Worried :(

[@llli*me5410]

Ok, So I'm terribly worried that I wont be able to pump milk when I return back to work. My job is completely mobile (car, where we go to the client) and most locations we travel to do not even have a restroom (farms, stables, etc.), plus there are no "breaks" besides the travel time in the car while the other employee is driving, and the random fast food restaurant/gas station for restroom break. Any suggestions about when/where I can pump? What if there is no answer, will I still be able to produce enough milk to breastfeed while home and or stock up? Our hours are give and take, sometimes days are only 4 hours long while others are 10-12 hours (obviously, I'm most worried about the long days). I really was planning on breastfeeding/pumping at least for a year but not sure if it will be possible with my job. Please help.

[@llli*kst.7399]

Pump in the car! Most pumps have cigarette lighter hook ups. Some moms even pump while they drive. If you are modest about someone being there, you can cover up. Or when you are at a location take a few minutes break before you head out on the road again. I have pumped in the car before and while it's not ideal it's not the worst place.

[@llli*jenna562]

I would pump in the car with a nursing cover. I have done it hundreds of times and when being super modest, I use a nursing cover and sit in the back seat.

[@llli*aprilsmagic]

I had a job very very like that when I had my first baby. I was a field veterinarian for the government. And had I not had to travel out of state 2-3 weeks out of every month, I'd still be doing that job, as car pumping is super easy Hands free bra and a cover. Car adapter to run the pump. If you aren't driving, even better, as you can do proper compressions. If you are driving, maybe see if you can plan a break when it's time to pump so you can spend a fees minutes parked and doing some compressions to completely empty your breasts. Studies have shown that moms who rely on just the suction of the pump have a much lower supply than ones who help the pump.

Plan to pump about every 2-3 hours. More often is better than going longer (the only exception is the EPing mother who has worked to maybe only need to pump 3-4 times in 24 hours). An empty breast makes more than a full breast. Keep your horns in a cooler with an ice pack, and you should be good to go.

[@llli*MagnoliaHoney]

I have never and will never pump in a bathroom.

BUT, car pumping, LOVE it! I mean as much as you can love pumping. lol

Personally car pumping was always my favorite, cause it's not like there is much else you can do while in the car, so it always felt like even if I was JUST in the car, and JUST pumping I was multitasking, I was getting from A to B and would have milk when I got to B!

My suggestion, get at least 2 car adapters for the pump, the wires break easily, and you don't want to be out and about while one is broke, so always have a back up. If you buy from babies R Us you can take the broken one back and get a replacement, but at least in the meantime you aren't high and dry. I had to replace mine quite a few times, but any way, they were always better for me then the battery pack, unless I had fresh batteries it never worked as well as the wall adapter or car adapter, and the batteries would run low fast!

I would set up a pumping station in the backseat. Put your snacks, water, pump, any paper work you need to work on all in the back seat, you can buy car organizers to help you even organize all this stuff back there for you.

Bring a cooler, with refreezeable ice packs for the milk, you will more then likely need a bigger cooler bag then what your pump comes with, at least I always did.

As was said if you are worried about modesty just put on a nursing cover, towel or blanket over you and the pump parts attached to your body, they won't see anything, with practice you will get good at it and your co-worker will probably start to barely even notice what you are doing...

[@llli*pizanite]

Are you concerned about pumping in front of the other employee? Or how you should bring it up? Maybe we can help brainstorm some ideas about that.

[@llli*worknpump]

I also pumped in the car while driving and it saved SO MUCH TIME! Just get in the car, get your pump set up (using a hands-free pumping bra, my favorite was the Simple Wishes), put on a nursing cover, strap on your seatbelt, and off you go. I actually think it allowed me to pump more milk because A) I wasn't sitting there watching the milk come out and B) I would end up pumping for a longer period of time than I would have if I was just sitting there in an empty office or room or something.