If you are breastfeeding or exclusively pumping milk for your baby, there will likely be a time when you’ll have to pump in public. For some of us, pumping milk when juggling the logistics (and politics) of breast pumping at the office or in public is super stressful. Concerns often revolve around coordination of details: finding the best breast pumps for you, how to use a breast pump, how to keep the breast pump clean, how to store the expressed milk, the timing of when to pump, how to maintain privacy, and where to pump safely.
Note: During COVID-19, guidelines while you're at work and for using public spaces may be changing. Check with your employer or the location you are headed beforehand to find out their situation, and to make sure they are following current health and safety protocols.
Tips on breast pumping at work or in public spaces
How to choose the best breast pump for using away from home
Choosing the best breast pump depends on your situation and needs. Consider how often and where you will use it. Do you need silence and discretion? Portability? Will you have access to an electrical outlet or car power converter? What is your budget? Do you need it to be hands-free?
For instance, manual breast pumps, which are held in place with one hand while the other hand pumps, are discreet, cheap, don’t need a power source, and portable. But they are not hands-free and can be tiring. As for breast pumps that use a power source (whether battery or a plug), they can be hands-free, medical grade, and pump both breasts at the same time. However, they are often loud and expensive.
If your budget allows, you may want to consider one pump for when you’re on the go and in public, and another for work when you remain in one location and have power.
