Pumping While Driving

Breastfeeding and Lactation
Written By Leva App

By Jasna Cameron

This one was one of those funny moments when the generational gap between my mother and me seemed wider than ever before. Add my grandmother to the mix, who could not even grasp the problem I am about to write about, and it may seem like we were from different planets. And for her day, my grandmother was current; she was one helluva driver back in her day when not many women sat behind the wheel. My mother was also very comfortable driving around with half a dozen kids piled up in the back of her sedan before kids' car seats were even a thing. She had a bunch of tricks up her sleeve on how to keep everyone still.

But when I went back to work, leaving my 5-month-old daughter in their care, I raised the issue of how to manage breast milk pumping while driving between my meetings. You should have seen their blank faces. After much thought, my mother’s only comment was: “Is that even legal? 

Some things will never change. Every mother from every corner of the globe and across all ages wants the best care for her baby. But some things change with time, and I guess the modern era brought in a few new challenges for breastfeeding moms.

One of those new-age problems for breastfeeding moms is how to manage expressing while driving.

Why would you express milk while driving?

As a new mom with an infant to care for, you probably have realized how talented you are at multitasking. And this is before you even came close to the end of your maternity leave. Juggling all the extras like nappy changes, nursing, bathing, burping, rocking, soothing, and everything in between on top of your already full cup of daily tasks is no easy feat. When you throw in your work obligations, if you are a working mom, your time is minimal, and you have to optimize it to the best of your ability.

That is why being able to express while driving becomes such a valuable skill. Some moms spend a lot of time driving to and from work, attending to various errands, and driving their kids around, so why not use this time to take care of another necessary task on your busy schedule? It takes the pressure off, rushing from place to place to make it home so that you can pump. Pumping in your car gives you the gift of time. It also helps you worry less about having enough breast milk for your baby if you already rely on your expressed milk.

One of my friends shared her success story when she told me this useful trick did wonders for her sanity. She would drive around the block to put her colicky son to sleep and use this time to pump too. Then, at the end of the drive, she would have a sleeping or a well-rested baby AND his next feed so she could steal a few moments for herself.

Be prepared:

The key to making this a successful venture is good preparation. If you set yourself up correctly before you embark on your driving and pumping mission, it will be effortless to manage.

Some Tips:

  1. Invest in good quality and travel-friendly portable breast pump like the Willow Pump if your insurance provider isn't generous enough to provide one for you. Hands-free breast pumps are the answer if you are going to be a driver expresser.

  2. A manual pump is an absolute no-no since both your hands have to be on the wheel for the duration of your drive.

  3. An electrical breast pump needs a power source which is why you have to be able to plug into your car lighter plug. Get a breast pump car adapter or a general cigarette lighter plug, as most breast pumps don't come with a car adapter. Additionally, your pump may have a battery, or you may want to get a battery pack.

  4. You may also need to purchase a hands-free pumping bra to step in for your hands which will be glued to your steering wheel

  5. Shields and flanges are the necessary parts of your pumping equipment, so don't forget those.

  6. Milk Collection bottles are better than bags if you are pumping and driving to avoid spills. However, you can also try the Kiinde Twist system. Twist Pouches use the Twist Direct-Pump Adapters to twist-lock onto all major pump brands, for leak-free, transfer-free pumping, directly into the pouch. You can pump, store, organize, warm, and feed using the same pouch.

  7. Another essential item for expressing while driving is a cooler and ice pack to store the expressed milk and keep it fresh until you get home.

  8. A nursing cover prevents curious onlookers from staring, especially those passing trucks. It will give you a piece of mind while involved in such a delicate task so that you can focus on the road. But you can also wear a baby blanket or your scarf to cover what you do not want to attract attention to in ongoing traffic.

Before you start driving:

  1.  Once you get into your car, make sure all the clutter is clear, set yourself up, and turn everything on before you even put your foot on the gas.

  2. Throw away old coffee cups from your cup holders so you can easily place the collection bottles in them once you are done.

  3. Place your pump bag with all your supplies on the passenger seat.

  4.  Make sure your seatbelt is fastened before you attach the equipment, as you don't want it to be in the way.

  5.  Wear a shirt with easy access to your hands-free pumping bra. You can put your cover on before you start driving if it is easier to start the process without the cover first.

  6.  Then "plug yourself in" by putting on the breast shields and tubes. Attach the flanges and the bottles to the flanges and connect your pump tubing to the pump and the bottles. Make sure everything is comfortable and securely in place.

  7. Plug the pump car adapter into the cigarette lighter and attach the other end to the pump. Then, ensure the pump is plugged in, whether to the battery pack or your car adapter.

  8. Turn the pump on, put your hands on the wheel and your foot on the gas, and you are good to go.

What to do while driving:

Please keep your hands on the wheel, and your eyes on the road, and let the handy gadgets do the work.  

What not to do:

  • Don’t think about it while driving; focus on the road. If you are not thinking about it, you won't be tempted to look or fiddle with it, which may put you in danger.

  • Don’t start disconnecting from your pump or detaching any of your pumping supplies while you are driving.

What to do when you've finished expressing: 

Pull over once you are done pumping and turn your pump off. Only then should you disassemble everything. Put the full bottles in your empty cup folders, place the lids on them and store them in your cooler bag. Now you can put the supplies in your pumping bag, which should be easily accessible from your driver's seat. Ensure your car is stationary and that you are free to focus on this part of the task.

Conclusion

Maximize your time and use the technology available to help you stay on top of things. But remember that in this instance of multitasking, driving takes precedence over the expressing task. Therefore, if at any point you feel that it may affect your driving for whatever reason, focus on your driving first and foremost. If you take the precautions discussed in this article and follow the helpful guidelines, you can successfully manage to pump while driving. Pumping while driving is a valuable skill to add to your multitasking repertoire!

+ References

Leva App
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