I agree that it will be possible to keep your supply up with consistent pumping but you should expect some decline.
My biggest concern, as others mentioned, is that baby will not re-latch when you return. No bottle can replicate a mother's breast-despite any marketing to gloss it over. If it was only a week I wouldn't be as concerned but a month is a really huge risk IMO. At that age babies do bond quickly with their caregiver (meaning dad) and even with pictures of you or some "lovey" item, she may resist you in more ways than nursing when you get back. You may have a hard time getting her to accept you-it could be a few hours, days, or weeks.
Bottom line, you never know how your body or your daughter will respond to this separation. You can get all the advice in the world but you just don't know how it will work out. Your body may not respond well to pumping for an extended time or it may do great. Your DD may be fine or she may not re-latch and worse, reject you for a while. As long as you are prepared for the worst case scenario-low supply/weaning- then go for it.
Or look at it from this standpoint-if she does wean, will you look back in a few years and regret the trip or be fine that you at least nursed her for that long?
My biggest concern, as others mentioned, is that baby will not re-latch when you return. No bottle can replicate a mother's breast-despite any marketing to gloss it over. If it was only a week I wouldn't be as concerned but a month is a really huge risk IMO. At that age babies do bond quickly with their caregiver (meaning dad) and even with pictures of you or some "lovey" item, she may resist you in more ways than nursing when you get back. You may have a hard time getting her to accept you-it could be a few hours, days, or weeks.
Bottom line, you never know how your body or your daughter will respond to this separation. You can get all the advice in the world but you just don't know how it will work out. Your body may not respond well to pumping for an extended time or it may do great. Your DD may be fine or she may not re-latch and worse, reject you for a while. As long as you are prepared for the worst case scenario-low supply/weaning- then go for it.
Or look at it from this standpoint-if she does wean, will you look back in a few years and regret the trip or be fine that you at least nursed her for that long?
