Tips Untuk Travel With Frozen EBM

Beberapa minggu lepas aku rasa x berapa motivated nak pump susu wat stock. Sebabnya, aku terpikir, aku kan dah nak gi UK, jadi ada byk isu yg menserabutkan kepala relating to EBM. Antaranya:

1. Dgn apa aku transportkan EBM tu semua nanti?

2. Plak kalo EBM tu semua cair dlm perjalanan, kan ke sia2 aje usaha aku selama ni?

3. Better aku BF direct aje la wat masa ni, x yah susah2 beli storage bottles tu lg (botol dah habis wat stock EBM dlm fridge, needed new ones).

4. Nak kena cair n buangkan ke EBM tu before leaving for the UK, then basuh2 storage bottles tu elok2 and pack dlm beg ke? (ruginya!) Kalo mcm tu, x ke buat berat beg aje bawa botol kosong? Better beli kat UK aje nanti botol2 tu, lg murah kot.

5. Bila dah buang stok EBM skang, habis tu kat UK kena start from scratch ke? Mak aiih... dah la masa tu Aisyah makin besar, permintaan susu dia mesti tinggi. Skang pon 4 oz x berapa cukup per feeding session. Mcm mana la aku penuhi demand dia nanti, dgn aku nak start school nya, stress research n stress in settling life kat sana. Ada susu ke?

6. Kalo x buang kan EBM tu, bole ke transport atas flight? Bkn ke ada regulations regarding membawa cecair ke atas kapal terbang? EBM lepas ke?

7. Kalo lps pon, mesti berat gile frozen EBM ni. Botak la nak byr overweight luggage... huhu

.. dan mcm2 lg la yg negatif. Last2, aku pikir, x leh jd ni. Kena tanya pakar nih. Makin lama aku pendam rasa negatif gini, makin malas aku dibuatnya utk mengepam. Tau2 kang kering plak susu sbb dah x de motivasi. Aku pon book appointment ngan Puan Rita Rahayu tu (Lactation Expert) kat kedai Moms Little Ones tu la.

Man, was I glad I had that chat with her. Lps explaining masalah aku, dia terus provide suggestion and possible solutions. Jgn buang EBM2 tu skang, and jgn rasa down, nnt effect pengeluaran susu, kata dia. Skang nih, nak naik flight bole bawa EBM, either as hand luggage or through baggage bawah. But remember to declare it first before checking in. Kalo ada masalah, cite apa yg tertulis dlm TSA Policy (Transportation Security Administration). Bawak aje printout, tunjuk kat org kaunter yg check-in. Mau gaduh lg kalu, panggil sama itu manager la. Hehe...

"TSA is also modifying the rules associated with carrying breast milk through security checkpoints. Mothers flying with, and now without, their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is declared for inspection at the security checkpoint. Breast milk is in the same category as liquid medications. Now, a mother flying without her child will be able to bring breast milk through the checkpoint, provided it is declared prior to screening."

Lagi kata dia, setakat UK, flight dlm 12 jam tu, dia dah biasa transport EBM. X cair kalo kena caranya. Tips dia:

1. Get a good insulated cooler bag utk pastikan susu x cair

2. Line it with high quality ice packs (at least kena cover perimeter of the beg from the inside, atas, bawah and letak lg ice packs in between rows of EBM dlm beg

3. Use storage bottles yg tahan (MLO pon ok). Bekas plastik dadih/disposable liner bags adalah sgt2 x disarankan, sbb masa angkut2 bag tu nnt gerenti pecah bekas tu, menyebabkan susu melimpah dalam beg.

4. As soon as touchdown, masuk terus freezer. Dari Heathrow ke tempat aku tu nnt, bole tahan lg, coz dah sejuk2 gitu cuaca kat sana nanti. Kalo cair sket2, it's OK lg, bcoz susu ibu ni sgt2 susah nak basi/rosak. Tips: kalo baby reject, then jgn guna. Otherwise, it's still OK

5. Kalo x nak kena caj extra weight, carry it as a hand luggage, terus free of charge. Get a cooler bag with wheels utk tarik beg tu bg mengelakkan proses angkat mengangkat.

6. Kalo terpaksa masuk cargo jugak, all the better, coz dlm cargo mmg freezing bila dah kat atas nnt. So EBM lg tahan lama. But make sure wrap bag tu (ala, yg wrap guna mcm saran wrap yg pusing laju2 kat KLIA tu) for extra protection in case rough handling.

Insya Allah la, kata dia. Aku happy sgt dgr penerangan dia nih. Dah x perlu la aku was2 utk membuat stok. Dia suggest beli cooler bag cap 'Compass' yg ada wheels yg dia jual. Aku godek2, mcm best.

Features dia: polyester, with nylon panels. Insulated cooler with clear, removable lining. Retractable handle. Front pocket. Side handles. Bungee bag cord in top lid with cord. Setakat masuk 60 botol tu, relax aje (Aku pon x de 60 botol lg skang, so kena pump lebih dah la skang). Harga: RM 129. Rupa dia lebih kurg mcm ni (tp bkn exactly, x jumpa plak gambarnya).

So aku pon beli la. Lagi aku beli MLO ice packs (6 packs - utk 3 packs = RM27 ) and 1 sheet of Techni Ice (RM 30) utk keep the EBM cool. Kat umah dah ada 3 ice packs tu, so tgk la camne nanti, cukup kot.

Kerana storage bottles aku dah habis, aku beli lg some more yg Twin Packs gitu (RM59.90). Kan dah x de ragu2 lg utk wat stok ... hehe..

Another item yg beli ialah MAM anti colic bottle (RM 31.80), sbb mak aku mintak. Dia kata, masa dia jaga Aisyah kat umah, kdg2 cam x cukup tgn nak tend baby lg, nak basuh/sterilize botol lg in between feeds tu. Kalo beli dua bole la dia gilir2, x la terkejar2 dia nak basuh. Translation: aku la basuh masa dah balik keja nnt - hehe. So aku pon beli la lagi satu. Plus, better ada dua pon, sbb Aisyah x mo terima botol lain. Kalo satu hilang, ada lg satu. Kalo x de spare, naya jek...

Pembelian aku secara borong ni telah memberikan aku 2 item free - cooler bag kecil and also pacifier brand MAM. Aku happy sgt, sbb bila try2 dekat Aisyah, dia nak plak pacifier tu. Selama ni mmg dah jenuh beli puting, bermcm2 shape- olive, symmetrical, orthodontics, cherry, dan bermcm2 brand - anakku, pigeon, cap ayam, tp semua x jalan. Alih2 yg imported brand UK ni dia terima plak dgn senang hati. Mungkin design nipple dia tu serasi ngan Aisyah. Haish.. high maintenance plak anak aku nih... Jgn mcm tu anak oii... Ibu n Ayah bukan la org berada pon ... Sket2 x pe hehe...

In conclusion, I'm a happy bunny. Doakan la semuga niat suci murni aku nak continue BF Aisyah sampai cukup masanya yg hak ni dimakbulkan Allah. Aku dah cuba yg teerbaik dgn meng'invest' dlm benda2 yg dirasakan perlu, harap2 nya berjaya la ek? And if you are like me, travelling but with an intention to carry your frozen EBM with you, jgn gusar. It is possible :)