This is me whenever I am in an airport. Always looking for the Companion Care Bathroom. The new politically correct name for the special needs bathroom...or what I fondly call the little pumping room at the airport.
Yes...usually an 8 foot by 8 foot bath room that has a toilet, sink, changing table and key...the electrical outlet. By now...7 months into my pumping adventures...I am an airport pumping pro. I usually do it prior to getting on my first flight and then on any lay-overs if they are long enough to allow a decent session. I have become a pro...because Jack and I are averaging one round trip a month.
On our latest trip to Marquette (The Michigan Upper Peninsula)...I was fortunate to have 3 sessions. Decent is about the best you can expect for these sessions. The usual pumping session for me lasts anywhere from 20 - 40 minutes...but I am really happy to grab a 10 minute session in an airport.
First, let me tell you why I love the companion care bathrooms. In order to demonstrate this appropriately, I must discuss the alternatives. Alternative 1: Pumping in the 2 foot by 2 foot bathroom stall or Alternative 2: Pumping in public with the hooter hider cover. I have done both of these and definitely prefer the superior companion care bathroom (ccb). Pumping in a stall is not fun at all...it is claustrophobic and can be seriously gross depending on the other activities that are happening in the public restroom at the time:( , and breastfeeding in public is considered weird to so many people...so you can imagine the looks I have gotten when feeding a machine rather than a cute little baby. I think we can all agree that a ccb presents the best option.
And yes...even the ccb does present some negatives...7 out 10 of them are very dirty. And most of the time I have to try to entertain Jack while pumping...and the possibilities for entertainment are limited. The worst part is that about half the time my pumping session will be interrupted by someone banging on the door asking me what's the hold up. So as you imagine, it is not always a relaxing and peaceful pumping setting. But it works and it is definitely better than the alternatives.
So I know that next time I am in an airport...I will again be looking for the companion care bathroom.
