Breastpumping at concert

[Jourl]

AIBU for planning on pumping at a concert? I'm planning on taking my hand pump with me and a couple empty bottles to store then discard.

Does anyone know if I'll be okay taking in this? I've enquired with the venue but had no response.

For clarity it is Taylor Swift at Wembley

I went to a very, very fancy spa and pumped with a hand pump haha! I covered up with a massive blanket type thing, it wasn't a problem. As long as you're okay with people giving you interested looks then go for it. I've also gone to the toilet and done it, or consider a Elvie which is good for the car too. I mean I was forced to use an electric pump in A&E before, no other choice as baby couldn't direct nurse, needed food and I was uncomfortable. Needs must! As far as I am concerned it is the same as direct nursing as the hand pump doesn't make an annoying noise like an electric one. Enjoy the concert!

Bring a big wrap or something and I doubt anyone will be any the wiser

She can't take it. Thats why she needs to pump.

You will definitely be allowed in with it. I wouldn’t think twice about doing it and I’m pretty sure Taylor Swift would approve! I’d think only positive things if I happened to see someone doing it.

(on a different note - well done for getting out. Having a baby with a ng tube can be really stressful and you deserve a lovely night) x

I wouldn’t think this is weird at all. Go for it. Anyone else that thinks it’s weird is bloody weird in my opinion.

I’ve pumped at an all day wedding, a festival and even hands free in the car. I personally do not find it strange or weird.

Taylor would definitely approve! As others have already said, nobody will notice. And if anyone says something rude, just shake it off.

I’m sure OP won’t have to take all her clothes off to express milk 🤦‍♀️😂 it’s really not a big deal can be done so discreetly you wouldn’t even know

YA only BU to discard it. It keeps at room temp for 6 hours, don't discard it!

I’ve been to concerts while breastfeeding a baby every two hours or more.

Pumping during the concert was never necessary. Before and after sufficed.

So what, she doesn’t go? Has no life until baby stops breastfeeding? Or goes but is in pain and then needs antibiotics for mastitis?

all so some stranger doesn’t feel uncomfortable because of their own sexualisation of breasts? Ok.

This is not weird in anyway. If someone was pumping n3xt too me at a concert, I wouldn't give it a second thought. I had to pump for my baby for months so that she could have breast milk as she had issues meaning she couldn't feed properly, i would pump when out and about (amd then proceed to feed her with collected milk) and no i wouldnt sit in a crappy toilet to harvest food for my baby anymore than i would sit in crappy toilet with my baby to feed her.

I commend anyone who chooses this path as it is bloody hard to pump - (just for clarity, I commend anyone who feeds their baby any which way, but i just have experience of this path).

Go enjoy your concert, collect baby's food and just be proud.

Go for it - nobody is going to be sitting down politely clapping. Everyone will be up on their feet. I'm assuming you can attach them under t-shirt, that it won't take long, and if you're sat nobody's looking at your tits whilst TS is on stage!

Last time we went to Wembley, there was a bag search (only looking in bag, not allowed to touch) and walked through a beeper thing.

You'll be fine! Enjoy yourself!

I honestly don't see why anyone would be offended by this? Thinking 'fair play' would be the extent of my judgement if I saw anyone pumping at a concert. Or anywhere. Crack on OP!

I’ve pumped on trains, planes, at business conferences, at the side of a ski slope, in office meeting rooms. It’s really fine and doesn’t need to be obvious. I just put a scarf over the hand pump.

I did it at take that a few years ago, didn't occur to me not to.

I expect if you are covered and discreet about it, no harm will be done, no one upset. They won't have to shake it off from their memory.

Go for it! From my experience, to keep your milk flow going inline with your baby's needs, you need to stick with their feeding timetable. I've had to express for all of mine, and even a few hours delay caused issues. Might not be the same for everyone, of course, but it certainly was for me. If you aren't going to be doing it somewhere privately, take a wrap or something to put over you so that any over sensitive darlings aren't offended :-) enjoy the gig!

I'd have zero issue with this and think good on you! Enjoy your night! X

I am all for breastfeeding - it's just food and should be normalised at every opportunity.

I do wonder, if your health needs you to pump two hourly whether it would just have been easier to stay home. If absolutely necessary, take your pump and go up to the concourse / food / drinks area and do it.

I think that whipping your Medela out mid Taylor Swift set is going to affect your enjoyment of an event that deserves your full attention, not to mention the non lactating people in adjacent seats.

Pump before you sit down and double up the best pads.

Commenting just to add to the voices saying go for it, as long as you’re comfortable. I was at a gig in the arena at 8m pregnant and pumping and feeding in all sorts of places. Don’t sit in the toilets, they’ll smell and you’ll miss Taylor. This is literally what breasts are for so crack on.

I’m really surprised how weird early posters were about this.

Do what you feel comfortable doing. I'm exclusively expressing at the moment and have pumped in all sorts of places. Usually put them on in the loo and carry on doing what I'm doing. Could take a cool bag so you don't have to bin what you've expressed. Really surprised at how sensitive the other posters in the thread are.

What would affect her enjoyment of the event more… is missing it because of a hypothetical risk of offending “non lactating people”.

I would go this.

Get a load of breast pads too and I used to leak quite heavily when I was BF.

As a Community Midwife, my only query as a couple of others have said, is dumping your precious milk. Do what you're most comfortable with, but whatever you do, enjoy the concert!