Leaving BF baby for 48 hours - will it mean the end of breast feeding?

[blueseashore]

Just that really. I have to travel down to see an ill family member and can't bring my 5 month old baby with me. Baby is BF, probably has an average of one bottle a day (sometimes two), of either formula or expressed milk. I will pump & dump when away to maintain supply but realistically won't be able to pump every 3 hours day and night. I would very much like to continue feeding, as it fed my first DC till 18 months and loved it.

Any tips/ experiences to share?

Thanks in advance

[Novia]

Hi - I went away for a weekend (2 nights) when my baby was 7 months old and attempted to express (unsuccessfully) while I was away. My milk supply was still fine when I got back and adjusted back to demand straight away. I was only feeding a couple of times a day at that point, so was concerned it would just go - but it seemed fine. I think if you can express as much as possible you won't have a problem.

[kimberlina]

No. I did if at 5 months. Expressed loads before I went and whilst away. It was fine although heart breaking chucking milk away!

[blueseashore]

Thanks v much Novia, what I was hoping to hear! I will be pretty gutted if it means the end of breastfeeding

[blueseashore]

Thanks - yes I think I will find the dumping bit heartbreaking, it takes me aaaages to express and build up my frozen EBM stash!

[TaurielTest]

You might not need to dump if you can chill it in fridge and transport in coolbag, ebm keeps for days. See the kellymom site for Storage guidelines.

[milkjetmum]

Hi, no does not have to be the end. I went away for work for 2 nights when dd 5 months old (to Paris) and just pumped for comfort while away. No problems on return home, but I did just have a day in bed with dd first day back feeding and snuggling to make sure we got back on track.

My main advice is that I found hand expressing gave much more relief than my pump (despite fact that I had been using pump 10mins+ per day since dd 2 weeks so was used to it), so I would suggest practicing that if you haven't already.

Other thing I wouldsay is that at the time I felt certain I couldn't have taken dd with me (flight logistics, work commitments etc), but with the benefit of hindsight I think it would have been possible. Now I would tell myself to take dd and dp (or mum/friend) and ask them to just bring her to me for feeds. But you will have to weigh up whether that would be possible for you.

[clarinsgirl]

Think you should be fine. By 5 months your supply will be good and won't dry up. I travelled lots with work from DS1 being 6 months old and continued to bf.

[Contemplates]

I had begun to combined feed so thought it was probably all my fault when my baby sprouted 2 teeth he started biting me. He also had ear infection and needed antibiotics. At the same time he went on a nursing strike and would either bite me or turn away from me crying, or both. Apparently the action of sucking is painful with earache. He just completely refused anything but the bottle.

This went on for 2 weeks solid and I was so upset. I expressed to keep my milk supply up and contacted very lactation consultant I could. The advice from everyone was to try skin to skin. I was also told that they don't lose the sucking reflex until around the age of 3 year old, so 2 weeks would be fine.

The thing that helped me the most in the end was using a medela nipple shield. It was like introducing a bottle and I could slip the shield off within a minute or two of him latching. By the 3rd feed he was back to fully feeding as normal without any shields and we've had no problems since.

[blueseashore]

Thanks all for your reassuring replies!

[magicalmrmistoffelees]

My DD is 4 1/2 months old and BF, and I went away for 48 hours last weekend. I expressed, but not as often as I would normally feed. We resumed BF when I got home and all is fine!

[drivenfromdistraction]

I am sure you'll be able to continue bf-ing when you get back, don't worry. Even if baby has formula while you're not there, you will need to pump while away for your own comfort if not for any other reason - otherwise you'll be painfully engorged. But I am pretty sure your baby will just carry on as normal when yo return. Enjoy the two unbroken nights!