Flying with Breastmilk

flojo973 · October 2014

I have a business trip coming up and will be away from DD for 4 days. I don't want to stop bf'ing so I will need to pump while I'm away. And since my supply is already crappy, I would like to bring as much BM with me back as possible. The hotel room has a fridge but not a freezer. So my question is - would the BM still be good if I try to refrigerate an ice pack and bring it back in an insulated cooler? Flight is 3 hours and factoring in travel to and from the airports and getting to the airport early, I would estimate about 6-7 hours that the BM would be un-refrigerated (but in the cooler with the refrigerated ice pack). Thoughts? Advice?

Savvy122 · October 2014

I would say you should be fine. I store my pumped milk in a cooler with an ice pack each day at work for just about that same amount of time. No issues.

tbmadeamistake · October 2014

I also vote fine. You could also get one of those ice packs you fill with actual ice and just get it from the hotel ice machine.

irenewslee · October 2014

Thanks @flojo973‌ for this post! I have the exact same question too!

Also is it ok to bring BM with me on the plane even though i am not flying with my baby? I am wondering if I need to send in my lugguage just for that.

lest12 · October 2014

You can bring it through security, @irenewslee.

Taymiller · October 2014

Currently traveling and I have a little cooler with this Rubbermaid freeze and re-use gel thing pictured below. TSA had no problem with it.

lest12 · October 2014

https://www.tsa.gov/traveling-formula-breast-milk-and-juice

It says ice packs are allowed...? That doesn't mean some agents aren't jerks, but I would use one.

Taymiller · October 2014

I thought it was going to be harder to fly with breast milk but it was super easy. They make you take it out and out it through the scanner by itself and then put it in a machine to test it, I took like 5 extra minutes. Patting down the stroller took the longest, breast milk was easy.

RedMar · October 2014

@kaysa2‌ - I remember you talking about this...

lest12 · October 2014

mullenem said:

lest12 said:

https://www.tsa.gov/traveling-formula-breast-milk-and-juice
It says ice packs are allowed...? That doesn't mean some agents aren't jerks, but I would use one.

Good to know - it's been 3 years so things could have changed or the info I was given was wrong?

@mullenem -- Who knows? The 'rules' are one thing but sometimes the agents will use their discretion...I wouldn't be surprised if some agents didn't allow them because they felt like it was the right thing to do. Or just wanted to be a jerk.

Jenn111211 · October 2014

I was also able to bring an icepack on my last flight.

lest12 · October 2014

emotionlotion said:
I was able to take the ice pack on my recent flights. Sounds like there is a lot if discrepancy here! I know it's a hard job but the TSA should really get their shit together.

I work at Logan and they are so miserable, unhelpful, tough on everything. I connected in Houston once and it was a totally different experience. Polite, helpful, easy-going. I was shocked.

And before anyone else says it, I'm sure it has noooothing to do with Boston versus Southern attitudes in general, lol.

CoUnTryBB1 · October 2014

I just flew from DC to CA for 4 days. I never froze any of my milk and baby boy didn't accompany us. I pumped right before I left and froze that milk. I pumped as soon as I landed in LAX. I just had a igloo cooler with me and I filled it up with ice from a gas station.

Once I got in the hotel the fridge made me nervous becuase it didn't seem cool enough. I filled the ice bucket up and kept it full in the fridge and put milk in it to get colder at first. When there were too many I just put the older ones in the fridge since they were cold cold by that point. The fridge didn't have a freezer. I filled up my cooler at Starbucks before getting to the airport becuase it was convenient and they were super nice about it.

It took about two minutes for them to screen each and every single bottle (I had over 8 - 10oz bottles). Your cooler will be counted as a personal bag though so keep that in mind if you are not checking bags. Your pump is a medical necessity.

I also pumped in the airport because that is just the way the timeing worked out. It was super wierd but I had to because I was taking the red eye back to DC. All of my milk was still really cold when we got home. I used that for daycare the next few days and froze what I pumped at worked.

catsinawindow · January 2015

I have 2 kes broken on m computer so excuse he poor spelling. I'll r 2 use spellcheck 2 fix when I can.

I have flown with breast milk, a pump, icepacks, ec. Breasfeeding iquids count as medical liquids (even without babe with u) so u can bring more han he 3 oz limit. Icepacks are fine, frozen or hawed for medical purposes (and cooling breas milk couns as a medical purpose).

I's grea here is a fridge for u 2 use 2 chill ur milk. As for he ice pack, I would sill freeze i if ou can. Ask he hoel if he have a freezer ou can use o freeze he icepack in before ou leave (if u ell hem i is for medical purposes he are usually more han happy o help.) I have done his on a number of occasions when a fridge wasn' available in he room. As an alternative, bring some ziploc bags and fill with ice 2 pack ur milk before u leave.

Regarding pumping in an airport, see if u can find a "family bathroom". these are larger with a private sink and oule (place 2 plug in he pump). Grea for pumping! Also make sure 2 bring a baer pack so u can pump in a regular bathroom stall if needed. No all airports have family bathrooms.

kayzilly · January 2015

I just flew and the TSA agent made it very clear that the ice pack (blue rectangle from target) had to be rock solid frozen, if it wasn't they would take it.

kayzilly · January 2015

Traveling is a pain, but it is worth it and doable! If your hotel room has a fridge, it probably has a tiny freezer compartment that works for an ice pack. Also, a microwave is a bonus if you use steaming bags. Next, look up the TSA rules for breastmilk. Print them and have them with you. Tell them you have a medical device and on the way home tell them you have breastmilk. They are annoying, but accommodating. They have been sued so many times that they are trying harder. Always carry your pump with you - it is a medical device and doesn't count as a carry on. When packing your pump bag you will need empty bottles with lids (I pumped into the 5oz medela, but transferred milk to big 8oz bottles at hotel to carry home), battery pack with extra batteries, a cover (might need it?), extra nursing pads, and a cooler with frozen ice pack ( MUST be frozen or TSA won't let you have it). I put a large soft-side Medela cooler bag, 8oz bottles, and a big ice pack in my checked luggage on the way there. Continued...

kayzilly · January 2015

I have the Medela tote bag and used the little cooler and the ice pack that came with it for the flight there. Do you have a direct flight? You may need to pump on the plane, depending on how long you've gone since last pumping. Be sure to tell the flight attendant if you choose to use the restroom to do this - I had one banging down the door and making a scene an she later scolded me that I should have told her what I was doing. Anyway, pump and store in your room fridge during the trip. I know some recommend freezing in a freezer at the hotel, but I could have never kept mine frozen on my trip home, so I kept it all cool and froze when I got home. Like I mentioned I eventually (after cool) transferred to large 8oz bottles for ease of carrying back, but be warned the TSA has to laser test large quantities. I then packed up the milk in the larger cooler I had packed with the big blue frozen ice pack ( I got at Target). I think I brought 50oz back. I also had my little 4-5oz bottles in my pump bag for the way home so I could pump and store during the trip home. The large cooler bag does count as a carry on, so FYI. Tip: with airlines charging for bags, carry on space is becoming rare. I was really concerned I wouldn't have my pump or cooler close to me in the overhead, so I explained to the gate agent my concerns and asked if I could board with those with "special needs" and they let me on both legs of my flight. This way I could be sure my pump and milk were close and I could keep an eye on them (i.e. Make sure someone didn't tip them over, jam them hard, etc.). I hated pumping on the plane, but had 3+ hour flight, so I had to. I dumped that milk, but needed to do it to prevent leaks. Finally, don't forget to pack ziploc bags, soap, bottle brush, and steam bag.

kayzilly · January 2015

Oh, and I you don't have a direct flight - look up the airport you have a layover. I called mine (Salt Lake City) and they had "infant care rooms" off of the women's restrooms - where there was a chair and a plug in so I could pump there. Most airports have at least a family bathroom you could use.

sm623 · January 2015

@kayzilly‌ If I'm reading this right, my pump bag/supplies won't count as a carry on so I'll be allowed it plus a carry on?

I'm getting ready to take a week long cruise which involves a flight on both ends of the trip, so any travel advice is appreciated. LO will be going with me.

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