Traveling with Breastmilk - Need Help!!

You are at the whim of the TSA agents, and to anyone, 25 bags is going to be considered excessive. I would bring whatever amount you will need for the flight and wait times in the airport and then double it in case of flight delays, etc. (you may even want to make a little chart to stick in the bag that includes feeding times, flights and your rationale - because if you double it, they could consider that excessive).

When I traveled without my daughter for work, I pumped while I was away and Fedexed milk back to my husband in a little cooler with double ziplocked ice-packs. This worked very well. I'm not sure what the airlines restrictions are for checked coolers and ice. The problem is less one of lost luggage or the wrong destination (although this can happen too), but of the airline rejecting or disposing of the package due to its "unknown liquid" contents (which would include both the breastmilk and the ice). I know when they first put the new restrictions in place, the seafood and fishing industries were really hurt, people couldn't bring lobster home from Maine, or tuna and other big game fish home from Charter fishing trips. I think they solved some of the issues by packing things with bags of frozen corn or peas instead of ice, but since the breastmilk is itself a liquid, you would definitely need to check with the airlines before checking it as luggage.

Maybe you could make some more attempts at getting her to nurse for some of the feedings before your trip. Otherwise, I would ship the milk. Good luck!

What I was told, when I traveled without my son, but pumped while there, is that it wasn't the duration of the flight, but the duration of the trip, and if the amount seemed reasonable. How big are the bags? I was gone for 3-4 days and brought back around 100 oz (unfrozen). They didn't bat an eye at it. I just told them that I had breastmilk in the bag, they looked at it, and passed it through. Are you going to continue to pump while you are down there? I would suggest taking a supply that will get you through the first week or so, and then continue to pump to supplement the second week. That will give you a head start if needed, and you can take the rest home with you. Good luck!

One thought I have is to have your daughter's pediatrician write something out. If it's doctor's orders (and they can call to verify or it's on the doctor's stationary), I would think that they would HAVE to let you bring what you needed. I would definitely check into that. Maybe get that from the Dr., then talk to the TSA agent and let them know that this is a medical issue.

My other thought would be to ship it, using dry ice or freezer packs. I know you said you don't want to do this, but if you go through a UPS Shipping Store (or similar pack n' ship store whose specialty is shipping), I bet you it would ship just fine).

You have received very different advice from each person. I will tell you what I did just so you know.

I was traveling away from my little one. I pumped and put the milk in the hotel freezer. (It was a really cool hotel!) When I was going home, I packed the frozen milk tightly in a soft-sided cooler in my suitcase. It was over the weight limit by 6 ounces. I told the agent that it was from breast milk, and I showed him the cooler and its contents. He let it go through. A few hours later, I picked it up at the other airport and all was fine.

I have done a LOT of traveling. I have only ever had one bag get misplaced, and the airline shipped it to me within a day. Because of my past experiences, I would estimate what the baby would eat, double that, and carry that with me on the plane (or at least past security!!!), and the rest of it I would put in my suitcase.

Would it be possible to pump while you are away. If you don't pump enough while on vacation, your supply you produce will drop rapidly. I did it the complicated way....but while we were driving on trips, I had a hand pump and I pumped as the baby needed it and handed it back to him....Of course I kept covered up with a blanket so no cars passing would see what I was doing. This may not work for you, just a suggestion incase you can't get the milk on the plane

Is it possible to bring a few bags of frozen milk and to pump while you're on vacation to replenish what your 5 month-old needs that way?

Generally, you can only bring the quantity of breast milk that the child will consume.

I used to sell insulin and other injectible medications that required refrigeration. Our company would ship the materials to us via overnight carriers, so it's possible to have them shipped. You'll just need a styrofoam box and disposable ice packs (to save on weight). It may be costly, but it's an option. It would be worth looking into (at least calling FedEx, UPS, USPS) to see if it's less expensive than checking something similar.