Nursing 12 month old, do I need to pump for weekend away?

[beesmama328]

I'm nursing my 12 month old twice a day and am finally taking a weekend trip with my husband.  She is  on whole milk as well and I am working towards nursing her just once a day (before bedtime). I'm wondering if my supply will dry up if I don't pump and am away from her for 2.5 days?  Any insights on if nursing can be picked back up after being gone and not pumping would be appreciated.  I do have a pump but haven't used it since she was about 3-4 months old and would love a weekend away without having to pump.

[hasya]

I don't know the science but I would definitely pump at the same time that you nurse her, or at least close to it.

[katelove]

Some people would be able to go a couple of days without expressing and others would find it seriously affected their supply. Unfortunately you can't really tell which you are until you try.

I personally wouldn't risk it for the sake of two expressing sessions a day. If you didn't want to take your pump you could hand express in the shower or into a cup.

[beesmama328]

Thanks for the advice :-)

[~Adorkable~]

i find that nearly everything i do with my milk supply bad or good takes effect in about 3 days, so I'm thinking in my case that 2 days without nursing at all would affect things, since it is so little pumping i would just do it to be safe if i were you

[foreverinbluejeans]

Milk doesn't really dry up. Given enough stimulation almost all women can start making some milk (baby or no baby). You could not nurse for 6 months, your toddler get very ill, start nursing, and bring milk back in. Many women have at least drops of milk for months or years after weaning. Going a couple of days would reduce your supply but it could be brought back by nursing. However, some toddlers will refuse to nurse if they haven't nursed for a few days (nursing strike). It can be a frustrating process getting them to nurse again.

Since you are nursing twice a day your comfort is what is important. If you wake up engorged you can hand express. She doesn't need cow's milk since she is nursing and it may constipate her especially if she goes without nursing a couple of days. Toddlers only need two toddler size servings of milk or milk products a day. Her two nursings would do it. And the servings don't have to be every day, it can average out over a week or a month. Most toddlers like foods with milk in them like cheese, pizza, mac & cheese, ice cream, ect and these all count.

[etsdtm99]

you should also think about mastitis and plugged ducts too before you go a weekend without pumping, you could end up very uncomfortable after a day - day and a half and not be able to make it better unless you're already good at hand expressing.. that would ruin a weekend a lot quicker than pumping once or twice a day..

[Quinalla]

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about your nursling picking it back up, I would mostly be worried about your discomfort. Even when I was down to one nursing session, when we finally stopped BFing, I still got very uncomfortable. I would also have worried about a supply dip, but I was pumping and a small supply dip was huge when I was pumping. So I would take the pump for your own comfort unless you are good at hand expressing (I was not!)

[Baby_Cakes]

I would think you'd be very uncomfortable. Bring the pump just in case!

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