trip for work, leaving amost 3 year old nursling

[readytobedone]

i just found out i have been accepted at a conference in my field, which is great

the conference will be in mid-late march. DD turns 3 may 6th. i am thinking i'll be away from her at least 3 full days, if not 4. i really don't see her weaning before then. the conference is all the way across the country...

right now i am used to being away from her for workdays 3x/week and do not get engorged. i've also spent one night away from her when she was 22 months old. i pumped but probably didn't really have to.

so my question is, anyone left a 3 year old nursling for a few days? how did your milk supply do? how did your nursling do? i plan to take a manual pump just to use if i need.

any BTDT advice would be much appreciated

[pbjmama]

My situation is slightly different as I was tandem with a younger child but my almost 3 yo ds was fine with being separated 3 days/2 nights. I did pump alot more than I thought I would. My supply was fine, no difference noted.

[ErinsJuneBug]

I left my 2 1/2 year old for a weekend wedding a few years ago. I brought my pump but totally forgot about it. I dont really know how my supply was at that point anyway. Things resumed as normal when i got back and then she weaned 6 months later.

[Marylizah]

I left my 2.5 year old for a long weekend when he was nursing. No need to pump, no engorgement, no problem resuming nursing when I returned.

Have fun at your conference!

[Evergreen]

It's happened to me twice. Well, I haven't had the second time yet but it is on the calendar.

The first time was about 2 mos before Dylan turned three. It was fine. The last day I did feel a little full but I didn't need to express at all. She resumed nursing as if nothing had happened when I got back.

I'm going to another in a few weeks, I will return on Ava's third birthday. I am hoping it will be as easy, though Ava is much more obsessed with nursing than Dylan was at that age.

[sarahtdubb]

Congrats about the conference!

My LO was younger than yours--about 20 months-- when I went away for 3 days/2 nights. I got horribly engorged-- I think it was because I pumped too much!! I was so conscious about pumping to stay comfortable and keep up my supply that I ended up pumping more than he drank at the time and I think I increased my supply, it was terrible! I was looking forward to 2 nights of sleep but I couldn't sleep because I was in pain! So I think I overdid it. I'm planning another trip away for 2 nights soon-- DS is now 24 months--and I will probably either not pump at all or just a couple times.

[Ellien C]

I travelled for work with an older nursing child for a week at a time. It didn't affect anything. I did need the manual pump about once every 18 hours or so. Toward the end I kept hoping she'd wean but she always picked up right where we left off.

[spedteacher30]

Originally Posted by Ellien C

I travelled for work with an older nursing child for a week at a time. It didn't affect anything. I did need the manual pump about once every 18 hours or so. Toward the end I kept hoping she'd wean but she always picked up right where we left off.

i agree with this, though by the time my son was almost 3, i didn't have to pump. He always resumed as well. you'll know closer to the time you leave if you need to bring the pump based on how often she nurses.

[readytobedone]

Originally Posted by spedteacher30

i agree with this, though by the time my son was almost 3, i didn't have to pump. He always resumed as well. you'll know closer to the time you leave if you need to bring the pump based on how often she nurses.

how often was your son nursing when you didn't need to pump? right now, DD is nursing, gee, 4 times a day (+ some overnight ) if i am working, maybe a bit more daytime nursing if i am home? it might be less by march, though, for sure.

[Vegan_Mom]

I first left my daughter, who turned two last Thursday, at the end of last December. I was gone for two full days, but really, it was about four 24-hour periods. I was very hesitant in leaving, as it would have not only been the first time we were apart for a night, but with breastfeeding overall. I decided to go on the trip to see my brother and his family though, as my brother was being shipped to Afghanistan a few weeks later. Anyway, as soon as we could find a place to sit at the airport, we nursed. By then (she was 15 months) she wasn't interested in NIP much, as she got distracted easily. However, once her diaper was changed and I was out of my non-nursing bra, she chomped on. She didn't nurse long since we weren't comfortable, but from the way she sucked, I knew she was doing more out of comfort than food. When we got home, she nursed for over an hour. (And I cursed my decision to sit in her room with no TV.)

After that, I started to go on weekend retreats-- Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. (I'm usually home by Sunday noon.) She still doesn't like it (the last one was in August), since she's used to nursing to sleep. Every time, though, she goes back on. In June, I went to NYC for a completely solo trip. (When I was visiting my brother and his family, our parents were there, too.) It was also two full days. Again, she latched on quickly and happily.

Every time I go, I figure if she's done, then we've had a really good run. However, she's not finished yet. As for my supply, the last time, I didn't even bother to hand pump much. I forgot. (I also did that one night in NYC. I was too tired after I got back late. Eh.)

From my experience, I suggest you just go and offer it again when you come home. If he's interested, he'll start up again.

[spedteacher30]

The last time i pumped for an overnight was when M was around 2, and was nursing 3 times a day during the work week and on demand on weekends--probably 6 times or so. I can't remember.

I don't remember when i stopped bringing my pump with me for extended trips. i had a two night trip in May when he was 27 months, and a 4 night trip in November when he was 33 months. I know i didn't bring it for one night trips after he was 2, but I can't remember when i stopped bringing it for multiple night trips.

Are you still pumping during the day? I stopped pumping during the day when he was 18 months old, and had an overnight in November when he was 21 months. I should have brought the pump with me for that trip which was actually about 36 hours total, as i was terribly engorged the whole drive home, and leaked during my evening presentation the second night. (I left mid-day on a Tuesday and came home around midnight on Wednesday).