[*caitlinsmom*]

Yesterday, as most of us know, the TSB ordered that no liquids could be brought onto a plane in carry-on luggage, due to heightend security measures. Exceptions have been made for juice, formula or BM, IF you are traveling with a child.

But what about mothers like me, who are nursing, pumping business travelers, who don't have their child with them?

here's what happened to me yesterday at Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas. I went therough the security check point and was "taken aside" by a TSB employee who told me he had to search my breast pump bag. I told him to go ahead. At that point, I had not yet pumped any milk, but I did have a small insulated cooler with two little, frozen blue ice packs to keep the pumped milk cold. The TSB employee told me he would have to confiscate the cold packs! I objected, but he said, "well, they'll melt and then they will be liquid and you can't have them!" (keep in mind that these blue ice packs came with the pump and are factory sealed)I said, what about keeping my pumped breast milk cold?" He said, "you can't have it. You'll have to dump it." I was so upset, I was about to cry. I told him, "but you make an exception for formula?" He said, "yes." I grabbed the pump, now without my cold packs, and stomped off. I went to go pump in a rest room and called my husband, told him what happened, and asked him to give me the number for our congressional representative. I called our rep and explained my predicament to his staff. They promised to look into my issue and hopefully can do something to change the current rule. I also called the local news media in Houston and alerted them to what was going on. Hopefully, in the next few days, the TSB will announce that working, pumping mothers won't be forced to dump their breast milk before getting on plane!

I should have made that surly faced TSB emplyee (male, naturally!) watch me pump so he could verify that I had breast milk and not some dangerous liquid explosive! I'm sure it would have made him most uncomfortable!

Sorry for the length, but I needed to rant! My child's need for food trumps your little security problem!!!

:

 

[Boobs]

I'm sorry you had the go through that. I'm also sadly sure you aren't the only one. Good for you for calling your representative!

 

[JeDeeLenae]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Hopefully they'll do something about it.

 

[pumpkin]

This was the first thing I thought about when they announced the ban, what about mother's who are bringing milk home to their children. I think its dispicable. Anyone who has suggestions about what to do to get this changed, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[Mama Poot]

I saw on my local news last night that exceptions ARE being made for breastmilk. Perhaps not all airport workers have received the message? So sorry you had a bad experience

 

[TanyaS]

The exceptions are being made for the breastmilk, but she didn't have to discard breastmilk. She had to discard the small ice packs that came with the pump, which just seems silly to me.

 

[kalisis]

That stinks - I'm so sorry you had to go throught hat.

for doing something about it tho. Way to go Mama!

 

[pumpkin]

Actually, the TSA website says the exception is made for breastmilk only if you are traveling with a small child. so you can bring on milk for the baby to drink during the flight.

 

[*caitlinsmom*]

The exception for Breast milk is only applicable if you are traveling with a child! Of course, my DC was back in Austin at daycare! Basically, the TSB thinks that lactating moms might try to smuggle liquid explosives on a plane in a baggie or bottle of breast milk!

As if! Guess we nursing moms are officially a threat to national security!!!

To avoid going through this again, I rented a car and drove back toAustin, after my meeting, rather then go through airport security again. I probably got home faster too, given how bad the delays were yesterday.

 

[Benji'sMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin This was the first thing I thought about when they announced the ban, what about mother's who are bringing milk home to their children. I think its dispicable. Anyone who has suggestions about what to do to get this changed, I'd really appreciate it.

First thing I thought of too. I'm contacting my Congress-persons (or whatever they are called.)

:

 

[*caitlinsmom*]

And, please, everyone, contact your elected representative today and ask that they do something about this!

 

[Quagmire]

This just sucks

 

[AllyRae]

I'm so sorry mama....

The other thing I thought of is what if a dad or other relative was travelling with a child and the bottle of breastmilk--in order to go through security, the adult would have to taste the breastmilk in front of the security guard, and many dads and aunts/etc. would probably not want to do that....

 

[ColoradoMama]

I wonder if they realize that it's possible to take something TOO FAR. Dh said (sarcastically, of course), "So, now a woman's breasts are filled with an explosive substance? Good grief." I couldn't have said it better.

 

[MarcyC]

Maybe we need to have a "pump in" at our local airports! These people totally need an education!!!

 

[stockingup99]

I guess the measurements of rocket fuel in our breastmilk were understated.

 

[TanyaS]

 

[mamajessica]

You know, I can see that they want to "follow the rules" because that is what they were hired to do. HOWEVER, they should be willing to make some concessions. If that means giving pumping mothers airport ice packs, then so be it. The answer should not be to dump mama milk that children really need. What if it was for a newborn? Would you even be able to pump enough later to make up for that? If it was me, that answer would be no.

 

[Elowyn]

That's horrible. I'm worried about the pumping & travelling (from here to Vietnam) in my future, fortunately not for a few months.

I'm sorry you had to deal with that $#&#%.

 

[rozzie'sma]

What crapolla. It's pretty easy to tell if breastmilk from a bomb.