For any mother who juggles work and breastfeeding, the challenges can feel overwhelming. Keeping up a milk supply while away from your little one is no small feat, especially when you factor in the cumbersome process of pumping multiple times a day, locating a private space, and transporting milk back home. The complexity increases tenfold for those who need to travel for work.
Planning ahead is crucial: you must stockpile enough milk to meet your baby’s needs while you’re away, pack your bulky pump, and ensure you have proper storage options—like a reliable fridge or freezer for your expressed milk. And let’s not forget the daunting task of getting that milk home, which can become a logistical nightmare at airport security. While airlines must allow mothers to bring their milk on board, navigating these regulations is often anything but straightforward.
One woman, Jessica Allen, experienced this firsthand during a business trip back in 2016 when her twins were just eight months old. She was determined to continue breastfeeding them for at least a year, just as she had done with her first child. However, the trip brought about significant challenges. “I could have skipped the trip to keep my supply intact, but I wanted to go for my career and personal reasons,” she shared. She calculated that she would need to transport approximately two gallons of breast milk home.
Jessica quickly realized the logistical hurdle she faced. “I began exploring ways to ship my milk back home but found no easy solutions. Freezing that much milk in a hotel mini-fridge seemed impossible, and sourcing dry ice and shipping materials without a car added to the stress,” she recounted.
Despite her challenges, she managed to pump enough milk before her trip, while on the go, and squeezed her milk into the tiny hotel fridge. Additionally, she successfully transported her precious cargo back home—an incredible feat by any standard. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there had to be a more efficient solution for mothers in her situation.
Upon returning from her trip, Jessica was inspired to create a better option for traveling breastfeeding moms. Over the next year, she worked tirelessly on her idea during her pumping sessions and in the evenings after her kids were asleep. This dedication led to the launch of her company, Milk Stork, in August 2015, which became the first service dedicated to helping working mothers ship their milk back home.
Milk Stork provides everything a traveling mom needs to send her milk, minus the pump and breasts, of course. The service offers specially designed boxes in various sizes, milk storage bags, shipping seals, and clear instructions. Each box comes equipped with a cooling system and pre-labeled overnight FedEx shipping labels. Moms can either drop off their shipments at a FedEx location or arrange for a pick-up.
While this service may not fit every mother’s budget—the starting price for a shipping box is $79 plus shipping—it represents a significant step forward. Some employers even cover these costs, though not all are willing to do so. There’s still much work to be done to ease the journey for working and pumping mothers, but Jessica’s initiative is a beacon of hope for many.
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In summary, Jessica Allen’s journey is a testament to the strength and resilience of mothers everywhere. Through her innovative solutions, she is helping make breastfeeding while working a more manageable reality for countless women.
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