I put my son Benjamin to breast only minutes after he was born. Having returned to work when he was just 11 weeks old, I invested in an electric breast pump and needless to say, I have pumped in some very weird places. But nothing tops a recent experience I had while travelling for business.

On a return flight to Cleveland from New York after a department meeting, I found myself sitting in a plane on the tarmac in a rainstorm. As we sat there wondering when our 6:30 pm flight (it was now 7:30) might possibly take off, I developed a healthy concern for my breasts, which were becoming quite full. I was getting a little nervous!

I approached the female flight crew in the galley, discreetly explained my dilemma and together we tried to figure out my options.

"There's an electrical outlet in the galley -- we could pull the curtain for you, and you could do it right here," Sherry, one of the flight attendants said.

A good idea but wouldn't you know it? My pump's cord was one of those big clunky plugs, and - it wouldn't fit!

Mulling it over a while, Sherry came up with another idea. "What if we had an electrical adapter?"

"Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention please? If anyone has an electrical adapter in their possession, please ring your flight attendant call button."

Sure enough, as we held our breath in the galley, we heard the gentle bong of a flight attendant call button! Minutes later, with the galley curtain pulled, there I was.... perched on a crate of wine, breast pump whirring away, another uniquely female travel challenge met!

Editor's Note: Journeywoman thanks the author, Michelle Gugick, and Joan Babbitt, editor of NursingMother.com for sending us this lovely travel tidbit. Interested readers can visit NursingMother.com for breastfeeding information, support, humor, news, supplies, advocacy, stories, attitude and more.