Mom Transports 200 oz. of Breast Milk from Hawaii to Alabama

by Krystal Ness, Guest blogger

Hi, I'm Krystal!  I have two children (4 yr old girl and 1 yr old boy).  I was unable to breastfeed my first due to a low supply, so I was adamant about making it work with my second baby.  From the beginning things were phenomenal!  He latched on right away and for the majority of our nursing relationship things went smoothly.  I work outside of the home, so pumping was a daily activity for me (nurse when I was home and pump at work).

When my littlest was 10 months old I took a business trip for 2 full weeks.  I was so nervous about all things breastfeeding that I was literally nauseated while sitting at the gate waiting to board.  Would my baby take the frozen milk I pumped? Would we have enough for the full 2 weeks?  Would I be able to find the time and room to pump while away from my baby?  Would my supply go down because he's not latching?  How do I get my milk back home after I pump it?  This was no easy trip either.  I was going to Hawaii -- thousands of miles away from my little boy.

The trip out there was long, but after I got settled into my condo I got into a rhythm pumping before work, at work, and after work each day.  I felt like that was all I was doing.  The place I was working did not have a room that I could use so I either pumped in the bathroom (making sure I was sanitary) or I pumped in my rental car.  After nearly 2 weeks I had about 200 oz. of frozen milk.  During my trip I called FedEx and UPS to find out how to ship my milk.  I was so disappointed to find out that the quickest they could get it to Alabama was 48 hrs.  I thought there was no way to get my milk home.  I had spent countless hours during this trip pumping, remembering why I spent the time and effort to pump, and my hopes that he would be nourished with it were dashed.  I was in tears.  I couldn't fathom throwing away that much milk.

The only option I had was to check my milk with my luggage.  I remember being so incredibly nervous walking up to the check-in counter.  "Do you have any explosives, firearms, or flammable material in this cooler?" No.  Phew!  "If you don't mind me asking what is in this cooler?" Frozen Breastmilk.  My inner self winced as I wondered whether she would have a problem with this, but her response was as if it was completely normal that I was traveling with my own milk from Hawaii to Alabama.  I was home free.  The only thing I worried about after that point was whether or not my luggage would get lost.  Standing at the Huntsville Airport waiting for the cooler I heard the ding of the luggage belt.  Within 30 seconds I saw my box crest over the luggage conveyor!  It made it!  When I got home, the milk was still completely frozen.  Pumped with love in Hawaii.  :-)

During my trip, after determining I had to check a cooler, I searched online for the best way to accomplish packing, but I found very few resources.  I purchased a cooler on Amazon, meant specifically for shipping food.  I purchased techni-ice and blue gel icepacks.  I filled the cooler completely full with as little space as possible.  I taped (using duct tape) around the top and sides of the cooler to ensure the lid would stay shut.  I put the cooler in a box of the same size (mine came with the cooler).  I labeled the box BREASTMILK and added my address and phone number  in case something went wrong and then I put the whole package in another box.

While I was gone, we did actually end up using donated milk for about 3-4 days.  A close friend of mine who pumps for the Milk Bank brought some over for my husband when he was close to running out of my own stash.  She even offered to wet nurse him.  I have used every single means possible to feed my baby breastmilk.  Nursed, Pumped, and Donated Milk!  I wish I had these friends and community resources earlier with my first baby!


I want to share
my story in hopes that other working moms gain hope that even a business trip doesn't need to end a nursing relationship.  We truly can meet the needs of our children while accomplishing our own dreams.

Pumping Time for Working Moms

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

From AccordingtoTrish.com

Recently an employee at a large company asked me about pumping. The supervisor was only allowing nursing mothers on a 12 hour shift to pump at lunch and during two 15 minute breaks. She wondered if that was okay.

According to the law, it is definitely NOT okay. In fact, it is downright illegal! The Fair Labor Standards Act mandates that hourly employees be given as much time as necessary to pump their milk as well as a place to pump that is NOT a bathroom.

How Often Can I Pump?

The law does not set any specific time limits on how often you can pump. But nursing mothers often need to pump at least every 3 hours to maintain a good supply. So it is not unreasonable to expect a mother working a 12 hour shift to need to pump about 4 times. Depending on how her body responds to the pump, she may need to pump for 15-20 minutes, then she needs to have time to get set up and to clean up afterwards. Obviously a pre-mandated 15 minute break is simply not adequate for most moms.

What If I Don't Work for a Big Company?

While it is true that the companies who employ a total of fewer than 50 people MAY be exempt, those companies are NOT automatically exempt. It is up to the company to prove a genuine hardship would be sustained if they had to meet the requirements of the law.

From The Primal Parent

What If I Am Not Paid Hourly?

At this point the law does not specifically address salaried employees, only hourly employees. However, measures have been introduced to change that. The Supporting Working Mothers Bill did not pass last year, but breastfeeding advocates will continue to push legislators to extend pumping benefits to all working mothers.

What if My Employer Refuses to Comply?

While it is true that Alabama is a fire-at-will state, the law is very specific about mothers who receive recrimination or any harassment for demanding their pumping rights. If you think you have been discriminated against because you expected your employer to follow the law, you can file a complaint here.

All Working Moms Deserve Breastfeeding Support

From Healthfulmama.com

Do you work for an hourly wage? If you work for a company with more than 50 employees, they are required by law to provide you a place that is not a restroom as well as adequate break time to pump milk for your baby.  However, if you happen to be a salaried employee in that very same company, you just might be out of luck. The law requires absolutely NOTHING in the way of breastfeeding support from your employer. This law provides terrific support for the millions of hourly employees across this county. Nevertheless, professionals who receive a salary have absolutely no legal support.

In my practice I frequently work with teachers who are returning to work. Many local principals are very understanding and do try to find a way to help their teachers continue pumping. But not all. Sometimes a mother has to choose between breastfeeding and returning to her job simply because there is no accommodation. Teachers are on a very tight schedule and may not have two 20 minute segments during the day for pumping. With ever-tightening school budgets, unless the force of law is behind it, some school administrators will never see this as a priority. Pharmacists, lawyers, physicians, engineers and upper management personnel all find themselves in this same situation.

That is why the Supporting Working Moms Act of 2013 has been introduced in both the House and

Contact Senator Lamar Alexander
from Tennessee with your support.

the Senate this year. This act extends those benefits to salaried employees, as well. On May 9 it was introduced in the House and referred to the House Education and the Workforce committee. Then it was introduced in the Senate on May 13 and referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee. Unfortunately, many bills end up dying in committee due to a wide variety of factors. However, YOU have the chance to make a difference!

You can do several things. First, take a look at the representatives on the House committee. If you live in Alabama, you have one representative on that committee. Take a minute to write her and let her know how important this issue is. Then look at the Senate committee. If you live in Tennessee, you actually have a ranking member on this committee!

Congresswoman Martha Roby
is on the House committee

Next you can write directly to your elected senators and representative telling them why this bill is so good for the country. It honestly is a bill that should cross political party lines because whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you recognize the importance of improving the health of the nation's children via a simple vote that requires absolutely no financial commitment by anyone and actually ends up saving employers money! If you are unsure about how to contact your officials, click here. You will enter your zip code, and receive contact information for both senators and your representative.

If the bill fails this year, then urge your senators and representatives to co-sponsor the bill next year. Unfortunately, the chances of its passing this year look slim. However, if there is a loud public outcry in favor of it, even the nearly impossible can happen! Will you take 5 minutes right now to send a few emails??