Feb 23 2007
Travel with EBM
After the recent bomb scares using milk bottles, my breastfeeding journey is getting more and more difficult.
Last year returning from Chicago was already challenging, but still manageable as I could check in the frozen ebm (expressed breast milk) with dry-ice (as in frozen CO2). All my other trips last year within Asia was okay, without liquid ban policies.
But then, just as I started traveling again this year, my first trip was faced with my first liquid ban, when I returned from Manila.
I least expected this, and didn’t get myself prepared. Luckily the way I traveled allowed me to immediately check in all my luggages and ebm, and luckily it was a short haul.
How did I do that? I normally travel light with only half of my luggage filled with clothes (even for 4D trip). Nowadays, to transport my ebm, I carry 2 small cooler bag/box. I put one cooler box inside my other half of luggage bag. In that cooler box, I line the sides with ic packs.
Just in case my chilled ebm leak, I put them all into a big ziploc bag, before putting them inside the cooler box.
I do the same for the cooler bag, to keep chilled and fresh ebm, and I usually put it on top of my luggage when I drag it on its roller. Of course, I couldn’t do that any more. All were checked in.
Remember we had an aircraft problem returning from Manila? My flight was longer than it should be, and I had to express onboard. As I have checked in my cooler bag and box, I had nothing to help preserving my freshly expressed bm. I took the air sickness bag, filled it with ice cubes, and dump my fresh ebm inside.
An hour before landing, I changed the bag and topped up with new ice cubes. Even the water proof air sickness bag also leak due to prolonged usage! 
As a result, I did not waste any drop of ebm! All were transported home.
I think as a nursing frequent travel working mom, I am trained to be very creative in all my ways to bring ebm home. 
My next 2 trips would be more challenging, and I really hope I can bring all my milk home. Pakistan and Houston…
Hi not sure if you remember me – this is Doris. ONly came to know about your blog fr shoppingmum. Wow… looks like your traveling schedule hasn’t slowed down since your first boy. But you are ever so persistent and dedicated – good on you. just dropping by to say hello. Keep in touch!
I definitely agree on being creative when we try to bring home our precious EBM. What we will do to ensure that our little ones get the best from us!!
doris: sure I remember you. I still remember the lotions you shared with my kids.
Thanks for visiting my blog and left a comment. Do come back often.
busy bee: Yup. I’ve made the effort and I won’t regret it for not doing enough for my kids. Until now, she has not tasted any cows milk.
hi suzette, i’m new to breastfeeding. Got a question to ask you, how can i transport frozen ebm back from a 6hours drive journey? Should I be purchasing dry ice? If I travel via MAS/AirAsia, can I just check-in my frozen EBM (pack in my suitcase) ? I don’t want to express and dump these precious liquids. Thanks!!
June: Thanks for leaving your comment here. In your case, if it is road journey, it would probably be much easier as you can stop by easily.
The first thing you need is to estimate how much milk you will get from the trip.
Then, you need to buy a cooler box with the right size, and spare a little for ice.
Depends on whether you bring back frozen or chilled ebm, you may want to consider wrapping them with newspapers (for frozen ones), then wrap all of them in a thick towel before you put a lot of ice cubes on top of them in the cooler box. Drain the water (from ice melted), and top up with new ice cubes along the way.
If it is frozen ones, actually I would think dry ice (frozen CO2) is more lasting or it might thaw a little. But it is really a big challenge to buy CO2 here. So I think it is fine if you use normal ice cubes, with proper wrapping and topping up along the way.
If you take flight, you can check-in, but you need to buy those ice-bricks, and do the same wrapping. I do notice that wrapping helps a LOT!
Hope this helps.