The Ultimate Guide to Pumping Must-Haves

Whether you'll be away from your little one for 2 hours or 2 weeks, this guide will help you prepare all the things you need to be successful at pumping breastmilk. I've left out the nice-to-haves that are not necessarily critical, ensured the essentials are in here, and added in things I've learned along the way to make your breastfeeding journey an easier one! 

This was originally written prior to COVID, when traveling for work was more common for me. Feel free to choose what applies given your current situation, whether you're building a breastmilk stash at home, or if you're a frontliner who still needs to head out to work.

Being a working mom who breastfeeds has been one of the most challenging and life-changing things I've had to do. When Raem was a year old, I had to travel for work for 2 weeks. By this time, he was already on solids and mix feeding with hypoallergenic formula, but my goal was to give him breastmilk until he reached 2 years old. Here's how I managed to pump, store and transport 2 week's worth of breastmilk from one neighboring country to another. 

Before The Trip

1. Research rules and regulations of flying with a pump and breastmilk

It's good to know that breastmilk is exempt from the 100ml liquid carry-on rule. That means I could pump right before flying, as well as transport over 300oz of milk on my return home, even if I was flying solo.  

2. Contact the hotel to check for storage and sterilizing options 

It would be impossible for 2 week's worth of breastmilk to fit in the tiny freezer of the usual refrigerator, so I contacted the hotel beforehand to ask about my options. I also needed to know if they have a sterilizer or microwave in the room (some hotels can provide this upon request). After relaying my situation, the hotel was kind enough to upgrade me for free and I got a room equipped with a full-sized refrigerator and a microwave! It pays to ask. Otherwise, some hotels will be willing to store your milk in the freezer of their kitchen. And if there's no sterilizer available, you can always use the hot water kettle in the room and ask for a big bowl. If they don't have this either, I always travel with Milton Sterilising Tablets and Dr. Brown's Steam Sterilizer Bags. 

3. Know the breastfeeding/pumping culture of the place you're traveling to 

There are some places like Spain wherein it's completely acceptable and normal to expose your breast and feed your baby/pump without a cover. However, this time around, I was traveling to Malaysia, which is a lot more conservative when it comes to breastfeeding/pumping without a cover. I also hardly found any breastfeeding rooms so it was good to have a full breastfeeding cover with me. 

What to Pack

1. A cooler bag plus ice packs big enough for the milk you will pump for the trip duration 

I had to do a little math here to compute for the ideal sized cooler bag. Just multiply the amount of milk you produce per day x the number of days + allowance for ice packs. In my case, I found a 15L cooler bag similar to this Coleman Cooler Bag that would be perfect since it's lightweight and can accommodate my milk. 

2. A smaller insulated bag for daily use

I did not want to bring a big cooler bag with me everywhere every day of my trip, so I still brought the usual cooler bag I would normally use when pumping on a day to day basis. There are a lot of smaller options available and you probably own one already. 

3. Wet wipes/alcohol  

Sanitizing my hands and the area where I put my breastfeeding stuff is a must! Especially in public areas that are covered in germs. In essence, this is where I’ll be preparing my baby's food, so I need to make sure I keep my baby safe and healthy.

4. Sterilizers for cleaning your pump

As I mentioned earlier, you have different options to clean your pump. Electric sterilizer or water kettle from the hotel, etc. Let me just add that I've used Dr. Brown's Steam Sterilizer Bags as a collapsible bowl to sterilize my pump with Milton Sterilising Tablets when the hotel can't provide me with anything. All you need now is water! 

5. Breastfeeding cover 

I prefer the covers that wrap me completely like a poncho vs the apron type ones. I feel more comfortable knowing that I won't have any wardrobe malfunctions. This is the secret to pumping practically anywhere. 

6. Spectra S1 Breast Pump 

I am so glad I bought the Spectra S1 Breast Pump. It's relatively quiet, lightweight, powerful and simple to use. I love that you don't need to plug it so you can use it even when in the car, plane, bus or train. (Yes, I've pumped in these vehicles. Haha! Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions.)

7. Milk Storage Bags

Normally, I would use milk storage cups for day to day pumping. But when I have to conserve space in my cooler bag for 2 week's worth of milk, milk bags just make sense. I have so much trust in Sunmum Breast Milk Storage Bags as they've kept my milk intact even when placed in industrial freezers and traveling on a plane. 

7. Permanent Marker  

Keep your milk organized and adhere to a first in first out policy by labeling milk bags with a permanent marker. Don't just grab your kid's markers because they're most likely washable and will disappear when you freeze them. 

8. Stroller Bag

It helps to use carry-on luggage that can fit your pump and supplies. It's much easier to carry and you'll last a lot longer when I don't have to carry all these things on your shoulders. Plus there's space for my work laptop and accessories too.

9. Breastfeeding Supplements

No matter how good your pump is, nothing can 100% mimic your baby, so be sure to load up on your preferred breastfeeding supplements to keep your supply up.  

10. Mobile Phone 

I've read that looking at photos/videos of your baby can help with the letdown. If you can manage to see your little one through a video call, all the better! 

What I'd do differently this time

1. Bring more zip-top bags 

It's so much easier to move milk bags around once they've accumulated by storing them in batches. Glad to see that Sunmum now has breastmilk stock slider bags. 

2.  Use a hands-free pumping bra

Talk about liberation! This is an amazing 2-in-1 pumping and nursing bra from White Dahlias. Love that it's both pretty and functional. 

3. Relax

I survived. My milk survived. My baby survived. It's all good. And next time, it will be too. 

There you have it -- my complete list of must-haves to be successful at pumping breastmilk for your little one. Feel free to adjust it based on your situation and preferences. 

Is this something you can relate to? Was this useful? Do you have any other breast pumping must-haves that are not included here? Let me know in the comments below. Happy pumping!