[Tilly77]

DS is a little over 9 months at the moment and we have been mix feeding since he was 6 months. I still have quite a good supply even if i got more than 24 hours without breastfeeding him (he stays at my mums one night per week).

DH and i are going overseas for 3 weeks in june and will not be taking ds, i'm just wondering is it possible to still have milk in my breasts and be able to breastfeed when i return from overseas?? Ds will be 2 weeks off his first bday when we return.

This post has been edited by Tilly77: 23/04/2012, 03:27 PM

[lucky 2]

I cant remember the exact time frame but from memory, no bfeeds or milk removal for 3 weeks then the breasts would be well on the way to "involuting", which means they are stopping milk production and changing back to how they were before pregnancy.
If you had no milk removal and no or minimal milk production after 3 weeks you could try to bring it back up again on return, it would mean lots of stimulation, ie bfing and/or expressing.
If you suddenly stop bfing then you may get very full and uncomfortable eventually, you would be at risk of mastitis apart from giving your breasts the message to halt milk production (ie milk not being removed therefore not required).
If you want to bf on return then some expressing would probably be the thing to do, to have at least some milk removal and production.
How much and how often you need/want to do that is dependant on how your breasts feel and what you want to do.
All the best.

[AlexandraI]

Um no. Can you take your baby with you?

[AlexandraI]

Maybe take a breast pump and express a few times a day if you can't take your baby?

[niggles]

Are you planning to express while you are away?

I had a separation of 5 days when DD was about 18 months old and returned to feeding (just once a day by that age for us) with no problems. I hand expressed in the shower each day while I was away. I think 3 weeks would be more of a challenge, especially at 10/11 months when milk is still very much a feature of a baby's day.

[Gonewiththewind:...]

I highly doubt you'd be able to recommence nursing without great difficulty after 3 weeks. You could try regularly expressing but even then it could be a stretch.

You're a brave woman leaving your under 12 month old for 3 weeks! I couldn't even leave my 15 month old for a week. I'd be sick with how much I missed him. Good luck!!

[HeroOfCanton]

Have a look into re-lactation. The ABA may be able to give some advice, by there is plenty of info available via google

I've heard plenty about the non-birth mother of a same sex couple being able to lactate to feed their baby, as well as some fathers who've done it, so there's no reasoyou can't give it a go!

[Gonewiththewind:...]

Have a look into re-lactation. The ABA may be able to give some advice, by there is plenty of info available via google

I've heard plenty about the non-birth mother of a same sex couple being able to lactate to feed their baby, as well as some fathers who've done it, so there's no reasoyou can't give it a go!

ummm... reakky?!

[HeroOfCanton]

ummm... reakky?!

Yeah. Amazing, huh?
Most male mammals have some rudimentary mammary glands.
It's not something we would try in our household, but it is possible. Google male lactation, or 'milkmen' - it gets a bit new-agey, but it fascinates me

[Gonewiththewind:...]

Yeah. Amazing, huh?
Most male mammals have some rudimentary mammary glands.
It's not something we would try in our household, but it is possible. Google male lactation, or 'milkmen' - it gets a bit new-agey, but it fascinates me

That's incredible! I googled but mostly it came up with a condition starting with g & also something to do with a level of starvation. I wonder whether they would make enough to actually feed a child?