Thanks for that post, Rachel, as I was thinking along the same lines.  

I have surprisingly many Moms contact me with questions about pumping and shipping breastmilk from afar.  I often find that they get so wrapped up in the logistics of pumping and shipping that they haven't taken the time to consider how to prepare the baby.  I imagine it is emotionally tough on Moms to leave their babies as well, so perhaps this is a bit of a defense mechanism.  For breastmilk prep I share several of my favorite links with them:

For breastmilk storage and shipping:
Stanford's http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/ShipNStore.html 
Robyn Roche-Paull's http://breastfeedingincombatboots.com/faq/deployments/shipping-milk/ 

Maintianing milk supply:
Nancy Mohrbacher's   http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/blog/tag/magic-number

Respectful bottle feeding:
Fleur Bickford"s   http://blog.nurturedchild.ca/index.php/2010/12/10/baby-led-bottle-feeding/.

After we talk about breastmilk logistics, I mention preparing the baby.  I tell Moms that they know their babies best and to consider what would make this separation easiest for their children.  We talk about creating a routine at more challenging times of the day that could include elements such as specific music, stories, special blanket, bath - whatever can be done consistently.  The caregiver can then repeat these while Mom is gone.  I also suggest experimenting with skype or something similar so that baby can experience Mom on a computer screen and then coming home at the end of the work day.  I also approach this discussion from a logistics point as it is certainly not my goal to make them "feel bad".  They often then bring up the emotional aspect of this separation and we can discuss that as well.

Ellen (vacationing on beautiful Coronado, CA!)

Ellen Rubin, MA, IBCLC, LLLL

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