Traveling while breastfeeding can be an overwhelming challenge for many mothers. The difficulty of maintaining a milk supply while away from your baby is a common concern, alongside the logistical nightmare of pumping multiple times a day, locating comfortable spaces, and transporting milk home. For mothers who travel for work, the stakes are even higher. They must strategically plan ahead to ensure they have enough milk for their little ones, which involves packing a cumbersome pump and all necessary storage materials, as well as finding reliable refrigeration for the milk they produce.
The added complexity of navigating airport security with pumped milk can be daunting. While airlines are legally required to allow breastfeeding mothers to carry their milk on board, the process can often be fraught with unnecessary complications. It’s enough to make any mom feel overwhelmed just thinking about it.
Emily’s Journey
One mother, Emily Johnson, was determined to find a solution to this problem. In 2016, when her twins were just eight months old, she faced the daunting task of traveling for four days for work, all while ensuring her boys continued to receive their breast milk. “I was dedicated to breastfeeding my twins for at least a year, just like I did with my first child,” Emily shared. The thought of missing out on that commitment due to work was not an option.
Emily quickly realized that she needed to devise a plan to ship her milk back home. Unfortunately, she found no simple solutions available. “I had to figure out how to freeze enough milk in my hotel room, which was nearly impossible with the small fridge they provided,” she explained. The additional stress of sourcing shipping materials and dry ice without a rental car only compounded her challenges.
Despite these obstacles, Emily managed to navigate the trip successfully. She pumped extensively before her departure, continued pumping during her travels, and somehow squeezed all that milk into the tiny hotel fridge. Ultimately, she transported over two gallons of milk back home, but she knew there had to be a more efficient solution for mothers like herself.
Creating a Solution
Upon returning home, Emily was determined to create a more straightforward option for traveling breastfeeding moms. Thus, she founded a company called Milk Express. Launched in 2017, Milk Express specializes in providing all the necessary supplies for moms to ship their breast milk home hassle-free.
The service includes specially designed shipping boxes, milk storage bags, shipping seals, and clear instructions on how to use the system. Each box is equipped with a cooling system and comes with pre-paid shipping labels for overnight delivery. Mothers simply drop off the box at a shipping center or arrange for a pick-up at their location.
While this service may not be accessible for every breastfeeding mother (with prices starting at $79 plus shipping), it’s a step in the right direction. Some employers even cover these costs, although that is not universally the case.
Even though there remains considerable work to be done to ease the burdens on traveling breastfeeding mothers, it’s inspiring to see innovators like Emily take proactive steps toward real solutions.
Further Reading
For those looking for more insights into the world of motherhood, check out our post on artificial insemination kits and explore the Wikipedia page on artificial insemination for comprehensive information.
Conclusion
In summary, Emily Johnson’s journey underscores the challenges faced by traveling breastfeeding mothers and highlights the importance of innovative solutions in supporting their needs.