Air Travel With Baby

As we look forward to the up-coming holidays, some of you may be considering air travel with your baby.  Fortunately, traveling by air with a breastfeeding baby can be very easy.  Mothers who are comfortable with direct breastfeeding in public places will find traveling to be a breeze!  Nothing extra to carry except, perhaps, a blanket or nursing cover-up!  (See Hooter Hiders or Bebe au Lait for some ideas.)  Mothers who prefer to bring bottled milk will be happy to hear that going through airport security has become much less of a challenge than in previous years.  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security has modified its rules for bringing breast milk, formula and juice through the security checkpoints.

Basically, breast milk is now considered to be in the same category as liquid medication.  (How very appropriate given its healing properties!!)  It is exempt from the 3-1-1 rule.  Carry-on is permitted in bottled quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoints.  The TSA screeners will inspect the milk, however, they will not ask mother or infant to test taste it.  The passenger may be asked to open the bottle(s), and contents may be tested for explosives.  I’m not sure how that is done, but I cannot imagine it would be harmful in any way.   If you are traveling with a large amount of milk, it might be better checked in a suitcase and packed in Ice.  For more information, here is the direct link to the TSA’s webpage on Traveling with Formula, Breast Milk, and Juice.

Some of you may wish to bring your breast pump along on your trip.  Although breast pumps are permitted, the TSA gives the following notification:  “Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.”  I am not aware of anyone recently having had difficulty carrying on a breast pump, regardless of whether electric or battery operated.  The TSA allows travel with dry cell batteries in carry-on or checked baggage.   If you will not need to use your pump during your trip, consider packing it inside your checked or carry-on luggage.  It will be better protected and less at risk for damage.

One final note.  Flying with an infant poses the possibility of their experiencing ear pain associated with cabin pressure changes.  Children and adults are encouraged to swallow in order to equalize ear pressure.  An infant may be encouraged to swallow if fed (by breast or bottle) during the planes ascent and descent.  The trick is not to offer the feeding too soon.  Wait until you feel pressure changes.   Your baby may signal you himself by becoming wiggly or irritable.  A few swallows usually does the trick nicely.

Enjoy your flight! 

Variations in Human Milk

Like leaves in the fall, breast milk comes in an assortment of colors!  During direct breast feedings we don’t see milk color because it travels unseen, directly from breast to baby.  However, in those instances where we do see the milk (for example when baby spits-up or during milk expression), its color may be surprising (if not alarming)!  Breast milk comes in a beautiful array of colors. It ranges from clear (not really a color), to light yellow, deep orange, pink, red, rust, and even hues of green, blue and purple!
 
Here are some explanations.  In the beginning, colostrum is often seen as a deep yellow-orange color due to the large amount of beta-carotene.  It may also be seen as a rusty color, possibly due to old blood that has collected in the milk ducts during pregnancy.  If mother is experiencing trauma to the nipple, it is not unusual to see pink (strawberry) or red milk as a result of bleeding of the nipple itself.  Maternal diets rich in seaweed and kelp, or where mom takes certain vitamins, may have green tinged milk.  Gatorade, for one, has also been implemental in producing green milk.  A bluish tinge to milk is very often seen, especially in mature milk.  Rarely, there are reports of oral medication causing milk color variations (one in particular resulting in black milk).  More commonly, gentian violet, applied topically as a treatment for yeast, lends itself to a colorful situation.   Purple-tinged everything…baby spit-up, expressed milk, clothing…everything!
 
Not to worry if these variations are noticed.  Breast milk is the best and safest milk for baby, regardless of its color. Furthermore, mothers’ milk almost never remains the same color.  It varies from day to day, time of day, method of expression, how long it has been sitting (separation), maternal diet, etc.  So enjoy the showy rainbow of color.  It’s good, healthy entertainment!
 
Note: Unless milk is found to have a foul odor or is refused by baby, it may be used for feeding.  A persistent change in milk color, odor or refusal of infant to take feedings from a particular breast should be evaluated by a physician.