[Wilsone]

My band got a great opportunity to tour Europe for two weeks, but I can't bring my baby along. He'll be 6 1/2 months when I leave. I plan to pump to maintain my milk supply and I've been saving milk the past 2 months for when I'm gone. At first, I had no problem getting 6-8 ounces extra per day, but now I'm lucky to get 2. I have a few questions:
What could have caused my milk supply to decrease, and how do I get it back?
Does anyone know of a good small, inexpensive pump? (I don't really want to lug my pump-in-style around with me)
What is a good formula to supplement with in case I am unable to produce enough milk for the trip?
Any tips on transporting frozen milk on an airplane? I am taking my son (and the milk) across the country to my mom's while I am gone.
Is it possible my son will forget how to breastfeed?
Has anyone done anything like this and have any suggestions?

 

[tash11]

with the new laws about liquids on airplanes you might have more trouble then you think ahead. they may try to make you dump all your hard work down the drain, or try to confiscate it and your ice. even without milk and ice with you (like on the trip there) they might still harass you about the pump. there are sevral threads on here about that from people who have been through with a baby recently.

you could try taking galactagougs for the drop in pumping. also make sure to pump at the same time everyday. there are lots of threads on here about low supply and glactagougs.

the pis can be taken apart so you dont have to carry the whole bag around. I have just the pump sitting here next to my computer on the end table. I have the little protective box with it. its about 5.5"X4.5"X8" but could possibly be condenced smaller then that if I took the actual pump out of the box. then you would just need space to store the other parts (like the bottles, etc) and the milk.

I have heard babies can forget how to bf. but if you are only gone two weeks after 6 months of bfing then you might be ok. but it depends on the baby. just make sure that your mom makes him open wide and holds the bottle horiztal so that it doesnt flow to fast. hopefully someone with experince in this will comment.

I am bfar so I have to supplement. I use babys only organic soy. I like how they have organic ingridents, not a lot of 'werid' ingredients, and adhere to the who code about not advertising milk subsitues.

 

[tash11]

here are some links:

liquid restriction on airplanes

mom who wasnt allowed to have pumped milk w/o baby

more on the new "no liquids" rule

flying and feeding babies

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here is the exclusive pumpers tribe. they have lots of little intresting pumping tidbits to share.

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galactagouge threads:

fenugreek

more fenugreek

pumping and galactagouges

 

[annekevdbroek]

If you pack the milk and ice packs in your checked baggage it shouldn't be a problem. I have done this in the past and everything arrived fine and still quite frozen. Two weeks of milk would be an awfully large/heavy bag to haul on board anyhow.

I would be concerned about being away from a 6 month old for 2 weeks in terms of weaning.... Maybe other mama's with experience on that front will post here.

 

[alegna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by annekevdbroek I would be concerned about being away from a 6 month old for 2 weeks in terms of weaning....

:

Honestly there is very little that would force me away from a 6 month old for two weeks! That's an eternity to a baby that young. It's forever. Is there any way at ALL you can bring the babe with you?

-Angela

 

[sunnysideup]

Is there any way it would be possible to bring your baby and a babysitter along with you on the trip? It would jeopardise the nursing relationship and being away from the attached parent for that long would be really hard on a 6mo.

 

[babygrant]

I agree with everyone else. 2 weeks is a long time to be away and I would be afraid of it having an impact on my nursing relationship.

 

[aisraeltax]

i know you're looking for advice on how to increase your supply now for pumping purposes and for being away for 2 weeks, but is there any way that you could take a babysitter with you, so that you at least are with the baby at some point during the day. do you have an SO that will go with you?
i understand the opportunity is probably a great one but im not sure that a 6 month old will understand that, kwim? you mentioned you were going to fly him to your mothers? does he know your mom?
im not tryint to judge you or your situation and please dont take it that way, but im not sure if your son will do well if you leave him with a "stranger" (thats an assumption since it seems your mom is far away) for 2 weeks.
you may want to look into the effects of leaving babies for extended periods of time.
i am not saying you should never leave your kids. i left me ds1 with his dad for 3 weeks when he was 5 to go to Israel. yes, i could have taken him with me but he was very close to his dad and was fine being away from me. I was a bit worried about taking him with me b/c i was going to Egypt also and at that time, it was not the safest place to go.
I hope you can figure it out. Is there any way your mom could go with you in exchange for the plane ticket? i would JUMP at the chance to go to Europe in exchange for a ticket!

well...not right now...but any other time i would. that woudl make it sooo much easier on you.
good luck!

 

[Wilsone]

Thanks for the tips! I never thought to try taking apart the pump-in-style. I was definitely planning on putting all the milk in my checked luggage. For the mom who traveled with frozen milk - what kind of ice did you use? dry ice or regular? It's too bad my baby can't come along, but this is a step towards breaking out of the rat race which will be better for me and him in the long run. My mom has spent a few months with us already so her and baby are familiar. Also I am a single mom who has to work (the other option being welfare) so my son is used to spending some time away from me, although I know it will be hard to be completely apart for so long. Again, I'm not looking for advice on changing my mind about the trip, just advice on making it go more smoothly!

 

[Melany]

I just called the airline I was planning on using for my trip without baby and was told that I would not be allowed to check breastmilk let alone carry it on without having a baby with me. I also was told I wouldn't be allowed to carry on my pump, which scares me considering I would hate for it to get broken or lost in the checked baggage.

At this point I am contemplating canceling the trip which will really upset my husband.

-Melany

 

[annekevdbroek]

I don't know how the airline would even know that you checked milk in your luggage. The bags are screened in the back (checked bags, that is) and there would be no way for those people to know if you had a baby with you or not.

Anyhow - when I checked my frozen milk I put in in a soft-sided cooler along with those blue freezer pack things and put that inside a regular suitcase. The milk made it fine on a 14 hour trip from Honolulu to Austin and hadn't thawed at all. I also checked my pump, inside a regular suitcase. I don't know why you couldn't carry on your pump (with no milk, of course) since laptop computers and other electronics are still allowed (as long as you aren't going through England). You can wait until closer to the time of the trip and see what the security regulations are at that time, they are likely to change from whatever they are now. Plus it is basically a medical device, you need it with you, not potentially lost in transit.

I don't think anyone is trying to make you feel bad about the trip - just pointing out that a 6 month old is at risk for weaning during a 2 week separation. You have to do what is best for your family, son, and you, of course.

Best wishes!

 

[Melany]

I wrote above that the airline had told me I couldn't check it, but the TSA site says I can:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...n/formula.shtm
Liquids and gels, including baby formula or breast milk may be packed in your luggage and checked with your airline. You are encouraged to travel with only as much formula or breast milk needed to reach your destination.

There is no information regarding my breastpump, but if someone can bring a laptop on, a breastpump should be a non-issue.

Thanks!

-Melany