'Humiliated' mum forced to leave 15 litres of breast milk at Heathrow airport

She had to discard of all the milk even though most of it was frozen

The milk was intended to feed Ms Martinez's eight-month-old son for two weeks while she was travelling for work (Getty)

A mother-of-two has expressed her anger after being forced to dump nearly 15 litres of breast milk before boarding a flight at Heathrow Airport.

Jessica Coakley Martinez, a working mother from California, was left “humiliated and defeated” after security staff at Terminal 5 confiscated 14.8 litres worth of breast milk – more than half of which was frozen and solid “like a rock”.

The milk was intended to feed her eight-month-old son for two weeks while she travelled for work, but she was told she could not take it on the plane because her baby was not travelling with her at the time.

In an open letter to Heathrow Airport security on Facebook, Ms Martinez wrote: “I have two small children and have breastfed them both, bringing frozen breast milk on plane after plane after plane, including in countries with strict liquid laws.

“I was willing to let go of the liquid milk. But you also wanted the solid milk because it could “melt and become a liquid" [..] Never have I ever been asked to throw out the milk because it might at some future time become a liquid.”

Civil Aviation rules in the UK state that breast milk cannot be taken on the plane if the mother is not travelling with her baby.

Ms Martinez complained that the rule was unfair for working mothers who have to resort to pumping breast milk in order to provide for their baby’s needs while traveling for work.

“Security is the priority, but it isn’t and shouldn’t be your only goal, and it certainly shouldn’t punish those you intend to protect," she continued.

“Beyond literally taking food from my child’s mouth, you humiliated me and made me feel completely defeated as a professional and a mother.”

The Facebook post was shared nearly 4,000 times and received an influx of comments from users expressing sympathy.

Mother-of-two Lisa Andreason commented on Ms Martinez's post with support: ”I am also a mother who nursed both my babies while traveling for work and I [...] have had to dump my milk as well.

“I can relate to the countless hours of time and sacrifice of love it is to do what you are doing for your son.”

Heathrow's website states that any liquids in carry-on luggage must not exceed 100 millilitres.