How to Make Baby Sleep We Without Breastfeeding

Vacationing Without Infant: Yes, It's Yet Possible To Go on To Breastfeed!

[Please annotation that I am Non a lactation consultant or specialist. Everything in this article is purely from personal experience and extensive research and education I have provided and learned for myself equally I have breastfed my own babies]

{This post may contain chapter links. Give thanks you for supporting the EE site at no extra cost to yous.}

I e'er thought that Lil B was going to nurse until HE wanted to terminate. Later all, we made it through the showtime few weeks of painful engorgement, the beginning months of horrible latch issues and fifty-fifty an upper lip tie. Nosotros were in a routine and I felt good knowing that he was getting the absolute all-time nutrition I could provide for him.

And so we started to plan a trip to Mexico, sans baby. Yup. I was going on vacation without baby while breastfeeding.

The thing is, Lil B was almost one year old at the fourth dimension of the trip, and then he was at an historic period where many nursing mothers would rejoice that they made it to the gloried "One Year" mark. Considering all the circumstances and obstacles of going on a vacation without baby while breastfeeding, many mamas only determine that the fourth dimension is correct or that the struggles of beingness away from your babe during a trip are hard and therefore to go ahead and wean. After all, where exercise you even start with breastfeeding and traveling without baby!?

Do You Need The Best Travel Chest Pump?

But my inner, hippy and crunchy mama felt guilty for stopping nursing just because I wanted to get relax for a long, romantic week with my husband in the Caribbean.

And then I decided to give traveling while exclusively pumping a go for the duration of the trip.
Got your babe with you? Here'south a fantastic guide to Traveling While Breastfeeding from boyfriend family bloggers, OurGlobeTrotters.

(UPDATE: I'm at present on Baby #ii and accept had to do several trips which meant pumping while away from baby. Keep on Reading to Learn How We Survived TWO i calendar week long trips and are still breastfeeding at 1 +year and how Lil B made it to 22 months even afterward a calendar week long trip!)

(Pin It For Later on!^)

Traveling Away From Breastfed Infant

The goal was to pump while traveling without baby so that I could maintain my supply enough that when I returned, we could jump right back into nursing. Going into the situation, I knew it was going to be tough. It was going to have a WHOLE lot of extra time (both before and during my trip) and that I was going to accept to make conscious efforts to actually pump.

And so if you are considering taking a trip without that lovable little baby of yours (whether you lot are leaving breastfed baby for a week or just a few days) and are afraid of how it is going to impact your milk supply or nursing relationship, here's everything yous need to know nearly pumping for and during a vacation while abroad from infant.

Planning How Much Breastmilk to Leave For Baby

Traveling without baby while breastfeeding too ways pumping while away from baby. Simply I realized that I needed to express all the milk Lil B needed while we were gone and that I needed to do that well BEFORE the trip! (Uh, Duh, LeAnna!) For me, at the time of our trip, he was still nursing iv-5 times a 24-hour interval. Therefore, doing a bit of math, I knew that being abroad from baby for a calendar week breastfeeding was going to be 4 feedings worth a day ten vii days of beingness gone= 28 bags of milk (minimally!) that I needed to leave for our parents, who would be watching him…..That's alotta pumped milk!!!

How To Breastfeed AND Pump to Stock Upwards

So even though I was nursing iv-v times a mean solar day, that didn't hateful that I was able to pump 4 times a day in addition to nursing! Therefore, it's best to programme out well ahead of your trip, how much milk you demand to go out for your infant and so that yous can pump hither and at that place, while non drastically effecting your supply (or your sanity!)

Instead of pumping all day every 24-hour interval correct earlier the trip, I started pumping twice a day about 3 weeks before leaving. I woke upward early and expressed before my baby ate. Since Lil B was a great sleeper at that age, that meant I woke up very full and had a ton of output. Mr. J isn't such a stellar sleeper, simply mornings (before feeding him) still gave me a lot of milk in comparison to other times of mean solar day, so this was an ideal fourth dimension to pump.

I also so pumped right before I went to bed (which was not equally nifty of a supply since it was the end of the day, which is naturally a slower production time). Neither of these pump sessions interfered with his regular feeding schedule and worked out cracking for me. If I were to do it all over again, I would have just washed a morning time pump for near a month before leaving, merely hey, life kinda got in the mode of that original programme!

Moral of the Story? Effigy out how much milk your piddling ane needs while you'll be abroad and programme accordingly to take a stockpile while y'all are gone.

Tips for How To Stockpile Breast Milk While Nursing

Use a Haaka while nursing. I didn't discover this AMAZING device until Mr. J was several months former and I can't even describe to you just how incredible this affair is- whether you are traveling or not! (No, I am not affiliated with Haaka at all…just a breastfeeding mom who was engorged and needed some relief!) If you haven't heard of the Haaka nevertheless, y'all simply "suction" it to whichever breast baby isn't latched onto and as you have a let down, it will suction out milk. And shoot…when yous are stockpiling, every ounce counts!!! You obviously won't get a ton out from the second side that your baby just nursed on, merely again….EVERY OUNCE folks…..EVERY OUNCE!!!

(I too really hate pumping, so using the Haaka was the perfect fashion for me to have to pump less however still become a stockpile of milk)

Have Multiple Letdowns. Our bodies are so incredible. Simply like with your baby latched and suckling, our bodies will produce milk according to demand. Therefore, even when you lot think y'all are done pumping, proceed going and most likely your breasts will accept another letdown, producing more than milk. Some moms volition take a short v-10 minute break one time they feel like the first "circular" is done, others volition just keep on, keepin' on.

Up Your Supply. You don't desire to up your supply so much that you lot take engorgement (either at domicile or while you lot are pumping while on vacation abroad from babe, only you tin can play with increasing supply slowly and minimally to meet the demands of an extra pump session or two a day.) I personally used Female parent's Milk Tea. I would just potable a cup or 2 of this a solar day. Information technology didn't create whatsoever additional engorgement and I love daily tea breaks anyway!

You can also buy lactation cookies, like these, or save some money and only make some yourself since the primary ingredients that make them "Lactation" friendly is brewer's yeast. (See below for recipe).

BONUS TIP! The lactation cookies are the perfect treat to take with yous on the aeroplane and for your trip to continue to help with supply (ok, well it'southward by and large but just to eat more cookies, am I right?)

Effort Non To Stress. For me, pumping always stresses me out for some reason. I simply don't similar the feeling of information technology, for one. I also would stress that I was not going to be leaving plenty breastmilk.

Soooo, I am not the best person for advice on this front, but still….endeavor not to stress over information technology all.

I fashion that helped me have my mind off the pump sessions was to put on a hands-free pumping bra and and then merely sit down dorsum and lookout a show. Before I knew it, I'd look down and accept PLENTY of ounces, plus watching Leslie Knope would always brand the fourth dimension pass rapidly!

via GIPHY

Did You Know: Laughing creates oxytocin in your brain, which actually helps with your letdown! Watching a comedy could actually increment your output! #Winning!!!

Travelling Without Baby While Breastfeeding: To Dump or Not to Dump…..that is the question!!!

This decision literally felt like torture!!! I could either but simply pump to keep supply up while abroad or I could pump and bring habitation all that hard-earned milk.

Many pumping moms wonder, "Can you travel with breastmilk?"

And the answer is yeah, but with A LOT of work.

Deciding if you want to keep your milk and ship it home is going to vary, situation to situation. Just the thought of watching that liquid gold go downwards the drain made my eye bleed simply a picayune. But hither's what I did for each of my trips away from my breastfed infant:

A Week In Mexico: Later re-reading all the official health guidelines for how long milk could stay refrigerated, how to keep it cold or frozen during travel days, and and so reading up on airline policies on dry water ice and what not, I decided that I was going to dump for one-half of the trip and bring home the other one-half.

Since milk tin simply be saved for nearly 3 days (before needing to be frozen) and I didn't know what access I was going to have to freezers, I wasn't going to take a chance giving contaminated milk to my baby, nor was I going to risk my milk supply. However, I did determine to keep the last few days worth of milk unfrozen and brought that abode with me to freeze as soon as I got dorsum to my house.

Leaving Breastfed Infant for 5 Days For Piece of work: When Mr. J was simply vii months old, I had to continue a work trip for 5 days (plus another two days of travel). This time, I knew for a fact that my hotel not simply had a mini fridge with a freezer, but I also contacted them ahead of fourth dimension to ask if I could have access to a deep freeze (which they were happy to provide). I decided to keep the entire supply of pumped milk from this trip and wing with it dwelling house (more than on how to do that below)

Exclusively Pumping and Traveling Without Baby While Breastfeeding for 1 Calendar week in Hawaii: This trip was dissimilar. Nosotros were going to be camping in Kauai for the bulk of our trip. This meant no freezers and no refrigerators. Different our Mexico trip, where I at least knew I had a hotel mini fridge, this trip I didn't fifty-fifty have a cooler (which I wouldn't have been comfortable with anyway). Therefore, for the entire week, I sadly had to pump and dump. Mamas- I tin't even depict how hard this was for me!!!!

What To Bring for Pumping While Traveling Without Infant

Spare Parts

Y'all know me. You know that nosotros do carry on simply in just nigh every situation, fifty-fifty WITH a baby or kids in tow. I fashion that makes this easier to do is that my personal packing policy is that if I forget something (other than, for example, my passport!), I can always become it at that place.

Didn't bring that one pair of shoes? Well, I'll merely look goofy wearing what I accept.
Forgot the contact solution? I'll get observe a pharmacy somewhere.
Left the elevation of my bikini? Find a nude beach??? Just kidding (kind of).

You become the bespeak here.

Just pump parts are a different beast depending on where you lot are traveling. If within the U.s., you might be able to discover a pharmacy or Target that will take spare bottle parts and what not. However, if you are pumping while traveling internationally, it might exist a lot harder to detect what you need or in the make that you need. Then this is NOT the time to "pack light." Yes, that most likely and inevitably ways needing to check a purse, simply 'tis the life of a pumping, traveling mama!

I fabricated certain to have more than enough of the Medela Membranes (I always lose that suckers!) and valves and a few extra bottles.

When I went to Hawaii, I actually took TWO travel breast pumps because I had read reviews of them crapping out but after a calendar week and NO WAY was I going to risk losing my supply considering a darn pump stopped working subsequently a week. (I bought two make new travel pumps right before the trip and took both. I only used this one the entire time and never opened the other, that way I could return it as shortly as I got dwelling house with Amazon Prime's return policy- Don't accept Prime? Here's a discount for a trial ).

I had registered for the Medela In Style Haversack solely for the purpose of wanting an easy traveling handbag. Sure, I could have taken out only the pump itself and saved space, but I loved that with the haversack version, everything fit so nicely and I could also keep all my spare parts and everything else needed for pumping in i, easy to employ and take with me handbag. This was especially convenient at the airdrome when I needed to find a place to pump. I just grabbed my backpack pump and everything in information technology and went on my mode.

Did You lot Know: In the Usa, a pump is not considered your carry on! I loved that I could use my pump haversack and carry it easily but too take a behave on in addition. Personally, since I hate having to lug effectually "stuff" the pump backpack actually held all my pump supplies, plus some of conduct-on gear! So, I all the same simply had 1 bag to worry about.

Batteries, Power Converters and USB Plugs

My main pump uses both a plug or batteries, which is a God-ship! The bad part virtually the batteries is that it SUCKS THE LIFE out of them, but at least it'due south something if where y'all are going isn't on the aforementioned ability supply every bit your pump. So, I took so many batteries, as backups that the TSA probably had a few raised eyebrows as they looked within my pocketbook.

You might still be able to utilise the power supply though, pending on where yous are traveling to. Check the voltage of your pump and ensure that it works where y'all are going. Either way though, I wanted batteries just equally a back up.

Alternatively, when I finally got a pocket-sized manus held battery-powered pump, this was a game changer for pumping while traveling without baby!!! It actually just used a USB string, which made packing lighter SO much easier and I just needed a backup cord…merely in case!

Extension Cord

One of my biggest complaints nigh my pump is the power cord length. I tin totally run across why hand-free pumps are becoming all the rage! The power string on my pump is about two feet. This is horribly annoying considering what comfortable sitting area or position is THAT close to an outlet!?

Needless to say, in a hotel room, the reply is none.

We had a small extension cord, like to this one, that worked perfectly for allowing me to sit comfortably on the bed, in a chair or anywhere else without feeling like I had to be stuck sitting on the floor, glued right next to the wall.

One time I got the travel breast pump, I didn't have to worry most that since information technology is battery operated.

Milk Storage Containers

I'k going to go into detail nigh this in a fiddling bit, just you lot'll obviously need something to store your milk in. I like the bags that y'all can just pump right into.

Cleaning Supplies

Depending on where you are traveling to, the cleanliness of their local water supply, as well equally what kind of lodging yous are staying in tin very well make up one's mind what extent of cleaning supplies you volition want to bring forth.

Here is a list of what I brought and why:

Quick Make clean Wipes: I've ever just used the Medela Quick Clean Wipes, since that is what I had registered for during my baby showers, but there are other brands such as Dr. Brown's. Retrieve little toilette wipes that yous can employ to quickly clean down all the parts of your shields, valves and membranes. These are ideal and perfect for bodily traveling days, like in the airport where yous can't really launder and dry the pump parts real well.
Note: Even after wiping down the pump parts with the wipes, I always practice a good rinse with clean water before the next pump session, just in example there is any soap residue. Supposedly the wipes are 100% safe, but I like to err on the side of circumspection when information technology comes to matters such as these.

Micro-Steam Numberless: These are LIFE when traveling without babe and pumping!!! I utilize these ones, which are besides from Medela, and are the accented perfect option if you lot tin get access to a microwave and need to sanitize your bottle and pump parts. Basically, information technology uses a steam function to sanitize all your parts and you tin fifty-fifty reuse multiple times, meaning less to pack!!!

Click Here To See The Quick Steam Bags

Bowl: While the steam bags are AMAZE-BALLS and super like shooting fish in a barrel, I only similar to use them in a pinch or only a few times in a row before giving the parts an actual scrub down with lather and hot h2o. So, I still like to wash and rinse my pump parts so that I KNOW they are cleaned well. Unfortunately, a hotel sink isn't exactly the cleanest surface and you lot but only don't know what cleaning products are used when they are finally cleaned out. While it'due south a pain to bring along, a bowl that all your pump parts can fit in to is the perfect solution for a DIY cleaning station in your room.

Dish lather: If yous are going to be cleaning the pump parts yourself, bring forth some dish lather. You can easily cascade some into a refillable travel toiletries bottle, like one of these, before leaving abode and and then not worry well-nigh lather spilling all over, having to take a behemothic bottle with you, or dealing with a sloppy, goopy baggie of soap.

Drying Basket: I am notoriously clumsy. So, while just laying out a towel and putting the pump parts on that to dry out would piece of work for some, I inevitably will knock stuff over in that teeny tiny hotel bathroom, contaminating the parts I just then diligently cleaned! So, while it may seem a bit overboard to bring a basket with slits to dry out in, like this, it was worth it. And since I was now taking a full on checked bag, I had the room then might besides make my life easier with convenient gear!

H2o Boiler: Well, I did not pack a water boiler, just depending on where you are traveling to, ask your hotel ahead of time if they have one available for utilize in your room. If you are concerned virtually water quality, this is a nifty mode to help ensure that the water you are using to clean your pump parts is as clean as possible. Even if the h2o is make clean, it helps to clean your pump parts with boiled, soapy water anyway to sanitize everything.

Gel Packs, Ice Packs or Dry Ice

Depending on what you accept to keep your milk cool (hopefully a hotel refrigerator or even better a hotel freezer), you also demand to recall about how to bring it home. While I'm going to become into your options in detail below, only know that while it can technically stay at room temperature for a few hours, it is always all-time to proceed your milk as cool as possible for as long as possible. I notice gel packs to work really well.

Cooler(s)

For one of my trips, I concluded up taking a normal libation bag, like this, and packing information technology full of gel packs that I had asked the hotel to freeze for me the dark before. You can use water ice packs (but they may so get wet and leak) or dry ice if you are traveling internationally on a long haul flight or for an extended period of time. If y'all go the dry out water ice route, again, check airline regulations. I just didn't want to have to deal with that, even though dry ice would probably take been the best method for keeping it frozen properly- again, more on this below.

On my other trip that I brought my milk home with me where I had way more than milk, I actually brought along several styrofoam coolers packed into boxes (for more insulation). The biggest issue with this road was that I then had an entire suitcase that was just taken upwardly by coolers and milk! This wasn't a HUGE deal, since I can pack light with just a comport on, but information technology withal seemed excessive at the time! But hey, a breastfeeding mom'southward gotta practise what a breastfeeding mom's gotta practise!!!!

I just so happened to take the styrofoam coolers at habitation. Had I not had those, I would have bought a really quality, small, insulated cooler that latched and wouldn't leak for my checked baggage. Yeti coolers are a pop pick for breastmilk storage because they keep things and so insulated and common cold. While I detest the cost tag on a Yeti, I just might hate the thought of losing all that preciously hard-earned milk because my cooler couldn't keep everything frozen.

Click Here To Come across A Small Travel Yeti

How to Store Breast Milk While Traveling: Pumping Bags or Other Containers For Milk Storage

One of my favorite pump pieces is the Medela Pump and Salve Numberless. (Geez, I should actually get paid from Medela with all these endorsements to them! I swear, this is not a sponsored mail service from them!) Yous attach the storage pocketbook direct to the pump and get going!

No transferring milk (and accidentally spilling that precious liquid!) and, more importantly, is one less thing to have to make clean upwardly.

Even so, when I was gone for about a whole week and had A LOT of milk to bring habitation I didn't desire to have to deal with a bajillion numberless of milk. Therefore, I froze the first half of the supply in the little bags but the final few days worth, I actually merely kept information technology all in a 64 oz Insulated Bottle.THIS WAS INSANELY BRILLIANT (in hindsight!- but more on that below!)

Traveling Without Breastfed Babe: Pumping and Storing Your Milk

If y'all've called to bring some (or all) of your milk habitation with you, you'll need to make sure yous are using the proper guidelines for pumping and storing chest milk. This is a chip harder on the road, but not impossible.

Ask for a room with a freezer

When you volume your room, ask if they have a minifridge (and preferably one with freezer). Simply explicate that you are pumping and nearly hotels will be pretty all-around. If your minifridge doesn't take a freezer, some volition still accept a "thermostat" inside. Crank information technology every bit common cold equally yous can (I've had my milk freeze this way!). Just call up that minifridges aren't the best, then effort to avert opening and closing it as much as possible.

Come across If You Can Use A Hotel Freezer

When I went on my worktrip and had an insane corporeality of milk to bring home, I asked the hotel if they had a freezer I could use (once more, only explicate why). About hotels that have complimentary breakfast will accept one, it'due south just a matter of how much space they have available in it.

Now, I'll admit, handing over my 100+ ounces of precious milk to a hotel staff made me super nervous. Only, it was better than non being able to freeze information technology all. I kept the milk in my room all mean solar day and merely took information technology downward in the evenings. I besides was kind of anal about it all, and brought duct tape with me and would duct tape the cooler shut so that I knew it was not existence tampered with. I likewise conspicuously labeled the libation with my proper noun and hotel room number.

Get A Portable Plug In Cooler

These bad boys are and then great. They are basically like a portable mini refrigerator that are the size of a cooler that you tin can just plug into an outlet (and some even piece of work in cars!) This is a great alternative if your hotel doesn't have a refrigerator option. Notwithstanding, information technology is heavier than other coolers (and then plan appropriately for packing purposes). Too notation that some of the more than affordable portable coolers are just for cars, but you can hands get an AC to DC converter that allows you to plug into outlets on the walls.)

Click Here To Meet An Electric Cooler On Amazon

Maintain a Schedule

The hardest part about pumping while abroad from baby was keeping up with the amount of times to pump every bit my baby would have wanted to feed at home. The affair to remember here is that you lot don't have to be exact on timing. For instance, if your babe typically feeds at vi am, just you lot are on vacay and so you slumber in until 9, don't worry virtually information technology!!! The cardinal is to pump about the aforementioned AMOUNT of times. Therefore, if your lilliputian ones takes approximately 4 feeds throughout the day, only try to hit this target.

Keep Everything Sanitized and Clean

If y'all are just pumping and dumping, information technology'south non Equally essential to make sure everything is sanitized, but if you intend on bringing dwelling your milk, follow my above suggestions to make certain that yous are within proper pumping safe guidelines.

Flying with Breastmilk

At first, the thought of taking breast milk on a plane can seem really daunting. But, later doing it several times, I am proud to say that I've perfected this pretty well! In fact, when the TSA guy says, "Wow! I wish more moms did this!" then y'all know y'all are doing it right!!

Here is exactly what I did to make the process really like shooting fish in a barrel and stress-free. I take fifty-fifty MORE answers in the FAQ section below.

TSA Breastmilk Policy

Y'all may or may not get questions from TSA (usually uninformed employees-ugh). My biggest tip is to KNOW YOUR RIGHTS as a breastfeeding mom travelling without babe.

Impress out the TSA guidelines so that yous can prove them the necessary info if needed. Here are some of the biggest takeaways though

Let Them Know Yous Have Breastmilk and Ice Packs. Before going through the scanner, simply permit the agents know that y'all have a pump, breastmilk and whatever cooling agent you lot decided on bringing. It's just overnice to requite them a heads upwards.
Put All Your Milk Supplies In a Divide Bin. Since you lot volition exist subject to additional screenings, but have all your gear and milk in a seperate bin to make everything easier.
You are exempt from the 3:1:one rule. The rules say you can bring on a "reasonable amount" of breastmilk (uuuuuh…..great specifications TSA!) but doesn't say EXACTLY how much you are allowed. Still, the moral of the story is that you tin can have containers of breastmilk that are greater than the iii.4 ounces (or 100 ml) rules for liquids in your carry on.
Ice Packs Are Allowed. Gel packs, ice, etc are allowed in your carry on for your breastmilk. I've had some TSA agents try to tell me that they had to be 100% frozen solid in order to make it through TSA. TECHNICALLY, that is NOT what it says in the rules. Still, I still strongly advise you to have them all as frozen as possible to avert whatever questioning. If your packs have gone into a semi frozen country, remind them that this is for breastmilk and show them the printed guidelines and that y'all are happy to accept them screen or test annihilation they are questioning.
Know That You are Subject to Additional Screening. Almost probable, they are going to do additional screening or testing on you and your milk and supplies. This is just office of traveling with breastmilk, so don't throw a stink (and allow for extra time so that you aren't in a rush.) They may do a strip examination on both your hands and your milk containers, if it is liquid, they may do a liquid examination, they may even do boosted ten rays. Only politely ask that they change into new gloves before treatment whatever of your containers and/or milk (since airports are incredibly germy!!!) None of the boosted testings will harm your milk though.
Your Pump and Libation Should Not Count As Boosted Bags. At least in the United states of america, your pump is not considered a personal particular and neither is your libation with your milk.

Note : The above is JUST for TSA. Await up the rules and guidelines for traveling with human milk if you are going to be traveling internationally, every bit each state may take different rules (for instance, many European countries however allow for unlimited milk, only it must not exceed 200 mls per bag and some countries crave all frozen milk to be checked.)

I recently discover that TSA has an "Ask TSA" Facebook page. It'due south pretty great to get answers to your questions and they were shockingly quick at responding!

Know Your Options for Transporting and Storing Expressed Milk For Travel

How To Fly With Breastmilk That Is Frozen

Checking Your Baggage

This option is pretty straightforward since you don't need to deal with TSA. The biggest question for me was how to keep chest milk frozen while traveling and checking my frozen breastmilk. Equally mentioned previously, a really practiced, insulated cooler with plenty of gel packs is a pretty easy way to go (and what I personally take done each fourth dimension I traveled with breast milk).

Using Dry Ice To Keep Breastmilk Frozen

Some people who are traveling with breast milk will use dry ice as a way to go along milk frozen while flying. While this is a great fashion to make sure that the milk doesn't thaw, at that place were just too many variables with using dry out ice for me to personally be comfortable using this method. For instance, where would I go dry out ice at my location? How to safely handle the dry out water ice myself (would I demand to get special gloves also?).

Too, the FAA has specific rules for dry out ice also such as

Only v.5 pounds of dry out ice is immune
Any bag that contains dry ice must exist properly vented and labeled every bit "Dry out Ice"
You must get airline approval for flying with dry out ice

Bringing Your Breastmilk Every bit a Behave On

And then while I've talked about the TSA rules for how to wing with breastmilk, there are actually quite a few techniques for actually transporting your milk dwelling. I chose to bring my unfrozen milk as my carry on for several reasons.

Expressed milk doesn't demand to be frozen for almost 3 days
Expressed milk is "ok" (not ideal….but OK) for upwardly to half-dozen hours without needing to be refrigerated. Again, this is Not the ideal, but because that once frozen milk is thawed that it must be used within 24 hours, I didn't desire to risk the milk defrosting and and then me being stuck with a hundred ounces of milk needing to be used ASAP (when I'd rather breastfeed when I become home)

Since the TSA doesn't regulate the size of the container of breastmilk, I just dumped ALL my unfrozen milk (a few mean solar day'south worth) into a giant vacuum sealed, insulated rambler, like this.

The reason? If information technology had been in 15 milk storage numberless, they would take had to individually test Every.Unmarried. Bag. Aint no body got time for that!!!

I kept my jug in a soft-sided, insulated cooler and filled up the bag with as many gel packs every bit possible to aid keep everything as cold as possible.

When I handed the TSA amanuensis my jug and said, "I sympathise y'all'll need to test this." He looked at me and said, "How come more than moms don't know to do this when traveling with breast milk!?!? This makes anybody's lives so much easier!"
Soooo uuuuh…..you lot're welcome TSA agents 🙂

The beginning affair I did when I got domicile was cascade the liquid, expressed milk into private milk storage numberless, label them, and stashed them in the freezer.

Shipping Breast Milk

If traveling with breast milk seems way also complicated and you don't want to risk anything, there are really a few options out at that place for shipping breastmilk.

There are a few companies that will ship your milk for you such as Milk Stork and Milk Expressed.

You can also FEDEX breast milk. They'll send you lot a cold aircraft package that y'all'll fill up upwardly with your milk numberless then, depending on your location, there might exist a pickup option or you lot tin drop it off at the nearest FedEx location.

If you lot can afford shipping breast milk, it is actually probably the easiest solution.

Pump Options For Pumping While Traveling

Your options here are pretty countless if you lot are pumping on vacation without baby. I advise either just using what you already have for a pump or finding a great travel breast pump. Hither are my top suggestions.

Pump Backpack. When I was putting items on my baby registry, I knew we would be traveling a lot, so I got a pump backpack from the start. I like this considering it's just actually easy to bear around when traveling.

Battery Operated Breast Pump. It took 3, yes THREE trips without babe to realize that a battery operated travel chest pump would be a adept idea. But when I finally got one, information technology was glorious!

Information technology was pocket-sized, lightweight, easy to pack, didn't need a million parts and tubes and was super easy to recharge! The only downside was that it took longer because I could but pump one side at a time. However, this besides meant that I could pump hands while sitting in the car or more comfortably in bed, and then I didn't mind information technology taking longer. This is the i that I used and seriously LOVED it!

Click Hither To Run across More Reviews On This Travel Chest Pump

What Happens To Your Breastfeeding Human relationship When You Get Dwelling house

One of my nearly frequently asked questions (and totally understandable fears) from moms being away from baby while breastfeeding is "What happened when you got domicile!?"

Many moms are actually scared about what being away for a week (or yet long) will do to their relationship with breastfeeding, and rightfully so! You've worked Hard at breastfeeding!!! You don't desire it all to go abroad simply because work (or leisure!) took you away from your baby for a few days!

For me, information technology was as if we didn't even skip a beat. All three times I was abroad from either of my boys, I came home and we picked up correct where we left off.

Now, if your footling i DID get used to the bottle while you were abroad, don't worry. You tin can ALWAYS get run across a lacataion consultant to help out, just the reality is, just the more time you lot spend with your babe, the more due south/he is going to be ready to get back to the boob! If you lot are struggling, here are a few things yous can exercise:

BABY Wear!!! (I LOOOVE infant wearing for any and all reasons!) The more you habiliment, your baby is going to exist continually smelling your milk and will re-bonding with you lot, making him/her have to breastfeeding quicker
Offer It As Much As Possible: Instead of waiting for your baby to want the boob, offering often and freely!! If Southward/he doesn't desire it right then, that's fine. Endeavor again in a little bit.
Don't Stress. Ok, easier said than done, right? Just your baby senses when you are stressing out (especially when at the breast). Go dorsum to the nuts of first to breastfeed. Sit in a tranquillity, calm room (just the 2 of yous- no distractions), get yourself relaxed. Talk quietly to your baby offering words of encouragement. Go along trying….

Other FAQs

Traveling With Breast Milk FAQs

How Exercise I Pump and Store Breast Milk While Traveling?

Virtually airports today have female parent's or nursing rooms available to pump in. If not, y'all can enquire at an information desk if they have a private room somewhere that y'all can use.

If traveling on a road trip, you can get a USB chargeable pump (or become a cigarette lighter adapter for your pump) and then that you can pump while in the motorcar.

Either way, have a small cooler with plenty of ice packs to keep your milk common cold until your destination. While freshly expressed milk can stay out for up to six hours, it is all-time to get information technology chilled equally soon as possible.

How Exercise You Clean Breast Pump Parts While Traveling?

If you take access to clean water, it can be as simple every bit using a make clean basin or basin with hot, soapy water. You can also purchase steam bags and chest pump wipes to aid sanitize pump parts while traveling.

Can I Bring My Chest Pump On A Plane and How Do you Travel With a Chest Pump?

Yes! Information technology is actually considered a "Medical Device" therefore, it should not count against your personal items. To make this even easier, you can simply telephone call your airline with your reservation number to have them put this on your record. You nevertheless might accept to explain this rule to gate agents, therefore, ask your airline to send you the rules in writing and so that you tin can only evidence anyone who is questioning you.

Can Breast Milk Go Through Airport Security?

Yes! While you most probable will have to go through additional security screenings, both liquid and frozen breast milk is approved for airport security.

How Volition TSA Check My Breastmilk?

In that location are a couple of unlike methods that a TSA agent might do boosted screening on you or your breastmilk

Additional X Rays
Hand or Bottle Explosive Swipes. There a few different ways that they may swipe your hand or bottles. It should be on the outside of whatsoever milk bottles/ gear and is typically just a small piece of material like material that they swipe over the surface real quick that they then put through a machine to test for explosives.
Examination Strips. In that location are test strips that don't actually touch the milk itself. The amanuensis will hover the strip higher up the milk and that volition give them the test they need. If you lot do non want your milk containers opened, only tell them this and they will do other testing that doesn't crave you opening your bottles.

*At NO point in time volition the TSA agent e'er need to actually touch the bodily milk itself. Nobody always needs to taste the milk as "proof" either.

Transporting Chest Milk FAQs

How Much Breastmilk Can you Wing With?

If y'all are flying in the USA, at that place is no pre-determined amount of milk you can or cannot fly with. Even so, if y'all have an agent telling you otherwise, show then the printed out TSA guidelines and (politely!) ask for a supervisor. You are exempt from the iii:i:i rule and the quart sized bags, just volition almost likely have to go through additional screenings. If y'all are flight outside the US, check with the country you lot are in, as some accept stricter rules regarding the amount yous are allowed to bring.

How Practice You Transport Breast Milk On a Plane?

You tin can choose to either check your milk in your luggage, which can be easier since you won't need to go through TSA- but ensure it is being kept common cold- or you can bring it as a behave on. It's a personal choice of what containers yous desire to keep your milk in (storage bags, larger containers, jugs, etc). I highly recommended putting any milk in multiple layers of bags and then that nothing leaks as well badly.

How Do You Keep Breast Milk Frozen While Traveling?

The easiest option is to become a high quality, extremely insulated cooler and pack with long lasting, frozen ice or gel packs. Brand sure that everything is completely frozen solid prior to travel (ice packs AND milk) and fill upward the cooler as much as possible with frozen fabric (again, more frozen milk or water ice) so that it stays every bit cool as possible inside.

Alternatively, you can besides employ dry out ice, but in that location are a lot of stipulations for this.

How Long Will Frozen Breast Milk Last In A Libation

This will depend on your method(s) for keeping it absurd. However, in one case breastmilk has completely defrosted, it must exist used (and not re-frozen) within 24 hours. It is advised to only keep breastmilk frozen in a cooler for upwards to 24 hours earlier needing to put into a freezer.

Fun Fact: If there are still Whatever ice crystals in the milk, you tin re-freeze.

General Breastfeeding FAQs

Can Y'all Pump and then Immediately Breastfeed?

This is quite an interesting topic and not to be a cop-out, I volition say that this all will depend on person to person and baby to baby. (Also, to reiterate: I AM NOT A LACTATION SPECIALIST). Most pumping Mamas typically say that try to wait about an hour to feed but to be sure, but I read once that a infant actually produces something like up to 80% of the milk he needs while he is AT the breast. What this could hateful for many moms is that fifty-fifty if you Merely pumped, your petty one can yet go a total feeding (if he'south willing to be patient and will piece of work a fiddling harder and longer).

I'm Scared My Infant Won't Take a Canteen, Volition I Ever Be Able To Travel?

This one is Hard. I know this feeling well. Some babies just don't take to bottles easily. Even so, they besides aren't going to starve. Equally soon as you lot know you are going on a trip, offset having someone else (not you!) offer a bottle once in a while. It may accept a while and it may be a challenge (Mr. J REEAAAALLY had to exist convinced to take a bottle and feedings would take FOR.Ever!) just stick with it.

Tin Your Milk Dry Up Overnight?

Brusque respond is no. Your torso produces milk upon stimulus. If you lot fear your supply is dipping, Up the pumping (stimulus) sessions and drastically increase your water intake. Both of these volition help but again, you tin can as well drink something like Mother's Tea to help give you an extra heave, too.

Why Am I Non Pumping As Much As My Baby Drinks

Pumps are Non every bit efficient equally babies. Yet, only because you are only pumping a few ounces, that does non mean that you are drying up. Continue the stimulus going and your body will continue to go the message. As presently as you are home, get that beautiful baby back on your chest as frequently as possible and all should be well.

How Practice I Know How Much To Pump If I Exclusively Breastfeed?

I had NO thought how much milk my ten month former needed or how many actual ounces my babies drank per feeding because I exclusively breastfed. Therefore, when planning for the trips, I just went off of how many times a day they fed, not actual ounces. Of grade, I tried to pump extra, simply in case.

How Oftentimes Should I Pump While Away From My Infant?

Knowing how often to pump when away from baby can seem overwhelming. But, at the finish of the twenty-four hour period, just aim for the same corporeality of times that your baby typically feeds in a day. Bonus points if you lot tin can endeavor to get to around the same times of twenty-four hours, simply that isn't essential.

What Happens If I Accept Low Milk Supply Later on Travel?

During my work trip, I knew my supply was dipping. I was dehydrated, in a different elevation and each pumping session was producing less and less. Yes, it was stressful.

I tried to increase my h2o intake equally much as my bladder would allow! I added in several more Mother'southward Milk Teas a 24-hour interval and when I got home, I spent several days doing pare to skin with Mr. J as much every bit possible, offering him the breast at whatever given moment. Inside a few days, nosotros were right where we needed to be.

Can I Re Refrigerate Breast Milk?

You can keep breastmilk for about 3 days before it needing to be frozen or used. If it was frozen and has thawed completely, it will need to be used within 24 months. Even so, if at that place are ANY ice crystals in the milk, you lot can re-freeze the milk.

Is It Necessary To Pump and Dump While On Vacation?

Chances are, if you are having a kids free trip, you may or may not be indulging in some adult libations! (Ok, well, I know I did!!!) Pumping and drinking are the same as breastfeeding. If y'all would not feel comfortable driving, then you should non continue the milk. Of grade, you lot can ever err on the side of caution and dump if you think you had too much. There are likewise handy-dandy breastmilk booze test strips that will let you know if you should pump and dump.

How Ofttimes Should I Pump At Dark While Abroad From Babe?

You lot should only pump as much every bit your babe feeds at habitation. Therefore, if your baby sleeps through the night, then mama….so should you lot!!! I will admit that Mr. J was notwithstanding nursing twice a night when I went on my work trip, but I decided to only pump once a night considering…well, #slumber. I merely tried to get a few extra letdowns and pumped a little longer than I normally would have during that session.

Traveling Without Baby While Breastfeeding: How to Nonetheless Savor Your Holiday

Ok, now that y'all are armed with the knowledge you lot need to actually make pumping while traveling possible and as easier on everyone, what are somethings you can practise to relish your trip away from baby?

(Read My Whole: How To Have a Guilt Free Vacation Without Kids Hither)

Let Get of the Guilt

Equally mentioned before, I felt guilty for non being there to keep to nurse Lil B and even more and then for Mr. J TWICE. Just then I thought near all the amazing Mamas that exclusively pump! He was still getting the best nourishment I could provide from my pumped milk, even if I wasn't personally in that location for a few days.

Schedule Pump Sessions

I literally had to set up an alert and make a conscious effort to pump. If I didn't, it made information technology way to like shooting fish in a barrel to but "do it after." And so, when later rolled around, I'd already have missed i (or fifty-fifty two!) sessions. I finally sucked it upward and told myself that when the alarm goes off, I become pump!

Merely fifty-fifty that method doesn't always work. There were many days on our trip where we were out and near site-seeing. One time I got my travel pump, it was a scrap easier to pump while out for the day (as long as I could bring a small libation with ice packs). But when I but had my Medella plug-in pump, I wasn't going to lug that around(although, you technically can!) which meant at that place were some days that I had two options:

Caput back to the hotel in the eye of the day. This sucked. Not that we were staying terribly far but it notwithstanding meant putting everything for the 24-hour interval on hold for at least an hour or then taking into account transport time.
Skip that pump and double up later. While information technology is helpful to pump around the same time your babe feeds, information technology'southward really more than important to effort to go the same amount of ounces as if your baby was feeding. Therefore, if yous are out and nigh and tin't brand it back to pump, don't stress out. Just do a longer pump session than normal when you return in addition to doing another ane later to try to become some more stimulus. For me, even with this method, I was still getting the same corporeality of ounces full for the day, I just didn't desire to brand a addiction of this method.

Tip: Schedule your pump sessions when it is easiest for y'all. For case, if you know you are going to exist out site seeing for the day, plan your sessions accordingly. You don't need to accept the pump out with you on your excursions. As long as you are pumping the same corporeality (ounces) as you would feed back home, even if it is non the same "times" as baby would normally feed, your body will become the message to continue to produce milk accordingly.

At present, equally promised, every bit if a breastfeeding mama needs whatsoever more of an excuse to eat more than, here's my favorite lactation cookie recipe

Lactation Cookies

Servings: 4 dozenTime:10 minsDifficulty=easy

Ingredients

1 cup butter
iii/4 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown carbohydrate. (Use Palm Carbohydrate for a much healthier culling)
3 tablespoons h2o
iv tablespoons flax seed
ii eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour (half "oat flour"/ half regular is best)
ane teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
three cups oats
ane cup dark chocolate chips
iv heaping tablespoons brewer's yeast
Optional Additional Ingredients: walnuts, almonds, almond butter, cashews, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, dried fruit, raisins, spirulina powder…..really anything that your hippy, crunchy self desires!

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°
Let flaxseed and water mix for 5 minutes
Foam together butter, sugar, and brown sugar (or Palm sugar) well
Add eggs and mix
Add flaxseed/water and vanilla
In a divide bowl, mix together the flours, brewers yeast, baking soda, and table salt.
Combine dry out ingredients to butter and sugar
Mix in oats and chocolate.
Dallop into assurance onto cookie canvass
Bake for 12 minutes.

After a week of exclusively pumping while away from my infant, I seriously accept a new and profound appreciation for whatever mama who pumps more than than nurses. I thought nursing was hard. But exclusively pumping??? Yikes. It takes a lot of effort!!!! So major kudos to whatever mamas that practice it!

If you lot are traveling without baby and you still nurse, then pumping exclusively during your vacation is most probable the way you are going to take to go if you lot want to continue to nurse when yous render. It'due south not impossible, it just takes a chip of noesis, effort and dedication. But your a mother! And then yous've got all that in spades!

Are you wanting to continue to breastfeed even later a babe-complimentary trip? What other questions or concerns do you have?

The post-obit 2 tabs alter content below.

Bio
Latest Posts

One-time teacher turned blogger turned mom turned full time travel aficionado, LeAnna has never been 1 to alive life by the rules. Whether she is moving to a farm in Switzerland to learn to make cheese (Yep, CHEESE), jumping off a mount to paraglide over Cinderella castles, or taking her babe all over the earth with naught but a backpack on their backs, LeAnna designs and defines her OWN life. LeAnna, her married man Andy, and kiddo, "Lil B" love to alive a minimal lifestyle, not but for the "thrill" of pinching pennies merely in order to save for traveling the world. Considering over 40 countries and 90+ cities have been explored, we'd say they are doing something correct!

collinssuposincer.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.economicalexcursionists.com/traveling-without-baby-while-breastfeeding/