Traveling as a Breastfeeding Mother
The thought of long hours in planes, trains, and automobiles while in the midst of your breastfeeding journey can be a daunting one! From how to keep your milk cool, TSA restrictions, and the sometimes confusing list of storage guidelines to the thought of being away from your typical routine and supplies (like a refrigerator!) is enough to make some mothers shy away from travel. The good news is that there are protocols in place to protect you as a breastfeeding mother on the go, and with the right plan in place, travel is still feasible.
Storing Breastmilk on the Go
You can keep your chilled, expressed milk in a cooler bag with ice for up to 24 hours and frozen milk can be refrozen once you reach your destination as long as it has not thawed completely (Learn more about how many times you can reheat breastmilk here.).
Be sure to keep your milk in food-grade, airtight containers that are BPA free and have a tight lid to avoid spills.
Check with your lodging accommodations that a refrigerator will be available to you. Many hotels will put a fridge in your room if you call ahead and tell them you’re a nursing mom. Alternatively, they may be able to store your breast milk in a freezer in another part of the building if one cannot be made available to you in your room. It is best to keep your milk in the back of the refrigerator rather than the door to keep the temperature consistent. Check out a more detailed list of breast milk storage guidelines here.
Flying with Breastmilk
If you are hopping on a plane, it is best to check with your specific airline on their guidelines. Almost all have policies that allow for the transport of breast milk and breastfeeding while en route.
Depending on the length of your flight, you can also pump en route with a portable pump (make sure to get a battery pack adapter!).
In the United States, breast milk is exempt from TSA liquid quantity restrictions whether your baby is with you or not! Let security know that you are traveling with breast milk. Even though milk that has been x-rayed is safe to feed your child, you can request that it be screened by an alternative method.
Many airlines will also happily provide ice throughout the trip in case you need to replenish what’s in your cooler bag.
Breastfeeding Your Baby in Airports: Your Rights and Options
If your baby is traveling with you, there are laws in all 50 states that allow you to breastfeed in any public place.
If you are looking for a private space to feed in a busy airport, you are in luck! “The Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act and the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act requires all small, medium, and large hub airports to provide a private, non-bathroom space in each terminal building for the expression of breast milk.” Check the airport’s website to locate these spaces ahead of time.
If you plan on latching baby in flight, using a nursing cover or scarf may give you a sense of privacy, although this is not required.
Pumping on the Go
One of the beautiful things about the 21st century is the existence of portable and wireless breast pumps to use on the go!
Other outlet-free options that come with a smaller price tag include manual hand pumps or collection devices such as the HaaKaa. Many moms that frequently travel for work or have lengthy commutes will utilize one of these tools so they can express milk in the car or on a plane.
Just be sure you have a safe place to store your liquid gold until it can reach a fridge and wash your pump parts thoroughly as soon as you are able to prevent harmful bacterial growth in your pump system.
Shipping Breast Milk
If circumstances arise that require you to transport large quantities of expressed milk, such as a cross-country move or extended period away from baby, using a shipping service may be the way to go!
Companies like Amazon and FedEx offer the capability of shipping frozen breast milk involving a process using dry ice and a styrofoam cooler packed inside a shipping box.
This process can seem challenging and pricey so the company Milk Stork was specifically designed to make the process simple! This is a great option for international transport and I’ve personally seen it used in cases where a surrogate is pumping for a family that doesn't live in the same location as them.
Conclusion
Here at Leva, we believe in empowering mothers and not letting perceived limitations keep you from doing the things you are capable of. Whether that’s an important business trip, bringing baby across country to meet their grandparents for the first time, or a much deserved vacation, traveling as a breastfeeding mother is possible. You can still meet your feeding goals and your career goals, and we’re here to help you every step of the way!
