My church choir has the awesome opportunity to go to NYC for a music conference for 6 days (leaving late Thurs returning early Weds). My dilemma is that I am still nursing my 6 mo. old daughter who will turn 7 mo. while I am away. She already receives bottles intermittently, but I nurse mostly. I don't know if I should try to pump some while I am away and then try to re-establish my full supply when I return, or if I should just stop before going. I wanted to take her with, but that was the deal-breaker, Dad will be keeping baby and her 2 big brothers, and he said if he is taking vac. days to watch the boys, he wanted to spend time with his baby girl, too...so I am blessed in that respect.
2006-09-07 06:28:48 · 13 answers · asked by Mom of 3 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
depending on her age. But i would pump so that i could come back and keep nursing. Also if you do stop all of a sudden your breasts might get sore and engorged. Your trip might end up being a bust if you are in pain the whole time. I would pump.
2006-09-07 06:31:43 · answer #1 · answered by sr22racing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
IF IT WERE *ME*..........
Is spending a couple of days with his daughter worth more to him than her getting the best nutrition for the entire first year of her life, as recommended by the AAP? Personally, I wouldn't call it blessed. I'd call it Dad putting what he wants before what is in the best interest of his daughter. Think it over and talk to him about it with that in mind.
Sorry....but if it was *ME* then Dad would watch the older siblings and the baby would go with me. He has the rest of his life to spend time with her. A couple of days won't hurt and frankly, leaving her behind will make things harder on him because she'll be missing you, missing nursing and he'll have more kids to juggle. He'll get more quality time with the boys when he isn't juggling a miserable baby. I would personally NOT allow myself to be separated from a 6 mos old that long, nursing or not! And the nursing relationship would be far too important to me to jeapordize it by being separated for that long.
IF YOU FIND YOUR PRIORITIES ARE DIFFERENT:
If you do decide to go and leave her behind then by all means you should definately keep pumping and pray that when you come home she isn't either weaned or on a nursing strike. She may go back to the breast just fine...some babies do. Or it could be a battle that you can win if you're patient. Or she could wean while you are gone. Plan to spend a couple of days doing absolutely nothing but nursing and pumping when you get home in order to get her back on the breast and to get your supply back up where it should be.
The links below should be helpful in planning to travel without baby (mother2mother) and in re-establishing nursing (kellymom) when you return.
Make sure that you request a hotel room with a mini-fridge to store your milk in when you are pumping while you're away. You could also take a cooler and get ice at the hotel, but if there is a mini-fridge available it would be a better option so that you can save the milk. You'll want a cooler and ice for the trip home though. (If you flying, check with the airline about transporting breastmilk without a baby after all that recent hoopla about liquids on planes!!!!!)
2006-09-07 06:46:46 · answer #2 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Leaving your baby for that long at that age can have psychological repercussians, especially if you are breast feeding. Have you discussed this with the older women in the church to get their input. This can be done with some chilren with lotsa suport people but you do not know the child yet so how would you know the affect. Changing significant people around at an early age can cause trauma, even in animals who are far more independant. I can not believe your church is letting you go. Are you from a red state or what? No I am not a liberal, I am a evangelical christian with a counseling liciense who treats kids with early trauma, for 15 years. I just observe how some groups seem to have trouble looking into the future.
2006-09-07 06:38:17 · answer #3 · answered by icheeknows 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pump (and leave some breastmilk with dad while you're away). Take the pump with you and pump 4 times a day (if you can stand that). The best time (easiest for mother & child) to wean is between 14 and 18 months. American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfeeding for 2 years and the La Leche League will tell you to do it until your kid goes to college. In my experience, 1.5 years was quite sufficient.
2006-09-07 06:35:36 · answer #4 · answered by curious1223 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't even think about weaning... you will have to pump while you're gone anyway, or you will end up with a breast infection that will ruin your trip anyway.
Do you have time to pump some reserves for while your absent?
Also, you can pump and store your milk to bring home. You would have to pack it in dry ice for checking (those new liquid laws you know)...
As a necessity maybe dad should get over you taking her with you.
Good luck
2006-09-07 08:56:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take her with you! Dad has the rest of his life to spend with the baby, you can only nurse for a little while. Besides that, you will be so uncomfortable if you decide to wean her when you go. It's not worth it.
2006-09-07 12:23:39 · answer #6 · answered by I ♥ EC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd try pumping since she's only 6 months old and should still receive breast milk. It might be a pain, but will be worth it.
2006-09-07 06:30:56 · answer #7 · answered by Melissa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say pump and keep nursing as long a possible. Its the best thing for the child.
2006-09-07 06:32:45 · answer #8 · answered by Fire_God_69 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
PUMP.
Breast is best until at LEAST one year. If you pump every 2-3 hours, then you shouldn't have to worry about your supply going down. Or, pump about every how often, and for the same length of time that you're baby eats.
If you're comfortable breastfeeding, you don't even have to stop at 1year.
2006-09-07 06:32:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
PUMP!!! Since she's already used to your breastmilk, let her have it and save your dad the trouble of dealing with giving her only formula without your breastmilk. And with you being gone from her for so long it will be extra comforting to her to have your breastmilk.
2006-09-07 07:03:44 · answer #10 · answered by purelce 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋