XP: Weaning & International Travel

sadie+w · June 2013

LO is nearly 9 months old. Yesterday, I found out I will be attending an international business trip in 3 weeks. I was contemplating weaning LO back to just a morning and night feeding, and this trip has confirmed that decision. I will be making a 12 hour flight on the corporate jet with a few 50+ year old guys. There is no way I will pump in front of them. Then, I will be in a two-day meeting with a rather small group of people (<10) and it will be very obvious if I leave to pump, which I do not want to do.

So anyway, my question is, I am thinking if I cut out one feeding or one pumping session per day starting now, I will be able to make it through the 12 hour flight without needing to pump (although will probably be very full by the end of the flight!) and will also then be able to just pump in the morning and night at my hotel, and will be able to make it through the meetings without pumping. Does this sound like it will work?

Also, LO has never had formula. He takes BM bottles just fine. I have a decent freezer stash that I will use to supplement the feeding that I drop, until the stash is gone. If I start using it now, it may get used up just before I depart for my trip, so that he'll then need formula while I am gone. Is this ok, or am I better off supplementing with some formula now so that the BM stash is available while I am gone? DH is very capable but if LO has some type of reaction to the formula, I'd like to be here to help deal with it. (I have no idea if this is common). I will be gone for 3 nights and am also wondering if it is better off to not potentially introduce him to something new (formula) during that time, since me being gone will also be new. Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks!

azuremama · June 2013

I don't think it matters whether you do all BM now or save some for later, but I would try to introduce at least a few bottles of formula before you go, just to be sure he'll take it, doesn't have a bad reaction, etc. It'll probably be fine.

You might have to wean more gradually so you don't get clogged ducts, but I would just play it by ear and see how it goes.

MaggieF516 · June 2013

If you have a desire to keep the pumping session after you return from your trip, I would just continue it until then but avoid pumping on the flight and during the conference and start it up again when you return. I have travelled for work and had days where I didn't pump all day except for the morning and evening and I was fine. Will you probably be super full, yeah, but as long as you wear nursing pads I would think you would be ok. If you absolutely had to, you could always do a quick 5-minute pump in the airplane bathroom and dump it. I guess it depends how mucb being super engorged will bother you. I would definitely introduce him to formula early. I had the hardest time getting my little guy to take it. He would only drink it mixed with BM for quite a while.

jf198400 · June 2013

I would definitely introduce formula before you go. My DS rejected formula at first. I had to mix it with BM and gradually change the proportion, until he would take a full bottle of formula. Start with say 1oz formula to 3 oz BM, increase over the next week. Not to say your LO will definitely be the same way, but its best to be prepared for that possibility. You don't want to leave the country with no BM stash and find out your LO won't take formula.