Before You Travel
- If your trip is longer than 4–6 days, request a hotel room with a refrigerator. For longer stays, you may also need access to a freezer.
- If you plan to use Milk Stork, place your order as early as possible and review pre-approval requirements on the UCSF website.
- Contact your destination (hotel, conference center, university, or hospital) in advance to ask about private lactation spaces and how to access them.
Packing Essentials
- Bring your electric breast pump and a manual hand pump as a backup (helpful in case of power issues or equipment concerns).
- Pack all pump parts and consider bringing extra small pieces in case anything is lost or damaged.
- Use a cooler bag with ice packs (note that ice packs require freezer access), or consider a portable human milk chiller for travel.
- Identify nearby stores at your destination that carry your pump supplies, just in case.
At the Airport
- Many airports offer lactation spaces such as “Mothers/Lactation Rooms” or Mamava pods—check airport maps ahead of time.
- Review your rights when traveling with breast milk through TSA:
During Your Trip
- Plan your pumping schedule in advance and allow flexibility based on your travel itinerary.
- Your trip length should align with both UCSF business needs and your personal wellbeing.
Support
- If you have questions about Milk Stork services, you may contact them directly at 1-510-356-0221.
- For UCSF-specific questions regarding lactation support, please contact lactationprogram@ucsf.edu.
In addition to Milk Stork and the Travel-Related Dependent Care reimbursement guidelines, the following tips may help you prepare for a smoother travel experience.