Traveling without baby who is breastfed

Lauren - posted on 02/22/2011

Thank you everyone for your advise and experiences. He is my second breastfed baby, and I didn't leave my daughter overnight until she was older than a year ( and actually this will be the longest I am away from her since she was born too).
I do not now or ever take any medication without discussing it with my and my child's practitioners and the benefits have to far out way the disadvantages for me to actually take anything.
I must agree with those who have said that getting away and taking care of yourself makes you a better parent so I am just going to think about how great my trip will be and how much I will love coming home to my children and what will be will be. Thank you all again. :)

Emma - posted on 02/22/2011

I didn't want to be away from my 8 month old, I had to!! But he survived without me

Dana - posted on 02/22/2011

I am so surprised at how many woman wont leave there littles ones for even a night. I really think time with just your partner is SOOO important for you to be the best parents that you can be. I missed my little guy terribly but left him with my sister so I knew he would be well taken care of. Some called me crazy for not bringing him others gave me props. I think my husband and I came back rejuvinated and better parents for it. We did skype often which was great to see him smile as we talked to him.

Nellie - posted on 02/20/2011

P.S. my milk supply dropped so low that my daughter was screaming from hunger and had to supplement. So yes, be very very careful about diet, health and medication. If it drops try Don Paradon, its a miracle drug that boost your supply. Have fun on your trip

Nellie - posted on 02/20/2011

There is plenty of stuff that will dry milk out as it happened to me. Eventually I managed to get my supply back up after desperatly pumping and medication. As for being away, I would NEVER be able to be awa from daughter for more then a few hours at this age, she's 8 months. But thats just me.

Tiffany - posted on 02/20/2011

Have a great trip and enjoy it, as you deserve it! I still haven't been able to leave my daughter overnight and she's 15 mos old. I know I'll get there one day. :)

Try not to worry about what might happen and just focus on dealing with it once it happens (if it does). As others have said, I think most babies jump right back into nursing. Worse case scenario, she prefers a bottle, then you just keep pumping and giving her breastmilk in a bottle. I had the same concerns when my daughter started day care, but we had nursing well-established and she didn't have any problems switching between a bottle and nursing.

As others have said, I wouldn't take OTC meds without first talking to your daughter's pediatrician. I always clear meds with my daughter's ped first as it helps me assure that she won't be getting something in my milk that could harm her. As for reducing your milk supply due to the OTC or prescription meds we take, it can and does happen regardless of how long you've been breastfeeding. I experienced a reduced milk supply when I had to take Mucinex and then Zyrtec for a sinus infection, and when I had the flu, it also decreased slightly then, AND my daughter was 6+ mos and breastfed from day 1. Luckily, my supply came back when I stopped taking the meds, and Fenugreek capsules also helped me boost my milk supply.

Enjoy your trip! Sounds like an awesome weekend! And happy anniversary!

Terra - posted on 02/20/2011

Rachael I'm sorry but you are wrong. There are things out there that have and will dry up even an established milk supply. Telling a mom to go ahead and take something that is known to dry up milk just because she has a well established supply is irresponsible. You never know how a mama is going to react to a medication (or even a natural milk reducer) and telling them not to worry about could seriously damage (possibly even irreversibly if it causes a child to flat out refuse to nurse or the mama isn't able to get her supply back) a nursing relationship. It is far better to error on the side of caution then to give out possibly harmful information just because you think it can't happen. I'm sorry but I've been on forums like these for years and have heard time and time again about women hurting their supplies by unwittingly taking something that they were unaware would effect them. Sorry to hijack this thread but I just couldn't read that and not reply.

Emma - posted on 02/20/2011

I obviously wasn't one of the lucky ones, I left my 8 month old from fri to sun , came back , and he straight away wanted the breast, but then refused it flat out from them on, I was a little devestated , but I suppose he knew what he wanted, just wasn't me anymore :(

Rachael - posted on 02/19/2011

she has been lactating for 6 months, the benedryl would not have an affect. HOWEVER, I also said that I wouldn't recommend it just for kicks. Everyone is always trying to freak breastfeeding moms out about things that will "dry up" milk, and it simply and scientifically does NOT happen that way. When lactation is first happening and for the first month or 2 while breastfeeding is being established it is wise to use caution with ANY chemical substance or medication, however after breastfeeding and milk supply have been well established (note she has a FULL freezer of milk) then there is no risk of diminished milk supply as long as pumping and nipple (really areola and duct) stimulation continue which is what leads to the prolactin release.

Leah - posted on 02/19/2011

Diphenhydramine supresses prolactin and does inhibit lactation.

Rachael - posted on 02/19/2011

benedryl does not dry up your milk, but I would not give milk that has Tylenol PM in it to your baby. I also do not recommend medicating prophetically in "case" she has trouble sleeping.
As far as your original question, you will be okay. I am sure your little one will be well taken care of and will welcome you back with open mouth. It is wonderful that you have a good supply of breast milk for him in the freezer. Prepare whoever is watching your little one for a TON of phone calls while you are away, and enjoy your vacation. You are a wonderful mom who DESERVES a celebratory vacation congrats on your anniversary! Have a great trip!

Leah - posted on 02/19/2011

No tylenol pm, it has benadryl in it which will dry up your milk.

Sarah - posted on 02/19/2011

My husband and I left our daughter with my parents for a night and day on new years, it was the first time we left her and she was 13 months old.... I was still nursing her and left her a bottle, and she drank from it during the day but absolutely refused to drink anything except some water at night.... when I got back she started nursing immediately. But she was happy and completely fine without us, I was the one crying because I missed her the second I walked out the door, lol. And make sure u find time to pump.... OUCH!!!

Sarah - posted on 02/19/2011

Wow, good for you for going away! My DD is 18 months and I can't even leave her for 1 night. I get sweaty at the thought. I don't nurse her anymore but still just the thought of leaving her. Again, good for you for taking the plunge! My friend had surgery when her DS was 11 months and he did refuse her after a few days of not nursing...my daughter still latches on sometimes after 3 months of being weened!! I think it all depends on how they feel about nursing to begin with. Mine was always comforted the best by nursing and LOVED it. She still puts her hands down my top in order to go to sleep! Good luck.

Dana - posted on 02/19/2011

I thought the same thing when I recently went for a week to mexico with out my little one. He is 6.5 mnths old and I thought the feeding may be hard when I got back. I pumped while away 4 times a day to keep my supply up. He took to the breast right away and actually seemed to enjoy it, almost like he missed my closeness. It was wonderful. Enjoy your time away, it's great for your relationship and your little one will be just fine :)

Jennifer Ann Saunders - posted on 02/19/2011

He will welcome the boob back. Don't worry. And he will probably do well with taking a bottle from someone that isn't you or your husband. =) Have fun.

Suri - posted on 02/17/2011

Hi Lauren,
I met up with my husband in Italy when he was deployed. I was away from my 5 month old baby for 10 days! He refused a bottle until I left, but took one that day and had no problem for the rest of my trip. When I got back, he came right back to me and refused the bottle once again! Have fun!!

Lauren - posted on 02/17/2011

Thank you both so much.

Amy - posted on 02/17/2011

I had to go away on a business trip for 4 days when my daughter was 7 months old, she has to take bottles because I work full time, she did just fine without me and took right back up breastfeeding upon my return. Enjoy your weekend away even though it will be hard!

Marcy - posted on 02/17/2011

Trust me, he won't snub you. Chances are are soon as you walk in he is going to want to nurse. If you are not there chances are that he will just take your milk from a bottle for whomever is watching him probably the same way he does when he gets up from a nap during the weekdays. Make sure you bring your pump, pads for your boobs and some Tylenol PM...chances are you will be a hot mess calling home 4-5 times per day. Its tough....honestly I don;t think I left my son for 3 nights until he was about 2. he was still nursing and my hubby was hme with him. It was hard for both of us....good luck.