pumping in the car

[annaconda]

I'm second week back to work and have four presentations in my first 3 weeks... some 2 hours away. So I've had to pump in the car. I've even pumped while driving, which isn't great but its just a must for me right now. My Lo eats a ton and to keep up with him I need to pump every 2-2.5 hrs especially in the morning when my milk is flowing well.

I now travel with a cooler to keep the "guns" cool along with the milk as I can't rake them until a clients' to wash.

It's so hard! Yesterday I spilled some on my pants, forgot the caps... argh.

Does anyone have any experience wih this?

Anyone have any thoughts as to when the 3mo who eats every 2 hrs will space things out?
Thanks!

[JulieInChicago]

I drive and pump all the time.  I travel a lot for work and after a 4 hour flight, I need to pump the minute I get in that rental car.  Usually I'm handing my paperwork to the guard to get out of the rental lot with my pump going!  I use a nursing cover.

My routine is to put the milk caps in the door handle or in the change cup.  I put the pump in the center console and use a hands-free pumping bra.  I put a nursing cover over the whole operation.  When I'm done, I detach the horns from the tubing, leaving them hang from the bra.  I remove them one at a time and carefully unscrew the bottles, then cap them.  I deal with packing stuff away and cleaning up once I'm at my destination.  I have a Purely Yours Ultra that runs on batteries.  I also got some Medela Quick Clean wipes as a gift that I use to wipe down the horns once I'm at the destination, so that I don't have to chill the horns.

I know it's not the safest, but if I didn't have my job, my baby would be homeless!

[hildare]

i was intimidated by doing this but then read of other mamas doing it, so i did it in the mornings on a long commute. 

i didn't have the hands free bra, which sounds awesome, but i did use the rubber band trick. 

you could try a mock session if you go the same way every day.  what i tended to do was time it so that removal of the horns happened at a 4 way stop (this was a country drive) and then put the bottles with horns attached in the cup holder and then at the next stop screwed the lids on and put them into the open cooler. 

about the babe:  are you night nursing?  my babe reverse cycled pretty quickly after i started working again, which really reduced the amount i had to pump. 

[annaconda]

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone! This is one of the parts of being a new mom I didn't anticipate that's for sure! I do have a pumpease hands free tube top - I'm much too large for the rubber band trick. I'm absolutely going to look into the wipes!! I worry about cleaning the horns.

It sounds like I will get more used to it in time. I am happy to say that for at least a few weeks after the presentations are done I don't have to travel more than 1x a week for a bit. When I'm not traveling I'm working from home and have the luxury of pumping whenever and storing the horns in the fridge! Those days are sweet and I get good output.

The pumpease garment has been excellent even for an I cup like me!

[annaconda]

Oh and night nursing... I do 1x a night. Babe is in his crib. Id rather pump all day and keep my sleep at night! I can't function with any less sleep... we don't co sleep. Babe is in his crib in another room which has made all of us sleep really well. I am actually thankful he hasn't caught on to reverse cycling yet Omg I just slept 6 straight hours last night which was the most sleep I've gotten straight in over 5 months, counting the end of pregnancy.

[woodsymom]

You're not alone! I pump both morning & evening commutes and my lunch breaks in my car (Mon-Friday). My DD will be a year in a week and a half. Over the course of a year you figure out little tricks to make it quicker / easier / cleaner,etc. There will be days of spilled milk, stained work blouses, "Oh @#$% I forgot _____!". You get the picture. There have been so many days where I've thought: I've got to be the only mama out there doing this. So thank you for posting this. It makes me feel so much better.

Just think what an amazing thing you are doing for your little one. Fantastic job Mama!! It gets easier, you figure it out.

[lsmama]

Thanks for posting this.  I will likely begin pumping in the car next week.  Question:  How long do you pump for?  My commute is about 15 mins, and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it.  I am a teacher, so it would definitely save me time once I get to school.  Thanks!

[annaconda]

If you have 15 minutes, you could pump just remember it takes time to hook yourself up and put it all away. Also, once I rear ended my mil's car because I was all wrapped up in getting myself set up and I backed up without looking.

It has gotten a bit easier for me. The best thing I can do is not look down! I'm so concerned with my output that its hard not to look. I also have to tip forward so my milk drops down.