Flying while breastfeeding can be stressful, especially if you’ve never done it before. The first time I traveled with my baby as an exclusive pumper, I was so nervous about how I would manage pumping breast milk on a plane. Where should I pump, and would anyone notice? Is there anything special that you need to do when flying with a breast pump?
Here’s what I learned, and what you need to know about flying with your pump, traveling with breast milk, and pumping breast milk on a plane.
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Flying with a breast pump
TSA breast pump policy is that breast pumps can be carried on or checked. However, I would recommend that no matter how short your flight is, if you are flying with a breast pump, carry your pump on.
Some airlines will consider it a medical device and not count it as a carry-on.
You can google “<your airline> breastfeeding policy” – here’s United’s as an example – and see if you can confirm the guidelines for your airline. If you find a written policy, screenshot it or print it out and bring it with you just in case there is any confusion at the airport.
Even if your flight is only an hour long, or if you have a serious aversion to pumping in an airport, or if you don’t have room for it with all of your other stuff, it’s still a good idea. You never know when your flight will be delayed or if your bags will be lost.
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How to fly with breast milk
Breast milk is considered a medical liquid that is not subject to other restrictions on quantities of liquids, and you’re allowed to carry on a “reasonable amount.”
TSA security
When you go through the security checkpoint, take the cooler out and send it through the conveyor on its own. Tell the TSA screener that you are traveling with breast milk.
It’s common for TSA to open the bottles and test the milk; if you don’t want them to do that, you can ask them to use “alternate screening procedures.”
Make sure to screenshot or print out the TSA guidelines and bring them with you in case there is any confusion with your screener about the rules.
If you’re really nervous about bringing breast milk on the flight, consider using TSA Cares.
Keeping your milk cold
The easiest way to keep your milk chilled is usually with a breast milk cooler and an ice pack.
Breast Milk Coolers
If you’re keeping your breast milk cold with an ice pack, make sure that the ice pack is frozen solid when you leave for the airport. I have had TSA screeners want to treat a thawed ice pack like a liquid, which is a hassle.
Another option is to bring a baggie to put ice in (you can ask for it at restaurants inside the terminal or from the flight attendant).
Much more on how to travel with breast milk here.
How to pump breast milk on a plane
If you decide to pump on the plane, in most cases, you can pump in either the restroom or your seat. Again, if your airline has a policy on their website that explicitly states this, print it out and bring it with you.
Pumping in your seat
To pump in your airplane seat, pull everything that you need (for example, pump parts, caps for your bottles, wet/dry bag, your pump, hands-free bra, and your nursing cover) out of your pump bag.
Note: If your pump doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, you will probably need a portable battery pack.
Breast Pump Battery Packs
Then, put on your cover, set up the bottles and pump parts (it’s good if you pack your pump parts already put together and attached to the bottles ahead of time in your bag, so that all you need to do is attach the breast shields to the pump parts and start pumping), and start the pump.
Fortunately, it’s unlikely that anyone will be able to hear the pump due to the noise of the plane. Just act like you know what you’re doing (fake it until you make it, if necessary)!
Pumping in the plan restroom
The other option is the plane restroom.
You may want to wait until there isn’t much demand for it, and have everything ready to go ahead of time so that you can be as quick as possible. You may also want to let a flight attendant know what you’re doing.
If you’re nervous, you can also check the the breastfeeding policy for your airline to make sure it’s permitted (for example, United’s policy explicitly states that it is).
Feeding your baby on the trip
In most cases, if you’re exclusively pumping, it will make sense to feed your baby freshly pumped breast milk so that you don’t have to warm bottles.
If you do need to warm milk, you can ask the flight attendant for a half full cup of hot water and put the bottle in that for a minute or two to warm. (Be careful not to burn yourself!) You can also use a mobile bottle warmer like Baby’s Brew.
Portable Bottle Warmers
Pumping breast milk on a plane with your baby
If you’re flying with your baby and will need to pump, here are a few scenarios and some options for handling them.
Scenario #1: You are flying with another caregiver
If you have another caregiver, like your partner or another caregiver, this is the easiest scenario, as you have someone else to hold the baby while you pump.
You may want to pump in the airport before your flight (in addition to or instead of pumping on the plane). If so, check to see if your airport has any Mamava pods that you can use.
On the plane, you can pump in your seat or the restroom while the other caregiver holds your baby.
Scenario #2: You are flying by yourself, and your flight time is less than you would usually go between pumping sessions
If you’re alone and have a shorter flight, you may be able to just pump in the airport before your flight and then after you land.
Again, you can check for a Mamava pod. If one isn’t available, you could find an empty gate and pump there with your baby.
It’s a good idea to be ready to pump on the plane in case of a delay, but hopefully it won’t be necessary.
If your baby is a lap baby, it may be easier to pump while holding her with a manual pump vs an electric one.
Scenario #3: You are flying by yourself, and your flight time is more than you would usually go between pumping sessions
In this scenario, I would strongly recommend buying a seat for your baby.
In most cases, the best way to handle this is to get your baby to sleep in her car seat and then immediately pump in case she wakes up before you would expect.
If it’s a really long flight, it might be a good idea to pump every single time she falls asleep in case she gets fussy later and you don’t get another chance to pump. If your baby won’t go to sleep or you aren’t able to get a seat for your baby and you get desperate, see if you can find another mom or grandmotherly type to hold the baby while you pump. It might not be ideal, but it’s not like they can run off with your little one.
Planning to travel? Make your trip so much easier – grab the Pumping Travel Planner for $9!
Have you had to pump on a plane or fly with a breast pump? Share your experience in the comments!
References
- Transportation Security Administration. “Traveling with Children.” https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children#quickset-traveling_with_children_1
- Ewen, Nick. “What You Need to Know Before Carrying on a Medical Device.” https://thepointsguy.com/2017/09/tips-carrying-on-medical-devices/