Going on a business trip for 4 days - will this affect my supply?

[Boobz]

I am currently BF-ing my 5 month old daughter and am due to go back to work mid Sept. We have already swapped the 11am feed onto the bottle (just this last week) and will have to drop the 3pm feed onto the bottle as well so that she's ready to go to nursery in a month's time. I was planning on keeping BF-ing for the morning and evening feed for a few more months, maybe until she was about 9 months old or so.

However, I've just checked my work email and have seen that I am due to go to Ireland for 4 days in mid October. I can't take her with me, so my question is, if DH feeds her on the bottle for those 4 days (2 of which she'll also be being fed at nursery during the day), and I pump in the morning and evening for those 4 days, will we just be able to pick up where we left off when I get home? Will my supply be affected? Will she suddenly refuse the breast after 4 solid days of bottles? Has anyone ever had to go through this with their work? I'd hate to cut BF-ing short just because of this one trip, but I don't think I can tell work that I can't come because I am BF-ing.

Advice?

Thanks xxx

[minipinkscottish]

You can totally do this but you must pump when away...even during the day if you get a few mins.

I have done this often and have successfully fed my lo's for up to 2 years

[CMOTdibbler]

Yup, as long as you pump really well when away, you'll be fine. I started back travelling for work when DS was 6 months old, and fed him till he was 2

[Boobz]

That's great - thanks!

xx

[weasle]

i think legally you could say you can't go because of bf a child under 1yo. but you might mean you don't feel you can. i think it is health and safety?

look at this

It is quite common in the NHS to return to work without doing night shifts under these guidelines, although i notice now in that link that it says you need a GP letter.

It sounds like others have done this successfully, good luck with it.