (Don't want people to think you're carrying drugs, and break into your vehicle to steal the cooler's contents.)

kgkarl · Mar 3, 2014

I work in a hospital setting, but pump en route to work. I use a hands free bra with a nursing cover on top. I also have a few sets of horns and enough bottles for my pump sessions. I don't rinse or wash until I get home. I have a car charger for my pump. I have a larger lunch box to store the bottles and horns in. There is enough too for ice packs if I am not near a fridge (like when I attend classes or conferences away from work)