Posted by
Perthites
20 yrs ago
Hi I will be travelling to the UK in a couple of weeks and really need some advice for anyone who is bottle feeding expressed milk. I'm not too sure the best way to organise my feeds for this 13hr flight. Currently i freeze half in the gerber freezer bags and keep the current day/night needs in the fridge. I use Avent bottles and pump. What i'd like advice on is should i take my supply on frozen and just have one or two bottles which i transfer the defrosted milk into and then clean the bottle after each use? How would the frozen milk stay frozen for up 13 hrs? Also any tips on sterilsing bottles and pump? I have got some sterisling tablets but not sure how to go about it as i need boling water and something to sterilise in. Gosh i hope there is someone who has been in this situation as i'm getting a little stressed about it all, first trip with bubs on a plane as well. ANY advice is appreicated.
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If your baby is already drinking breastmilk, I think the easiest solution would be to feed straight from the breast. Is there a particular reason why you have to use the bottle? (baby not taking to breast?)
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If i could feed from the breast i would but can't hence my needing advice.
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Perthites-
I've not done this before but it sounds like it could be pretty stressful.
I'm checking my Mom's milk storage guide -
Thawed breast milk is good for 24 hours in a refrigerator and 1 hour at room temperature. My recommendation is that you take prepared bottles of breastmilk(so you won't need to sterilize.) During 13 hour flight, plus airports - i'm assuming this puts you at around 5 bottles - yikes - this IS getting complicated. hmmm...maybe not.
I'm assuming you have a latch issue so that it's difficult for your baby to feed directly from you - which is why you need to go through the complications of equipment. YOu MIGHT consider introducing a bit of formula before- that way you could do a formula feed in a pinch if you're out of breastmilk on flight...
I have this portable cooler bag - and it came with my breastpump - do you have one? mine isn't too humungous but it holds about 40 oz of milk in bottles - that may be your recourse if you are going to take the breastmilk with you.
I don't think I was very helpful - sorry - I do think for the flights only, you should consider some formula to make things less stressful on you. if you are going to do the formula, introduce it a couple of times before so your baby isn't completely shocked.
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F100
20 yrs ago
Dear Perthites,
I usually fly Cathay Pacific Airlines and the stewardess have always been very helpful.
Having said that, contact your airline and let them know of your requests...ie..using their refridgerature to store your milk.
Make sure that you get the person's name or better yet get a written letter stating specifically what you request of them. I have had experiences where the person on the phone will say "yes" to some request and then at check-in they said "no" to the same request. At least you would have proof on paper that the person in charge authorized it.
Also, consider buying a small cooler and fill it up with gel ice to keep it cool for your trip.
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Can't help directly, but I have a friend who pumps on trips for her baby back home, and keeps the milk with dry ice. It apparently keeps very well, better than it would with gelpacks.
You're going to need to pump enroute too aren't you Perthites...be sure to drink lots of water yourself, to maintain your supply. And good for you, breastfeeding anyway despite the complications.
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Thanks for your replies, i suppose keeping the milk in bottles would be easier and hkchoichoi we just went thru a trial of one bottle of formula at night and our little one just could handle it so i stopped it and she is back to her happy comfortable self now so we won't do that. The dry ice sounds like a good idea i'll have to source that her in S'pore. We are flying Qantas so our past experience has not been that positive ut i will do as suggested and call ahead.
Yes i will also have to pump i have an electronic Avent pump which i'll probably use in the toilet (yuck) as it is quite noisy. I suppose i can factoe those bottles into my trip and take less ohhh gosh not sure whether to do that either. So i will have to sterilise the pump any suggestions there? And any suggestions on routine and change of time zones? I was planning on just trying to keep to my usual routine as we are only in the Uk for 11 days.
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didy
20 yrs ago
How old is your baby? I was told that if baby drinks breastmilk instead of formula sterilizing is not necessary, especially if it's a older (than 3 months?) baby. Having said that we've always sterilized everything when we are home. I am also pumping at work these days. At work I just wash the pump with warm water and soap. There hasn't been an issue. Have you used the Avent manual pump (Isis)? I found it very portable and easy to disassemble and wash. A microwave sterilizer may also be convenient for traveling.
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Bubs i only 2mths and and yes i have avent elctronic pump and microwave steriliser but can't use that on the plane. I will wash the pump like you suggested but will only have the toilet sink on the plane to use.
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I don't think using the water in the plane's lavatory is a good idea. Your situation is a bit unique as you want to breastfeed expressed milk but can't breastfeed directly.
Ideally, what you can do is have two clean hand pumps that you can use (ie not have to clean) during the flight and supplement this with the frozen breastmilk and as many clean bottles as you can carry. Sterilizing tablets may work for a couple of washes, but I would carry my own water supply or ask the flight attendant to provide hot boiled water. If you carry an insulated cooler bag with gel pack/dry ice (or get the flight attendant to help and put it in the airplane fridge -- not sure if they would really do this), then you should have enough supply for the 13-hour flight. Of course, you still have to factor in the transport to/from the airport, so we are talking adding 90-120 minutes before takeoff and probably 240 minutes after landing for a total of almost 18 hours. Assuming a feed every 2 hours during the waking hours (and a 4-hour extended nap), you have to be ready with approx 6-8 feeds.
To avoid some stress, you may be able to check in online the night before. If you have lounge access, that's another place you can try to do some quick pump/bottle cleaning before the flight.
Actually, I am wondering if anyone has ever been permitted to use the microwave oven on a plane (does a plane even have microwaves?). If so, there are disposable microwave sterilization bags (not as bulky as a typical sterilizer) that only require a bit of water and can be reused up to 5 times. This could be another solution if you find a helpful crew member.
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TC1
20 yrs ago
I don't think you can carry dry ice on broad. They consider it as dangerous item. Cooler bag with gel pack may be a better idea. If you only need to store like 3 bottles, I am sure the cabin crew will be happy to help you.
Unfortunately, there is no microwaves in the plane. They only use oven to heat food up.
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yeah i was thinking about washing the bottles etc in the toilet again what do you think about antiseptic wipes to clean the baisn first?
TC1 i was also wondering if they would let me bring dry ice on the plane but "my thoughts" mentioned that that is what her friend does.
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20 yrs ago
For the bottles, they will stay sterilised if empty (or with boiled water) for 24hrs at room temp or in a cooler bag. They must be sealed after sterilising, do shortly before leaving ,within reason, if you need to do the night before, keep in the fridge until you leave. I used to take at least 8 bottles this way (room temp) in a plastic bag in my carryon. I would take at least 2 w boiled water, and if I needed for milk, would just tip out the water - my bubs were on formula though. It is only if they have milk inside that they become unsterilised.
I would suggest you freeze as many feeds as you would normally or as you think you need, and ask them to be stored in their freezer (they have icecreams so must have one). Just insist.
I would suggest the milk you pump to be used for the next feed, then you don't need to worry about storing that. They should be able to store in the fridge if it will be a while before the feed, or in your cooler bag should be fine. At the end of the flights if you have frozen feeds left over, they will come in handy.
For warming they just put the bottle into a little flask of hot water in their kitchen, so you can probably thaw the milk this way and put in the bottle to warm (not sure if you freeze in a sealed bag or bottle itself).
If you take some formula as backup, carry the formula separately pre-measured in those Avent 3part containers, warm the premeasured sterilised water and combine. This way, if you don't use it it doesn't go off, and you still have a sterilised bottle if you need for breast milk.
The only thing I can't think of a solution is sterilising the breast pump. I used to rinse all the bottles in the sink, but wasn't planning on using again, would just rinse and put in a 2nd plastic bag.
Maybe you can rinse and ask the staff for some BOILING water to rinse through. It may be the best you can do. You don't need antiseptic, you don't really touch the basin itself, just the running water. If the milk pumped is for the next feed it will be fine, as the milk itself is quite sterile.
Qantas are fine, I travelled with a 3 week old and they were fine. But don't take no for an answer.
It is possible it may all get too much and you need at least one formula feed - don't worry, at least use the pump to relieve yourself and keep the supply up, it won't matter if bub has one or 2 (or all) formula feeds for the flight. But keep pumping for the supply.
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TC1
20 yrs ago
I am pretty sure they won't let you bring dry ice to the plane. But of course, if they don't find out, it's okay..... They are pretty strict on dry ice. You may try as I think that is the most easiest way.
As far as I remember, they don't have freezer in the plane. They only have fridge. Can't remember how they store the ice-cream though.
Again, I
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I believe they store the ice cream with lots of ice. That is what a Cathay flight attendant once told me when he offered me melted ice cream. "Uh, they didn't load any ice today."
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Hey everyone thanks so much for using your prescious time to answer my thread and help me out i really do appericate the time you've all taken. I rang qantas yesterday and it seems i'll need to take a cooler bag but they will apparently wash my bottles!
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Hi Perthites, sorry, it's taken me this long to get a hold of my friend who used the dry ice. She flew Cathay and had no problems at all with bringing it, but the cooler (and milk) travelled as checked luggage in the hold. (She was bringing home milk she'd pumped while travelling) It didn't occur to her that one might have problems bringing it onboard, so it might be worthwhile checking with the airline on that one before assuming you can't.
She kept the dry ice in plastic bags in a styrofoam cooler and then the milk in it's own bags (I'm not sure if there was a second styrofoam container inside for the milk). One thing she did say is that the dry ice froze the milk absolutely solid. Once even for a 30 hour trip, absolutely solid. And when she was thawing it, she had to put the milk bag into another container that went into the warm water (or microwave) as the milk bag got so cold it was brittle. Obviously then, if it's going to leak, the bag needs to stay quite clean.
Anyway, her dry ice handler, who delivered btw, told her how to travel with it.
I don't know if that's for you or not. It would make things much less complicated if you could pump and then feed what you just pumped onboard. Check the La Leche League site on storage times for breast milk, as Ruth pointed out another thread a short while ago, it's longer than one might think. (I think it's longer than hkchiochio wrote above, worth double checking.)
You're a devoted mum Perthites, lots of people give up on breastfeeding with half the complications you're persevering with. Good for you, and how nice for your daughter. Hope the trip goes really really smoothly.
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Thanks my thoughts, i will look into the dry ice but you have got me thinking maybe i'll just freeze some of the milk in the bottles and use some that i pump. I just didn't want to rely on pumped milk incase for some reason i couldn't get out what i needed, you know due to being stressed or over tired from the whole flight experience. I will check with the La Leche League to see how long i can store frozen bottles in a cooler bag onboard though, good suggestion.
Thanks for your support, it's much harder feeding expressed milk what with pumping and the constant sterilising but that thats what i have to do i'm lucky i can i know some mums can't which must be hard for them. Anyway motherhood can be challenging i'm lucky my bubs is a breeze so whatever choices people make in the BF department i'm sure have been well considered.Thanks my thoughts i hope my trip goes well also maybe i post a thread when i get back and let you all know!
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20 yrs ago
In "Baby Love" by Robin Barker, storage for freshly expressed breastmilk (in a sealed container) is put at 6 to 10hours at room temp (under 26 degrees). They also say to use a fridge if available. 3 to 5 days for refridgerated.
Thawed breastmilk should be 1 hour at room temp and 24 hrs in fridge.
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