Business Trip/ Breastfed Toddler

[WhatisaNarwhal]

My DD is 2, and still BFing- mostly in bed am/ pm, but on weekends, she'll feed multiple times through the day (usually in response to minor injuries/ feeling tired etc). She can easily go all day without breastfeeding - and does 4 days a week when I'm at work, and she's at nursery. The longest we've been apart is 18 hours, when I had a work trip.

I have to go away at the end of May for 2 nights/ 3 days. Im a LP, but exDP and by mother will have her for the weekend (it's a work trip; taking her wouldn't be fair on her or my clients/ host organisation - especially as I can't take anyone with me to look after her).

I don't want this to be the end of breastfeeding (although I am TOTALLY ready - she isn't, and I don't want this to be traumatic).

Does anyone have any tips on how to prepare her/ myself - and what I can expect her to be like while I'm away? She'll go to sleep etc. without breastfeeding at nursery etc. so she obviously CAN... I just don't want her to be sad!

Help help please!

You might find that she is fine without the boob while you're away, especially since she's used to going without it while you're at work through the week. Once you return she'll probably be clawing your top open

The night before you leave, you could try telling her that you and the milk (or however you refer to it) will be gone for a bit, but that her daddy and granny will be there for lots of cuddles, and that you and the milk will be back in 2 sleeps. And maybe that daddy and granny will lie down next to her/cuddle her to help her go to sleep (if she falls asleep while feeding normally). I suppose it's just letting her know what's going to happen, so she doesn't feel taken aback or stressed.

My son was an enthusiastic breastfeeder too as a toddler, but always seemed to manage fine if I was away. It was me who suffered, with rock hard boobs!

I hope it goes well for you both!

In all honesty, she will probably be completely fine. She's used to not boobing when you aren't there, so she won't look for it when you aren't there. I doubt she will really notice.

All you'll need to do is relieve your boobs if they get sore - take a hand or electric pump unless you're comfortable hand expressing. I used to just hand express off the excess in my morning shower, storing it and bringing it back is more trouble than its worth.