Pumping to maintain supply during separation -- advice?

[violet_]

My baby is 3 months old and exclusively breastfed. I will be away from her for about 45 hours (nearly 2 days!) later this week. I had planned to pump milk for her to have while I'm away, but she hit a growth spurt and is eating every 2 hours (sometimes even every 90 minutes) and so I don't have a drop to spare or a moment to pump. So she'll be pretty much on formula while I'm away. We fed her a little the past two days to make sure she's ok with it, and she is.

Ok, so here's my question: while I'm away, I know I'll need to pump. Do I have to pump every two hours? And, given that I get very little milk out when I do pump (maybe and ounce and a half on one breast, two on the other), will this diminish my supply at all? Any ideas so I can still keep up with her when I return? I have been taking fenugreek supplements since she hit the growth spurt.

Any thought on the pumping? I'll be at a conference, so I suppose I'll be hitting the ladies' room for pumping, and will therefore have to dump much, if not all, of what I express.

Thanks in advance for any hints or advice.

[Amy@STL]

Originally Posted by violet_

My baby is 3 months old and exclusively breastfed. I will be away from her for about 45 hours (nearly 2 days!) later this week. I had planned to pump milk for her to have while I'm away, but she hit a growth spurt and is eating every 2 hours (sometimes even every 90 minutes) and so I don't have a drop to spare or a moment to pump. So she'll be pretty much on formula while I'm away. We fed her a little the past two days to make sure she's ok with it, and she is.

Ok, so here's my question: while I'm away, I know I'll need to pump. Do I have to pump every two hours? And, given that I get very little milk out when I do pump (maybe and ounce and a half on one breast, two on the other), will this diminish my supply at all? Any ideas so I can still keep up with her when I return? I have been taking fenugreek supplements since she hit the growth spurt.

Any thought on the pumping? I'll be at a conference, so I suppose I'll be hitting the ladies' room for pumping, and will therefore have to dump much, if not all, of what I express.

Thanks in advance for any hints or advice.

Why would you have to dump any of it??
I pumped in a restroom for a month when I returned to work...I stood and pumped and I stored my milk in the bottles with the ice-pack which came with my Medela pump in style, and my milk was fine for the entire day.

I would say if you have never pumped before, start practising. Use a good pump. I rented hospital grade pump when I had to pump exclusively for a while..it's the closest to nursing. If possible, go to a LC and make sure your flanges fit you well. Relax and give yourself time....I sometimes go 5 mins without any let downs when pumping. It takes me 30 mins to pump 5 oz...just sharing my experience. I know my friend can pump 10 oz in 15 mins. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

[crystal_buffaloe]

I agree with the PP, oh my goodness why would you throw any of it away? An insulated lunch bag or small cooler with ice packs will keep the milk good until you get back to your hotel room!

You'll probably need to pump every two-three hours or so -- just don't wait until your breasts get full/uncomfortable, since that'll signal to your body to produce less milk.

Most likely, you will produce more for the pump when you are pumping instead of a feeding -- before, when you were only getting an ounce, you were pumping in addition to fully breastfeeding your LO.

Personally, I would only wake once to pump at night and pump for a somewhat longer session (say, go to bed at 10, pump at 2 for 20 min, wake at 7, pump) if away from my LO, but do what you're comfortable with.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by violet_ 

 And, given that I get very little milk out when I do pump (maybe and ounce and a half on one breast, two on the other), will this diminish my supply at all? Any ideas so I can still keep up with her when I return? I have been taking fenugreek supplements since she hit the growth spurt.
 

 

So - 3.5 ounces every 2 hours! Honey that is GREAT supply. Babies are tiny with itty bitty tummies. Breast milk is perfect and changes with your baby. Don't sell yourself short. I've pumped for conferences for both of my children. Are you flying? You can bring your ice packs and breast milk on the plane as carryon. You're just supposed to "declare" that you have liquids before you go through the security line. Bring extra ice packs and ask the hotel to put them in the hotel freezer. Put them in a bag with your room number on it. Should be no trouble. Do not freeze your milk as it will start to defrost before you get it home. Just keep it cold and bring it all back. The storage bags work great for that because you can put a lot in a small space. 

[violet_]

Thanks for the encouragement! She's back on her every 3-4 hour schedule now, which is a huge relief, but I still haven't managed to pump much so unfortunately she'll be on formula. 

As far as dumping it at the meeting -- believe me -- I don't want to dump it! But I'd have to keep it on ice, ok, then put in the fridge, ok, then ice it on the flight back, ok, then according to my LC it would have to be frozen at that point. ok. But then I'm only at that new location for 2 days until I fly home, and you can't thaw the frozen stuff, so I don't think it will work. Too many changes of location and temperature adjustments. 

This is my first time apart from her, so it's pretty daunting. I know it's hard on me -- hopefully she'll be happy and relaxed. 

[Amy@STL]

I honestly don't think you need to dump any of it !!! Breastmilk keeps fine in refrigerator for 7-10 days, without freezing. So, you don't have to freeze. Keep it in fridge/ice -pack till you ready to fly out. When flying, use your ice-packs which would have been frozen overnight. With my Medeal ice packs, they keep milk cool for 8 hrs.