BFers, help! So I just realized I have no idea how I'm going to do this

EMT

I am going to Vegas next weekend without kids. I will be bringing my pump but I am flying. HTH do I bring the milk back home with me? Do I put a cooler in my carryon? Do I make my friends who are driving take it home with them?

I am going to be pumping and dumping some but I'm sure there will be some that I pumped where I was not drunk!

FriskyPanda

You may want to try the working moms board.  I think there are some women over there who BF and travel for work.

sunshiny79

Can you call the airline/airport to find out if you can take it on the plane with you?

hikerbeth

Yes, you can bring it in a cooler (carryon).  I've also brought frozen solid milk (in a cooler) in my checked luggage.  As long as it's not completely defrosted when you return home, you can refreeze it.

lucyfox

Can you just dump it all?  I mean just for logistical purposes?  If you ask your friends to transport it home can I please be there to see how they react??

If supply is not an issue (like he'll have enough to last you being away, then I'd totally dump that sh!t.  The hassle to bring it back wouldn't be worth it to me.

Brideofranken

they might give you trouble if you don't have a baby on you while you're flying with the milk...idk...

I HAVE seen people check coolers...(duct taped igloo coolers) but I don't know what they contained...

good luck! and have fun!!

Zenya

I dump it all b/c I don't want to deal.  But I agree that the working moms board would probably have some info.

hikerbeth

Hmm, yeah, you may want to check TSA policy about traveling with milk WITHOUT an infant.  I believe there was some initial craziness when the liquid restrictions were first introduced.  Your airline may not know, you might have to call someone from the airport/TSA directly.

EMT

thanks ladies!

Lucy, I think he'll go through my entire stash while I'm gone so I'd rather not throw it all away

And I will definitely tell you their reaction if I asked them to do that. I told the bride that I had to bring my pump and she's like "well, just as long as you keep that milk away separate so it does not get drunk in a drunken haze" .  Mudslides anyone?

MoRoseT

Honestly, when I went on a 5 day trip without DD when I was bfing her, I pumped the entire time and just dumped it all. It pained me to do it, but it was easiest...and I had no worries about how to get it home, keeping it cold, etc.

 

lucyfox

Mmmm, mudslides

EW. lol....question...how are you going to keep it frozen during at the hotel?  

EMT

hmm...hotel probably doesn't have a mini-fridge huh? I'll check. If I end up just giving it to my friends (which I know you think is crazy) as long as it was refridgerated, it would be fine.

lucyfox

No crazy, just funny   If they don't have kids that is...my friends without kids would get skeeved by that and it would be hilarious!

I don't think all hotels have a mini fridge....hmmmm???  And there are others that have it, but it's locked until you buy something...or something like that?  

My one friend is CUH razy about bfing (you've met her)...she went to Texas for work once  and shipped her special stuff home each night via fed ex overnight on dry ice.  So um...you could ship it? 

CleoKitty

I don't know if the rules have changed, but I do know that at one point you could NOT bring pumped breastmilk with you without an infant. I've read stories about mothers who travel for work therefore overnight shipping their breastmilk back home in a styrofoam cooler with a chunk of dried ice to keep it cold.

EMT

CleoKitty:

I don't know if the rules have changed, but I do know that at one point you could NOT bring pumped breastmilk with you without an infant. I've read stories about mothers who travel for work therefore overnight shipping their breastmilk back home in a styrofoam cooler with a chunk of dried ice to keep it cold.

Dang, I guess I should have just drove. I'm totally going to have to ask my friends to take it!

SumnerBride

Can you check it?  I know it's the not the same, but going to and from Alaska, I've checked a lot of frozen seafood.  You could maybe buy a cooler there and buy some ice?  I'm kinda with the others on this one-I think I might just dump it.  It would KILL me to do it, but it is quite a hassle to ship back.

excitedchic

ive heard of some friends who fed-ex it home when they are out of town.

I think i would just use a cooler and put it in your carry-on.  I think my Medela PIS came with a little cooler that fits inside the pump. 

excitedchic

oh and you'll have to be careful about how many ounces in each bottle---remember the small liquid rule post 9/11.

Hooray2005

I don't think I could bring myself to dump it either

Personally, I'd buy a small, hard-sided styrofoam container and plan to have your friend bring it back for you, on dry ice   If you're gone for only a few days, I'd transport it refrigerated, so you can then safely freeze it for the first time when you get home.

I'd say check it, but I'm guessing the airline will charge you for it as a piece of checked baggage!  At that rate, it might cost almost as much as shipping it overnight.

Have fun on your trip!

veloelle

Most hotels will put a mini fridge in your room for an extra charge. Last time I needed one, it was an extra $25/day.

A-baybride

I've flown with BM several times, once with >100 oz. - I was NOT throwing that away!  I kept it refrigerated at the hotel - it can be kept refrigerated a week before you need to use/freeze it.  Then I put the bags in an insulated diaper bag with regular ice packs (I'm sure you could buy a soft-sided cooler that you can carry on).  I didn't want to freeze it and worry about it thawing while traveling.

Also, the 3 oz. liquid rule does not apply to BM and formula.  Just tell security what it is before you put it through the scanner.  Trust me, once you say it's breastmilk, they just rush you through!  Also, one time when we were flying, DD and I ended up going through security separate from DH.  DH was the one carrying the bag of BM, by himself, no baby.  If that got through, you should be fine!  You might want to look up the BM rules on the TSA website and print them out in case you get a newbie agent.

 

Suzie~shell

I think I remember something about the TSA reclassifying breastmilk as a "life-sustaining fluid" and that it was no longer limited as to amount. Keeping it cold would drive me crazy; but dumping it would make me cry.

March04b2b

Just to let you know I  went on a trip last month without dd and I brought back all of my pumped milk on the plane!  I just told them before hand what it was and there was no problem.  I had 4 days worth of milk in my cooler with ice packs and it was great!  Hopefully this helps, oh and I flew Southwest if it matters, but going through security was no problem!

kjunspice

From the TSA website (tsa.gov):

Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

I travel a lot for work and had no problem getting through security with breast milk - DD was not with me.  It's been a couple of years but it doesn't seem the rules have changed.  You should be fine. Have fun!