Stopping and Returning to Breastfeeding

by Luz

Can I stop breastfeeding and return to it?

Visitor Question: Can I stop breastfeeding and return to it after a few days? Is it healthy for the baby?

Breastfeeding Magazine Response:


You can stop breastfeeding for a few days for a small vacation or getaway, but it is important that you pump enough milk to keep your breast milk supply up.

A mother's milk supply is based on demand. If there is no demand for the milk, it will go away.

If you are planning some time away, here are some tips to make it go smoothly for you and baby:

1. For a little while before you go, start pumping after each time that you breastfeed to increase your supply and to store up some breast milk for your baby to eat while you are away.

2. Get baby used to eating expressed milk from a bottle that is comfortable for breastfeeding babies.

3. Make sure you are comfortable with pumping. To keep up your supply, you should try to pump at the times that baby would usually eat while you are away.

Moms can get away once in a while and baby will do just fine...you just need to plan ahead a bit!

Good luck!

Any other visitors out there have suggestions or tips? If so, share your comments here!