As a mom, traveling has additional stressors than the average passenger, such as making sure not only you, but your kids have everything needed for the journey.
When traveling with an infant part of their needs is diapers, something to pacify them, and food.
Flying has more restrictions than any other form of travel, so you expect to jump through a certain number of hoops to bring your formula or breastmilk on board.
One mom traveling with her 3-month-old daughter got more than she bargained for when trying to bring bottled breastmilk on a flight from Denver International Airport.
Healthway reported:
“In a letter posted to the social media account “Breastfeeding Mama Talk,” Heather Andi Jones claims that she was temporarily detained by the TSA when an automated machine identified her milk as a potentially hazardous substance.”
Traveling alone with her baby, Jones tried to be as prepared as she could for the journey ahead with an infant.
Jones had done her research and appropriately packed frozen breastmilk, as well as one 4oz bottle she had ready to feed her daughter Amelia.
Unforeseen circumstances were causing longer wait times, so little Amelia began to need a feeding.
Healthway reported on the escalating situation:
“Amelia can be a bit picky about breastfeeding, so I figured I’d have both options for the flight. Getting through security though turned out to take much longer than expected, with a heart attack shutting down one lane and wedged car seat shutting down another. Amelia was definitely getting hungry and fussy.”
After finally getting through the metal detector, Jones was told to go to another area where TSA needed to do an additional inspection.
Apparently, the frozen breastmilk was no issue, but the 4 oz bottle of ready to go milk, that her baby needed right then, was a concern.
Jones couldn’t understand why there was an issue when TSA rules specifically state that breastmilk is allowed.
When Amelia began to cry louder, Jones asked if she could just feed her baby the 4 oz bottle that was ready to go and got a shocking response.
Healthway reported on the unbelievable situation that was unfolding:
“Amelia was really starting to lose it, so I asked if I could just stand there and feed her the bottle,” Jones wrote. “Nope. They put it in a machine and it somehow tested positive for explosives.”
How did explosives get into the baby’s milk? Explosives!
It is not surprising that TSA had to take the situation seriously when the breast milk was flagged for containing explosive ingredients.
After the milk was flagged she had to have a detailed pat down by a female TSA agent to see if she had any other threatening materials on her – all while Amelia screamed.
It is not clear why the breastmilk was flagged for explosive material, but ThoughtCo had one idea, that it was glycerin from baby wipes or lotion that had rubbed off on the bottle.
TSA spokesperson Lucia Martinez was not able to quote on why the breastmilk was flagged, saying that they can’t “publicly reveal” what their machines detect for safety reasons, according to Healthway.
Eventually, the breastmilk came back cleared, but Jones was forced to dump it after all her and Amelia had been through.
When the fiasco was over poor Amelia was famished, so naturally, Jones went straight to breastfeeding her baby before the flight.
And then, as if they hadn’t been through enough for one day, a TSA agent asked her to cover up while she fed her baby!
Like most babies, Amelia doesn’t like to have her head covered while she eats, and Jones was just settling her down, so she told the TSA agent “No, thanks.”
The agent was perplexed by the response but walked away anyhow. Jones was able to catch her flight, despite all the interferences.
A woman is allowed to breastfeed her baby in public. Most states not only protect a breastfeeding mother from nudity laws but also her right to breastfeed uninhibitedly.
It is no wonder the TSA does not list a policy against breastfeeding publicly on their website and that the TSA agent was out of line.
No airport, or agency, should ever make giving our children any life-essential materials a problem.
Feeding an infant is an around the clock feat that takes preparation and effort. It should be praised when a mom has everything she needs without having to cause inconveniences for others.
Having issues with bringing breastmilk on board a flight, despite the TSA’s clear rules allowing you to do so, is not an uncommon event.
While taking explosive material seriously is understandable, there should be a bit more consideration for moms trying to care for their children.
Please let us know in the comments section if you have experienced an issue bringing breastmilk through security, or if you have been shamed at an airport for breastfeeding your baby.