May 18, 2023
I finally feel I can share this experience without being upset or worried about what people may say. This happened months ago when I had to travel without Levi during the height of the formula shortage. I was pumping to keep my supply up while Jordan bottle fed Levi what breastmilk we had saved in the freezer and what formula we could find at the store (which wasn't alot)
Some things to note:
*I disclosed I had a breast pump, frozen breast milk and cat litter before everything went through the xrays
*I did NOT interfere with the process or reveal any sensitive information by videoing a few seconds of my experience
*I am not blaming any one person. I tried to blur faces and name tags but couldn’t effectively do that without things looking doctored. So this is the raw unedited footage
*Around 100 ounces had to be thrown out due to this experience. It all thawed. If I had known this would happen... I wish I had donated the breastmilk in Winnipeg. But during a formula shortage, it was all wasted
Okay... on with the story....
I LOVE Winnipeg and our Winnipeg airport. However, every time I fly international and go through security at that particular airport I have issues. Whether it be with musical instruments, a cat, a baby, baby formula and now breast milk.
I’ve travelled with frozen breast milk through other airports, without issues! They scan it. Bang it on the table to see it’s frozen solid. Test my hands. Search my bag. Send me on my way. No one has compromised the breast milk before
This trip, I had Winnie with me. TSA made me dump all her litter out even though it was under the legal limit which I heavily researched prior to travelling. I travel with Winnie often and have never had an issue in the past. This left Winnie with no where to pee during our long trip. They eye balled the litter and said I was “slightly over the limit”
On this same trip, the agents were poking their fingers through the holes in her carrier like she was a wild animal. Which everyone knows you shouldn’t do to an animal
Everyone in line was very upset watching TSA treat me and my cat this way.
A different trip with Winnie, they dropped her. They always take her away from me while I go through the metal detector, which I am always prepared for. A TSA agent placed her on top of a high table (instead of on the floor). The carrier fell. She landed on her head. Everyone in line saw got very upset with how they handled her. People were yelling.
I have heard so many stories of people and animals being mistreated by TSA. I am hoping by sharing my experience, it might prevent other Moms from going through this. Or other pet owners!!
**When you travel with frozen breastmilk you may be best to put it in a checked bag🤷🏻♀️
-Leanne