travelling w/o baby while breastfeeding

[horizon19]

Hey all!

I am breastfeeding my now 7 month old son. My partner and I are considering going to a much needed relationship building workshop for 4 days in November. I am really apprehensive about leaving him because I feel like I may not be ready emotionally but also, I have to admit that the idea of pumping and dumping 5 or so times a day seems like a really big pain in the you know what. I would try to freeze it and bring it home but we will be flying from chicago to ontario, canada so somehow I just don't see that being realistic.

Anyway-I was looking for advice from someone who had to travel with out baby while breastfeeding and wondering about how many times a day will he be breastfeeding at that point?(9 months)

Thanks!

[Buzzer Beater]

I've never been away from my babe so can't help you on that front, but wanted to let you know that at 15 months dd still nurses about 10 times a day, at 9 months it was more. You never know what they will need... good luck on your decision. That's a hard one.

[blessedwithboys]

Both my babies nursed nearly constantly at 9mos.  I couldn't have left them for 4 hours, nevermind 4 days.  If you're having doubts, don't do it.  Wait a year and see how you feel then. 

[horizon19]

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys 

Both my babies nursed nearly constantly at 9mos.  I couldn't have left them for 4 hours, nevermind 4 days.  If you're having doubts, don't do it.  Wait a year and see how you feel then. 

That is how I am feeling. You are confirming my feelings. But do you mean wait UNTIL he is a year old or wait another year?

[Erin77]

I'll be the voice of dissent here. If you really need to go, do it! I haven't flown internationally, but I've flown from Alaska to Hawaii and within Hawaii from island to island with breastmilk. When my son was 9 months old, my husband and I took a trip to Molokai for two days. I pumped and saved it and brought it back and TSA didn't bat an eyelash. You are allowed to bring an unlimited amount of breastmilk with you. Also, if your supply is well-established, you can pump a minimum amount - like, not every three or four hours- and be fine, most likely. In November, he'll be a year old, which is the age that my son is now and he probably nurses 6 times a day, for a total of 19-24 oz. Pump, keep in in your hotel room fridge, bring it back and use it to go out some other time! 

[horizon19]

that gives me some hope. I may just put the trip off a couple of months until I feel emotionally ready(he actually won't be a year until Jan). My partner and I REALLY NEED this retreat in order to sort some personal things out so I feel caught in the middle-who needs me more(I say that with a bit of a laugh). I will look into the idea of us having a fridge in the room. I guess I could then put it all in one bigger container and bring it home in my carry on with an ice pack? I also think I will contact La Leche League to see if they have any pumping recomendations(how often I need to to keep the supply). I could handle it if is only a few times a day but otherwise I will miss half the daily activities while off pumping:)

[blessedwithboys]

I meant wait a whole year and see how you feel.  Honestly, though, I might not be the best person to give advice bc I never left my kids overnight until their 3rd b-days.  I just feel separation from mama is harmful.  When I did leave them, it was only with daddy, so imagine how hard it would be for a baby to be away from both parents.  I only answered bc you indicated your hesitancy to leave your db and I wanted to let you know it's ok to feel that way.

Why do you ahve to leave town for 4 days?  Why couldn't you just do weekly counseling?

[horizon19]

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys 

Why do you ahve to leave town for 4 days?  Why couldn't you just do weekly counseling?

The particular program we have been looking at that we think would do wonders for us requires us to go for 4 whole days. You can also do it from home but the experience of being immersed in that environment, with other couples, is probably more effective to keep you focused.

I appreciate you letting me know that I am not alone in my separation anxiety. I think it is very important to listen to my heart when it comes to my children. I don't leave them for much at all, especially not overnight. I LOVE being with them and feel that especially in the first year it is so important. My partner feels the same way but our need to sort some things out has become so important and we feel that it will improve the everyday lives of all of us.....so it is a hard decision.

I really appreciate the advice. I think I will wait a bit and when I feel like my youngest will be ok with out me, we will plan the trip.

[horizon19]

In conclusion to this post I wanted to say that my partner came up with TERRIFIC idea tonight. We are going to book into a hotel in our hometown for a weekend, to do this workshop(they are going to send us all the material), and just come home once each day to see the kids, have a meal with them and drop off the breast milk that I have pumped. I am so excited about this idea....

[HappyMonkey]

What a fantastic idea.. congratulations at looking for options and finding one that works so well!!

[Mushy1127]

Where there is a will, there is a way!  I am glad you found a workable solution.  I hope you and your partner come back refreshed and ready to move forward!

[horizon19]

Originally Posted by Mushy1127 

Where there is a will, there is a way!  I am glad you found a workable solution.  I hope you and your partner come back refreshed and ready to move forward!

thank you. me too.