Breastfeeding Question – If I don’t nurse or pump for 3 days will my milk dry up?
I have to leave town with my husband for three days. It’s an emergency situation and our baby will be staying with my Dad and StepMom. I’ve tried to pump but ever since my baby came home from the hospital at 2 weeks old the pump doesn’t work for me anymore for some reason – I don’t get near as much as I did when I was pumping while he was in the hospital. It’s like my body will only react for baby. So, if I can’t feed him or use the pump for three days, will I dry up? Or should I just pump whatever I can get even if it’s only an ounce or two here and there just to keep my body producing? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks.
It really depends on your milk production and your body. When I weaned my baby off the breast it took 8 days for milk to stop coming out of my breasts, even though I wasn’t engorged anymore. It was very painful though when they got engored and dripped everywhere, but also very entertaining to my husband
haha After a few days of not feeding or pumping I felt like I could have brought my supply back up by pumping again. Also, my friend just recently went on a 7 day cruise (she breastfeeds her 5 month old) and she only pumped once a day and was able to pick it right back up. It really depends on how well your supply is established before you stop.
Pump whatever you can, even if you just express some milk in the shower it is better than doing nothing.
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