Help!!! Afraid of loosing milk production on 4 day journey away from DS

[Vio]

Hi,
My DS is 13 months old and currently breastfeeding twice a day: wake up and bed time.
In 2 weeks I am travelling with my DH for the first time since DS was born and I will take the pumper to maintain milk production. I am worried since recently when I use the pumper instead of breastfeeding directly, I pump literally no milk. (I only pump it once a week because I return late drom work). I don't know what is the problem, since the pumper has always worked well and I used to pump 240 ml in the morning or 150 ml at night. Now, I don't get it to pump more than 60 ml or even nothing at all (my breasts remain full!!). I have tried massaging and looking at pictures of DS while pumping to stimulate, but it doesn't work....
I am really worried as I would like to continue breastfeeding but I will be away from home for 4 days and am afraid if no milk comes out for that time I will stop producing...
Please help!!

[Fiver]

If it's any comfort, I've been participating in a study for Jack Newman about milk production after cessation of BF.  I stopped feeding DD in January and I can still squeeze some milk out now, 9 months on.  There will still be milk there.  Is your LO usually fairly patient at the breast?  This might be your issue more than anything else.  As for pumping, it's quite normal for quantity to reduce over time.

[*Ali*]

Have you tried hand expressing?

[Vio]

It is comforting!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!
I haven't tried hand expressing? How does it work??

[Fiver]

Here are some Instructions on how to express by hand.

The skin to skin contact can help with letdown and it's a more effective mimic of 'milking' the breast than a pump (that just sucks).  Your LO does both (milking and sucking) when they feed and some ladies find they have more success with expressing by hand.

[Vio]

I'll try it... Thank you very much for your advice you do a great job!!!!