Travels with a breastpump - it sucks!

[QueenofNW2]

So I'm on yet another trip abroad. And it's the same bloody routine: take off the makeup and plug in the pump. God I hate it. Has anyone noticed that breast pumps sound just like vibrators? Without the pay off. Tonight I got so paranoid about neighbours in this crappy hotel hearing the noise mine makes that I ended up milking myself by hand into the bathroom sink. I suppose it's an improvement over an airline toilet (which I've resorted to on trans-atlantic flights), but it's an image of myself that I really don't want to remember. I know the simple answer is to stop all this malarkey. But I still get such satisfaction from reconnecting with my daughter so physically when I've been away for a night or a week, that I just can't. Rant over.

It sucks?? LOL.. it wouldn't be much good if it didn't!

I have "milked myself" in all sorts of inconvenient places but never really achieved brilliant success until (unfortunately) DS2 was in SCBU and I got one of those big industrial-looking things.. they word like shit-off-shovel and are quiet too. You can hire them from various places.. but obviously can't set them up in cubicles and places like that; they are too big.

Used to do it in the loo at work with a hand-pump (like you QofN, too embarassed at the noise of electric one and didn't want to sound like milking parlour). Used to get some strage looks when I disappeared for 20 mins or so. Also could not always slip out when the need arose and oh the mortification at seeing those wet marks appearing on the front of my blouse - very good for the serious "I can cope with job and motherhood" image I was trying to present.

i take it you are using a medela mini elec? the noise on that thing.

Yup, it's the Medela. What irritates me most is that I've bought it twice. Wore it out with my first child. Had hoped things had improved 4 years later. Too cheap to spend more. But many other pumps are larger - therefore not very useful to stuff into carry on bag with laptop, baggie full of toiletries and other stuff.

next time get an ameda lactaline much quieter, double pump, not much bigger and can travel! it fits in the size of a gymshoe bag.

excellent resale value so no real loss. medela minis don't hold on to their value.