Leaving BF baby for 4 nights

[Presto]

I am going away for 4 days and nights soon- baby will be 8 months (nearly 9 months) old by then. Do you think it's practical to resume bfeeding on my return after getting her used to the bottle or just call it a day and wean her off the boob altogether. Am feeling quite emotional about it as she is the 3rd (final) baby, also bfeeding helps with the ww weight loss.

OH Presto, I can understand that you feel emotional about ending BF ( I feel my time is near too ). If I was in your postion I would let her choose when you return, she may devour you or she may point to the bottle. If you both want to keep BF she will let you know.

Are you going somewhere exciting?

I personally would resume feeding when you get back, especially as it is your last baby. But that's me

Think that if you both want to you should be able to carry on. You might need to express a few times while you are away so that your milk supply doesn't reduce...as this could cause problems on your return. Otherwise she may refuse the breast or get fed up if there isn't enough milk...it will take a few days for her to build the supply back up to what she needs. She doesn't have to have a bottle while you are away, she could be cup fed. A bottle won't neccessarily affect her feeding. I stopped feeding at 8 months through choice and my DD didn't miss it.
Just do what makes you happy! All the best!

Decide when you get back, or while you are away. Don't agonise now you have no idea how you will feel. Personally I would keep going.

Thank you all for your comments - I'll see how it goes and will take my breast pump just in case. I'm going to stay with a friend near Newcastle which I really need after 52 days straight entertaining 3 small children - it's felt like hard labour!! Can't wait for school to start, will just have the babe to entertain then.

Presto, I will be interested to hear how you get on - I will be in a similar position in a couple of months time - going away with old schoolfriends to celebrate (?) our forthcoming 40th birthdays. My son (also third and last baby) will be 9 months old then. Obviously he may no longer be breastfeeding by then as he is partially weaned already (only feeding on one side and supplementing with formula).

presto I am the queen of taking breaks from bf! I have taken whole weeks away and resumed without a problem, starting with a few days away when my baby was about 7 months. I even went away for a week when my baby was two and started up again on my return!
I never got engorged or had to express.
Good luck.

Are you still feeding Jasper ?(oh reluctant one)

Wow jasper, I'm amazed and most encouraged.
Did you baby take to having formula well or did you leave ebm?
I'm a bit concerned for DH as he will have to give her formula and she doesn't have a dummy and at present nods off at the breast.
He'll just have to cope I guess.
Any tips on how to best prepare them?

Presto - can you not express and leave a stock of milk in the freezer? At 9 months old baby would not actually need that much really. You can use cow's milk in food and leave EBM for morning and night (or night only)

Presto it was a bit of a saga. You see I was not too successful bfing my first two babies but was so determined to get it right with the third. WIth the help of mumsnet and Mears in real life I learned so much more about bf .

I made it my aim NEVER to give him formula (this thanks to Mears' advice - she has four children , and none of them had formula) and actually did not often give ebm either .

Most women assume even if you bf for a long time at some point you will need to use formula but this is not true. The formula companies are very clever in their marketing with the so called "follow on " milks.

If I was away he just did without and resumed feeding when I got back. Afraid I can't remember the arrangemment first time round when he was about 7 months . I was in hospital for two nights and I did leave ebm behind but by then he was on to sloopy first foods, and anyway I decided I would rather he drank water if he was thirsty than formula.

Now that I remember my dh brought him to the hospital on one occasion for a feed so I don't suppose that counts as much of a separation.(I remember now he was actually exactly six months old when I was in hospital)
Next time he was 12 months old and still feeding loads. I went to Canada by myself for a week and was quite worried he would not be interested on my return but we just went right back to where we had left off.

I did the same thing when he was two - left for ten days and again no engorgement and no problem resuming feeding.

Mears, no, I am not still feeding him

Best of luck! Have a great holiday and have comfidence in your body!

Jasper is a real inspiration to mums who have had problems breastfeeding in the past. Just search for her posts and you will see how she struggled.

Jasper - don't fancy a wee pool delivery?

Mears you know I do

Any chance of one?

Only if it had a different father from the other 3

Presto,
I just had a weekend away from my 3rd and final baby, who turned 9 months when I was away. She took a bottle while I was away and I expressed 3 times a day, and now I've been back since Mon morning and we are back onto a full breastfeeding regime. I knew before I went I didn't want to stop, so planned not to, and it was great. The first morning back she had a full bf then dh gave her about 3oz fromula but sonce then there's been no need for formula.

Have a nice time!

Jasper...
I am planning on leaving my 6 1/2 month old with my parents for 2 nights and I am worried he will reject the breast when I return. Also worried that he may think I am gone forever. How did your 7 month old handle your 2 nights away?

Anne0147 - I left ds for 9 days when he was 6 months old - with a massive supply of EBM. He was fine when I got back - went straight back on to the breast (I expressed while I was away).

He was used to taking EBM though - he'd been at childminder since he was 4 months old, when I went back to work.

Jasper thank you! I'm going away for three nights and was having kittens as LO (who will be 11 1/2 months when I go) will not take a bottle of anything. She will take water from a sippy cup and you've given me the confidence to go ahead with the planned trip and not worry too much about the lack of milk.
And all you other mums have helped too - I was feeling like a baaaad mother for going away at all and seeing that I'm not the only one has helped me get a grip. Woohoo!
Just a leeetle question, if that's not hijacking the thread - at the moment I BF before sleep. Do you think I should I get DH to try and get her to sleep without a feed a few times to get her used to it? Feed her before her bathtime say, instead of last thing before sleep?
Thanks everyone, and sorry Presto for butting in - looks like you've hit on a common trauma!

Ha ha ha! I've just realised that this thread was 6 years ago!! Still, that makes me feel better too - all traumas pass and I bet this one is a distant memory for you all!