How Can I Manage a Fly-out Interview While Still Breastfeeding?

A.
Good luck a the interview. I would bring an Isis(advent) hand pump. You will be able to use the restroom at some point. Unless your little one nurse more then 4 times in an 8 hour time you will be ok. Pack the pump like it is part of your snack/ lunch bag. Or get a really large tote/ backpack and put every thing you need in it laptop, makeup, snacks, pump, IDs there are very stylish ones out there.
Good Luck and enjoy your time.
J.

I just got back from one night away from my 16 month old. I think the key is to figure out what your normal nursing/pumping schedule is.

I normally nurse at morning nap, afternoon nap, bedtime and throughout the night. I forgot my pump, and ended up buying one on the road because I got too full and uncomfortable. I tried hand expressing at night and twice in the morning, but it wasn't nearly as effective.

So figure out how often you nurse/pump. Use that as a guide, but you should be able to stretch the time between pumpings during the interview. Or even skip one nursing/pumping session all together. Just pump right before and wear pads. Also be prepared just in case you start filling the breast pads during the interview. Just think about it ahead of time and prepare to act normal, even if you feel your milk coming in:)

P.S. kellymom.com is a great resource for breastfeeding

Hi - good luck on the interview. I'm sure you'll ROCK. As for breastfeeding - bring your pump - and be sure you have the 'battery pack' - you can pump in the bathroom if you can't find an outlet. I know -ick! but it would work (or you could hand express). When I travel for work, I remove the pump from the medela bag and just travel w/ the pump motor it saves a ton of space. If you are going to dump the milk, you only need two bottles - which will also save on space. If your daughter doesn't like bottles, the good thing about 17 months is they can drink from a cup --- don't fret - it will go great! I expect you to post again once you get the job :)

I think you'll be fine through your interview. Does your child sleep through the night? If so, your body is already used to going for a long period without nursing. I'm still breastfeeding my 9 month old, and some days I'm gone for work from like noon until 10:30 at night and usually she doesn't wake up to nurse until the next morning. I don't even pump. My breasts are very full at that point, but it's no big deal. If you pump even twice a day, I think you'll be fine. At the age your child is, this shouldn't be a problem. It would be much different during that first month or two...

Hi A.,
I travel a lot with work and just got back from a 4 day trip away from my 9-month old. I was worried about how I would get through it, but I managed to pump and save all my milk. You can do this. I couldn't maintain my "normal" nursing/pump schedual because I had to wait for breaks in the meeting, but I just pumped when I could during the day and first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Don't worry about getting through the interview. If you can, pump in the bathroom, or ask the interviewer if you can use a private room to pump (most women, and even some men, are very understanding about breastfeeding and will be happy to accomodate your needs). I pumped in the airport bathroom and in the hotel bathroom because I had checked out. Most hotels will lend you a refrigerator to save your milk in if you ask. You can also bring gel packs and breastmilk on your carry-on bags (check with the airline first and be sure to claim it before you go through security). I brought 50+ oz. on the plane with me and they didn't bat an eye.
Relax, you will get through this and afterward wonder why you were so worried. I know it feels awkward now, but breastfeeding is natural and you should be proud of your accomplishment. Congradulations on nursing this long and good luck on the interview.

I suggest the following two websites for information that is very nursing-mom-and-baby-friendly...

They both have forums where you can get some excellent suggestions...

http://www.kellymom.com/

http://forums.llli.org/index.php

Best wishes,
J.

At 17 mos if your son is super attached to the comforts of breastfeeding he may not take a bottle of pumped milk? My son refused anything but me at that stage of the game. I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news but from personal experience my boy was too set in his way to do anything different. Things that did work for my hubby were doing new "fun" daddy baby things to preoccupy him to dissuade the separation anxiety. They ate baby's favorite foods and stayed busy. As for me, and the breast pumping, well I did take it with me and did alleviate the pressure, but like I said my son was not having anything to do with that "bottle" business. We also did try to preemptive adjust to bottles but that was miserable and went through every type of bottle on the market and it just didn't work! Again my point is not to concern you, rather inform you that after all that worrying! My son and hubby managed to get through the time apart from Mommy with a few glitches, but did better than I anticipated! So will your son! They are resilient and he will miss you but he will be ok!

YOu can do it..pump whenever u can. Last time when i Flew back I was too late to catch my flight let alone pump. U know what I did I pumped right in my seat in an air flight. I had no nerve to take the pump to lavotary and then give that milk to my baby.

You will work it out.

Have a safe trip!

V.

Start practicing hand expressing your breast milk. It really does work. I'm sure you'll get time away during the interview, so do it then. This will take the added pressure off of your breasts. Keep doing it every hour or so and you should be fine.

Bring the pump with for a really big expression prior to and after going to the meeting.

Good luck...keep nursing!

At 17 month I'm sure your little one is eating solids and drinking from a sippy cup so I wouldn't be concerned about that at all. He won't starve and seriously I don't think he will even miss it as long as you aren't around. Mine could care less about nursing and is a happy camper with regular food until mommy shows up with the good stuff and he can't resist.

As far as the interview goes...I'm sure that they will give you some breaks from time to time during that 8 hour period...I would take a hand held pump in a large purse and when you get a chance go to the bathroom to pump and dump. That way you aren't in misery the whole time and risk leaking during your interview.

I too think you should be able to make it through the 8 hour interview without problems. As long as you pump beforehand. Wear nursing pads if you are worried about any leaking. You will be full when the day is done, so after interview you will be ready to pump again.
I just spent 2 full days and nights away from my 10 month old, and I only needed to pump 4 times while I was away.
Good luck with your interview!

I will start by saying that I would worry much more about YOU than about your boy. Yes, he will miss you, but he'll be just fine without nursing for a couple days. I say this from experience w/ traveling from my 18 month son who was at the same stage.

Ok now to YOU. You need to pump and I suggest pumping and dumping for convenience (flying with EBM is a pain, and not necessary for an older baby). You can probably get away with just doing it once about half way through.

Honestly, I would contact whoever is organizing the interview ahead of time (frequently this is an administrative assistant or some other sympathetic mom) and explain to them that you have a young child at home you're still nursing and that you'll need to take a break mid-day to pump. I have had tremendously good luck with this tactic - much better luck than just trying to covertly pump, which is the other obvious choice. The couple times I have asked about pumping I have had a nice room given to me and no questions asked (other than to see cute baby pictures). Then when I needed to pump i simply excused myself for 15 minutes and did what I needed to do. The times that I have just tried to grin and bear it I find myself hunting around for a suitable bathroom, sitting on the floor, and being annoyed.

As for the flight, I would just try and pump in the airport - there you'll be stuck with the bathroom stall and it sucks. When I did this I made sure I had my hand pump in case there was no electrical outlet (there wasn't).

oh my gosh, don't try to go 8 hrs without pumping! You will just be uncomfortable--it isn't good for you, your supply or the outcome of your interview. It might cause a few minutes awkwardness, but just pump and dump in the bathroom at lunchtime. And if you are carrying a pump-in -style type backpack the only people who will know will be other moms. Good luck!

I would think that at this age you could get away with either not pumping during the 8 hours of the interview - or use an Isis handpump in the restroom (pump and dump) in the middle of the day or as time permits. I've also hand-expressed a bit of milk in the bathroom to relieve some of the pressure and prevent leaking in a similar type of situation. Good luck!