I dumped thousands of ounces of breast milk at TSA checkpoints. I invented a better option for breastfeeding parents who travel.
- Lisa Myers is a mom of two who frequently flew for work.
- She invented a flight-friendly chilling cooler.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lisa Myers. It has been edited for length and clarity.
When my son was nursing, I had to travel all the time for work. Like many moms, I pumped while I was away from my baby. I wanted to keep my supply strong and avoid dreaded mastitis, but I didn't always count on the milk getting to my baby because of one major roadblock: TSA checkpoints at the airport.
Let me emphasize, I'm not against the TSA; I know they're just doing their best to keep us safe. No TSA agent wakes up in the morning hoping to make a mom cry. Yet that's the unintentional impact of inconsistent training. TSA protocols let you bring breast milk and cooling packs on planes. But often, TSA agents don't understand this or think the packs need to be fully frozen to allow them through security.
That results in a lot of liquid gold down the drain. I have dumped thousands of ounces of breast milk at airports. To me, it felt like millions.
I knew there wasn't a better solution, so I made one
When I'd arrive at the airport, I would scout the TSA agents, trying to choose the line for a worker who looked knowledgeable, or at least sympathetic. That's an inconsistent system that often left me frustrated. I was a lawyer at the time — I don't like injustice.
It seemed to me like I had nothing but hard choices. I could speak up and advocate for legislative change, like the TV host Emily Calandrelli recently did, or I could submit to the uncertainty and emotion of needing to throw away my milk. Or, I could invent a better solution.
As I started brainstorming options, I worked with the TSA, not against them. I would bring prototypes to the airport on work trips, getting valuable feedback. I wanted a system that was good for everyone: Not only for the parent who was doing their best to feed their child but also for the TSA agent who was doing their best to protect travelers.
The patent for my invention is now pending
The solution was surprisingly simple. I invented a double-walled stainless-steel container, similar to what you might keep water in. Mine, the Ceres Chill, has a key difference: another container fits inside. One container holds ice, while the other holds breast milk. This provides up to 20 hours of chill for up to 24 ounces of milk.
I wanted the product to be convenient, so I designed it so that moms can pump directly into the container. Working moms like flight attendants and first responders can keep their supplies up on the go without worrying about access to ice packs or refrigeration.
Before this, I identified as a lawyer, a mom, and a military wife. Now I have another title: inventor. The Ceres Chill is patent-pending, which is particularly exciting to me. Women held less than 17% of total worldwide patents in 2020.
I want to make life easier for other breastfeeding parents, and for the TSA agents trying to do their jobs. In doing that, I hope to show my son and my daughter that when they encounter a problem, they can create a solution.