How to Ship Breast Milk (from a Surrogate)

Surrogates know better than anyone how to pack and ship breast milk. If you are a surrogate who wants to provide breast milk for the benefit of your surrobabe, or if you are an intended parent curious about the process for storing and shipping breastmilk, here's a short guide provided by a two-time Oleaga Law surrogate.

🍼 Pumping Breast Milk

Prepare and Pump

Get your pump and make sure all pump attachments are clean. Sanitize pump parts after each use. You want to be sure baby isn't exposed to germs or other contaminants.

If you're trying to build your supply, it's recommended to pump every 2-4 hours.

Pump into clean bottles and transfer to breast milk bags for storage.

❄️ Storing Breast Milk

Storage Method	Temperature	Storage Duration
Room temp	≤ 77°F (25°C)	Up to 4 hours
Refrigerator	≤ 40°F (4°C)	Up to 4 days
Freezer (back)	≤ 0°F (-18°C)	Up to 6–12 months

Tips:

• Label bags with date and time.

• Store in 4-6 oz portions to reduce waste. Be sure to leave room in the bag for the breast milk to expand as it freezes.

• Lay milk bags flat to freeze. This makes stacking the bags of breast milk for shipping much easier.

  • Tip: use vaccuum sealed bags to save space and make freezing easier.

    
    

📦 Shipping Breast Milk

1. Use an Insulated Cooler

• Choose a thick, leak-proof cooler with insulation.

• Line with absorbent pads in case of leaks.

  
  

2. Add Dry Ice

• Layer dry ice on the bottom of the cooler. Sometimes you can put the dry ice on the sides of the cooler instead.

• Avoid direct contact between milk bags and dry ice. You can wrap the bags of breast milk in paper or bubble wrap.

  
  

3. Pack Milk Properly

• Layer the bags of milk tightly so as to avoid movement during transportation.

• Fill empty spaces in the cooler with crumpled paper or insulation to reduce shifting.

• Use a thermometer to monitor internal temp if needed (optional but helpful).

  
  

4. Ship Overnight

• Use a reliable carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) with PRIORITY OVERNIGHT or 1–2 day delivery.

• Label the box: “PERISHABLE – Breast Milk” on all sides.

• Some services offer breast milk shipping kits, e.g., Milk Stork or FedEx Health. Milkify offers the opion of freeze-drying breastmilk to make it shelf-stable.

💡 Tips & Considerations

• Check out PirateShip for shipping discounts.

• Check airline or TSA rules if flying: you can carry breast milk in reasonable quantities even without a baby present.

• Always check with the intended parents/recipients about storage expectations.

Pumping, packing, and shipping breast milk requires proper planning for cleanliness, storage, and temperature control. And as with any gestational surrogacy arrangement, clear and open communication about expectations for pumping, storing, and shipping breastmilk is key! It's important to manage expectations of all parties and plan how the baby will be fed - especially during the newborn stage.