As a mountain guide, park ranger, or avid hiker that’s also a mom you may face the challenge of needing to breast pump on the trail to continue breastfeeding while avoiding painful issues such as engorgement, blocked ducts, or embarrassing leaks.
At first, the idea of having your breast pump out in nature may seem incredibly inconvenient. It’s an extra piece of equipment to place in your pack, not to mention actually having to pump without much privacy. But don’t let this stop you from getting back out in the wild, it’s easy to discreetly pump on the trails.
Contents
How To Breast Pump In Nature
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Pack The Right Breast Pump
Pick your breast pump carefully before embarking on your journey, not all are created the same. Consider getting an electric travel pump. Generally, they are smaller, quieter, and battery operated. ‘Quieter’ is one of the keywords here, for privacy.
Check if your pump has a rechargeable battery pack or if its battery operated, then make sure to bring enough juice to power it for the entire trip. Fully charge the battery before leaving and consider purchasing a backup. Most battery-operated pumps last for about a day. You can also purchase a pump with a DC power converter to power/charge it with the cigarette lighter in your car.
It’s great to have a back-up pump in the event of an emergency. If your electric pump breaks or loses charge you can use your trusty manual pump. They’re silent, hand powered, and require no source of energy. However, they do take much longer than electric pumps to express milk.
If all else fails, get hands on. You can manually express milk by massaging your breasts. It’s an all-natural solution if you find yourself stuck without a pump.
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Dress For Success and Stay Energized
When it comes to hiking you want to wear functional, yet comfortable attire. You should dress the same for breast pumping while hiking. If you need to be hands-free, wear a nursing bra. They offer almost the same support as a sports bra.
It’s good to wear a button-down shirt or something loose fitting so you can easily access your ladies. There are many nursing covers that double as scarves that you can use to cover yourself on the trail too. If it’s cold out, use a blanket for warmth and privacy.
Pack a towel to place in your lap to protect your clothes from drips while disconnecting your breast shield. You may benefit from having a backup outfit in your bag in case a major spill happens.
Take snacks and stay hydrated. Breast pumping can take a lot of your body’s resources. Have enough calories to stay energized. Plus, you need to be hydrated to have a good milk flow and to withstand the loss of fluids while pumping.
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Actually Pumping on the Trail
When it comes to breast pumping on the go you can try to plan activities around your regular breast pumping schedule. For example, try to plan your breaks around peaks with nice views, at the bottom of the trail, for when you arrive at a campground, before you leave in your tent, and more. The options in your individual itinerary are endless.
However, things don’t always go according to plan and schedules can easily go awry. So, if you find yourself needing to pump on the trail, find a place to sit and relax and use your nursing cover for privacy from passerby. If you feel nervous about pumping in public you can take a few steps back into the woods.
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Cleaning and Storage
If you plan to take your breast milk home to baby you can store it in a cooler for about a day. It helps to have a breast pump bag with an insulated section to store milk containers until you can hike back to your cooler.
When dumping milk remember to walk at least 100 yards away from the trail or your campsite. You can rinse it away in a sink if that option is available.
Your breast pump needs to be sanitized between uses. For this reason, some hiking mamas take an extra set of breast shields on the trail when cleaning options aren’t available. Your pump parts can be stored with your breast milk until you have a chance to clean them.
However, you can use breast pump wipes to wipe away milk in between uses or boil the parts to sanitize them. Just be sure to fully clean all of your equipment once you get home.
Pumping in Nature Without Baby is Possible!
For whatever reason you’re returning to nature without baby, from hiking for work or pleasure with friends, you can still breast pump to provide milk. Continuing to pump is the best option to maintain your milk flow and for avoiding painful issues. All you need is to be prepared to pump with a flexible plan for success.
Allison Barfield began blogging after receiving her Media Arts degree from the University of South Carolina and quickly followed the call of the mountains to Asheville, North Carolina, where she fully embraced hiking, nature, and landscape photography.
Currently, her writing for Aeroflow Breastpumps includes advocating for and helping breastfeeding women through the means of education and helpful tips, including a variety of articles on how to successfully introduce baby to the great outdoors.
When Allison isn’t writing and can’t play outside, you can find her indulging in her coffee addiction as a Netflix enthusiast or totally nerding out with a video game.
- Allison Barfieldhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/allison-barfield/
- Allison Barfieldhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/allison-barfield/
- Allison Barfieldhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/allison-barfield/
- Allison Barfieldhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/allison-barfield/
- Allison Barfieldhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/allison-barfield/
- Allison Barfieldhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/allison-barfield/
This is something that you won’t definitely find everywhere. Unique and inspiring tips on traveling.
I remember when my kids were babies and I felt so tied to the house because I was breastfeeding. So cool that there are pumping options for women on the go (no matter what they’re doing!)
This is awesome! As a breastfeeding advocate, I am so happy that there are moms who would really go the extra mile like this to actually live the lives that they want and still breastfeed. Kudos!
This is such a great article about breast feeding whiling hiking and how breast pumps can be a great help. You have given some excellent tips. It will also help the women traveler moms on the go. Loved reading about it. Quite enriching.
That is really a unique take on hiking. So helpful for those who it would apply too.
Glad that you found a breast pump set that suits you.
Where can I order for my friend?
I think that having a baby doesn’t mean you have to give up nature. You can still have a great time in the outdoors as long as you’re prepared.
This is super inspiring. I don’t yet have children but I think it’s great to know it’s possible to be able to get out into nature while still looking after yourself and baby by expressing. I’m sure modern pumps make everything much easier too. And getting out hiking or camping – just generally being in nature, I truly believe benefits everyone in the family, even if it’s only mum who’s actually get out and about. Because nature is nurture and nourishment.
I’m glad it’s getting easier too. Hopefully, it will become easier in the workplace where a strong stigma against breastfeeding still exists.
This is great information I had no clue about this thanks for sharing. Someday in future it will benefit me too 🙂
I’m sure you’ll be a great mother! Especially if you share your love of nature with your child.
This is a really helpful post indeed for anyone who needs to pump while out enjoying nature. I am sure so many new mothers will find this a real help.
I wouldn’t have thought this was even possible! Well, maybe because I don’t often go went on overnight hiking or camping trip. You gave great tips though. I will share this with friends and family who have babies
Hopefully, they’re able to enjoy nature with their children and without giving up their breastfeeding goals.
I can only imagine how difficult it would be there out on the trail. But for the active mothers out there that love hiking, I can see how important this would be.
Now, this is something really interesting and useful. Very well explained post and I really like “Dress For Success and Stay Energized” part. You give so many useful tips in it.
It’s important to consider how many calories pumping burns, plus it can be incredibly dehydrating. Moms needs to be prepared for anything!
I’m sure this will be a great read to all moms and ladies and very well presented. This should be motivational for women that where there is a will there is a way. Its great to be outdoors and if you can overcome these issues which women experience then there is nothing stopping you .. Great post and very informative.
We really hope to empower women to go after their goals. With a little support and extra planning moms can do anything!
This post is really helpful for mothers who want to explore nature adventures while nursing the needs of the baby. Never thought of it to be a consideration until now. Would share these insights with friends who have little ones and I hope this post is helpful for them to get the right tips on choosing the right pumps, how to keep it clean and right way of storage when in nature without the baby.
Having a baby doesn’t mean you have to give up nature. You can still enjoy the great outdoors with or without baby as long as you’re prepared to continue your breastfeeding goals. Thank goodness the modern pump simplifies things.
Had never thought about the challenge of expressing when away from baby, especially in this kind of environment. Great advice not only on equipment but how to best plan the practicals.
It’s important to know that having a baby doesn’t mean you have to give up outdoor activities or other hobbies as a new mom. With a little planning, anything is possible!
Really informative and practical post. Actually you prove to all women that nothing is impossible if you set your heart and have a strong conviction. Thanks for all your motivational reads. I read beyond than just how to pump breast milk and store it while camping. God bless you Nicole.
Empowering women is a crucial step to success. Having a baby and breastfeeding can be difficult enough without the stigma surrounding it. Hopefully, this article will help make things a little easier for all moms!
It’s so funny because I was planning on a camping trip next year with my husband at our favorite lake at the beginning of this year. Flash forward and I’m 38 weeks as I’m writing this, so definitely going to have to pump if we overnight to the camping site! I actually didn’t even consider bringing the pump because I assumed it would be so inconvenient but your post on it is really helpful and I don’t want to risk mastitis from not pumping, yikes. Thanks!
There are smaller pumps that weigh less than a pound that will be very easy to take with you. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!
I would imagine breast pumping while hiking or camping to be a challenge. I love that you recommended a product and also gave your tips from your personal experience.
Breastfeeding while camping or doing other activities can be challenging, but the modern pump is making it easier for moms to accomplish their goals.
I breastfed my youngest for almost 2 years so these tips are greatly appreciated! The convenience of a travel pump and these tips are also useful to travelers. I often had to go to different towns and no one wants to suffer through engorgement or embarrassing leaks. Is the dumping 100 yards away so as not to attract animals?
I’m glad you were able to accomplish your breastfeeding goals while traveling. Yes, you want to dump milk at least 100 yards away to avoid attracting bears and other animals.
Ok, now I had no idea about that. But it was good to know. Maybe in the future, I will need it.
Breastfeeding is definitely something to consider when it comes to family planning!
I have a friend who has just got a baby and loves hiking. I would definitely share your great tips with her. Thank you!
Getting babies out in nature is so great for their development! She sounds like a great mom.
Great article! This information empowers women to continue to lead the lives they want while being mums. Thanks for sharing!
Exactly, moms don’t have to choose between their breastfeeding goals and other activities anymore. The modern breast pump and destigmatizing breastfeeding help moms accomplish both.
That little pump is handy! I never thought of trying to do it but I am sure it comes in handy. I can’t believe you wouldn’t need the big bulky bag.
Yeah, the modern breast pump is really compact. Some models even weight less than a pound, making them easy to tote anywhere.
This is really great information for newbie mothers who are sometimes too shy to go out camping due to breastfeeding in public. But as camping is done in nature, ladies can easily use breast pump with ease and privacy. Also it is important to use the correct pump and then store the milk for a day in suitable containers.
Moms do need to be matched with the best portable pump to suit their individual needs. Ice packs or coolers full of ice will help keep milk cool until it can make it to the fridge.
Omg thank you so much for sharing this! It’s so helpful and empowering for all the women out there!
We’re slowly working to destigmatize breastfeeding in all instances!
Such a great tips for all nursing mothers who also love to go on hike. I will definitely share this with my friends, thanks for sharing!
I pumped with my first, but none of my babies would ever take a bottle so I gave up. Haha. This is very good info though, the car charger is really handy.
Every baby is different! Wow, you usually hear stories about babies failing to latch instead of not wanting to take to bottles.
My wife used something like this after we had kids. Carried it around in her van just in case!
That’s great that she was able to accomplish her breastfeeding goals!
These are great tips for nursing mothers. It’s great to know that women are not hindered and can breastfeed during whatever activity they are doing.
Modern breast pumps certainly make it easier for moms to accomplish their goals. Instead of choosing between activities or pumping, moms can now do both.
This article shares a lot of good information about breast pumping while in nature! Thank you for the information!
Camping trips shouldn’t be canceled due to a little breastmilk!!
This is such an informative post! Breast pumping on the go is an important dillema. So happy you shared this!
Breast pumping on the go can certainly be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Hopefully, things get easier for working moms.
Sometimes you just need to get away and be one with nature. It’s nice that new moms have products like this to help them cope.
Natures peace and quiet can provide the rejuvenating moment of peace new mothers might need.
I love that we are normalizing breastfeeding more. I know it must be hard to do this but I have friends who have done it hiking!
My girlfriend would be very interested to read about it since we have a little one too
Every little tip to make breast pumping easier helps!
This is great information! Having the option to charge the pump with the cigarette lighter in your car is a great feature.
It definitely helps when moms have no other place to pump!