Much like breastfeeding when away from home, pumping in public can bring up a range of emotions—not to mention challenges such as figuring out how to clean your parts and store your milk.

We spoke with Emily Varnam, a birth and postpartum doula, for some expert insights on pumping in public. 

Know your rights 

First and foremost, keep this in mind: “You have the right to pump and nurse in public spaces,” Varnam says. In fact, you have a right to pump breast milk for your baby anywhere within the United States, including at work and in airports, thanks to the Affordable Care Act’s Section 4207. 

This provision amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 and requires employers to offer reasonable break time for moms who breastfeed and need to pump.

As of this writing, all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have passed laws that protect your rights to pump both in public and private. Individual provisions of each state and/or territory may vary. (Check out the nitty-gritty about your pumping rights on the Willow blog.)

Practice brings progress

“Try pumping at home to practice your setup, how you store your dirty parts, and how you can get comfortable in a new space with this new activity. This will help you feel more confident when you’re pumping while out and about,” Varnam says.

Arm yourself with supplies

Think through not just where you’ll pump, but also how you’ll store and carry your parts. Also think through where you’ll stash the milk—and for how long. You’ll need things like a resealable plastic storage bag for your parts or other accessories to make sure that they stay clean, especially if you are pumping more than once before you get home. 

For short-term storage of your pumped milk, consider bringing with you milk storage bags (food-grade, specifically for breast milk) and ice packs that you can pop into a cooler section of your pump bag. You’ll want to keep your sealed pump parts in this cooler section between daily pumping sessions.

Pack snacks and water

Part of your approach ought to include your own pumping self-care supplies, such as snacks containing protein and carbohydrates, as well as plenty of water. 

When pumping, Varnam says, “Your caloric needs are actually higher than they were during pregnancy but the same as nursing, so staying nourished is important.”

Scope out the situation

It’s OK to reach out to a venue you’re planning to visit to ask if there are clean and semiprivate places to breastfeed or pump. You could also ask if there’s a refrigerator where you could store pumped milk and your pump parts (you can put the latter in a resealable storage bag between daily pumping sessions). Ideally, there is a quiet area more sanitary than a bathroom.  

If there isn’t a space reserved for breastfeeding employees or guests, perhaps there’s an unoccupied room with a chair. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. 

Depending on where you’re going, you might be able to find Mamava nursing pods. These freestanding spaces are found in places such as office buildings, college and university campuses, and airports. They’re free to use, and you can locate and get codes to unlock them using Mamava’s app. 

Be resourceful

Thanks to mobile and wearable pumps like Willow’s, you can pump in all kinds of places and situations, including while driving. Lots of parents like to pump while commuting. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your driving, doing so is perfectly safe.

Understand and protect your feelings

Logistics are important, and so are your feelings. Doing something in public that you might consider intimate can feel uncomfortable.

Varnam emphasizes the importance of protecting your “emotional headspace,” perhaps by elevating your sense of privacy. 

“Think about what feels safe for you…and what you need to make that happen, to make you feel comfortable,” Varnam says. “Maybe it’s a big T-shirt or cover.” 

Stand up for yourself 

You may get stares or even unsolicited, inappropriate comments. Nursing and pumping are like pregnancy in that regard. You can let people know what you need to feel comfortable. Alternatively, you can remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation. In either case, it’s helpful to establish personal boundaries and diplomatic responses to unwanted attention and lewd comments.

 “People do sexualize it,” Varnam says. “You’re still a woman in public.”

Sexualized staring is a form of violence that may prevent you from feeling safe to nurse and pump in public, Varnam adds. There is no reason for you to soften or downplay these experiences, nor your responses to them. (Check out this bystander intervention tip sheet to help.)