Disruption to bf because of long haul flight?

[louloubelle]

We are going to California in a few weeks, when my baby will be 9 months old. She has 3 feeds, 8am, 3pm and 8pm, as well as 3 meals a day (8ish, 12 and 6pm). The flight is 11 hours or so, leaving at lunchtime, landing there about 2pm. I am concerned that my milk production may not adjust quickly when we try to establish the new hours for her. She has flown before on short haul flights, when she was younger and could suckle during takeoff and landing. Any tips about managing the feeds would be gratefully received.

We flew to Australia with DS1 when he was about 5 months and I just fed him on demand throughout the flight and when we arrived. He wasn't on solids then so I guess it's a bit more awkward for you trying to fit meals in. Maybe just try to fit solids in with airline meals which should be adjusting towards new timezone and b'feeds when she seems to need them - try to keep your spacing?? Hopefully you'll both adjust pretty quickly.

I think you will be fine, she may want more feeds or less feeds or something else, or you may find that you are feeding at different times, but you will have enough milk and at the right times.

My ds has just had a tummy bug and gone from 2/3 feeds per day to about 12/13 and it was fine. Now he's better back to 2/3 and breasts completely normal, not full or sore.

DS2 flew to Florida at 7 months old and, TBH, I don't recall any problems tweaking him to the new time zone. I honestly can't remember any problems whatsoever! I think we used the flight to tweak him into the new time zone because his routine was pretty much messed up that day anyway.

We flew to Australia with dd1 aged 9 months. she was on maybe 4-5 feeds at home at that age, but she fed far more often than she would have done at home. what you could do is feed a bit more frequently in the days beforehand to ramp up the supply a bit.