Not BF for three or four days can I keep supply?

[SaraBellumHertz]

Just what the title says really.

DC4 still feeds regularly including throughout the night but I want/ need to be away from her for three or four days. If I only mange to pump infrequently is my supply going to be irreparably damaged?

Depends on the age of the baby - a couple of days old not much chance, a couple of years old almost a certainty.

10 months can't believe I missed that crucial bit of information.

In my opinion, it ll affect your supply. I assume your 10mths old baby is weaning now, so your supply would have reduced by now.

From other forum, it says you can try expressing more often to increase the supply demand (says if your supply does drop), but it's easier to say than done as finding the time is hard!

You can still express and stores your expressed milk in a fridge as breastmilk can keep up to 5 days in a fridge. Hope you find this useful

If you can manage two really good pumps a day while you are away, then you should be OK. When you get back, if it has dropped a little, then your dc will soon get it going again if you feed on demand

Should be ok as long as you pump. I did this a bit with DD1 at a similar age and all was fine

Exactly what CMOTDibbler said. When DD was 20 months I was only breastfeeding once a day, but she got 'flu and due to severe vomiting would only drink breastmilk. My supply increased for her to feed every two hours!

Thanks for all your comments.

Realistically I am not going to be able to pump much, if at all for two of the days.

The others a bit more.

I do feed on demand and will obviously do so on my return, but I really don't want to risk having to give up.

Pump just enough to stop your boobs from hurting, then bf on demand on your return. If you need to up your supply quickly, take 2 fenugreek capsules (available in healthfood shops) with lots of water 3-4 hours before you next expect to feed. Your boobs will magically reinflate!

Oh good questions thanks for posting! I will be in the same position as you in June, I thought I would have to give up breast feeding. Delighted to hear I may not.

Thanks rumtum I will try the fenugreek.

Relieved that the break won't mean the end

Just a word of warning on the fenugreek - it does have some contra-indications (Asthma being one of them) so please look into it before taking. It is natural but so is cyanide (apple pips), digitalis (foxgloves), etc, etc[. It also normally takes at least 24-48 hours of 4 tablets 3 times a day to work (610mg strength) but might take a week or more (this is for women with low supply not ones who have had a short break).

Unfortunately, 'pump enough to stop your boobs from hurting' is something a mother who has gone cold turkey weaning and has engorgement might be told to try as it's a good way to halt production. If you really can't find the time to express a lot then a quick hand express while you have a shower or bath may help (can be easier to get let-downs in warm water).

truthsweet thanks.

It's not so much that I "can't find the time" rather I will be traveling for large parts of both the first and last day: a 7 hour flight with the associated early arrival, wait, immigration and baggage reclaim plus onward travel will mean realistically I am "on the go" for 12 ish hours each way.

I have enough problem pumping in the privacy of my own home whilst relaxed. There is no chance that I will be able to pump sufficiently in an airport (or god forbid plane!) toilet.

I'm starting to think maybe I will have to take DD with me but I have a funeral to go to and lots to sort out and I just don't think all the traveling in a short period is going to do her any favors

I though you where going to say it was for work. If it's a family matter I'd just take her with you espicaly a funeral baby's are always a great distraction and everyone will want to hold/play with her. Probably more upsetting for her to be appart from you.

If you haven't got one then hire a good sling for all the traveling and you'll be sorted.

miggril it's not so much the funeral as the flight.

I 'm trying to do a quick turnaround so I'm not away from the older DC's for too long. I did similar with DC4 last month but she found the flying hard to deal with - she wants to be on the go constantly and keeping her confined to a seat is hard for me and horrid for her. So to do two days of flying, one of being passed round family she barely knows and then possibly a day of respite in between I think she might be better at home with her dad and her older siblings.

It'll be me who finds it hard.