Leaving 7.5 month old DD for 2 nights - worried about messing up supply

[Jezabella]

Hi

DD is normally ebf (alongside early BLW) but will have a bottle of formula on the rare occasions when I have to leave her.

In the past I have left her for up to 8 hours (for a no-kids wedding and for a wedding dress shopping day). She was very happy having bottles with the GParents/DP, went straight back to the breast with no problems, and it didn't seem to affect supply too much (I pumped 6 hours into the wedding, but not at all on the shopping day, no massive engorgement problems). Now, however, I have to be away for a weekend, from the Friday mid-afternoon to Sunday mid-afternoon, when she will be 7.5 months and I am worried it will have a really detrimental impact on our continuing breastfeeding.

I am planning on pumping while away but I have never pumped very successfully (hence she has formula rather than ebm) - partly can't seem to find the time (rubbish, I know), but also never seem to produce very much and don't feel as if the pump empties my breasts very well - certainly not as well as her!

I am just trying to guage if pumping (probably not very effectively) over a 48 hour period instead of bf is going to spell disaster for us as I would be gutted if this is the case. There's no alternative like taking her with me or going for less time unfortunately, but should I try to pump more frequently than she has feeds to maintain supply, for example?

Sorry, long and rambling - any advice gratefully received! Thanks.

I've just been asking about issues I am having with pumping for my now 8 month old, but I went away for a couple of days in early Dec when he was 7 months old and got stuck overseas because of snow, so it ended up nearly 4 days! I expressed as near as possible to the times that DS would have fed, and pumped until I 'ran dry', and although he doesn't have a late night feed, I pumped before bed as well. When I got back, he just latched on and carried on as normal, didn't even seem to feed any more often, which I thought he might.

Although I am currently doubting my own supply with having to go back to work etc, the rational part of my mind says that by 7.5 months, supply is thoroughly established and that it won't be a problem for you.

Hope that makes sense (and helps)

Thanks so much AllNightMilkBar, it's really good to know that you had a similar experience and it didn't have a massive impact that couldn't be rectified. Think I will just stay home and feed for a few days after I return!