So, yeah, pumpin'.

[ProtoLawyer]

I have a conference in a couple of weeks. I have to go. It's local and during business hours, so it won't take me away from home (any more than usual)...BUT.

How do you pump when you're away from your workspace? I will be taking transit, so I will not have a car, nor will I be able to go and nurse during the breaks. I'm assuming that this will be typical conference hall setup, with huge meeting rooms and restrooms but nothing private and no guarantee of an electrical outlet. I have a years-old Pump in Style that, despite how it was advertised, is neither stylish nor discreet.

I also will not have refrigeration, but can take a cooler bag and ice pack.

If you were in my situation, what would you do? I would rather not buy a hand pump at this point, nor do I want to pump in the bathroom, but that's looking likely--what would you do?

(OH: My son's 9 months old, and my supply's still good and seems unaffected if I space pumping out a bit.)

Oh, part II: My (male, 50-something, understanding-to-a-point-but-I-don't-want-to-discuss-this-with-him) BOSS is now attending. Spectacular.

Edited by ProtoLawyer - 4/21/11 at 11:28am

[Super~Single~Mama]

Do you know where it is?  Can you call ahead and ask if they have any ideas for space to use for pumping?  I would try that, it may feel a bit embarrassing, but most places are used to far stranger questions than if they have a private place to pump.

A small cooler and ice pack should be fine to keep the milk for the day.

[PatioGardener]

I'd contact the conf. organizers and let them know you are a bfing mom who needs a place to pump. Tell them your requirements - you may be pleasantly surprised! I was - conference centre gave me a small empty room w a chair and outlet. I bring my own "mom pumping please knock and wait before entering" sign for the door

[LittleBirdy]

I second calling ahead if you know the location.  You should be able to totally by-pass your boss and just work directly with the staff where the event is being held.

If I were in your shoes, I would focus (as you seem to be) on just pumping for your comfort rather than worrying about getting enough milk for the next day or your supply or anything like that.  At 9 months one day of weird pumping isn't going to screw anything up supply wise.  If I absolutely have to I can nurse DS at 6 a.m., pump at noon, and nurse him again at 6 p.m. and just barely squeak by - it's uncomfortable but tolerable.  (Yesterday I missed my afternoon pumping session and went from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. O-U-C-H.)

The PIS has a battery adapter you can buy, if it makes it easier - then you just need to find a private place, no need for an eletrical outlet.

The conference isn't in or near a hotel is it?  Could you get a room?  Huge waste of money I know, but just throwing the idea out there.

[ProtoLawyer]

I've called the venue and they've got jack diddly squat (even though this is a common request, apparently). They recommended me getting a room at the adjacent hotel, too, which would be in the $150 range...not worth it. I might talk to the hotel, though, and see if they can put me somewhere.  If worse comes to worse, I can manually express what I need to to feel comfortable, and use frozen milk at day care the next day (we've got about a week's worth).

I wasn't planning on involving my boss in this at all, but I just put that out there that it's one more bit of weirdness.

[justKate]

Well the boss thing is sucky because if you escape to the bathroom they're going to be like, where's Proto?  Ugh.  Are any coworkers going, or is it a CLE type thing?

I would probably, at a minimum, get a hand pump or take your PIS and try to pump for a couple of minutes, even if it's in the bathroom. Even if you pump and dump so that you don't have to deal with the refrigeration thing. I would have been miserable trying to go all day and was never good at hand expressing.

[ProtoLawyer]

It's a state bar CLE conference with breakout sessions, so the good news is I won't be with my boss the whole time, and there are copious breaks to "visit with the vendors" (which, since I have no purchasing authority, I might make a quick pass through the exhibit hall to get some free stuff but that's it). No other co-workers are going.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I might have that weird hand pump that came in a pump parts kit...I'll have to look for it this weekend. IIRC, it's just a plastic sleeve, so I could easily slip it into my briefcase.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by ProtoLawyer 

Now that I'm thinking about it, I might have that weird hand pump that came in a pump parts kit...I'll have to look for it this weekend. IIRC, it's just a plastic sleeve, so I could easily slip it into my briefcase.

That's probably what I would do. But it is stressful.  I get anxious about that sort of thing. 

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by ProtoLawyer 

 I might talk to the hotel, though, and see if they can put me somewhere.

I would call them and ask.  They might have a "private" bathroom - you know the ones that only have one toilet in them?  It's worth a shot.

[hakeber]

(edited to remove stupid comment about pumping in the car...note to self: read more carefully)

I bet you could use the non-guest bathroom at the hotel next door, they almost always have an outlet.  Most bathrooms do too.  Maybe bring an extension cord and you can just use a stall in the ladies room at the conference center.  That is what I do at work now...because we have a two stalled ladies room and no pumping room.  I plug in the extension cord to the outlet at the sink, and then I drape into the nearest stall and pump and mark papers during my lunch break.  Then I pop them in the fridge.

For storage, if there is a cold drinks machine...I know this sounds weird, but I did it once on vacation and no one ever knew, or anyway no one said anything.  I stored a bottle of my milk in the drop down drawer of the soda vending machine where it was super cool (because I wanted to have a few cocktails that night with my friends and so I pumped some milk for DH to give DD, but there was no fridge in the room, so we slipped the bottles into the sides of the machine....do you know what I mean?  The soda machines that have the wide spring based flap across the bottom to reach into?).  Kept it cool over night and into the a.m.  I bet that would work and then you could bring it home...I mean you could pump and dump but MAN does that ever break my heart!  Also you could ask if there is a cafe or the like there, a snack bar or whatever, they might have a fridge you could use.

I bet if you pump for ten minutes during the coffee breaks and for half the lunch break you'll be fine.  It's what I do when I have to go away for training courses.

[Altair]

When I've been at conferences and such and couldn't find a room (even when you get there, ask again, someone kind may just lend you their own personal space) I've used the bathroom many times.  I find a spot on the area where women primp (you know, the long countertop part) or just use a space near the sinks-- whereever there is an outlet.  I always brought my PIS with the cooler bag in it.  I put down a ton of paper towels under my whole set up, used the cooler bag to set up the bottles, wore a cardigan that could be turned around backwards so I was not showing everyone everything, and pumped like that.  Brought my phone to browse or even some reading, and always looked people in the eye and smiled.  Got 99% good comments.  I've had to do this in airports numerous times too and have just been really careful about germs with lots of paper towels and those pump wipes I normally don't use.  And if it's a really busy work day, then I just do it quick to relieve being uncomfortable without getting a normal big amount. 

[BeautyforAshes]

I was at a conference that was held in a hotel, so I just went to the desk to ask if they had an empty guest room I could use, and they were fine with that.  I'm not sure if the hotel next door would be the same, but it couldn't hurt to ask, I guess.

[ProtoLawyer]

I found my hand pump (it's that plunger thingy that comes with some Medela pump kits) and tried it out at home this weekend. Wholly uncomfortable, but manageable, and I won't have to haul around the PiS or find an outlet. I will carry a small insulated pack in my briefcase (though will likely not get enough for the whole day at day care) and hopefully, that will be that.

[JudiAU]

The Medela is has a battery pack option but I do not recommend using reusable batteries. You could use that in a bathroom stall. I always carry a hand pump now even though I never use it because the one time I really needed it the reusable batteries failed. Awful day.

I'd drive a car if I had a choice because it would give you a semi-private space and you could use the car adapter. I've done this many times and it was fine.

Short of that, I'd contact HR at the host site and ask them for suggestions. I've also used collegues offices.

The American Airlines terminal at LAX has a private "nursery" and I've used that for pumping so many times I have the code written inside my pump.

Sometimes you can find a private/handicapped/family restroom that is easy to use. I've had good luck at universities.

[Anna Phor]

Rather than calling the venue directly, I recommend emailing or calling the meeting planner. Whoever is in charge of doing registration for the conference, especially if they have a number/email for people with disabilities to request accommodations. Tell them you are a nursing mother and that you would like their help in locating a place to pump. Give them details--how often/how long will you need it for, that you need a locking door and a power outlet. I've had great success with this approach in the past, for at least 2 or 3 conferences that I've attended. Often the meeting planners have more clout with the hotel because they are repeat customers.

Also, if your ice pack is frozen at the beginning of the day & you are in conference rooms, the milk will be fine. I don't think you'll need further refrigeration.

good luck!