Away Forr 1 Week - Will This Wean My Child?

When my son was 14 months old, I became ill enough to need a 4 day stay in the hospital. At this time I was nursing him 1-2 times a day. Due to testing and such in the hospital, I decided that was as good a time as any to wean, instead of pumping and dumping on top of everything else I was going through. By the time I got home, my son was weaned, and only asked to nurse maybe once or twice. I just redirected him to something else and he was fine. When I'm ready to wean my daughter, I'm going to take a long weekend away to do the same thing. Just make sure you're weaning because both of you are ready and not just because of the trip. That was the only part that was hard for me. I felt like the weaning was "forced" and not done at a time of my choosing. All in all, it went well, but still...I felt like it was a little out of my hands. Good luck with your decision and just remember to do what you want to do, not what other people tell you you "should" do!!

Hi L.,
If you want to ween, I'd totally take advantage of this time away to do it. Unless you're pumping while you're away, your milk will most likely dry up anyway. Mine did when I started working again.
A friend of mine went away for 4 days with her hubby and when she came back her daughter went for the breast and she just told her she was a big girl now and that big girls didn't need momma's milk- and I think she got her a cool new cup or something too to help the process. Best of luck!
blessings,
J.

It might. It's hard to know for sure. Are you going to express your milk to maintain supply? After a full week - your supply will begin to diminish. Even if you pump only once a day - it would help. Also some babies will loose their latches. Two of my three girls all lost their latches after being away from the breast for short periods of time. With my first she was 17 months and didn't ask to nurse for 4 days. i was PG with my twins and was Ok with that - but by day four her latch was really screwy and thens he stopped. after the twins were born she asked to nruse again (She was 19 months) and i agreed to let her (knowing I may end up nursing three) But her latch was completely lost. I ended up doing what i call "phantom nursing" till she was past 2. She would ask and then just curl up on my lap and be skin to skin - but could suck actively or drink - but loved her mommy time and it was maybe once a day here or there - so it worked out really well. My twins were much the same way only they were over two when they weaned. So not traumatic for me and timing was fine. But to answer your question, yes your baby could wean and yes you milk supply will be effected. If you have a pump - I'd pack it irregardless. You could become uncomfortable and NEED to express. It would be no fun to get a plugged duct or mastitis on your trip!

I you'd like some support, call a local La Leche League leader or come to a meeting sometime. We have lots of nursing toddler moms too!

E.

Hi L.,

Yes, I believe that it is possible to get through the week and NOT wean. I also believe that that would be a desirable goal. So I have some suggestions.

You could probably find some very good answers to your questions on the following websites...

http://www.llli.org/
http://kellymom.com//
http://forum.kellymom.net/

My brief suggestions for you would be.... to pump twice a day while you are gone--if possible at approximately the same times of the day that you would be nursing at home.

I also suggest that you use a Medela pump, since I think that they are the brand usually preferred by midwives and lactation consultants as the most effective. So I would suggest renting one if you don't have one--the electric kind that working mothers tend to buy (Pump n Style).
www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breast-pumps

I also suggest that each time that you pump, you pump on both sides simultaneously, since that seems to be the more effective way to keep up your milk supply (more effective than pumping one side at a time)

I also suggest that when you get back home you spend at least 48 hours doing the plan for increasing your milk supply, and that is to eat more, drink more, rest more, and nurse more.

I do suggest that when you get back, you offer him the breast, and if he refuses it, I suggest that you follow the LLL suggestions for "a nursing strike", which is a situation that babies and toddlers can go through and still come out the other side nursing, if the mother follows certain suggestions.
http://www.llli.org/search?cx=012805113672795732671%3A72a...

I also suggest that you do things to help him through his grieving process while you are gone, so that he might be less likely to have a nursing strike when you come back....like calling him a couple of times a day, leaving a recording of your voice for him to listen to any time that he wishes while you are gone (perhaps including lullabies that you sing to him at night or nap time), leaving breastmilk behind for him to have in a bottle (perhaps at the same time as he's listening to your recording), and perhaps leaving a t-shirt that you've slept in for a few nights for him to smell and sleep with while you are gone, and perhaps leaving some small item with him to "take care of" for you while you are gone, and anything else that you can think of that might help him to feel connected with you and reassured that you will come back. You might also leave a calendar behind where his father or care-taker can go through some kind of ritual with him every morning, to cross off another day and show him how many days there are left until you return. You and others can probably come up with many other ideas to help him to feel connected with you and hopeful that you still exist and will come back very soon, with some kind of way to communicate that to him on a level that he can understand.

Best wishes,
J.

My son was just about to turn 2 when I had to leave for a long weekend to be with a friend who was recovering from surgery. Like you, it was really a couple of feedings a day, especially nighttime that was more of a comfort nurse for him than anything, that I would be leaving behind. I spoke with our family dr. about it as I was ready to wean, but was concerned about how my son would take it. She reassured me that he would be fine. And I do believe her. However, I did choose to let him nurse again after I returned because I just didn't feel right about ending it that way. He was absolutely FINE while I was gone, my husband said he gave him a sippy before bedtime and all was well. I had just a little engorgement and hot showers and a little "self" expression helped. You will be away for a week, which is a longer span of time, so if you choose to continue, I would bring a pump along, for comfort, and not worry too much about supply at this age. Good luck!

This sounds like a good time to wean, even though it is a few months before your target. I had planned on nursing my daughter until 2yrs as well, but we stopped at 21 months due to my current pregnancy (I wanted a few months of having my breasts to myself before starting all over!). She was only nursing 1x a day at that point and it was before her nap, so it was a bit tricky. I ended up going for a weekend away and it really helped. She learned to nap on her own and when I came back she asked to nurse once, but I just told her the milk was all gone. That was the end of it. She hasn't brought it up again. I had no problem at all with engorgement, so I wouldn't think that you'd need a pump for your trip, but everyone is different.

Awesome for you and your son that he has had the amazing benefits of breastfeeding! It's completely up to you whether it will wean him or not. You can choose to bring a pump to keep up (or increase) your milk supply and then offer your breast when you get back in hopes that he's still interested OR you can take the time away as a step (or leap)in the weaning direction and only express milk in the shower with your hands to relieve discomfort. Hope it works out how you want it to!

I've been away from my nursing daughter 3 times. For a week when she was 13 months, for 3 days at 20 months, and for 8 days at 25 months. Take a hand pump. I didn't on the 3 day trip and was so miserable I begged the hotel people to buy one for me, which they did, God bless them. Hand expressing, even in the shower, didn't empty my breasts completely and they would quickly refill, so I never got relief. Don't bother pumping at the usual times--just wait until you feel uncomfortable. On this last excursion, I pumped on the second day and got over 4 ounces between both breasts, then I think I pumped maybe 2 or 3 days after that and got 2 ounces, and then I didn't have to pump again. As soon as I got home, my daughter asked to nurse. I didn't have much milk, but she asked to nurse frequently, and two or three days after returning, my milk was back up. I let her ask, but she loves to nurse, so she asks right away. She nurses more than 2 times a day. I'm going for another 8 days in October to a yoga retreat. She'll be 27 months, and I plan to just follow the usual routine. If she doesn't ask to nurse, I guess we're weaned, but if she's willing, I'm willing.

Hi L.,

I think you can do it but if you're not ready to wean or aren't sure, defintiely pump regularly and at the same times each day. I recently went on a 4 day work trip and went the last 3 days without nursing until I got back to my room in the evening. I pumped in the morning and in the evening but by the last day I was pretty much totally dried up. My 20 month old would NOT give up though- he was not ready to quit and becuase of this, neither was I- it broke my heart. Took the poor guy 3 days but by the 3rd day I finally felt let down again and we were back in business. I'm very thankful we get to wean on our own schedule now.

Congratulations on nursing for so long! Only you can decide when is the right time for you to wean, but regardless of when that is, I would bring a pump on your trip. I was away from my 19 month old for 4 days and was absolutely miserable due to engorgement. She did continue to nurse when I returned and we finally weaned right before her 2nd birthday. Best of luck to you!

I did a gradual wean w/ my son, but here's my advice:
1. your milk will deplete, so you probably won't have any when you come back
2. don't pump while you're away, unless you think the sudden weaning will really upset your child
3. don't offer him the breast when you return (unless you decide to pump while you're gone). i'm afraid nothing will be there & he'll be disappointed.

I think going away for a week is actually a good way to wean from your current nursing schedule. Good luck!

My two oldest children weaned themselves at a year of age. My son on the other hand was still nursing at least once at night until recently at 14 months of age. He wanted to nurse more, but I was trying to wean him slowly since I am going to try for just one more soon. At any rate, my girls ended up with lice and, of course, they gave it to mommy too. I had to treat myself and the package said that I shouldn't nurse if I treat myself. I so dreaded that night...but wouldn't you know it, that little booger never even woke up the first night. The nights since he would wake and I would put his pacifier back in his mouth and he would go back to sleep...he's been sleeping all night (8pm to 7am) for over a week now.

I think your little man will be fine. Just offer him a cup with his favorite beverage if he acts like he wants to nurse. And I didn't get engorged much at all.

I am not sure about your son taking the breast when you get back, but I do strongly suggest you pump when you are gone. If you don't your body may stop producing by the time you get back and if he does want it, there may not be anything to give.

my hubby and I went away for a long weekend while I was still nursing our 2 year old. I took 2 showers a day and hand expressed in the shower. I didn't have a problem with not drying up and she went right back to nursing when I got home. She is now 3 (last June) and is still happily nursing.