Traveling - Bakersfield,CA

You CAN ship breastmilk! I was a surrogate and pumped for 5 chilren, shipping weekly via FedEx. Pump and freeze normally. You will need a styro cooler and dry ice (several mainland grocery stores carry it). Be sure to put a paper bag around the ice or it pokes hole in breastmilk storage bags (personal experience). Pack it all in nice and tight, ship "next day" and viola! I would check with FedEx on what the most current requirements are for this kind of thing since things seem to change overnight. As for arriving safely, a friend shipped over Sept. 11 and all mail was halted when the trade center fell. Her shipment arrived 3 days later and the mil was still solid. Defrost it in warm water just like at home.

You don't have to check your bag in at the counter. If you get there with plenty of time, go through the regular security line and let them x-ray and search your bag/cooler. Then, you can pack it back the way you want it. If it is packed in something larger than a carry-on or you have more than two carry-on items, you can gate check it. This means as you go to the gate, tell them that it is your breast milk and that you need it tagged so it is waiting for you on the jet bridge. This way you don't have to carry it on to the plane and you don't have to worry about them losing it. Definitely call the airline first though and see what they recommend as your best option.

Call the airline you are traveling with and ask them directly. With all these new flight regulations, you're better safe than sorry. They should be able to guide you as what to do. They may even have a special label or something that it can be marked with. Just keep in mind, any adviece you get otherwise may be out of date if it's based on expierience more than a year ago.

Hope your trip goes well! -Janell-

If possible, store up as much milk as possible. Last month, I went to San Diego and the airport people were actually very supportive. Just in case, I had my pediatrician right up a note saying how my baby really needed the breastmilk. I had my Medela pump, the coolers go thru security w/o any issues. On the way back, I had my coolers, the pump, and frozen milk. No problems. Call the hotel in advance to request a small fridge w/ freezer compartment.

My breastmilk was able to freeze in half a day, so you can bring the extra coolers, freeze everything and then pack them in your suitcase and then the unfrozen one, bring them on as carry on.

You cannot "mail" or ship your breastmilk without it going bad.I have never known any woman or any company that will ship breastmilk from state to state. Start pumping like MAD and freeze as much breastmilk as you can before you leave - buy a can of formula to leave with your mother just in case the breastmilk runs out (she can always mix breastmilk and formula halg and half to make the frozen breastmilk last longer, and that way, your baby will still want the breast when you get back.
Pump while you are away to keep your milk production from decreasing, but just pour it out after you've pumped.

If you are flying with your baby you can bring the milk on board. You should check with the airline you are flying to see if they have a restriction on the amount.
S.