Keeping up breastfeeding when away from baby

[tinygigolo]

Hi all, hoping for some very helpful advice

So my DD is now 10 months old and just bfs twice a day, once first thing in the morning and once before she goes to bed. The rest of the day when she's at nursery she's just on solid food.

In 6 weeks, I've got to go away with work for 4 nights and I'm a bit worried how this is going to impact on feeding. I'd like to continue when I get back and my husband will be looking after her while I'm away.

So what would you recommend that she gets while I'm away, and is there anything I can do before or while I'm away to encourage continuing once I get back?

Thanks for your help!

[UmbongoUnchained]

Express? Express before you go so she has some for when you are away, and express while you are away to keep your supply up? (I didn't breast feed but that seems to make the most sense)

[Reiltin]

Yup, express so there's some at home and express while you're away to keep up supply. A friend of mine had weeks away from her kid at various point and they're still feeding. Good luck!

[tinygigolo]

Thanks both. Definitely planning on expressing while I'm away - cross fingers I get the opportunity!

I've never had the best experiences with expressing and I tried after feeding a couple of nights ago and after about half an hour I only got a trickle out - the pump felt like it had good suction so I think it might just take a while to get my supply back up to cope with expressing as well as feeding. Is it possible to get back up to producing enough for a feed or should I just give up and as DH give her formula/cows milk while I'm away?

[Reiltin]

I would say it depends on how much you want to keep bfing. This may be an opportune time to stop. However, if it were me, I'd work on expressing. Maybe the pump doesn't suit you. We have an avent pump. It worked great for me but my wife can't get anything out with it. However, she can do quite well hand expressing, which might do you for the four days. Or you could try a different pump. Do you have any friends with one you could borrow?