Success! EBM from Bandung....

We had a company trip to Bandung on 6-9 Oct 2013. This trip was planned while I was pregnant and obviously did not foresee my breastfeeding journey in it then. After a successful trip bringing back EBM from HK in August, I was not too sure what to expect in Bandung because this time I'm traveling with a group of people, engaged with a tour, staying with a roommate, so unlike my free and easy personal trip to HK.

Nevertheless, I was still determined to bring back my EBM and planned my daily pumping schedule according to situation. I brought a shawl pinned it like a nursing cover as I may likely need to pump everywhere. I have not done this before.

DAY1
My flight to Bandung was at 1.40pm, and meet up the rest at 11.30am. So I pumped before leaving home, thus I do not have to pump in the flight toilet like I did for HK. The next session was at the hotel room upon arrival. It was then more than 5 hours. I quickly asked for a key while they settled the rooms for the rest because the tour is moving after everyone dropped off their luggage in the room. Settled in 15 mins. Then at night pumped in the room with my shawl. My lady boss said she can leave me alone in the room if I want, but I guess not necessary unless she mind :). So day1 done.

DAY2

Floating Market

Next morning pumped before bfast 6.30am local time. Then we headed to Tangkuban Perahu about an hour journey from hotel. Unfortunately it was closed due to active vulcano happened a day before. So we went to Hotspring, which we spent about an hour.

Hut no. 9, my pumping place

Thereafter to Floating Market when unexpectedly we spent about 2 hours plus. So I quickly walked to the bus and get my equipment and find a hut to pump when I realized we were not leaving that soon. The place is quite huge, so you can easily get a spot to pump.

Floating Market

It was indeed a very relaxing place and cooling weather. But this is not hidden as the tourist will passby, but they will not walk up to you if it is occupied. As I took out the equipments, I realized I left the bottles in the bus! To walk to the bus and walk back here will take around 15 minutes, so I did not. 



This was my first public pumping which is already a challenge, but in addition I have to hold both sides with storage bags. Obviously it was a bit chaotic, leaking when the storage bags closed up but eventually managed to overcome it. To adjust the pump accordingly with the imbalance storage bags, I got no choice but to go under the shawl like a turtle hiding in its shell. Then resurface again and enjoying the breeze while pumping.

After lunch we were taken to Toko Tiga and they spent quite some time there thus delayed our Transtudio visit to 5pm.
Transtudio is the only tourist place that I know have nursing room. So it was settled there after the first 4D Marvels experience and continued with the other rides.

Had late dinner around 9pm then back to the hotel to do the motherly duty before going to bed.

Each night after returning to the hotel, I would wash the pump parts and bottles, boiling water to sterilize them, moving about in the room and the washroom. My ladyboss whom was seated on her bed suddenly said, "you make me look very free"... haha...

DAY3

As usual morning routine, then out to Kawah Putih after breakfast. It is a 2 hours journey, but our bus had some cable problem and stopped for 30 mins to fix it. Thereafter almost everyone including me fell asleep till we reach destination. I should have pumped in the bus before we reached but too late to realize that it was already 4 hours since I pumped. So we went in for about 1.5 hours, took lots of pic, but this place is not suitable for pumping.

Kawah Putih

As we hopped on the bus, I pumped with the shawl when the guide said about 20 mins to lunch place. Relieved!

Lunch place weather was cool and nice and headed back to Bandung for another session of shopping. Before everyone boarded the bus after the shopping, I hopped in for my pumping session.

We had early dinner and was sent back to the hotel. Thereafter we walked to Ciwot (Cihampelas Walk), is a mall and this is where I had my shopping spree for lo. Motherly duty after gathering sessions with the rest in one of their rooms.

DAY4

Put all my EBM into my FTG cooler bag after my morning session. Checked out at 9am. FTG then placed into my extra luggage bag and left it on the bus. Taken to Pasar Baru which is a wholesale market but less than 30mins we decided to go back to CIWOT, cos most of them did not go on Day3 and we were there for only an hour. Everyone was happy to shop at CIWOT than the wholesale market.

Had a quick lunch before everyone is done, I boarded the bus again for pumping. After lunch we were taken to Jalan Riau where Heritage, The Summit and few others are located. So everyone went shopping craze there. My extra bag with only FTG, by now is full with plastic bags, no more empty space. Then we headed to airport.

My last session for this trip, was on the plane. This time, I looked around and the flight was not full. When the seatbelt sign went off, I went to the back row. I read somewhere that the supply will be affected if you are in the air, but I got 8oz then.

Pic taken before check out

I stayed at De Batara Hotel, central location and the staff was very helpful. It does not have minibar but they helped me to store at their cafe chiller and freezer. This time, all of the EBM was left chilled. Only freeze the icepacks. The FTG cooler bag were left in their freezer the whole time. Upon going home, I added 2 sheets of 4pcs technii ice, 1 Autumn icepack and 1 Medela ice contour into the FTG together with the EBM.

Flight was at 7.20pm, arrived home 11+pm, so it was more than 13 hours journey for my chilled EBM since it left the hotel. But the Autumn Ice pack is only 1/3 melted and 2/3 like rock.

Overall, bf is possible even during tour and did not cause delay to anyone. Just need to plan and MIA for a short while here and there. Am glad to have learned to pump in the bus, on the plane and public places.

Almost 100oz is home :)