My Experience:
In March 2023 I had 3 days away from my Breastfeeding toddler travelling from Perth to Melbourne. I was going to need to pump 3 times a day during this trip so took my manual pump and milk storage bags with me. I don't have great success with a pump and no longer pump regularly. The expected small amounts combined with the expected hassle of esky's, ice etc, I decided to donate the milk while there. Weeks prior to leaving, I posted on a Victorian donor page- I have donated through the WA equivalent many times. I found a lady willing to come in the small window I would have between a pump session and hotel check out. We were all set to go until this mum and babe ended up too sick to come. I did post in more pages but had no response so decided to fly the 300ml of milk back with us. An issue with the hotel room freezer had me freezing the bags flat in order to have them freeze at all. This is a usual freezing trick to have bags defrost faster so I was already nervous. We ran to Kmart to grab a lunchbox esky bag and got back to the hotel minutes before check out time. Flying Virgin airlines I googled their requirements and found milk must be in 100ml lots, up to 1L total- but no information on icebricks. However we did not have time to freeze a brick anyway. I asked hotel staff to have the milk in their freezer until we were getting in the taxi to the airport. They were great with this and had it bagged and tagged so no one would accidently take it. They did ask me to agree that they were not liable if anything happened to it since they do not usually store items in there freezer. Staff did come across very supportive and helpful though! After check out we had to stop for some handmade chocolates and were given a little bag to stop the chocolate melting. i ended up adding the milk inside this in the esky to hope it added protection. Upon arriving at the airport I was expecting to open the esky in security. I put the pump in the bag so it was a little more obvious that yes it was milk. But going through, there was a pause while the tray was looked at under the scanner, I waited to be pulled aside... then nothing. We went through without being asked to open anything. During the wait to board I checked the bag and felt the milk already defrosting. When we got on the plane we asked for ice from the drinks cart and filled the bag. I did ask staff at the gate if they would have anywhere on the plane it could be stored and was told yes to somewhere cold, no to anything as a freezer. On board though ice was the only offer. By the time we got off the flight the ice was dripping out the bag so a quick bathroom break to pour the water out and taxi home. In the end the milk was out of a freezer for about 6-7hours and had completely defrosted but was cool enough to be usable. Since my kids wont drink it in bottles that fast, I made a smoothie- of which it wasn't all drunk. If I did travel again my preference would be to donate locally, as I had originally planned. My second option would be to possibly donate when home to a baby that could drink the defrosted lot immediately. However most of the inconvenience of bring it home was not being organized to take the milk with us so had I planned to bring the milk home it may have been a better option. Upon arriving home another article I found said up to 2L can fly, if it is UNFROZEN and coolpacks are fine to fly. It is best to check with the airline direct before flying. My flying tips: Keep your pumping on your own 'local time' if possible Freeze the bags upright Minimize time out of freezer- this may mean taxi over public transport Use the smallest esky size Take an ice brick or ask flight attendants for ice if needed Place the ice in a ziplock bag Check with your own airline if they have a breastmilk policy or recommendations Facebook Donor Pages: Human Milk for Human Babies- (Your State) Eats on Feets The Australian Breastfeeding Project Local Lactation Consultants or Birth Workers When Arriving Home after separation from a BF baby: Child may want to cluster feed for supply and comfort Back to Breastfeeding basics- skin to skin, cuddles and kisses. Keep an eye on Mastitis symptoms that may come Breastmilk Policy: www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/travelsecure/travellers-with-specific-needs#:~:text=You%20may%20only%20take%20expressed,20x20%20cm%20or%2015x25%20cm).
0 Comments
|
Archives
October 2023
CategoriesAll Birth Options Birth Partners Birth Positions Birth Stories Building Your Birth Team Independent Midwives My Pregnancy |