The Bulletproof way to Pump, Pack, Fly and Travel with your Breast Milk without your baby

To all my breastfeeding moms out there - traveling without your baby is hard when you’re breastfeeding. What do you pack, how do you store it, how do you get privacy in public, should you freeze or not freeze your milk, and most importantly how do you get your milk home safely. I have been on a few overnights nearby without my son, and 4 plane ride trips- 2 international. 16 months in I feel like I have a bulletproof system down. 

This post is going to focus on international travel, because that’s what I think most mamas need the most help preparing for. I took my first international 5 night trip without my son in 2023, he was only 5.5 months old and I was still pumping 25-30 oz a day. I knew I had to fly with all my pumping stuff, be able to pump on a long flight, come up with a way to freeze milk at the hotel, and be prepared to fly home with a 5 day supply of milk. I read every article, called the Paris airport about the airport policies, emailed Milk Stork, and made an entire google doc to refer to. Shout out to my girlfriend, Kristen, who didn’t mind that our travel doc for her 35th birthday became a doc centered around my breast milk plan. 

Here is what I learned preparing for, and whilst on that trip and others. 

1. You can call the airport of the country you are traveling to, but a lot of the time they DO NOT have clear policies for breastmilk when you are traveling without your baby.
2. You can never be too prepared, bring the extra stuff you think is ridiculous to pack.
3. Be open, and crystal clear with people who you need help from- stewardess, hotel staff, drivers, etc. 
4. It’s not awkward to tell people you are pumping or carrying breast milk, and if you feel awkward you’re going to have to get over it. You’re going to have to tell people if you want things to go successfully. 
5. Confidence is key. You are a mom doing an amazing thing for your baby, if someone gives you a hard time or makes you feel awkward, go ahead and make them feel awkward/give them a hard time back. 🙂

While my first international trip to Paris went mostly well, and overall I was prepared, there were a few snafu’s like the hotel staff freezing my milk crooked even though I specified MULTIPLE times it needed to be flat. Unfortunately because of this, I had to throw out a few bags that defrosted when I got home.

This year when I went to Italy I made myself a packing list and set up a system that was 100% bulletproof. 

What to pack:

• Pumping supplies:

1. Pump and Pump Charger
2. 2 sets of pump parts-  flanges, tubing, pump bottles, backflow protectors, duckbill valves, 
3. Portable Pump- I have an Elvie- truthfully I don’t like it and don’t use it but it’s more for peace of mind in case something happened to my Spectra.
4. Travel Adapter 
5. Power Converter for Pump (every pump is different so make sure to look into this for your specific pump. I did not need this for my Spectra.) 

• Apple airtag- I put this in my checked milk suitcase on the way home. 
• Medical Equipment Luggage tag - this helps people know you are carrying a medical device. When you go through security in the airport let the nearest airport staff know you are carrying a pump and pumping supplies in the bag. Once I’ve told people that in the airport, they’ve never asked me any questions and not once have I even been asked to take it out of the bag. 
• Nursing cover or travel blanket - help with privacy wherever you are pumping
• Clear set of zipper bags- I use these to hold all of my various pumping supplies in their own little bags, so when I need something it's easy to grab just that one thing. 
• 4 Ziploc Gallon Bags- these are great to have on hand if you ever need ice on the plane, in a restaurant, etc. 

*The rest of the supplies below I’ll explain in the freezing your milk section.

• Milk stork - The Freeze and Check
• Small Baking/Cookie Sheet 
• Non Toxic Chalk Markers 
• Pack of Blank Labels 
• Fragile Stickers
• 4 glass mason jars (8 oz)
• Mini Cleaning Rack 
• Non toxic dish soap 
• Mini Cooler 
• Pump Backpack 
• Freezer Sheets 
• Lanisoh Milk Storage Bags

How to pump on the airplane:

1. Wear an outfit that is looser fitting, preferably an open oversized cardigan on top for privacy. Have your pumping bra on so you don’t need to change bras on the flight.
2. Write down your pumping schedule before you travel. Are you going to pump in the airport before you board the plane? How many times do you have to pump on the plane? Do you have to sneak in an extra mini pump before you land to accommodate for your travel to where you are going?
3. Book a window seat, especially if you are traveling alone. If you are alone- when you get to your gate, ask the airline staff if the flight is fully booked and tell them you are pumping and ideally if the seat next to you can be empty that would be great. On my way to Italy the seat next to me was open and I did this and the airline staff said to me, I’ll make sure to keep that seat open! So helpful, and so nice!
4. If you’re not alone, I still recommend the window and then whomever is traveling with you can sit in the middle and be your pumping buddy. Tell them when you are going to pump on the flight because trust me it’s helpful to use their tray as well as yours. Shout out to my husband and my friend Kristen, who held my milk while I repacked my bag, got out my ice packs, cooler, etc. Airplanes are already so tight as is, and trust me they are all of a sudden tighter when you need to pump. 
5. When you are boarding the plane, tell the first stewardess you see you will be pumping on the plane, and if you are going to need something ask them. I always tell the first stewardess and if I am going to need ice, I ask them then. I have found this is so helpful, usually the flight attendant will ask for your seat number and will check in on you and make sure you have what you need. 
6. Pack your nursing cover, or travel blanket in your pumping backpack. 
7. When you’re going to pump, put everything else you have out away and make as much space as possible. Then, take out all your pumping supplies and set your pump up, and put your nursing cover/travel blanket over you. Then put your flanges in and do your thing. 
8. When you’re done pumping, put your pump and all supplies away first. Then pour the milk into your mason jar, label it with your marker on top, and put it in your mini cooler.

*If you’re on a long flight, try to wait to pump until after drink and meal service. If you can’t when the flight attendant comes by, ask them to hold onto your meal and drink and that you’ll come get it when you’re done.

*Keep your pumping backpack under your seat, you don’t want to have to be getting up and going in the overhead bin every time you need it. 

*I have an upright cooler, so once I put my milk in, I like to keep it separate from my backpack by my feet. 

*If you need ice, wait to ask for ice from the flight attendant until you’ve actually pumped. Once you get it, let them know when you’ll be needing it again. It’s easier for them and many times I’ve had flight attendants bring it to me proactively which I’ve really appreciated, or for shorter flights where they don’t have a ton of ice, they’ve held onto some for me. 

*Cleaning your pumping supplies in between pumps- NEVER use the water from the airplane bathroom. It says not to drink the water for a reason- use bottled water to clean with non-toxic soap and your mini cleaning kit.

Pumping on the go in public:

In both Paris and Florence I was able to time most of my pumping sessions around my day where I could pop into the hotel for a quick 20 minute pump and then go back out so I didn’t have to carry my pump and pumping stuff with me. There were excursions though like our wine tour day in Florence where I was going to be gone from 9am-6pm, which meant 3 pumping sessions at least. 

1. If you’re going to be out for the day, without returning to your hotel room, bring your Skip Hop mini cooler with 2-3 mason jars + 3 ice packs, your pump + pumping supplies, your nursing cover/blanket, marker, water bottle, and mini cleaning kit. 
2. Map out your day, times you need to pump, and decide where you are going to pump. In a car? On a bench? Does the museum or restaurant have a little room you can pop into for 20 minutes?
3. When you are ready to pump, the same instructions apply as above for on the plane.  Throw on your nursing cover/travel blanket over you. Then put your flanges in and do your thing. 
4. When you’re done pumping, put your pump and all supplies away first. Then pour the milk into your mason jar, label it with your marker on top, and put it in your mini cooler. 
5. Clean your pumping supplies with bottled water, non-toxic soap, and your mini cleaning kit.

*Pro tip: try to pump while in transit. For example- on our wine tour day we were in a car service so I pumped the last 20 minutes before we arrived at the winery. That meant I’d never have to pump at any of the wineries and could leave all my pumping stuff in the car with our driver and didn’t have to lug it around. 

What you need to do to freeze your milk and travel with it:

Okay, so my recommendation is always to freeze your milk. Even if it's a 2 day trip, I find traveling with frozen milk is way easier. Liquid milk can leak or spill, etc.

First and foremost, once you book a hotel, call them immediately and let them know you’re a pumping mom and you’ll need a refrigerator in your room, and the ability to use their kitchen freezer to freeze breast milk. I promise you, you are not the first person to make this phone call, and it's better to do it upfront because some hotels don’t have mini refrigerators in every room and only have a limited amount to put in rooms for medical reasons. Ask them to put it on your reservation and then ask for the reception email and send a confirmation email after your call. “Hi BLANK, I just spoke with NAME, and he/she confirmed I will have a refrigerator in my room and the ability to use the kitchen freezer for my breast milk. Thank you.” 

Next step is packing your supplies. I like to do this a week in advance so if I need something I have time to either go get it or order it online. Below is what you need specifically for freezing your milk and transporting it home safely.

• Milk stork - The Freeze and Check. This is expensive BUT I have used it multiple times, and if you’re in the US you can carry it on with frozen milk. If you’re international you can check it as luggage (with an apple air tag inside). This will hold 90 oz if you follow instructions, so if you need storage for more than that you could either buy a second one or consider the Stash Shipper. Personally, I’m already paranoid enough about checking my milk under the plane I am on, so there is no chance I would ever drop it off at FedEx and hope it would make it in 24 hours when I am abroad. 
• Small Baking/Cookie Sheet - this is the HACK I want to share with everyone. When I went to Paris and my milk was frozen incorrectly, I was upset and my friend was trying to calm me down- she said next time bring a baking sheet. GENIUS. I brought the smallest one I have at home that can hold 6 bags lying totally flat. Yes, technically I could have asked the hotel for one, but my thought process was I don’t want to rely on the hotel for my own supplies. When I got to the hotel, I labeled my cookie sheet with my name and room number (blank labels + chalk markers). The first day, I brought the cookie sheet down with 4 bags on it from my travel and explained to the front desk. All I said and all you need to say is
• “Hi, BLANK- I called ahead of time to let you all know I would be freezing breast milk while I am here. To make it easy for you all, and to ensure it's frozen correctly I brought a cookie sheet to lie the bags on. It’s crucial that this cookie sheet is put in the freezer flat, with nothing on top of it, or it will not fit in my cooler and will not be able to get home to my baby.”
• I also gave them another small bag with my 3 freezer sheet ice packs to keep frozen. That way when I needed those I could just go grab that small bag and be on my way. I cannot tell you how nice every single person was to me at the front desk. Each time I would go down with more bags and explain, they completely understood. When I had new bags to be frozen I asked them to bring the tray out to me, I’d lay new bags where the frozen ones were and move the frozen ones into a bag that would go back in the freezer. Honestly, something that may seem absurd- packing your own cookie sheet to go on vacation, made my life easier, the hotel’s life easier, and ensured the milk was frozen correctly. Plus, the hotel staff and I had many laughs over it- after a day they all knew me and knew the protocol. I don’t get embarrassed so for me it was fun to ask if this was the most unique request they’ve gotten. I had one of the security guards say absolutely but that it was brilliant! 
• Non Toxic Chalk Markers - okay these markers are a game changer. I use them to label everything in my home, and they wipe off really easily with water as well so they are not permanent. I use them to write on top of my breast milk mason jars, the lansinoh breast milk bags, and on blank labels. 
• Pack of Blank Labels - Label everything that is yours when it comes to pumping/breast milk. 
• Fragile Stickers- I use these to seal the Freeze and Check Milk Stork box on the way home, and I put 2 of them outside of the bag itself. 
• 4 glass mason jars- These mason jars are my favorite, glass absolutely keeps milk fresher longer so I prefer to keep fresh milk in these jars until I transfer to the lansinoh milk bags for freezing. 
• Mini Cleaning Kit- this mini cleaning kit is perfect for a hotel bathroom sink so you can clean your pump parts and bottles in between use.
• Non toxic dish soap - I pack Betterlife Unscented dish soap in a mini 3 oz travel bottle.
• Mini Cooler - I’ve tried a few of these and I keep coming back to the Skip Hop grab and go double bottle bag. You can fit 4 small bottles or 4 6 oz mason jars plus 2 ice packs. Sometimes I even stuff a small ziploc of ice on the bottom. I’ve traveled with this for 18 hours with 4 mason jars and 1 6 oz lansinoh milk bag and no problem! 
• Pump Backpack - I’ve tried a few bags/coolers to trek on a plane with my pump/pump supplies and this backpack is my new best friend. The bottom fits your pump + the mini cooler for your milk. The rest of the bag has a bunch of pockets for the rest of your supplies, and I can even fit in my laptop, Ipad, and nursing cover. 
• Freezer Sheets - these freezer sheets are the best because you can travel with them and make more ice packs as you go if you need them. All you have to do is dunk them in a sink of water they fill up and then you can freeze them. What I like is you can make skinnier ice packs OR fill them to the max and make larger ice packs. 

It’s very important to note that in all of my international travels I was in places where the staff spoke English. If you are going to a country where they do not speak english, or you are just worried in general about communicating effectively I recommend to come prepared with the appropriate translated language around anything you want to communicate effectively. You can also use google translator in person. In Italy I had no issues, but in Paris I did have to use google translator once as the person behind the front desk one day did not speak any English. We got through it and it was no issue but remember it’s your responsibility to communicate what you need. 

I hope this blog post was helpful! While this can be a stressful thing to prepare for- it can also be so rewarding if you follow the above. For my most recent trip it was seamless, didn’t affect my travel at all, and my milk is home safely for my baby so that we always have a freezer of milk. 

If you have any questions, please comment or reach out!

xox CF aka Freddie’s mama ♥️