Have to travel in May - Will 38 mo. old DD end up weaning? Do I need to pump?

[Ariel'sMama]

Hi,

This is my first post ever on Mothering.com but I have to say I’ve been a fan and frequent reader of the discussion board for 3 years now! I love this site and refer others to it all the time! I’ve found posts here so informative and helpful!

Here is the situation I am writing about:
My DD is 38 months old and still nurses. I work Mon-Fri 7:30-3:30. DH gets her up in the mornings on Mondays, and Wed.-Fri. and gets her ready and takes her to my Mom’s house (she watches DD while we work). On Tuesdays I get her up and get her ready and take her to DH’s grandparent’s house - who watch her that one day a week.

Here is her nursing schedule:
Mondays, Wed.-Fri.: Nurses at 4 pm, sometime around dinner (say 6-7 pm) then before bedtime.

Tuesdays: Nurses in the morning 6:30 am, then at 4 pm, sometime around dinner (say 6-7 pm) then before bedtime.

Saturday and Sunday – no limit just whenever she wants. So when we wake up, then maybe 1-2 more times before her nap then after her nap, then a couple times in the afternoon-evening then before bed.

I pumped at work up until she was 17 ½ months old. So during the day while away from me she gets only water. We don’t consume dairy except for some raw organic cheese here or there. We do give her calcium supplements. So I feel with the amount she nurses, the supplements and green, leafy veggies she is getting her necessary calcium intake.

My “problem” is this:
I’ve never been away from DD overnight. However, this May I will have to be for work. I will be leaving on a Monday night and returning on a Thursday night. I plan on taking off work on Monday and Friday so that I can be with her during the day. So she will go without nursing Monday night, all day Tue.-Wed. and most of the day Thursday.

2 questions:
Will she wean because of this?

Do I need to pump? I wouldn’t keep the milk but rather would pump and dump. But do I need to pump for comfort, so my ducts don’t become plugged and infected, etc.?

I really do not want to wean. I do have a choice (I believe I can put my foot down at work) and not go. However, I think it will be a beneficial conference for me to attend for work.

I really don’t feel like pumping; I’d have to dig up my pump and blow the dust off of it which I can do…that’s fine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I believe the advice I’ve already received from this discussion board has tremendously impacted and helped us to even reach this point – nursing for 3 years!

Thanks everyone!
Jennifer

[pbjmama]

I've traveled away from my ds a few times when he was 2 and 3 and he has always come back to the breast easily. I was tandem at the time so it is possible I had more milk than you but I took a hand pump for comfort only. The first time I used it alot - my dd was only 1 then. The second time I was able to only use it once and I was gone for 2.5 days. Good luck!

[Ariel'sMama]

Thanks!

Ok, thanks for the info! I kind of thought of just purchasing a hand pump for this type of thing. I think they're relatively cheaper?? then I don't have to lug my whole pump with me I am hoping she does return to nursing when I am back. Good to know your DS did. Thanks again!

[~pi]

Welcome to posting!

I started doing occasional 1-4 night overnights when DS was almost 2 yo, and started traveling regularly for about a week a month (6 days, 5 nights) when he was 3. He's 3.5 now and still nursing.

When he was younger I would take a pump with me to pump and dump, but I haven't bothered in about a year. It's been fine. I'm a little full by the end of the week but that's it. I have joked to a couple of friends, "I wonder whether any woman has ever told a plastic surgeon, 'I'd like them to look like I'm on day 4 away from my nursing preschooler.' "

ETA: On one occasion, DS had been nursing like crazy before I left and by day 4 away from him, I was feeling very full of milk. I just hand-expressed a little in the shower that morning, and I was fine until I got home two days later.

Have a great trip!

[Ariel'sMama]

wow - you know I thought I was the only one who thought like that - when they get a little full! hmm...they look pretty nice!

Anyway, thank you so much for the encouragement. It sounds to me like everything will be ok.

That is great that you were able to continue nursing your DS even after being gone - that he went back to it and that you really didn't have to worry about pumping. That's what extended breastfeeding is supposed to be...more relaxed and casual - not all this crazy scheduling and worrying, etc.

Thanks!

[TiredX2]

Could she end up weaning? Maybe. There is the chance that she will.

I wouldn't discount that possibility, but I also wouldn't allow it to control you, kwim. It sounds like you have a good plan in place (the unlimited nursing Monday and Friday) and I would guess that she will have no problems with coming back to nursing. DS was still nursing when he went camping with his grandparents for two nights (he did this once a year) as an "older" nursling and we never had any problems with him going right back to nursing! If you are having any major issue right before leaving (latch issues, supply issues, etc...) it might increase the chance of weaning, but there are risks everywhere, kwim. At that age I would be more concerned about DD missing you while you were gone then not nursing when you got back. Is she going to be able to do something fun? And do you have a plan for bedtime?

If the pump is easy to take along, you can, but I wouldn't be that concerned. You could always get into the shower and express a little if you are uncomfortable. If you have had supply issues in the past, though, I would give different advice about pumping.

Good luck!