Breastfeeding Questions

laurapaine2003@yahoo.com · January 2016

In July, when LO is almost 10 months old, DH and I will be heading to Key West for 5 days. A lady told me I could pump while I'm gone and ship it back home overnight on dry ice. Has anyone ever done this or heard of this? Is it as easy as it sounds? I'm sure it'll be pricey as heck. I'm utterly terrified of my supply drying up while I'm gone... plus with it being 10 months in... Just makes me nervous I'll dry up which would really devastate me that a trip would cause us to have to switch to formula. My dream is to breastfeed till 1 year then pump for as long as possible up to two years. Is it possible to just pump for those 5 days... To freeze and ship it back home to the Midwest... And for my supply to stay strong!?

jbettles · January 2016

I would start pumping after every feeding about 1-2 months before the trip and freeze it all. Give that to whoever will have baby for feedings. Pump while you are away, but I wouldn't attempt shipping. I'd question whether it stayed good or not. Even if you end up dumping, regular pumping will keep you from drying up!!

laurapaine2003@yahoo.com · January 2016

that is an excellent idea!

callistosmile · January 2016

Ask your airline. You can check a box with up to 5 lbs dry ice on a lot of airlines. You can also ship with dry ice but over 5 lbs of dry ice has to go ground. You can also just freeze it and take it with you in your luggage. It lasts 24 hours in a cooler bag with ice packs even without it being frozen. If there are any ice crystals at all it can be refrozen.

buckleyk · January 2016

I'd build up a stash before you left so you won't have to worry about shipping it back home. Like you said, I'm sure it's super expensive and who wants to waste fun vacation time going to the post office. However if you needed to do that, it's a fine idea. I looked into donating BM and they have you mail it in frozen packed on dry ice. So that seems to be an accepted shipping method.

I went away for 4 days when my oldest was 5-6 months (I can't remember) and it didn't affect my supply at all. The hardest part was remembering to pump throughout the day since we were out doing stuff. And TSA will let you carrying BM frozen or liquid if you wanted to bring it back home with you.

Dot30324 · January 2016

Pump while you are home and try to get enough to cover all feedings while you are gone. You can travel with your pumped milk by putting it in a cooler with ice packs. You can't fly with dry ice.

kaybee03 · January 2016

I read on Facebook about a woman who flew Delta and had some issues with the dry ice. I am guessing the airlines are going to be a little bit more breast feeding/breastmilk friendly now. They got a lot of criticism for it. You can probably Google it.

hakettler · January 2016

I have flown and brought a small cooler with frozen ice packs and frozen BM in it. Had no issues with TSA, they just asked if I had liquids and I said yes breastmilk, they said okay that's fine. No testing it or anything. There is a startup company that will mail you all the supplies to ship your breastmilk home when traveling. It's $99 each time!!

I have also heard you can check a cooler with dry ice and breastmilk as well, but I would get to the airport SUPER early and call in advance to make sure the employees know the rules.

Otherwise if you pump you'll be completely fine with your supply. Even if you think it's dips a little, once you get back to your babe it will regulate itself again!

Want a personalized experience?

Breastfeeding Questions

Re: Breastfeeding Questions

Choose Another Board

Search Boards