Frozen Breast milk on plane?

[blessedby3]

I am traveling on Allegiant Airlines in Jan. with my DD3 mos. She will not take formula, but will take pumped breast milk. I really dont want to take my breast pump so I was wondering if I could take frozen breast milk in a bag with ice packs- Im talking about maybe 12 bags of milk (frozen in playtex milk bags). I wont be using any on the flight as it is 1 1/2 hours and I can nurse her on the plane if needed. I just wanted to have some for at Disney in case Gmom keeps DD in the room some nights.

 

[tjmw2727]

You can definately take it - here is the link to the TSA site that addresses bringing breast milk and formula onboard. I would print out a copy and bring it along just in case.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

However, the problems when they do arise seem to be with the quantity and what is considered a "reasonable amount". As with everything else its subject to interpertation, some folks have been able to bring as much as they like while others were not allowed to bring more than a few bottles.

Honestly, in case you get a grumpy TSA agent I would consider bringing the pump just in case.

Good luck -
TJ

 

[Jaymie]

I'd wonder about taking ice packs, aren't they just gel inside? Some milk would probably be ok, but I don't think they'd let you through with the ice packs.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Could you pack just what you need to make it to Orlando and put the rest with the ice packs in your checked luggage? Helps with the ice packs and the reasonable quantity problems.

 

[n2mm]

I'd wonder about taking ice packs, aren't they just gel inside? Some milk would probably be ok, but I don't think they'd let you through with the ice packs.

No problem with the ice packs as they are allowed for the purpose of keeping an allowed item cold. Our last trip with the grand babies was in August 07. 2 year old was on meds for an ear infection and the medicine had to stay cold. We had the freezer packs in the bag, no problem. Baby sister was 3 months old and we had freezer packs in the thermal bag for her formula, again, no problem. This was out of Dulles. Also no problem with the freezer packs on the way home either with the forumula. This info is outlined on the TSA website.

 

[tjmw2727]

I'd wonder about taking ice packs, aren't they just gel inside? Some milk would probably be ok, but I don't think they'd let you through with the ice packs.

There is an exception for ice packs if they are necessary to keep medications, breastmilk or formula cold.

TJ

 

[blessedby3]

thanks for all the helpful advice. I think I may just put it in the checked luggage as I wont need it on the flight. I never thought of that!!

 

[allyphoe]

maybe 12 bags of milk (frozen in playtex milk bags). I wont be using any on the flight as it is 1 1/2 hours and I can nurse her on the plane if needed. I just wanted to have some for at Disney in case Gmom keeps DD in the room some nights.

Frozen-and-thawed breastmilk is generally considered to have a pretty short shelf life - like 12-24 hours post-thaw. I personally would be hesitant to refreeze partially thawed milk, particularly if the freezer available to me were one of those mini-fridge ones. So for me, it wouldn't be worth taking frozen milk down with me, and I'm pretty lax about storage - more than once I fed my DD EBM that had been in the fridge for 8 days.

Fridged never-frozen milk I might carry with me on the plane with gel packs, and store in the hotel fridge.

 

[NotUrsula]

I was just going to say the same thing; don't freeze the milk! It has a longer shelf life when it's just chilled, and it is much easier to keep at that temp with ice. Chilled milk will last up to 8 days, while thawed frozen is only good for 24 hrs at the longest.

Also, IME the Playtex bags do NOT hold up for transit; they leak like a sieve under the slightest stress. The Lansinoh bags are MUCH MUCH better for this purpose; worth the extra money. Here is what I did on our recent road trip so that baby could eat while I took my turn at driving: I used the Lansinoh bags and chilled the milk, and put them in a flat rectangular plastic food storage container so they wouldn't get crushed and leak (they also store so compactly that way.) Then I put the container in a 16-can-sized soft cooler surrounded by double-bagged freezer baggies of ice, which are easy to refill at hotels or fast-food restaurants, even gas station drink stations. I kept two bottles in the cooler, too, since this was a car trip and that made it convenient to fill the bottles.

You will want to carry on the milk. Checking it frozen and keeping it that way requires that it be hard frozen first in a deep-freeze, then boxed in special packaging with dry ice; expensive and a major PITA since you're not forced to do it anymore by TSA. Besides, since the TSA will give you a pass for chilling the milk, you can go ahead and fill the rest of the cooler with lunch for the flight. As to the quantity, don't worry about it; if TSA argues just point out sweetly that at this time of year you are worried about getting stranded on the plane; they really can't have an answer for that.

 

[wdhinn89]

I'd wonder about taking ice packs, aren't they just gel inside? Some milk would probably be ok, but I don't think they'd let you through with the ice packs.

Gel icepacks are fine. I have used them to keep my sons insulin cold on many air trips.

 

[karliebug]

This may be a silly question but if you are breastfeeding, why would you need to bring all that expressed milk? One of the things that I loved about breastfeeding is that I always had it with me, at just the right temperature.Oh, and my husband says that it already comes in such lovely containers. I'm not sure that they'd let you bring 12 packages, probably only enough for the flight.

 

[tjmw2727]

This may be a silly question but if you are breastfeeding, why would you need to bring all that expressed milk? One of the things that I loved about breastfeeding is that I always had it with me, at just the right temperature.Oh, and my husband says that it already comes in such lovely containers. I'm not sure that they'd let you bring 12 packages, probably only enough for the flight.

The OP mentioned in the first post that she would like the option of having Gmom babysit on occasion.

They are now allowing breast feeding moms to bring breast milk onboard even when not flying with the baby so the limits on "reasonable amounts" may not apply. Personally I would just pack the pump!

TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

Fact is, human milk retails for over $20/ounce. Any mom who would be freely willing to trust that to anything less than fully insured air cargo would have to have rocks in her head. Someone at TSA *finally* used some common sense and realized that most moms who would be transporting breast milk would NOT be travelling with the baby, and besides, if you're lactating you're transporting it anyway; it's not like you can stop production. I can leave home empty-handed and arrive at a destination 8 hours later with 26 ounces of bottled milk.

Most TSO's have never breastfed, mostly because of being male, but even the women are clueless, IME. I'm sure that it seems an entirely reasonable idea to most of them that a baby could not be breastfed on a plane (in public close quarters with strangers), though we know that's total nonsense.
Use the ignorance to your advantage. If you have a right to breastfeed on a plane you would reasonably have just as much right NOT to, and to carry any bottles baby might need, just as a formula-feeding mother might.

I fly frequently with children, and my rule is ALWAYS CARRY 24 HOURS WORTH OF *ANY* FOOD/TOILETRIES/MEDICINES/CLOTHING my child *might* need, plus a change of clothing for the adults. There is no way of knowing when you enter an airport just how long you will be there, and especially just how long you will be on a plane. I've sat on runways for hours times past counting, and I've been thrown up on as a consequence when it happened in summer. I've had children develop the runs and need twenty diapers for a 3 hour flight. I've left home for a 30 minute flight to Chicago and not walked into Midway Airport until 13 hours later. You just don't know, and TSA doesn't know either. No one knows, and 24 hours worth of food and supplies *IS* a reasonable amount for air travel, in any circumstance.

 

[Ham Ham]

The TSA protecting airline passengers from themselves.

Up here in Canada we don't mess around and taser folks at airports. A real embarrassment for the Mounties. No one will be accountable I'm sure.

TSA hard at work checking "suspect"

 

[alyssa810]

This may be a silly question but if you are breastfeeding, why would you need to bring all that expressed milk? One of the things that I loved about breastfeeding is that I always had it with me, at just the right temperature.Oh, and my husband says that it already comes in such lovely containers. I'm not sure that they'd let you bring 12 packages, probably only enough for the flight.

I'm going through the same thing- to pump or not to pump, to bring powder or ready mix formula, or to just whip it out and nurse on the plane!!

 

[blessedby3]

OP here again. Thanks again for all the helpful advice. Like I said, I may need to leave the baby a few nights with DGM and would need some milk since DD wont take any formula. I dont mind nursing anywhere so on the plane would be no problem and Im sure I will nurse at takeoff/landing. I just wanted to be able to already have the milk and not have to take the pump and have to worry about pumping at the hotel. I was meaning 12 4oz bags of milk to have over the 10 days we are there. I agree with the PP about always having it there, right temp., etc., but when the baby wont take formula sometimes you have to have it pumped- if you ever want out on your own My other 3 kids always took formula too so this was never a problem. I was finding it intresting, though, that other posters said that pumped milk would last longer if it was just refridgerated instead of being frozen. I have never heard/known that and Im on my 4th kid!! Guess I wasnt paying attention somewhere along the line. Are you guys saying that if I pump milk, it will keep in the fridge for 8 days, but if I freeze and then thaw it I only have 24 hours? Thanks again to everyone for the help.

 

[NotUrsula]

Are you guys saying that if I pump milk, it will keep in the fridge for 8 days, but if I freeze and then thaw it I only have 24 hours?

Yep. That's what we're saying, though a max of 7 days is optimal. Frozen milk that STAYS frozen has a long shelf life (even 6 months if you're keeping it in a real 0-degree deep-freezer), but once you defrost it you have to use it within 24 hours, tops. Like I said, ensuring that it stays hard-frozen in transit is a major hassle requiring special packaging and dry ice -- not worth it, IMO, unless you are a business traveller bringing milk back home to baby.

If you are there for 10 days, you could get away without the pump if you limited your nights away from the baby to the first part of your trip. Otherwise, it might be wise to bring the pump, because unless you're sure that baby will be getting fed by bottle at some point every day, you're probably going to end up wasting some milk. Personally I practically get hives anytime I have to dump milk -- you may be more comfortable with that.

PS: I should note that those are the La Leche League recommendations for storage. The US CDC is much more conservative. They say that chilled milk can keep for 5 days, but that thawed frozen milk must be used within ONE HOUR. (http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/travel_recommendations.htm) Personally I've never known anyone who managed to stick to that standard, but everyone I know makes it a point to use thawed milk the same day it's thawed.

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks Notursula for the info. I am like you and dont want to waste any breastmilk- its liqued gold, especially when the baby wont take formula!!!

 

[Tara]

Are you guys saying that if I pump milk, it will keep in the fridge for 8 days, but if I freeze and then thaw it I only have 24 hours? Thanks again to everyone for the help.

Yep. Breast milk naturally inhibits bacteria growth, which is why it lasts a good amount of time refrigerated. But when you freeze it, you kill the properties that make this possible, so the thawed milk spoils much more rapidly.