I am going away with my husband on a get-away w/out the kids for 5 days. I am planning on pumping while I am gone so that I continue to produce milk. I am wondering if my son (who is 4 months) will nurse once I return, or if it's even feasable to want this to work out. Any advice would be wonderful!!!!!
2006-10-15 15:59:26 · 18 answers · asked by Jenny E 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I breastfed all four of my children with great success. Your 4 month old by now has developed a regular feeding pattern, and 5 days away will not hinder him in any way. He may have a problem with the alternate feeding method more than with your natural feeding method. I had to go into the hospital for surgery shortly after my 3rd child, due to kidney stones, and continued to pump while gone, as soon as I was able to come home and feed him again, he latched on like he'd been starved...LOL. You will be just fine, relax and enjoy your time away.
2006-10-15 19:28:08 · answer #1 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will still be able to nurse when you get back. I had a friend who left her 6 month old for a vacation and dropped one of the pump parts down the sink of the hotel where they were at so she wasn't able to pump the whole trip and her milk dried up. Also she had never introduced her baby to a bottle before she left so Grandma had a very hard time while she and her husband were away. The baby cried almost all the time and didn't want anything to do with the bottle.
I would never leave my babies when they were that young but that's me.
2006-10-16 14:13:08 · answer #2 · answered by Maggie K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you should be fine. I have had to stop breastfeeding my babies for brief periods one reason or another, and they quite eagerly accepted nursing back again. Even my youngest son who is 5 mos old went through this. I was forced to stop nursing because of being on antibiotics, so I used a breast pump for 2 weeks. Once teh meds were out of my system I went back to nursing, much to my baby's happiness, and did just fine.
Babies learn fast that Mom nurses and others have a bottle. Dads use a bottle when they feed. Someone else will be feeding your baby while you are away, so I don't see a problem when you return.
2006-10-15 18:18:40 · answer #3 · answered by suninmyskies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you pump you'll produce milk. I am not a doctor, but I believe that babies nurse b/c of instinct so there shouldn't be a problem. If he doesn't take right away give him time to adjust back to the breast. Or... you can continue to pump and feed him with a bottle. I did this b/c I was in so much pain from breast feeding, but I wanted my son to benifit from my milk. I fed him and then when I was done I would pump and store the milk for his next feeding.
2006-10-15 16:07:35 · answer #4 · answered by Ron's wife 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The most important thing is that you keep pumping to maintain your supply. A baby at 4 months has probably developed a nursing preference and babies almost never wean themselves before a year old, and usually not before 2. He may be reluctant to take the bottle, and the first few days that you're back may be a little different as well - he may want to nurse more, or you may have to nurse him more often simply to get him back in the habit.
2006-10-16 01:31:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can always return to nursing, it just might take a bit of effort. Your supply will probably go down a bit as well.
I don't advise it, 4 months is very young to leave for 5 days. babies that young still need to nurse and need their mothers! It might be nice if you brought the 4 month old and just left your other children. Just pop him in a sling and go.
2006-10-15 17:22:11 · answer #6 · answered by sheila 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have breastfed all of my children,I have 4 and Ihave In the past left and returned..All of my kids prefered the breast to the bottle I actually had a problem giving the a bottle because they prefered the breast..All you can do is try.
2006-10-15 16:10:38 · answer #7 · answered by purplesandfly 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It should be fine. The first couple of feeding might be like starting back at square one, but he should remember fairly quickly.
More likely, he may not want to take a bottle while you're gone.
2006-10-15 21:03:51 · answer #8 · answered by trivial 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be fine. Don't forget though, that you will need to express the milk while you are gone. Otherwise you could end up with a lot of pain!!!
Been there..done that.. Ouch!!
Have a wonderful vacation!
2006-10-15 16:31:19 · answer #9 · answered by LittleBitOfSugar 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you will be alright as long as you pump. I never tried being away that long but I don't think the kid will get nipple confusion at that age.
2006-10-15 16:02:53 · answer #10 · answered by zara01 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋