When it comes to breastfeeding, many mothers will candidly admit that pumping can be a real hassle. This sentiment is especially true in public spaces where accommodations are often lacking. A recent post by a mother named Sarah, who runs the popular Instagram account “Mommy Moments,” highlights the difficulties she encountered while trying to pump on a flight, and her experience is all too relatable.
While traveling on a United Airlines flight, Sarah found herself in a predicament when she needed to relieve her engorgement. She headed to the airplane’s restroom, only to discover that there were no outlets available, a feature that had been standard in the past. “Moms travel too,” she pointed out. “For those of us who are breastfeeding, pumping is often necessary on longer flights. It was incredibly disappointing to find no power source in the restroom as I had previously experienced.”
Despite the flight attendants’ best efforts to assist her by searching for a compatible outlet, they were unable to find one that would work with her pump. Faced with limited options, Sarah resorted to hand-expressing her breastmilk in the cramped bathroom, a method that is not familiar to all breastfeeding mothers and can be significantly more time-consuming than using a pump. She expressed her gratitude to the crew for their attempts to help, but one attendant’s suggestion that she “should” carry a different plug or a travel pump only added to the frustration.
“Don’t tell me what I ‘should’ have brought,” she wrote. “User experiences matter and can help companies improve their services.” As someone who breastfed for over a year, Sarah noted that the idea of investing in a portable pump had never crossed her mind. Whether you’re flying or just making a quick trip to Target, the demands of breastfeeding don’t always align with convenience.
Additionally, the lack of suitable facilities for pumping in public spaces is a common struggle. Many mothers rely on exclusive pumping, and it’s unreasonable for them to face additional costs or awkward situations. “I can only imagine how many mothers have suffered through engorgement out of fear of asking for assistance or feeling ashamed for not having a portable pump,” Sarah reflected. “I received mine through insurance, but not everyone has that option. It’s an expensive endeavor.”
Pumping in public can be a daunting task, but it shouldn’t be made more difficult by inadequate facilities. For more information on the challenges of home insemination and parenting resources, check out this article on CDC’s pregnancy resources. Additionally, if you’re interested in exploring home insemination options, take a look at our post on the Cryobaby home intracervical insemination syringe kit. For a deeper dive into the topic, you can also read more at Modern Family Blog.
In summary, pumping in public spaces presents numerous challenges for breastfeeding mothers, and there’s a pressing need for better accommodations to support them during their travels.