Hey there, this question might just sound a little strange, but maybe not to some. My little sister lives an 8 hour drive away and is possibly adopting a baby this week. The baby was born just yesterday morning, and at 4 weeks premature they may still release her on Friday of this week!! She must be a really good strong fighter!! I offered to pump for her as with such short notice my lil sis could not possibly do so. I'm nursing a 3 month old and I've got lots in the freezer that I was maybe going to use if I had to wean her early due to a possible surgery coming up, but I'd delay that no problem!
SO I need to know how to get breastmilk safely frozen to my sister. Suggestions? I may be crazy enough to just drive it all down... I can hardly contain myself I want to see this baby SO BAD, but an 8 hour drive while I'm nursing is kind of insane really.
Thanks TONS!
V.
Thanks for all the advice on how to get breastmilk to my little sister's newly adopted infant. They were able to bring her home last week and she is headed up to come see us shortly!! I will be sending what I have down with one of her friends that comes and goes from here to there frequently using dry ice and a cooler!! Thanks for all the ideas, I'm really "pumped" to do this!! Ya'll came through for me again!
V.
Hi V., I was a nanny for a family many years ago and the mom would fedex me her frozen milk on dry ice. I was there waiting at the drop off and it seemed to work. Sorry
about the short reply, wanted to get this off
before bed. Good luck.
V. what a wonderful sister you are! I would honestly contact Fed Ex or UPS. I know you have to use dry Ice and ship same day - so you need to be to the drop off location when they open I'd think. I know this isn't the same, but my aunt shipped me a frozen cake once and it was awesome and was in August... good luck!
http://milkshare.birthingforlife.com/
This site has info about shipping.
Does she have a really good friend, or other family member who could meet you part way? Human Milk Banks send milk overnight with dry ice, but there are restrictions for mailing dry ice. I think I'd look at a milk banking web site (or even call one!) and ask the pros. You could also try a same day courier, and ask about transporting dry ice.
I hope your sister can work on a milk supply for herself, too, with medication, a hospital grade pump, and a lactatio consultant! Good luck.
Hi V. - You might contact the breastmilk bank for ideas as well as call FedEx to learn the policies for shipping with dry ice. They pasteurize all of their breastmilk and then flash freeze it. They have very specific regulations for shipping it.
btw- pasteurized breast milk has a very different taste than regular.
That's awesome.
Well I think an 8 hr drive while nursing is possible - you just have to plan to stop a time or 2 or 3 to nurse, that's all! I nursed many times in our car during trips (in the passenger or back seat, when stopped). When you check into the cost of overnighting something frozen, you may decide the drive is worth it! :)
Good luck and best wishes to your family.
I used to donate to the milk bank. The package for shipping milk consisted of a cardboard box lined with about 2" of styrofoam. Inside, you put two gel freezer packs and the frozen breastmilk. It was shipped overnight delivery via FedEx, and marked perishable.
Since it is actually very close (in FedEx terms) it should be easy to do. They might even do same day delivery! The big thing is to just make sure everything is very frozen when packing.
Congrats to your sister and kudos to you for providing milk for her child.
This is totally do-able. Call up the nice people at the Mothers' Milk Bank in Denver and ask them about how they have donors ship milk. I remember it involved Fed Ex and dry ice and Lansinoh storage bags because they are pretty durable, but was a lot less complicated than I expected.
If your sister is interested in inducing lactation for her daughter, there is a La Leche League Leader in Syracuse, Amy, who is experienced with the protocols and could advise her. You can get her number at www.llli.org.
I hope everything goes smoothly--what a lucky baby to have such a thoughtful and devoted auntie!
My sil adopted a baby who's mom pumped and mailed milk. It was amazing. It was always frozen solid. They shipped it through Fed Ex. I think it was overnighted. GL!
I don't have any suggestions but I think is if great to offer to do that for your sister and her baby. You are an awasome person for doing it!!
either find a refrigerated transport or get a styrofoam container and pack it with dry ice and milk. Omaha steaks does this all the time, so if you're uncomfortable you could try ordering one of the products (expensive but yummy!) and see how it's done.
Omaha steaks delivers through UPS, and they will pretty much ship anything, just box it up well because there are points in the process where they don't get human handling. I had a friend who worked there who said they will ship blood samples before they've been tested, so I'm sure your milk will be fine.
You've got a lot of great answers, but I would say if you can, get in the car & drive--I know it's a long way & you'll have to stop a lot (it will probably take you 10+ hours, let's be honest), but totally worth it! My husband and I drove with my nursing 4 year old all over new england to visit family and though there were blow outs (diapers, not tires) & lots of stops along the way, it was so great to see the family. Just bring lots of food & beverage for you! Have fun with the new baby!
Do people hunt in Eden? If so, you may have a meat packing plant nearby. They transport frozen meat across the country all the time and may have the resources to offer you a great price. Sounds crazy, but it might work.
T.
Just call FedEx or UPS, I remember looking at the post office and they don't allow it. I'm sure the cost of even overnighting it will be preferable to the cost of gas to driving it...unless you just can't wait to see the baby and have to drive there anyway. Or you can fly too. Good luck, and what a lucky sister you have.
Congrats to your sister for adopting!
And great job mommin' V., especially then offering your milk!
Here's the thing, any breastmilk could contain blood-born pathogens (like other bodily fluids) so you probably can't just pop it in the mail, would require special shipping with dry ice, sealed in a cooler. I'm sure there are ways, or services you may find online that could do that for you. (returning from a weekend away, the airport officials would not let me take mine onto the plane with me, it had to go into baggage)
I think you'd be better off taking the drive to see your sister, imagine how much fun that would be! Pulling over to nurse isn't such a big deal, just like any pit stop.
Good job!
I've gotten the Omaha steaks as gifts before -- they arrive FROZEN SOLID, so I know the styrofoam and dry ice works well.
While I'm sure your breastmilk is great -- Before you mail it check with whomever you are shipping through that you can mail human products (since breastmilk can contain pathogens it creates a potential bio-hazard if the box and what's inside get broken). I can't remember if that's one of the listed restrictions at the post office.
Good luck to your sister!
you get the best sister award for sure! We order food from omaha steaks all the time and it comes frozen. It is just mailed in a styrofoam cooler and has dry ice in it. Congrats to your whole family!
I think this is wonderful...dry ice and overnight shipping should do the trick but check with your local post office about restrictions.
I struggled with this same problem when I moved cross-country and had about 36 bags of milk in my freezer...you can ship it in a thick styrofoam cooler with dry ice, but you have to get a special permit from fedex or ups to do so and it's expensive (must go overnight). As far as I know, that's the only way to do it without driving down. If you drive, you'll need dry ice for sure (you can get it at most grocery stores).
Can you throw it on dry ice & overnight it? I'm not sure that the USPS will mail it though, might have to try UPS or Fedex for that.
Congrats to your sis & WTG big sis for sharing your extra!
Wow, what a wonderful thing your are doing!!! This is actually really easier than you think! You will have to check with FedEx and UPS for Priority Overnight Service (will be expensive but it will get there before thawing)...Be sure to ask them what their limitations are for the use of DRY ICE when they are transporting the package. With that said, the use of DRY ICE is a must. Also, you will need to buy yourself a cheap styrofoam container/cooler, available at any grocery store and I have also seen them really cheap at Wal-Mart. Pack the dry ice block on the bottom then layer the the frozen milk then top of the container with another block of dry ice. Tape cooler closed, label and get into the mail immediately.
Good Luck...Please lemme know how it turns out!
