Going away from DS, 12mo, for THREE DAYS and TWO NIGHTS...help

[RoRoMommy]

Hi everyone,

The longest I've been away from DS since we was born was one night--once when he was three months old to have a night with DH, and left mid-day, came back middle of the afternoon, then two business trips the last two weeks, gone early morning, one night, back late the next night. DS was fine, had expressed breastmilk each time.

This weekend DH and I are going to Spain for two nights, leaving early in the morning day 1, then two nights, then back in the evening of day 3. I am trying to get enough expressed breastmilk for the whole time, but to be honest it's slow going because work is busy and stressful and we used a lot of my stock during the business trips and during a dip in my supply recently. So, I have two questions:

(1) Now DS is 12mo, well he will be 25 March, what can I give him instead of ebm if my mum runs out of what I am trying to stockpile this week, and

(2) How often does he need ebm these days now that he's fully on solids? At the moment I think mum offers it to him twice during the day from a bottle, but if he doesn't need it then everything I am pumping during the day this week can go for the time I am gone this weekend.

Oh, and bonus questions (3) and (4): how often should I pump while we're away, and will my child forget me / hate me / wean himself while I am gone?

NOTE that DS has shown sensitivity to both soy (eczema) and dairy milk (colic in the early days if I had any).

Thanks. I know I am overreacting, but he's my little man and bf is the best thing I've ever done for another person so I don't want to f*ck it up.

2. How often do you breastfeed him normally? I would think that at 12 months most children would be nutritionally fine on morning and evening milk feeds. One of my friends' children did this at 6 months when she went back to work, he would never take milk from a bottle/cup. Can he eat cheese/yogurt?

3. If he had no sensitivities, then cow's milk would be fine, or formula. As he does - I don't know. You don't want him to have something he's never had before while you're away if he might react to it. So I'd say stick with water/juice.

4. When you get very uncomfortable. Your milk will not dry up, it's well-established by now.

5. No/no/unlikely.

We're bf morning, night, and through the night say two-three times. On the weekends he's a boob-monster, we're talking six-seven times a day. He really loves bf. But my mum says that when I am not around he's not really bothered, so if morning and night is fine, that's what we'll do.

He loves cheese and yogurt, so perhaps the dairy thing is over with now. How long would it take to discover a sensitivity to cow's milk based formula? Perhaps I should try before we go.

Thanks a lot for responding!

I went back to work when DS was 12mo and I just bf him morning and before bed.

He is allergic to dairy so he drinks rice milk from a cup during the day.

I don't know how long it would take to discover a sensitivity to cow's milk formula, but to be honest I wouldn't bother. As long as he is happy to drink water and eats cheese and yogurt then for 3 days he really will not be missing anything nutritionally by not having milk.

If he's eating cheese and yogurt with no problem, then its unlikely that he has a dairy problem - why not try a small cup of cow milk before you go ? Then your mum can give him EBM morning and evening and offer milk in a cup during the day.

When I'm away I pump (or did - now DS is down to one feed a day so I hand express that) at my usual times if I can - but at least morning and evening properly, and maybe a quick hand express in the day if overfull (easy to do into a Starbucks cup in a public toilet..).

DS is always super pleased to see num nums when I get back, and I've been away for 7 nights at a time.

Thanks!

Oh Cmot, thanks for your response...this is probably the third similar post I've done! Each time I am going to be away from him I get nervous...hopefully this will pass.

Its hard isn't it. I'm particularly sad about my next long trip away as I've promised DH that I won't express in an attempt to wean DS after that - he'll be 2 a week or so after.

RoRoMummy - I've no advice to offer but just wanted to say that your comment
"Thanks. I know I am overreacting, but he's my little man and bf is the best thing I've ever done for another person so I don't want to f*ck it up."
really touched me - that's exactly how I feel about bfing my own little man (who is 12 weeks on Thursday). I hope to continue as long as you have and beyond

Oh cmot! Good luck. That's rough...but if it's time, you'll know.

Bouncingturtle, your little man looks like such a sweetie! It's really been a great experience for me, and it gets loads easier and more gratifying as time goes on. Good luck, and if you ever have trouble, mn is a great resource (as I am sure you know!).