storing breastmilk for air travel??

[porcelina]

I have to attend a two-day interview in about a month. I am storing up breastmilk to bring with me to have with the sitter on those two days. Here is the logistical problem: how do I get my frozen milk to arrive safely?

Would it be better to store in check-in luggage? If so, how do I keep it cool? One good thing I have going for me is that it's winter and it's the Northeast, so any time outside it won't thaw (if I put it in check in luggage).

I can't remember, but I think I can only carry limited bm quantities on board the airline. Ideally, I'd bring a bunch both on board and in luggage, just in case.

Anyone BTDT??

Oh, and DS has soy and milk sensitivities, so formula just in case is not really an option.

[Knitting Mama]

I have a low supply and supplement with donated breastmilk. When we last traveled for a few days, I brought the milk with me in my carry-on. I used a small styrofoam cooler to hold it. You just have to declare it when you are going through security.

As for the logistics of bringing it, there are a few things you can do. First, determine how much your baby will need, and bring more than you think you'll need. You don't want to find yourself high and dry! As for the storage of it, as long as your hotel room has a fridge, you're fine. The breastmilk can be stored in the fridge, and it will take some time to defrost that way (more than the 2 days that you're going to be gone). The more bags that are together, the longer they will keep the others frozen.

[FloridaBorn]

You may want to check out this thread...   http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1282473/tsa-and-breastmilk

I know of 2 women who have had problems with the TSA in Phoenix, so I hope you're not going through there!

[porcelina]

Cecilia's mom, thanks for the tips! I have a small cooler I could carry, though I will be traveling alone, with my baby, so I will have to think about whether that's the best option. The more I think of it, the less I would feel comfortable checking it -- since I would be left high and dry without it if the luggage were to be lost!! Did you have those frozen liquid ice packs in your cooler as well?

Floridaborn, wow, thanks for the link. That is actually quite disheartening! I am lucky in that I will be traveling with my baby so they shouldn't give me so much trouble, but I also remember a coworker of mine being told to dump her milk when we were traveling for work, right after the change had been made in policy to allowing BM to go through even while not traveling with baby.

[Knitting Mama]

Nope, I didn't bother. I've been dealing with bags o' milk since Cecilia was born, since we had to supplement from the get-go. I'm so used to the way of the frozen milk now. Of course, if your flight includes long layovers and long flying time overall, you might want to use icepacks. Otherwise, a few hours isn't going to hurt it, especially since you'll be refrigerating it when you get to your hotel.

[Quinalla]

There is no limit on traveling with breastmilk, but you do have to declare it when you go through security, I would put it in a separate container that you can take out of your carry-on to make it easier for them to inspect it. The only times I have heard TSA giving people trouble is if they don't have a baby with them, but that is rare. Either way, I would go to the TSA or FAA webpage and print out their rules to take with you and show them if anyone gives you trouble. I would definitely carry it on though, what if they lost your checked luggage or it didn't make it on the plane?

[Ellien C]

I've travelled quite recently without a baby and had no trouble at all with the breastmilk. In my case I didn't have any checked baggage, but I would definitely keep it with you.

Will you be pumping on the first day? Do you need to bring 2 days worth or only 1 day's worth? Will you be taking some back with you as well? It doesn't really matter but I wanted to make sure you're thinking about everything - what with being sleep deprived and BF and a new mom, sometimes the most basic things escape me.

Once BM starts to thaw, you should use it within a day or 2 and do not refreeze. So, the BM you bring with you will likely start to thaw. But that shouldn't

be a big worry because you will be using it within 2 days. On my return trip, I did not freeze my BM. I just chilled it and that worked fine. Then I didn't have to worry about it thawing and trying to refreeze.

I used a softsided "bottle bag" to hold my BM and ice packs. That same one they give you in the hospital where they take the formula out and say it's a BF bundle! (bad MDC mommy)

Here's the official TSA link regarding BM. I know a couple of people have had problems, but don't let that worry you. Thousands of mothers have flown without any problems.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

[bbinm]

I've been traveling via plane at least twice a month since August without baby.... we do the opposite.... I pump while out of town and transport the milk home.  I've transported over 100 ounces at a time.  I have a backpack soft cooler (bought it at Target) and use ice packs.  The milk travels well.   TSA has been fine.  Sometimes they inspect it closely (they have procedure for these circumstances and most of the officers seem well versed in it) ....... and sometimes they just let it go through without even stopping me (what does that say about our securilty?)

Have fun!