Nursing Moms - HELP!

[DISLOVE]

Hi all! I need some suggestions from you nursing moms!

I am going to Disney World with a group of girlfriends in early December. My sister, who is a new mom, really wants to come with us. This would mean leaving her son (with his VERY capable daddy!) for 4 days. She is nursing him now, although she does pump so that her husband can be active in feeding him.

How difficult would it be to be a "pumping mom" while in Disney without her son? Has anyone ever does this? How would it work as far as storing and/or freezing the milk?

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[meandtheguys2]

edited because I missed the fact that he would only be 4 months old. At 4 months we were just into the swing of the whole BF and sleeping issues.

 

[camouseketeer]

After a few months a nursing mother's breasts become accustomed to the amount her child is drinking. Therefore they stop becoming engorged and uncomfortable, and she can go longer without needing to pump. If your trip is in December, she should be fine for several hours without needing to pump. She will however need to be prepared to pump regularly (every 4 hours or so) to keep her flow up and she'll probably need breast pads to control leaking. Leaking can happen just from thinking about your baby, and, if she's gone for four days, I'm sure it could happen!

In terms of feeding the baby while she's gone, if she wants to use only breastmilk, she'll need to build up a large supply beforehand. I know this is obvious, but my babies always took more by bottle than I planned. That plus, once breastmilk is heated or thawed, it has to be used immediately. It can't be restored, so there will probably be some that will need to be thrown away. Breastmilk can be frozen for up to three months.

I'm not sure how old the baby will be in December, but perhaps, s/he will be close to eating solid foods. These, by no means will replace breastmilk, but they will help curb the appetite of a very hungry baby.

I wish you and your sister a great trip!

 

[DISLOVE]

In December, little Jack will be almost 4 months. He won't be doing solidy foods just yet, unless something wacky happens between now and then. I think the 4 hour mark is probably what she would do for pumping. She should be able to pump and store enough to leave enough milk for the weekend. I would think...

Is there an area in the Baby Care Centers where she could pump in private??

 

[Minniepooh29]

In December, little Jack will be almost 4 months. He won't be doing solidy foods just yet, unless something wacky happens between now and then. I think the 4 hour mark is probably what she would do for pumping. She should be able to pump and store enough to leave enough milk for the weekend. I would think...

Is there an area in the Baby Care Centers where she could pump in private??

Yes I supposed but I doubt they will freeze it for you. She could pump to keep the milk supply and make herself more comfortable. Your sister is lucky the baby will drink from a bottle. Mine would only take milk from me.

 

[averysmom]

Yes I supposed but I doubt they will freeze it for you. She could pump to keep the milk supply and make herself more comfortable. Your sister is lucky the baby will drink from a bottle. Mine would only take milk from me.

I agree - I can't see her being able to keep it... she could just pump and dump though.

 

[ksoehrlein]

I read on another thread that the Baby Center stored one pumping mom's milk for her while she was at the park. The CMs there are very helpful, and if they couldn't do it for some reason, I'm willing to bet that they will help your sister find another workable alternative.

Also note that if you stay on property, moderate and deluxe resorts include a refrigerator in the room. You can also request one at the value resorts for $10/day, although in "medically necessary" cases, it will be free. I've heard it go both ways as to whether breastmilk storage was "medically necessary" or not. Anyway, your sister may be able to bring Jack a "souvenier" of still-frozen milk if she is *very* careful about storage. (Maybe some dry ice for the trip home? Is that allowed if you're flying?)

When I was nursing, I was one to cry over spilled milk (or "liquid gold," as my friend called it), so I hope she doesn't need to discard any!

 

[NotUrsula]

Human milk will stay fresh at room temp (up to 72F) for 10 hours if it is not refrigerated. Once refrigerated, it needs to be kept cool. Here are the guidelines re: storage: http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html

She should be able to keep the milk easily if she plans ahead and if she has a decent pump, such as a Medela Pump n' Style, which has an insulated compartment. I'm thinking that the Baby Center might well be willing to keep the pump for her during the day so that she doesn't have to use a locker for it, but if does have to, she can ask the hotel to freeze the blue blocks for her in the kitchen freezer and pick them up before heading out to the parks each day. I would advise leaving the milk at room temp until you get back to the hotel if she can keep the pump inside an a/c room; if not, she will need to use the blue blocks. Also, stash a flat cloth diaper in the pump case, she can put in on her lap to avoid staining clothing, and it helps insulate the top of the storage compartment when it is closed.

I travelled for work all the time when I was nursing, and I never had to dump. BTW, for travel it is usually easiest to pump into bottle liners in a frame, which store more compactly than jars. (Add crumpled paper towels to the insulated cooler to cushion the nested plastic bags, and double-bag them in ziplocs.) If she does use jars, be sure to use the kind with hard lids (not Avent jars w/ the soft lids; they can leak in transit), and all containers she leaves for Dad should be 4-6 oz., not 8-9, so that he doesn't end up wasting any.

BTW, Dry ice is not allowed on planes. It is best NOT to freeze milk when away from home; it cannot be refrozen, but it keeps longer than your trip length just refrigerated. When travelling, keep it ON ice, but don't turn it into ice.

 

[Aneille]

I left my dd once for 3 days but she was older than your nephew.

I used the Avent Isis for my travel pump. Its small, light, and easily fits in a backpack or even a large handbag and it doesn't need to be plugged in since its a handpump. It works very well though. It was my regular pump even though I also own the Medela Pump In Style.

She could use it any restroom. Also if parts break you can get a new Isis at CVS or Walgreens etc. They are about $40.

I didn't save much of my milk from that trip. It was a wedding with some college friends so much of the milk wasn't usable anyway

I saved up some bottles for my mom to feed my dd and I had her supplement with formula.

If she went with the Isis pump I would bring a small cooler. The folding soft ones and get the blue blocks of freeze ice like the above poster suggested.

 

[rcraw45425]

Oh, I remember those days! When DD10 was about 3 months we took a trip to the beach. I tried out some of those little glass Similac bottles, she took them, reluctantly, but she did take them. Well, on the drive home (~2hours) she went on strike, wanted only to nurse, impossible while driving. By the time we arrived home I had two watermelons sitting on my chest which she refused to take. I pumped 8oz. of liquid gold as we referred to it and she wouldn't take a bottle at all! I learned my lesson. BTW, the fridges in the Disney hotels are iffy. Some don't get really cold, some will freeze anything. The freezers are almost non existent and rarely freeze. Good luck to you on this trip.

 

[crisi]

This will depend so much on her. My daughter had to nurse every day, the pump was not sufficient for production. She stopped nursing and two days later, my milk had dried up - and I was pumping six times a day!

However, I know a woman who would still let down in a gush a month after her son had weaned, and she hadn't pumped at all.

I also was never bred for milk production. It was all I could do to pump at work for daycare and I never, no matter how much I tried, managed to have more than a days supply stored. Once again, I know plenty of women who never had this problem and had copious amounts stored.

With that in mind, I think you sister should carefully evaluate if she is an easy nurser or a difficult one (she'll probably know immediately). If she is a difficult nurser, she many not ever nurse again after the trip.

 

[DISLOVE]

So the moderates all have refrigerators in the room? That's great to know...

I'm hoping Candice can come with us, she is a lot of fun! I'm going to show her this thread if my dad comes through with the trip for her!

All advice is much appreciated! I'm sure she is going to be nervous!

 

[NotUrsula]

By the time we arrived home I had two watermelons sitting on my chest which she refused to take.

It might not have been that she wouldn't take them (well, unless she didn't try at all), but that she might not have been able to get anything. When one gets engorged like that, the pressure can kink the ducts and sucking will be useless. Frustrates the heck out some kids. Best thing to do when that happens is to express off some of the pressure before trying to nurse.

I was one of those people who never had any trouble having enough milk, until I tried to use a manual pump once. Pumping on one side at a time can be much less productive -- double-pumping is almost always more effective, and quicker, of course. I did better hand-expressing than using a single pump, if it came to that.

Many people just can't nurse easily, though quite a few give up too soon. It took 8 long days for my milk to come in, and I had all kinds of people tell me it wasn't going to work. One week after it did come in, I *had* to pump so that I didn't just about drown the poor kid when he tried to latch on; he was getting so much milk poured down his throat that he was gagging.

When I had to travel a lot, the practice I found most productive was to double-pump for 5 minutes BEFORE starting to nurse each time, then pumping for an extra 15 minutes once DS had finished his feed. By the time I went back to work at 12 weeks I had filled an entire 5.0 cubic ft. chest freezer, and had more stashed in our regular freezer, fridge, and the freezer at MIL's house. I know that I had more milk than most people, but one of the keys to conning your body into producing excess is to demand excess. When he started to drink cow's milk and I cut back on pumping, my supply declined very quickly.

BTW, it is possible to nurse in a moving vehicle, so long as you are not actually driving. If you sit next to a rear-facing carseat and lean forward, it will work, though of course you'll have to pull over for a minute to change sides. Your back won't thank you, but it is do-able. (Just for giggles, I have to tell you that I used to know a lady that actually pumped while commuting; she got one of those special harnesses to hold the pump horns hands free, and drove with a nursing cape draped over herself. She had a van, and she used to just duck into the back and tidy up when she arrived at work.)

 

[staci]

BTW, it is possible to nurse in a moving vehicle, so long as you are not actually driving. If you sit next to a rear-facing carseat and lean forward, it will work, though of course you'll have to pull over for a minute to change sides. Your back won't thank you, but it is do-able. (Just for giggles, I have to tell you that I used to know a lady that actually pumped while commuting; she got one of those special harnesses to hold the pump horns hands free, and drove with a nursing cape draped over herself. She had a van, and she used to just duck into the back and tidy up when she arrived at work.)

Ive done the nursing in the car thing!!! DS was not the most patient

But I am REALLY laughing at the pumping while commuting... Now THAT is multitasking!!

 

[robinb]

Can't she just take the baby? Personally, my nursing relationship with my child is worth far more than a trip with "the girls". So maybe she doesn't go to Pleasure Island or Jelloyrolls while the rest of you do. Honestly, one of my best trips was with my 4 month old DD (her first). She was very easy to travel with and slept in her stroller much of the time.

 

[DISLOVE]

Can't she just take the baby? Personally, my nursing relationship with my child is worth far more than a trip with "the girls". So maybe she doesn't go to Pleasure Island or Jelloyrolls while the rest of you do. Honestly, one of my best trips was with my 4 month old DD (her first). She was very easy to travel with and slept in her stroller much of the time.

Robin,
I'm just looking for suggestions in case she decides to come with us. I'm not sure she would want to take the chance of losing the "nursing relationship" just to go to Disney. I was looking for ideas on how she can be sure that she can pick it up again when she returns, its certainly not worth blowing all of her hard work for one weekend.

With that said, as much as I love my nephew --- there is no way she can bring him on this trip. We are 7 (8 if Candice comes) sharing two rooms at Caribbean Beach. Not enough room to add a baby who might be awake most of the night. This is a total indulgent kid and job free trip - call us selfish but this is just not a kid vacation.

Based on conversations with her last night, I'm guessing that she is not going to come this time. But, again, I just wanted to get advice from others who have done something like this before!

 

[MrGrumpy222]

Hi all! I need some suggestions from you nursing moms!

I am going to Disney World with a group of girlfriends in early December. My sister, who is a new mom, really wants to come with us. This would mean leaving her son (with his VERY capable daddy!) for 4 days. She is nursing him now, although she does pump so that her husband can be active in feeding him.

How difficult would it be to be a "pumping mom" while in Disney without her son? Has anyone ever does this? How would it work as far as storing and/or freezing the milk?

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thank you!

The real question is will her husband miss them,,,I mean her

 

[Steph H]

I'm sorry she won't be able to come this time, but there will be other trips to Disney. The nursing relationship lasts for such a short time in the whole scheme of things.

(Just for giggles, I have to tell you that I used to know a lady that actually pumped while commuting; she got one of those special harnesses to hold the pump horns hands free, and drove with a nursing cape draped over herself. She had a van, and she used to just duck into the back and tidy up when she arrived at work.)

Hey, I did that for nine months! With a 2-hour commute, it was invaluable. I didn't even need the cover--I used those Motherwear tops, and I was very discreet. In all that time, the only time I ever found anyone even looking was when I was sitting in a rush hour traffic jam. A truck driver looked down from the cab of his truck and saw the "horns" sticking out of my shirt--and then he offered a huge grin and gave me a big thumbs up! I know he couldn't see anything, so I'm guessing his wife must have breastfed and he was an avid supporter. My face did turn VERY red, though.

 

[justhat]

I know you said she probably won't be coming, but just thought I'd add this anyway. At 4 months old, my daughter was nursing every 2 hours during the day and once at night. I had great milk production and pumped often, but it had to be done at least every 2.5 hours if I wasn't nursing cause after that they got very painful! That would have been a huge pain for me in WDW to pump every 2 hours. I mean, I took less than 10 minutes if I used a double pump, but even so, to have to trek back to the baby care centers every 2 hours would have gotten annoying. One other thing to consider is whether or not her baby will drink frozen breastmilk. My daughter would not. She'd drink pumped milk in a bottle without a problem from the day she came home from the hospital, but she would not take any thawed, frozen milk ever. Of course, I didn't realize this till after I had a huge stash built up in the freezer, so I ended up throwing it all out. She took refrigerated milk just fine, but wanted nothing to do with frozen.

Also, even though I know you said it's a no kid trip, my daughter's first Disney trip was at just under 3 months old and it was a 'girls' trip too. My daughter was born about 3 months before we got married and we had planned the year before (a month before I conceived) that we'd have a bridal party Disney trip. We did invite my flower girls too, so it wasn't an adult only trip, but all girls anyway. We all had a great time, and I had no trouble sharing a room with my friends and my nursing baby. Even though she still woke once during the night at that time, no one even heard her make a sound. Like I think most nursing moms, I'd sense her rustling around, nurse her, and she was back asleep without ever really waking up. Plus, I nursed her wherever we were, whenever she was hungry, so much easier than carting around my pump and running back to the baby care centers on a schedule. So if she does decide she really wants to come, but is afraid of the nursing while she's gone and after she's back, maybe give taking him along a 2nd thought?

Oh yeah, and I nursed in the car alllll the time! We took many raod trips from DC-NJ, and with a baby who hates her carseat that trip can be about 6 hours long. I became so skilled at nursing her while my husband drove that I was able to nurse her on both sides without ever stopping the car (or moving to the other side of her carseat). The worst time ever though was when she was almost 10 months old and we went to visit my in-laws in New Orleans. We went to see Celebration in the Oaks (a huge, drive-thru Christmas light display) and we all piled in my FIL's 15 passenger van. All meaning, me, my husband, daughter, MIL, FIL, SIL, BIL, 3yo niece, 1yo nephew, and other BIL. Well there was tons of traffic and we were in the car hours and I didn't bring any baby food for my daughter who woke up starving. So yes, in the 1st row of the van I had to lean over and nurse her with everyone else there. Talk about embarrassing!

 

[PaulaSue]

I don't know how old the baby is but too young it could really mess up the nursing relationship. She would really have to pump a ton before she left and a ton to keep up the production.

I suggest she call her local LLL for help.

Why not bring the baby in a sling?