Travel and nursing

[smeisnotapirate]

I am going on a week-long conference to Toronto in November that I cannot take DS to (nor can we afford to have DS and DH come up and stay with me, which is what I did for the last conference, right before his 1st birthday). DS will be 17mo. Right now (at 15mo), he nurses once on either side in the morning, and usually once at a late afternoon nap. If I'm not home, he doesn't ask to nurse, DH says.

He's a wonderful eater, eats full meals and snacks. We're doing BLW with him, so he's used to food and to eating meals. When he asks to nurse, I nurse him.

When I go to this conference, what should I do about breastmilk? I'm not looking to wean him. Should I pump ahead of time for a sippy cup full twice a day and pump and dump while at the conference?

Of course, I'm pregnant, so this may be a moot point by November. But so far, I still have a supply, so I'm hoping to preserve it. I'm also thinking that he's the kind of kid who would nurse despite there being no milk.

Anyways, rambling. Ideas?

[Jennbee]

When I had to go away for conferences and training, I would pump and dump the milk. DD was 2.5 yrs at the time and seemed to do ok while I was gone. She wouldn't ask to nurse off of anyone else.
Oh yeah, and I usually only pumped my milk once a day. At the time she would nurse between 1-3 times a day.
Do you already have a pump?

[smeisnotapirate]

Yup, have a really good pump given to me when I was WOH.

[smeisnotapirate]

Bump!

[mom2lucy]

I'm in the exact same situation! I'm nursing DD, 18 mo., and I'm also 8 weeks pregnant. I'll be going on a work trip for 5 days in November. I'm not as concerned about DD, because she doesn't ask to nurse when I'm not there, as I am of keeping my milk as long as possible. My supply has really taken a drop and I'm wondering if I'll even be able to pump when I'm gone.
I went out of town for 2 days when DD was 17 mo. and left milk to be given in a sippy cup, but she really had no interest in it. I think at this age she just wants the boob!
So my plan is to bring my pump and hope for the best! Good luck to you!

[~pi]

I started overnight work trips when DS was 2 and still nursing at least 4-6 times per 24 hour period. In the beginning, I needed to pump once a day or every second day just for my own comfort. I always just dumped the milk (DS has never taken it any other way but from the tap, and he was eating plenty of solids.)

Now that he's 3, he nurses 2-3 times per 24 hours and I'm regularly away for up to a week. I don't pump while away anymore. By the end of a week, I'm starting to feel some pressure, but it isn't a major problem. I don't even really think about it.

I haven't done it pregnant, so I don't know about supply effects from that, but I'll tell you that I've always had a 'just enough' supply, and I found that even without pumping to keep it up, the trips have not had a noticeable impact on my supply. DS always wants to nurse more when I get home, but I think that is mostly due to him having missed me (and I'm just as happy to spend a lot of time nursing him, because it was mutual!) He says there is lots of milk.

I think once you're into the phase of nursing a toddler, milk supply is quite resilient. (Though again, I'm sure pregnancy is a complicating factor.)

In your shoes, I would bring the pump and plan to pump and dump if needed for comfort. Have a great time at the conference!