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Expert Q&A

	By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant

I will be attending a three-day class for work that will call for me to be out of town. I am exclusively breastfeeding my 2-month-old daughter, and I need to know what I can do to prepare for this time away in advance to avoid having to supplement with formula during those three days. I work full time and pump about four times during the time I am at work, which is eight hours a day. I want to be prepared, what should I do?

I would first find out if it would be possible to bring your baby with you on your trip. Sometimes Mom can bring Baby and the husband or a friend to help with the baby. If this is possible, then you can mostly nurse, and if there is time when your baby is not allowed to be with you, your caregiver could give pumped milk. I know many mothers who have been able to work out an arrangement like this. However, if bringing her is not an option, I would begin building up a milk supply in the freezer for her. You might add an extra pumping once a day so that you can begin storing up milk.

I would have to make an educated guess that you might need to leave behind about 80 ounces in the freezer, in 3- to 4-ounce increments. The amount needed would depend on how much she weighs and whether or not she is having a growth spurt at that time. If you have two months to prepare and you pump an extra 10 ounces a week, you should be all set. It would take extra time and effort, but it would be worth it.

Be sure that your freezer has some sort of alarm, so that if the power accidentally goes out or the door is left open and the freezer starts to get too warm, you will get a warning. It would be a tragedy if the milk you are pumping were to get thawed and have to be thrown away.

Best of luck to you.
Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC"

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