Here’s a bizarre story for your Friday morning: Alyssa Milano, who is the mother of two children, one of whom she only gave birth to back in September, was traveling through London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday when her breast milk was confiscated for not following the 3.4 ounce rules, and she wasn’t happy about it.
(1 of 2) @HeathrowAirport just took my pumped breast milk away. 10 ounces. Gone. Not okay.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
(2 of 2) They said they would let the pumped milk through if I had the baby with me. Why would I need to pump if I had the baby with me????
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
.@HeathrowAirport Why can you test my toiletries to make sure they are safe but you have to throw away my breast milk?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
.@HeathrowAirport I was told I would be fine if the baby was with me. Plus, it was less than 5 ounces per container. Why is my shampoo okay?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 9, 2015
Pretty ridiculous, right? Whoever’s running the Heathrow account responded almost right away, though their explanation left a bit to be desired in Alyssa’s eyes:
@Alyssa_Milano Hi Alyssa. Unfortunately, without a baby present, the government requires all liquids in carry-ons to follow the 100ml rule.
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) April 9, 2015
@Alyssa_Milano Sorry for any confusion caused. To confirm, if you aren't travelling with your baby, milk is subject to the 100ml/(3.4oz) 1/2
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) April 9, 2015
I’m not sure where her baby was, because if the baby wasn’t with her, why did she need the breast milk? Obviously if she is generally breastfeeding I’d imagine that she would need to pump regardless of whether or not she was feeding, but if she was keeping the milk, that tells me the baby was somewhere close by or she was about to be with him? Am I missing something?
Sorry but in this day and age airports have no business being lenient when following worldwide security rules. She travels enough to know what she has to do and what happens if she doesn’t.
As a breastfeeding mother I find it ridiculous, especially because I’ve gotten breastmilk through after they test it. Every time I pumped a large amount like that I felt very successful so throwing it out isn’t really an option
I am exclusively breastfeeding my daughter. It took me 2 hours to manually express 2oz of milk. I think if I got 10oz of it out and they confiscated it, I’d lose my mind too.
Rules are rules are rules are rules. Even if you are Alyssa Milano, even if you are… wait for it…. a mother.
I agree completely there are rules you have to abide by END OF STORY. I am a mother of two i pumped with both of my children … i would not be butt hurt if they threw my stash of breast milk away if it was out of the regulations… guess what you have your breasts attached to you JUST PUMP MORE. imagine that … holy cow .