Over the past several years, due to a large graduate student population who
are  going on job interviews, I have had the question several times of what
to do when there is a nursling and mom needs to leave town.

First question is do you have to do this now, in this manner?  Then we talk
about the following choices:  Choice 1:  Take baby and most likely a
support person  Choice 2:  Stockpile enough milk to last the baby while mom
is gone, and pump while gone  Choice 3:  Get what you can before you leave,
and fed ex the milk home that she pumps (more likely in longer absences)
Obviously there are other alternatives that they have already thought of
(ABM)  but I try to focus on the ways to maintain baby on breastmilk, and
mom's supply.

Many moms have wanted the power pack for the medela pumps so it helps to
have those handy for the traveler who doesn't know her upcoming plug
situation.

One mom on an interview had a four month old at home that began sleeping
through the night while she was gone...the funny part was her retelling me
about how it all went when she got home and I quote "He finally started
sleeping through the night and there I was in  a hotel in the wee hours of
the morning 'feeding the sink!'


Karen Foard, IBCLC, State College, PA
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