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An Informative Brief for Surrogates: How to Ship Breast Milk



What If I Decide Not to Pump and Ship My Breast Milk?

If a surrogate is certain they do not have the interest or capacity to pump and ship breast milk, a match will be made with intended parents who have the same mindset. The course of action regarding pumping and shipping the breast milk post-delivery, including the process's specifics, is mutually determined during the match-making step.



An interesting detail is that surrogates receive a compensation for pumping and shipping breast milk! As well as being a simple process, this guide will offer valuable steps on appropriately shipping breast milk to ensure it arrives at its destination while still frozen.



What Supplies Are Needed to Ship Your Breast Milk?

Initially, a breast pump is required. This can be a pump from the surrogate's former pregnancies or a recent purchase. Supplies can be bought at large retailers or well-known online stores.



Below are the items necessary for each breast milk delivery:


 * Milk storage bags

 * Styrofoam cooler

 * Newspaper

 * Packaging tape

 * Shipping box (big enough for your cooler)

 * Dry ice


What Are The Shipping Costs for Breast Milk?

Shipping breast milk can vary in cost, usually falling between $400 and $500 per package; these payments are handled by your intended parents.



How Do I Ship The Frozen Breast Milk?


1. Fill breast milk storage bags with the milk you have pumped and place them in the freezer. Storing them between cookie sheets assists in freezing them flat, which simplifies packaging. Leave some space in the bags to accommodate the milk's expansion during freezing (approx. 6 oz per bag).


2. Once the milk has completely frozen, layer the bags into your cooler, ensuring a single layer is maintained.


3. Continue piling up layers of the bags of milk, filling up the cooler tightly; minimized empty space helps maintain the milk's temperature.


4. Leave sufficient space in your cooler for dry ice allocation. About 26-34 bags of milk can fit into a 22-quart cooler. Lay newspaper on top of the milk once packed.


5. Encase dry ice in paper, placing this over the newspaper. Add an additional layer of paper on top. Be cautious with dry ice and ensure it's wrapped up and not free-moving in the cooler.


6. Pack the whole cooler into a shipping box that fits it well. A 16"x16"x15" box is ideal for a 22-qt cooler.


7. Close the box with packaging tape. Mark 'PERISHABLE' or 'FROZEN' on each side as well as the top. Verify shipping details regarding dry ice packages with your chosen shipping center beforehand.


8. Choose PRIORITY OVERNIGHT when shipping through UPS or FedEx, sharing your IP's shipping details. This ensures they receive it the next day in the afternoon.


And that concludes the simple steps of shipping breast milk!



What Can Be Done With the Leftover Breast Milk?

If you have more milk than necessary and wish to donate to babies in need of a maternal milk source, browse our associated blog post concerning donations of surrogate milk.



If you are intrigued about the surrogacy journey or have other queries regarding shipping breast milk? Explore our comprehensive Surrogate FAQ page.







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