Breastfeeding on our 15-hour car trip! Help!

[mgossett]

My 5 mo. old breastfeeds every 2 hours and we have to drive from Los Angeles to Fort Collins, CO. My husband is driving, but I don't want to stop every couple of hours to feed her. I've never pumped before, and wouldn't know the first thing to do (I have a hand pump).

My daughter sleeps very well in the car, and her usually 30 min. naps become 1 hour naps. Should I let her do this?

Has anyone done this before?

Help!

[cyclamen]

They say "never wake a sleeping baby" and at five months, I would definitely let your daughter sleep as long as she wants. When she is hungry she will wake up.

As for pumping - if for some reason pumping seems like it's not getting enough milk out, you can try massaging your breast and hand expressing. If you're using a hand pump, sometimes hand expressing is better. Sometimes not, but I really like this website:

http://www.handexpressbreastmilk.com/

I actually hand express my daughter's bottles rather successfully. I feel like I'm more likely to get a letdown than when I use a pump. I express straight into playtex drop-ins sitting in the collar. Definitely bring the pump, but if you feel sore or like it's not working as well, try this too!

[lynsage]

Let her sleep as long as she wants to sleep.

Is there any way you can position yourself to feed her in the car seat? I am blessed with large breasts so I was able to sit in the back with the baby and lean over to feed her when we went on long drives.

[mgossett]

Oh great! This boosts my confidence so much... I hadn't read much about hand expression, and it totally makes sense.

As for leaning over the car seat to feed, it has been done before but I have smaller breasts and was it extremely difficult.

Thanks.