Disclaimer: Before pumping and driving, you should evaluate your ability to drive and pump without getting distracted, your range of motion when you’re pumping, and any local laws and statutes. You should also consider risks related to your airbag deploying if you should have an accident. Safety is the most important thing. Do not pump and drive if you are not confident you can do it safely and legally.
Pumping and driving is one way to maximize your limited time as an exclusive pumper.
Having the ability to do this comes in handy in a lot of situations – it can save you time when you commute to work, and it can be a good way to get a pumping session in when running an errand with your baby or if you need to go for a drive to get your baby to nap. Here are the precautions you need to take when do pump and drive.
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If you’ve decided to give pumping and driving a try, the first step is to put your pump bag together.
What You Will Need for Pumping and Driving
Below is a list of what you’ll need to bring with you to pump and drive.
- Your pump (this must be an electric pump rather than a manual pump for safety reasons)
- A hands-free pumping bra (this is also essential for safety if you don’t have a hands-free pump)
- A nursing cover if you want to cover your chest (here is the one I used, you can also use a big t-shirt or baby blanket to cover yourself),
- A set of pump parts,
- Two bottles (with caps), and
- A gallon-sized plastic zip-top bag or wet bag.
If your pump doesn’t have a battery, you may also need a battery pack or car adapter (like this one).
As you’re getting your stuff together, assemble the pump parts and screw in the bottles, though you can leave the breast shields off. Then put the pump parts, attached bottles, breast shields, and caps for the bottles in the zip-top bag in your pump bag.
Pumping and Driving Steps
Here is how to pump and drive in six simple steps.
1. Get your pump set up
Put the pump on the seat next to you, plug it in (if applicable) and, if you have cup holders, make sure they are empty.
This is for two reasons – one, so that you can put the pumped-in bottles in them when you’re done, and two, so you don’t knock over any drink that happens to be in there with your pump tubing. I learned this the hard way with an unfortunately placed bottle of Diet Coke.
2. Get yourself set up
If you’re using a nursing cover, put it on.
If you need to, put your hands-free pumping bra on under your shirt, and get yourself all hooked up to pump.
3. Put your seat belt on
Put your seat beat on, with the lap belt under the bottles and the front belt across your chest between the bottles.
4. Start your pump
Start the pump, make sure it is set to the correct speed and that you’re comfortable.
5. Start driving
Drive! IGNORE YOUR PUMP. Do not check the bottles, do not change the speed, pretend you are not pumping.
(Try not to get pulled over.) (If you are feeling brave, go through a drive-thru and get a coffee.)
6. Stop driving, then turn off the pump and unhook yourself
When you are done pumping, turn off the pump. Be careful! This should only be done when you arrive at your destination or can pull over and turn it off.
Unhook yourself from the pump. Put the bottles in the cup holders as you detach them from the breast shields. Then put the caps on the bottles, and your used pump parts into the plastic zip-top bag.
That’s it, you’re done!
Pumping and Driving Safety
You should not attempt pumping and driving if:
- You are distracted by the sensation of pumping.
- You have decreased range of motion when wearing your pump.
- You can’t resist the urge to check the bottles or change settings without first pulling over.
- You don’t have a hands-free pumping set up.
- It’s illegal in your area.
Even if none of this is true for you, keep in mind that there are still risks to pumping and driving that you need to weigh. For example, if you’re hit in a head-on collision, and your airbag deploys, there is a risk to having your pump parts sitting on your chest.
Have you tried pumping and driving? How did it go?
I am currently still on maternity leave and my first pump of the day, which i am interested in doing on my commute, always require me to change collection bottles (I produce somewhere between 13 to 18 oz). Obviously i would pull over to change bottles but would it be bad if i didnt use a cover so i could keep an eye on how full the bottles get? Or maybe use a bigger bottle? Thoughts
Medela makes 8oz bottles! I would use those.
I exclusively pumped for 18 months and did most of it in the car. It saved my pumping journey and made my 45 minute commute to and from work more “productive”. Loved ur tips!
What would you recommend for long car rides? I’m going on a road trip that is 10 hours so I’ll need to pump multiple times. How should I handle cleaning the parts?
Can you bring multiple sets of pump parts for the trip? You could put each one in a separate ziploc bag and then wash them all when you get to your destination.
I would get the cleaning wipes for adapter and just several bottles. Also a little cooler for milk.
I know this is old but, I buy wipes for cleaning breast pump parts. Pull over or when you are at a rest area take apart and clean. Then you can pump again when needed.
Hand expression is so important to my completely emptying. Any tricks for doing this while driving?
I think the only way to safely do this is to pull over and put the car in park. I would not recommend doing this while driving a car.
I spill milk all over myself when I’m removing the pump parts/bottles. I think I’m going to bring a towel to set in my lap
Some pumps need to be grounded and stable (car not in motion) for motor to run. Also some cars can run AC adapter just fine while car is off– I do it all the time.
Question: do pumps work if your car is not running? Thinking of plugging into the cigarette lighter jack and pumping on a break during a day trip?
My understanding is that the cigarette lighter does not work if the car isn’t running, because it would drain the battery of the car. Maybe just pull over and leave it running?
I pumped for over a year on my commute to/from work. I would put my hands free bra on before leaving home or work and plugged my pump into either a standard plug (in the backseat) or a standard 2 prong adapter that went into a cigarette lighter. It worked great and the amount was similar to what I collected pumping at home. Good luck!
how do you manage to put your bra on?
Hi Ashly – do you mean the hands-free bra? You put it on under your shirt after you put your nursing cover on. Let me know if this doesn’t answer your question!
When i pumped in the car today, i got substantially less milk than when i pump at home. Is anyone else in the same boat, or am i losing my supply? The suction and speed on the PISA definitely seem decreased when using the car adapter, and i obviously can’t squeeze my boobs while driving, so maybe that explains the smaller output??
Hi Vanessa! Was it just a one time thing, or have you seen this happen multiple times? It could definitely be an issue with the car adapter. I would see how your total for the day looks – maybe you’ll pump a bit more in your later sessions today?
Same for me I feel like it doesn’t empty me. I’m a nurse on a busy post op floor. some days my first pump isn’t til after 10 so I try to pump on the way since I live 45 mins away. But some times I only get 2 oz on one side.