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XP: EBF and travel

eshee8198eshee8198 member
in Attachment Parenting
I posted this on the breastfeeding board as well, but I haven't gotten a lot of response there in the past, and I know there are a lot of EBFers here.

DD is almost 14 months old, and nurses morning and night during the week (I work during the day). I stopped pumping right around 12 months, and she takes sippies (no bottles) of WCM/almond milk while I'm at work. I'm going to have to travel this January for the first time since dropping the pumping sessions - I don't want it to interfere with my nursing relationship with my DD. Do I need to pump while I'm away (3 or 4 days) to keep up supply/reduce engorgement? Also, DD is very attached to the morning/evening nursing session - should I have DH give her a bottle of pumped BM (we still have a small freezer supply) morning and evening when I'm gone, or just give her BM in a sippy? I don't want this to be traumatic for her, and I also don't want her to move on from nursing while I am gone...

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Re: XP: EBF and travel

  • musicalmama5musicalmama5 member
    I have no experience with this, but I would think you'd need to pump while you're away. For your own comfort, if nothing else. 

    Hopefully others will be able to weigh in on your other questions!
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  • Emerald27Emerald27 member
    edited November 2013
    You should plan to pump when away. If you can, try to pump about the same time of day that she nurses most significantly (so maybe morning, midday, and night). If that's not enough, you'll start to feel full. In that case, add some more pumping sessions. This will prevent interference with your supply and will ensure that you don't get a plugged duct or mastitis.

    A bottle might help DD feel better when you're not there. I'd leave bottles and sippys with DH so that he can try both. If she gets upset at the bottle, she can still have some BM in a sippy.

    There's always a risk that she may wean when you're away, but she is still so young and dependent upon nursing that I bet she'll still love nursing when you get back. If you can, plan to spend a day or most of a day just snuggling her and offering to nurse when you get back. :)
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  • somewhereincalisomewhereincali member
    edited November 2013
    yes, i would plan to pump for your comfort. 
    you may find that DD isnt interested in the pumped milk but doesn't hurt to offer. I had no problem going back to nursing after a similar trip
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  • eshee8198eshee8198 member
    Thanks all! I think I should be fine pumping morning and night - other than the weekends, that's her normal schedule now, and I would think it would be the same in a few months time. It's just such a drag to travel with the pump! Ah well, at least it won't be too much milk to carry back, in any case.

    I think I will have DH try the bottle with her, so at least it's not too disruptive. I have the feeling she'll go right back to it, since she's a little boob-obsessed, frankly, but I can't help but worry.

    Thank you for the advice!
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  • MeganequineMeganequine member
    I think it depends on the person/kid.  I was gone for 3 days right around 13ish months, but at that point we were down to nursing at bedtime anyways and I was ready to be done so I didn't care if my supply tanked.   I didn't pump, but did end up pretty engorged over night and hand expressed in the shower.  I was still able to nurse when we got back for a couple more weeks until we were done.
    BabyFruit Ticker


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