Top 10 Breastfeeding Travel Tips
August 13, 2015
Having a baby is an exciting time in life, but you may feel unnecessarily confined to the house due to the nature of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding doesn’t mean your life has to stop. In honor of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we’ve compiled these breastfeeding travel tips so you can enjoy seeing friends and family while still providing nutritional support for your baby:
Travel Tip 1: Use a Breast Pump
A breast pump can be a saving grace for breastfeeding moms embarking on a long trip. Under the Affordable Care Act new moms are entitled to a free breast pump and support. Ask your insurance provider for more details.
Travel Tip 2: Pump Extra
More is always better than less when it comes to breast milk. Pump what you think you may need for your trip, and then a little more. If you are going to be away from your baby for an extended period, pump extra so your baby never runs out.
Travel Tip 3: Bring Water
Public restrooms and fountains can house many germs. Bring your own bottle water to ensure you are staying as sanitary as possible when you rinse your pump or bottles.
Travel Tip 4: Store Wisely
Breast milk can be left at room temperature (60º F to 85º F) for up to 3-4 hours.1 If you are going to be out longer than that, refrigeration is essential to keep your breast milk safe and fresh for your baby. You spent all that time pumping, so don’t let it go to waste! You can bring a small cooler with an ice pack and store the milk for up to 24 hours.1
Travel Tip 5: Check Your Power Supply
If you are traveling to another country, be sure to check what types of power outlets are standard. You may need to purchase an adapter to ensure that your breast pump can be charged and used throughout your time abroad.
Travel Tip 6: Dress for Success
If you need to breastfeed while traveling (rather than bottle-feeding with breast milk) it’s important to dress for the part. Wear a loose fitting shirt you can easily pull down. There are also nursing tops and other garments that unlatch for easy access.
Travel Tip 7: Plan Ahead
Use online mapping tools to plot your trip and find rest areas along the way. If traveling by air, contact the airline to see if they have private areas for breastfeeding or where the nearest area is to clean your equipment. They can also give you information to ensure any breast milk you are carrying meets TSA requirements.
Travel Tip 8: Build Extra Time
Because your baby will need to nurse every 2-3 hours, build extra time into your trip. Account for the maximum amount of stops and it’ll be much more satisfying when you reach your destination ahead of schedule.
Travel Tip 9: Be Patient
Traveling can get a bit hectic, whether you are breastfeeding or not. So mentally prepare yourself for the trip ahead and realize that things may not go exactly according to plan. If people are expecting you at a certain time, give them a heads up before your trip that you may be late…and that’s ok. Talk to friends and family that are expecting you and ask them for some understanding and patience.
Travel Tip 10: Don’t Feel Bad
Just like any other mom, it’s your responsibility to feed your baby. Try not to feel bad or embarrassed for doing your duty as a new mother.
Nutritional Supplements for Mom & Baby
While breastfeeding you are still “eating for two” and nutritional demands are even greater than during pregnancy. If your baby is not receiving adequate nutrition through your diet, your baby will have to rely on your body stores, which may lead to nutrient deficiencies for you. Prenate® Restore is a dietary supplement designed to carry mom and baby through pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s the first and only postnatal vitamin with probiotics, DHA and 13 other vitamins and minerals.2-6 No other prescription vitamin indicated for use during breastfeeding has more DHA than Prenate® Restore, and the benefits of DHA are related to its dose.4 Prenate® Restore is the only prescription prenatal vitamin with DHA and EPA indicated for use throughout pregnancy and into breastfeeding that contains probiotics – invisible “good bacteria” that have health benefits.4 Ask your doctor is Prenate® Restore is right for you. Click here to learn more about Prenate® Restore.