TTMA flying with breast milk

[lildiamondeyes]

I'm flying to Alabama in two weeks. I'm taking baby with me but currently pump twice a day for my older kids consumption. I would potentially be flying back with 80ish oz. Someone please tell me it's super easy!

[jules1614]

It sounds like you won’t need the milk in flight right? I pumped during a vacation and froze it. The hotel brought a mini fridge/freezer to my room for free when I said I needed it to store breast milk (normally they charge $50/day to have one). I brought a very small cooler and freezer pack and just packed it in my checked luggage. It stayed frozen the whole time- a 4ish house flight (plus getting to the airport early- probably 6-7hrs total?). I did not check my pump either on the flight out or back because I didn’t want to risk it getting broken or lost.

[lildiamondeyes]

jules1614, Nope, I wont need it mid flight. We will have a freezer in room at the hotel. I didn't think about packing it in my check bag. So that makes things easier.

[Nymeria]

They are supposed to let you bring a cooler with the breastmilk on the flight with no issue, but I've heard horror stories from my BMB/FM mom groups that if packing it in your checked back is an option, I would definitely recommend that.

[moutonrouge]

If you don't mind the price tag, Milk Stork is an option. Basically you're paying for a cooler and special cooling pack that you can carry on, check, or have Fed Ex'd home. Some folks at work use it and thought it was a great option.

I've flown a few times with a small soft-sided cooler, ice packs, and about 25 oz in my carry on. The additional screening takes about 20 minutes at security (if you're okay with opening each container for them - if you aren't, it may take longer as you'll need a pat down). They're very strict about the ice packs being frozen, though.

[wells2010]

I was literally going to post a similar thread today. I'll be flying without baby though and bringing back a weekend's worth of milk.

I think I will have about 120 oz of milk or so to bring with me home. I'm a bit worried I might run out of cooler space.

[lildiamondeyes]

I just passed through TSA with my milk. I had no issues whatsoever. I admit the horror storis had me worried. I'm pleasantly surprised with how easy it was.

[bootsorhearts1]

I used to travel with pumped milk all the time. Took dozens of flights and never had an issue. Had some TSA people look at it weird but thank goodness none ever tried to open a bottle or mess with it in any way.