Temporary Weaning

[Van Mum]

Hi, I have to be away from my LO for a few days due to a death in the family (funeral  abroad). She takes a bottle no problem and my husband will be looking after her. Anyone have any tips/advice on making this easy on her. I usually b-feed her to sleep at night and we have been changing the routine for the last few nights to transition her slowly - some crying but we get there in the end.

Thanks.

[Erin M]

I think that any change is going to be hard, but as your dh is looking after her and she takes a bottle, she'll be ok.  She might want something that smells like you (like a shirt or something that you've worn) and she'll probably need lots of extra cuddles at bedtime.

Make sure you take care of yourself too, and pump at your regular nursing times so you don't get engorged and your supply doesn't suffer.  Bring the milk home if you can, though be careful if you're flying as I know that airlines have different rules regarding the carrying on of breastmilk , especially if you don't have a baby with you.

[*Liz*]

Lots and lots of expressing  .

How old is your lo? Do they have a lovey? I'm sure my ds would miss me if I was away - but as long as his teddy was there I'm sure he would sleep OK!!

[Van Mum]

dyeeli - Thanks for your response. My LO is 7.5 months old now. She has a blanket that she cuddles in to, loves rubbing the tag on the blankie! I will be taking my pump and expressing, and will pump when I should be feeding. Last night was okay. She woke at 11pm and 4am but would not entertain the bottle. We managed to get her off at 4am without any food, but 11pm was very hard. Her top teeth are just breaking through (poor thing) so she needs lots of cuddles.

[A pair of Charlies]

You've had great advice so not much to add...

I think that as long as you pump in place of a feeding session, eat well, rest as well as you can that's all that you can do. It's for a few days so should be okay. But I've never done this so not speaking from experience.

Might be worth taking photos or any little movie clips of your LO with you to help you get a let-down while expressing - especially as you're going into an emotionally tough stressful situation. I'm sure you'd be taking pics anyway!

On your return, perhaps try some cuddly, relaxed skin on skin feeds in bed and, if you think your supply has been affected, try increasing the frequency of feeds a little, more skin time, switching sides in feeds and possibly herbal supplements like fenugreek etc.

As for your LO... sounds like she's in great hands with DH. Fantastic that she already takes a bottle and has a lovie she loves!! Great idea on clothes that smell of you.... perhaps put her PJs / bedding in bed with you for a night before you leave (not the ones she's in now!) to get that Mama scent on her too.  Just an idea.

And hugs for you. Hope everything goes okay.

Charlotte

[lisi's mum]

Van mum, you've had lots of good advice on the technicalities, I just wanted to let you know I did it with dd1 when she was 7 months old and it was fine.

I pumped every 6 hours day and night - this worked out to be the most convenient pattern for me. I did have some drop in supply but with a bit of extra pumping afterwards this was soon sorted.

Dd had no problems. Ok, she was a very easy baby, but I always found she was easier with other people than with me. She seemed to know that daddy was here, with daddy things are different to with mummy, and that was fine.

Dh said he felt like he was beginning to lactate by the time I got home, but all in all it was a very important bonding time for the two of them. Dh having exclusive responsibility for those few days made him much more pro active with her afterwards, now she's a total daddy's girl - it's lovely!