Jul 04 2008
Breastfeeding and traveling
5 years ago, when Ian was still inside my tummy, I worried about how I could breastfeed him for long. My job requires me to travel extensively. On those days when travel budget was still good, I used to travel 2 or 3 times a month.
Depending on where I go, some trips would be just 1 night, but some last for a week. Traveling to US would be 8 days due to time spent on route.
There were 2 issues that worried me. First, how to stock up enough for Ian when I am away? Second, how to store and bring back my EBMs from overseas?
I tried to solve 1 thing at a time. Since second issue won’t happen for the first 2 months (would be in maternity leave), so I tried to look for answer for storage first.
How to Stock Up Enough Before Your Trip?
My very first advice from my colleague, was to store my EBM using containers bought from Tesco/Carrefour as below:
I bought 2 packs of 6 (total 12 bottles). But, they were not useful for 3 reasons. I can’t be buying hundreds of those containers, it would be too expensive, and my aim was to stock at least 2,000oz (for my 17 days trip to NZ). Second reason is, they are not practical for frozen breastmilk. When we thaw the milk, we need to mix it well by swirling. This container actually LEAKS from the cover! The 3rd reason is, I cannot sterilize the container! It melts, of course!
Now, they are used to store other stuff. Not at all gone wasted.
My second advice received was from MMB (My Mom’s Best) breastfeeding forum. Mothers in MMB recommended the use of Playtex bottle liner.
These bags are pre-sterilled, so no worries about sterilizing them. At first, I was advised to use IKEA’s sealing clips to seal the bags. As my stock piled up (I ended up with 2 and a half freezer full of frozen milk – terrorizing my MIL’s and my mom’s freezers!), I bought so many clips – TOO MANY! Now as I think back, should have used the rubber bands. Rubber bands are cheap, and even easier to use!
The bottom left and right of the pic below shows how the Playtex liners and IKEA sealing clips ended up look like, when filled with milk. This pic were taken when I was weaning Ian. Lots of milk were ‘expired’ and gone wasted because MIL didn’t follow the FIFO (First In First Out) instruction I told her. 
Back to storage. Towards the end of breastfeeding Ian, I learnt to store EBM with Ice-cream Malaysia bag. Here is the ice-cream bags:
And here is how it is filled up (the content in this pic is NOT EBM):
These ice-cream bag is the most economical option. A bag of 100 pcs costs only RM2. Playtex liners would cost you RM50 for a pack of 125pcs. 
And you don’t need any sealing clips or rubber bands. After filling, leave an inch WITHOUT LIQUID (i.e. squeeze out the air), before you tie a knot. That’s it. If you forget to squeeze out the air, you risk creating a leak at the bottom. 
I used this a lot for my second child, Isabel.
But then, although it is economical, I have to warn you about the usage of ice-cream bags. It is important to note that, though these are food grade plastics, they are NOT STERILLIZED. I wouldn’t use this for infant before 6 months. If you decide to use this bag, don’t say I never warn you about it.
Another disadvantage of this bag is, it is VERY HARD to fill. You need a lot of practicing, unless you use a funnel. I didn’t use it coz not convenient when traveling. In the beginning I spilled a lot, but when I mastered it, I could do it with one eye closed. :p
Since this post is too long, I will cover the second part separately, i.e. how to bring home ebm when traveling?
WOW!!!! Your breast milk production can even feed another baby lah… hahaha two thumbs up for your effort. I used Avent milk storage cup with cover and they are quite pricey but practical. U can stack them needly in the fridge and write date on the cup and they can be reused even sterilize.
i love those ice cream bags too
i am constantly impressed by how you persevered over breastfeeding during your long trips out of country. Each time I need to travel out of country, I always need to come back to your blog to read up again on the tutorials on how to transport ebm. I no longer expressed bm now, but i am still impressed by your wealth of knowledge about ebm.
Thanks, very useful…
LW: Hehehe! Actually my son’s demand on milk was very high. Imagine, before 1 month old he was already drinking 4oz 3 hourly. And by 3 months he was already on 9oz 4 hourly. I was quite stressed up, kept thinking that I wouldn’t meet his demand. LOL! Worried for nothing!
jazzmint: Yes! Cheap and easy to store – fast frozen and thaw as well…
allthingspurple: * blush * no lah, all thanks to other breastfeeding moms like you and other MMB members’ encouragement. Without you all, I would have given up, long before I even started! LOL!
julian: you are welcome.
Hello…I stumbled upon your blog when I was googling for maid..:)
I am a working mom and still BF my 2nd baby. Glad to know that the ice-cream Malaysia storage method is widely use. I though I am the only “kiam-seap” mom around. Cost aside, it is the most practical way to store the milk as it doesn’t require much storage space, and is perfect the the 4oz per feed.
Will read your archive blog on BF and maid…
By the way, is your previous maid (Imas) taken up? I am desperately looking for a replacement maid. My current maid sounds like your current one and is driving my whole family up the wall!!
Vivian: Glad to have you here with us.
Hahaha! Looks like we breastfeeding moms are very kiam-siap. That is one of the motivator for me to start breastfeeding — $$$$!! :p
My previous maid is still resting at home lah! She told me she will only consider coming back, after Ramadhan! So, I will wait patiently… don’t want to sound too desperate to her as well, you know then later she ‘hang-up-up for sale’. :p
Stumble upon your gr8 blog when googling for Bumbo Baby Seat. Thanks for your great idea on storing ebm, tho I have yet to start bf, but it would be anytime soon.
Wonderful blog, like the purple colour especially.
choohk: Thanks!
Hmm… did I hear you right? You are preggie now? Congratulations! Hope to hear a good news soon. Boy or girl? Hope my blog provides some help for your bfg journey. Thanks for liking the colour. My sister hates it. She says very old-fashion. :p
Hi Suzette, ya, you got the message in between the lines. Princess, due anytime now, in fact, overdue by 3 days d… Guess we both are ‘purple’ folks
Hi, wanna ask is it only one type of ice-cream malaysia bag? Or does it have few types with different grades and quality? May I know where you buy it? Thanks…
Carmen: I think there might be more than one brand, but generally there is one type that we refer to – the long thin plastic. The brand that I bought has a king-kong in the packaging. Just RM1.20 or RM2 in neighborhood grocery shop. I think maybe Carrefour would have, but not the more westernized mega stores though.