- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
D.C. Area Babies
Reluctant Weaning - Long
Ok, so I was going to have to take 3 trips in October, which would've each been 1 overnight away. Plans have changed, and now it looks like I am very possibly going to take all 3 trips together (Cincinatti to Chicago to Albuquerque) at the end of Oct. meaning I will be on the road for 4-5 days. These trips are going to involve media events, conference presentations, and staffing the big boss of my administration. So, it won't be something that I can take a few 1/2 hour breaks to find a private room, pump and store milk.
I'm thinking it might be easiest to wean before I go on this mega-trip. Either that, or do a morning and an evening pump session, I just don't know yet what our days will look like schedule-wise, when our flights will be scheduled, and things are subject to change very last minute.
While doing the trips like this will put me on the road for less time than taking 3 separate trips, I'm reluctant because it puts me in this position of probably having to wean earlier than I had originally hoped.
What would y'all do? Wean? Try to pump whenever I get to a hotel room? Are there too many variables that could put me in the position of leaking in the presence of the big boss?
Argh. I hate that I feel like I need to put my work duties above my mothering needs. Ultimately, I feel like I'm not ready to wean, and C isn't showing any signs or self weaning yet.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Reluctant Weaning - Long
Have you talked to your boss about this? I bet he (she?) would try to accommodate you. Could you do one pump before you leave the hotel and one when you get back, so there's only one pumping session during the middle of the day? You could maybe do it at lunch?
It seems like you really don't want to wean, and neither does C--so why do it before either of you are ready? You don't want to look back in a few months and regret weaning because of a work issue.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
I agree with tomandcourt....this may be something you regret. I would discuss with your boss(es) and try to pump in the morning, evening, at lunch, and maybe right before bed. If you have to, you can pump and dump, but trust me - when you get back, your DS will want to nurse a lot and I think you'll be sad if you can't.
I would talk to your boss about it. By law, you are allowed to take breaks for pumping (look up the specifics for the state you work in). It may be awkward, but I would rather have an awkward conversation than give up something that neither I nor my LO were ready for. Talk to your HR rep to figure out how to make it work. You may be able to pump in your hotel in the morning, once at lunch and then twice in the evening (before dinner and then before bed?). It won't be ideal, but it's better than nothing. Even one or two 5-10 minute sessions during the day are better than nothing. I weaned DD1 at 17 months (she was only nursing 1-2 per day) because I was pg with DD2 and it was starting to become painful. It was emotional for me even though she was ready.
https://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Health/BreastfeedingLaws/tabid/14389/Default.aspx
It's up to you. I definitely wouldn't wean before you or LO are ready. 8 months is much too young to self-wean. It may be a PITA to find time to pump 3 times a day, but it will worth it when you can continue your nursing relationship months later. DS is not showing any signs of weaning at 14 months and we still enjoy a wonderful nursing relationship.
I've been to a number of training sessions, etc. at hotels and I've usually been able to get a place to pump from the hotel organizers.
As far as leaking goes, I would definitely bring some disposable nursing pads with you to wear. Leaking is no fun.
Off to the beach
DS 7/18/2010
Handy 2.0 Due Early August
2011/2012 Races
12/17/2011 Christmas Caper 10K
2/11/2012 Have a Heart 5K
3/17/2012 DC RNR Half Marathon
4/22/2012 10M Parkway Classic
10/28/2012 Marine Corps Marathon
PPs have given great advice, but I just wanted to say I know exactly how you feel and I'm glad you posted this. I'm likely going to have to travel for almost a week in November (when DS will be almost 9 months) and I've been thinking about how I'd handle it. I seriously considered using that time to wean because just like you I'll be at a week-long event with press, dinners with clients, etc. and it would be so much easier not to have to worry about milk. Plus, I don't have that much of a freezer stash to leave DH so I'll have to FedEx milk home I guess. But then I thought about how hard I've worked to BF this long (it was SO HARD at the beginning, and has finally gotten easier) and I felt like it was kind of a disservice to myself and DS to work so hard and then let it go away because of a work event, and that I'd likely regret it later. So, I plan to figure out a way to make it work.
I know if I'm in a rush I can pump for 5-7 mins or so on the highest setting and be done, and I can space it out up to 5 hours or so if I needed. If you get a hands-free nursing bra thing and you could pump in the am while putting on makeup, etc., then around lunch while catching up on emails, then before dinner and before bed. Maybe being hands-free and able to get other stuff done at the same time will help you feel less worried about taking "breaks" and finding time to pump. GL and let us know how it goes!
I had a really crazy pumping schedule because I work 12 hour shifts. I sometimes would only pump in the morning before I left and then as soon as I got home. The most I ever pumped at work (with the exception of the first couple weeks back) was one time during my 12 hours.
Was it comfortable or ideal? Nope. Did it work? Oddly, yes. I somehow managed to supply DS's needs and still work my crazy shifts.
I can't imagine working such a demanding schedule and being away on an extended trip while pumping but I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work. I know everyone's supply is different and reacts differently to changes in pumping so I'm not sure if altering your schedule a little now to see what happens is a good idea but that way you have no surprises on your trip (well, no major surprises!) Good luck!
I also want to add that pumping on an airplane is easy, sit next to the window, put a blanket over you and go for it; it's so loud no one will notice.
weaning was a weeks-long process for me, it's not like you can just stop producing milk. I got mastitis when I tried to wean DD the 1st time.
Thanks everyone, this has given me a lot to think about. I think the most challenging part is that I don't yet know how busy our days will be. I'm just going on my experience with a similar trip last year, which was jam packed with meetings, press events, being the person responsible for/staffing the administrator, and hardly having any time to even run to the bathroom. If it weren't for staffing the big boss, I don't think I'd be as concerned with this.
As for talking with my boss about it, she's a mom so I like to think she's supportive, but she weaned when it was convenient to her (6 months). And when I've talked to her about this in the past, she's hinted that I've "nursed/pumped long enough" which frustrates me and makes me nervous about bringing it up in this context.
I hope I'm not chiming in too much on this, but I really feel for you and can relate.
Do you have any say in the schedule or can you get a word in with the person that's creating it? Maybe you can tweak it a little so you have enough time to squeeze in a quick session here and there (or at least you can get an early version of it to help you plan and propose times to pop out). Maybe during one of the times the boss is speaking to a group that isn't absolutely necessary to observe? or when she's eating lunch?
I would just think hard about if you'll feel even a little resentful when you come back and possibly aren't able to BF like you want. For me, I think resentment would build up and make me less happy with my work situation over time. I'd hate for that to happen because it sounds like you really like your job.If that's the case for you, maybe you can explain that flat out to your boss? Something like, "I really enjoy my job and I'm looking forward to the trip, but I'm concerned that if I'm not able to have the time to pump that I will feel like I prioritized work over family and that could make me resent my work in the long run." It sounds like she really values you so maybe she'd get the wake up call that this is a big deal and if she wants to keep you around she needs to deal with pumping breaks.
I hear you on the "nursed long enough" comments too, most people at work and even some family members are definitely not nearly as supportive as the bumpies are! (or even as supportive as they were a few months ago).
I would be very matter of fact about it. Go to your boss and tell her you're looking forward to the trip, but you will need to take one 30-minute break in the middle of the day to pump. You're willing to do it almost anywhere, as long as it's a private space with an electrical outlet. Try to make it sound like it's no big deal.
Are you willing to pump in some not-so-great places, like public restrooms? I know it would royally suck, but if you're going to be traveling all over the place, you may not have a lot of options.
If your boss pushes back, I would tell her that it's basically a medical necessity for you to pump at least once a day while you're gone, because if you don't, you will end up in pain and probably be leaking through your clothes after a few hours, and that would be way more unprofessional than having to take a 30-minute break. You said she breastfed for a few months, so hopefully she'll understand that aspect of it.
Good luck!
You've already gotten lots of good advice, but I thought I would chime in with my experience, which was similar in terms of schedule and the age of DD at the time. When DD#1 was 7 months old, I was away for a 2 night/3 day trip where I had no control over the schedule and infrequent opportunities to pump.
I built up enough of a freezer stash beforehand so that she had milk while I was gone (that was a bit of a mess since she refused to take a bottle, but she survived...and that was mostly due to the fact that I worked from home at the time and she was VERY used to the boob). I was only able to pump at most 3 times a day--once when I got up, once during the day (and not at consistent times) and once at night.
For this relatively short period of time, I think that just pumping whenever you can and for however long you can (even if it's only a few minutes) won't kill your supply--your body still gets the cues that it needs to keep producing and even if the supply dips a bit, my guess is that once your back in your normal routine, things will work out. In my case, there was no issue with supply when I got back and the most I had to deal with with some discomfort during long stretches between pumping sessions. DD eagerly nursed with no ill effects when I came back.
I also just pumped and dumped while I was away since I wasn't going to have reliable access to a fridge, but as others have said, most hotels can get you a small fridge if you request it. Coming home, you can pack some ice packs in your luggage or even carry on breast milk and it should be fine.
So bottom line, you don't have to wean...you just have to deal with funky schedule for a few days:) GL!!