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Hawaii Babies
Travelling with breastmilk questions?
So I'm going to be traveling with K for the first time this month and want to be able to give her bottles some of the time we are there (in order to be able to get away for a few hours without baby). I know that you are permitted to bring breaskmilk through security, but does anyone know how much?
Also, how did you store it? Right now, K is taking 4 oz every 2-3 hours. I would like to bring enough milk to get ahead, in order to pump during our stay. I would BF her on the flight itself, so what's the best way to transport milk on a 3 hr flight? Bags? In a cooler? Obviously, I will want to use fresh pumped milk that has been in the fridge (versus frozen that is thawed).
Does anyone have any tips on this?? We will also be traveling on another 3 hour flight in June where I will have the same problem, b/c we are going to a wedding, and letting the IL's keep K for the night...so I'll need to have even more milk with me. Any help in this area will be appreciated!
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Re: Travelling with breastmilk questions?
there shouldn't be a limit on BM through airport security. I was once asked there the baby was when I had a cooler full of milk after 3 nights of work travel. Ummm, at home, hence the massive amounts of milk. If the baby was here I wouldn't need bottles. hah. The rest is really hit or miss as to what type of tests they do it (if any) on the milk itself. I always just go with the flow and give myself a little extra time to deal with that if needed.
As for keeping it cool I always take extra ziplock bags and fill them with ice - once at the hotel - which I dump before security and then get more ice from a food stand on the other side of security. I don't use blue ice because I often don't have access to a freezer to re-freeze at the hotels. Also had a bad experience with them once when it wasn't still frozen solid. So it's just easier for me not to deal with that too. Others on this board haven't reported any issues.
hth
The only problem I've had with BM at airports has been TSA wanting me to taste it (it was in a bottle). The ones in bags they "tested" for explosives (or whatever they test for). I don't believe there is a limit, either (the TSA website has some info which you can print out beforehand just in case you need to educate the TSA employee on their policy on BM).
https://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm
I've only traveled with BM once and it was at the end of 5 days away for work. I was traveling without Libby and had 80 oz. in about 20 Lanisoh bags then they were all in a big, gallon ziploc inside my cooler bag. I just told TSA before I went through the scanner that I had BM. I also had my pump in my carryon AND a print out of the TSA's policy on breastmilk, just in case.
They did a hand check and that was it...easy peasy.
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
BTW, they are not suppposed to ask you to do this!
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Thanks for all the responses. I think I'm going to use Lori's method of taking all my milk in bags and putting it in a larger ziploc. Lori, did you use cooling packs or ice to keep it cool? Also, did your cooler bag count as 1 of your allowed carry-ons? Since you weren't traveling with baby, were you only allowed your cooler + another item.
The good thing is I'm only worried about transporting fresh milk to our destination. Baby K will be with me, so I will mostly be BF, but want to make sure I have some extra milk to I can leave her with the grandparents and they can give her a bottle. I don't anticipate bringing milk back with me. Maybe a few oz if I pump extra when she is getting that bottle.
I heard this morning on the radio that the DJ saw a TSA agent ask a mom to taste her milk as well. Definitely printing out those regulations just in case!
Oh also, I've been hearing alot about people having issues with carrying their pump in their carry-on. Why is this? I didn't think there was anything about it that needed special treatment. I read one post saying that they required a doctors note for the pump. That seems crazy!
FWIW I have never had a problem with the pump itself in my carry on. I never declare it or remove it. I have the PISA. I usually keep it in the bag it came it and just pack that in one of my other bags. Recently I took it out and put it in the cooler bag it came in just to save room in my carry on.
As for the cooler - even on my longest trip this cooler bag has been big enough for all the milk I bring back (plus at least 2 ziplocks of ice). It's slim shape is great b/c I just jam it, my purse, and the pump bag (if it's not in my carry on suit case) into a large tote that fits under the seat. The milk storage bags fit perfectly laid flat in this particular cooler bag
You really shouldn't need all that much, I would probably just take it in the smallest cooler you have, especially if you don't plan to bring any back.