Breastfeeding and expressed breastmilk on planes
Sometimes children feel pain in their ears when planes are taking off and landing. Breastfeeding during take-off and landing can help to ease your child’s discomfort. Your child must wear an infant seatbelt while you breastfeed.
If you’re planning to carry expressed breastmilk onto the plane, check with the airline beforehand about any restrictions on carrying liquids. It’s also important to check and follow guidelines for storing and transporting expressed breastmilk.
Breastfeeding in other countries
It’s a good idea to check online or ask your travel doctor or GP, a lactation consultant or an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor about breastfeeding in the country you’re going to.
Breastfeeding in public is acceptable in most countries. But in some countries, breastfeeding in public is considered offensive, and mothers are expected to cover up while breastfeeding. If you’re going to places where breastfeeding in public isn’t acceptable, pack a shawl or muslin wrap for breastfeeding.
Travel medicines, travel vaccinations and breastfeeding
Travel medicines
You might need to take some prescription and over-the-counter medicines while you’re travelling – for example, travel sickness medicines, anti-malarial medicines or medicine for a travel-related illness like diarrhoea.
It’s usually OK to take these medicines while breastfeeding. But it’s important to talk to your GP about whether medicines will affect your breastfeeding child before you take them.
Travel vaccinations
When you start planning your overseas travel, talk to your GP or a travel clinic about the vaccinations you and your child need. Keep in mind that vaccines might be required months before you travel.
Travellers diarrhoea and breastfeeding
Travellers diarrhoea can happen if you consume food or water with germs in it. If you suffer from travellers diarrhoea, keep breastfeeding. Travellers diarrhoea won’t affect your baby.
Here are tips to maintain your milk supply and look after yourself:
- Drink more water (bottled water is safest while travelling).
- Take oral rehydration solutions.
- Breastfeed more frequently.
- Avoid tea, coffee and other drinks with caffeine.
- Take time to rest.
Low milk supply while travelling
Some mothers find their milk supply is affected while travelling.
Here’s what to do if you think your supply is down:
- Try to get plenty of rest, including during the day.
- Drink more water (bottled water is safest while travelling).
- Avoid tea, coffee and other drinks with caffeine.
- Keep feeding, even more often if possible.