Pumping while on travel

[Anonymous]

Have an 8 month old that I am nursing and will be heading out on a 5 day work trip. I've been away on a couple shorter trips (~2 days) since having her and with my first DC, but this is the longest I'll have been away. Plus I have to fly. I'm planning to pump and dump the day I arrive but then will save the rest to bring home. I guess I'm just looking for some tips or wondering if there is anything I'm forgetting? I have a cooler bag and ice, got some lectithin to ward off any clogged ducts (don't get them often but I've just heard this helps when exclusively pumping). I'm a bit undecided which pump to bring- I have a Spectra S2 (that I use at work) plus a Medela Freestyle (for occasional use at home). The Freestyle is smaller and would be easier to stash in my carry on, whereas the Spectra is probably a bit more efficient. However I'd probably have to pack the Spectra in my checked bag, in which case I'd probably want to get a manual pump as a backup option in my carry on. I'm leaning towards just taking the Freestlye, but wondering if anyone has used this on an extended trip before?

[Anonymous]

I pumped for a 3 day trip when baby was 3 months old. Some tips:
1. car adapter for pump if going to be in the car a lot
2. lots of pumping bags and maybe an extra bottle to pump into JUST IN CASE (and can transfer to ziplock bags)
3. TRAVEL pump- baby bella on amazon was life saver
4. check out pumping rooms at airports (super helpful)
5. freezer packs (can also get ice on airplane/airports)
6. look into Milk Stork to see if it makes sense (most companies will pay for this)
7. consider whether freezing or just refrigerating the milk makes more sense. if freezing, combine bags into largest amount (i.e. if bag can hold 6 oz fill it up to 6 oz) because the more milk the longer it will take to defrost
8. call hotel ahead of time to have fridge in your room
9. know all the rules (you probably do by now)
10. check out Taking carababies on instagram - somewhere on there is travel tips

good luck!

[Anonymous]

I traveled aboard for two weeks when mine was 7 months. I got the Spectra S1 with batteries so I did not have to worry about plugging it in planes. The conference was on the same hotel so I could easily bump during beaks in my hotel room. Only kept milk for the last 5 days. The hotel was nice enough to freeze my ice pack on the last day. I packed the milk with ice on my checked luggage in a sealed bag.