https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 13:23:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2789242 Wed, 29 Nov 2017 21:14:38 +0000 MsBAM 2789242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your responses. They were all very helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2789058 Wed, 29 Nov 2017 10:02:21 +0000 snowjewelz 2789058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: I'm with you! And I don't even have great supply with either kids! </p> <p>I've had work stuff where I've missed pumps here &amp; there not by choice, and I survived! I have just enough, and still EBF with DD2 at 11 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788966 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 19:50:10 +0000 cake2017 2788966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hand pump works for me! It’s cheap and nice to have. You may be uncomfortable at the party- everyone is different but I would just be prepared! Nurse him before you leave and leave a few bottles. Has he taken a bottle before? If not, introduce one to him. Your supply will be fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788806 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 10:20:42 +0000 Pumuckl 2788806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have often skipped feeds by either using formula or previously pumped milk and never has it had any impact on my supply. So you should be fine. I always bring nursing pads in situations like these to avoid leaking through my clothes... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788804 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 10:18:18 +0000 nana87 2788804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a hand pump with me to evening events when lo was around the same age and I was missing the bedtime feeding. I felt much more comfortable, and it's so small that I was able to take it and a cooler bag in a Longchamp tote so it didn't even look weird to be carrying around (I was at weddings). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788803 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 10:10:53 +0000 catlady 2788803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You should be fine. I'd just nurse before you leave (I'd still leave the babysitter with one bottle but that should be all she will need). You may feel a bit engorged at the party but if your baby already sleeps until 1:30 normally, I doubt it would be bad enough that you'd need to pump there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788800 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 09:59:35 +0000 Ajsmommy 2788800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am going to be kind of different from above. I wouldn't buy a hand pump just for this night. I'd either nurse or pump right before leaving and then pump or nurse right when I got home. At 6 months I wouldn't be engorged too badly. I had evened out by that point and didn't have an over supply at that time. </p> <p>If you really think you'll be too engorged to enjoy yourself take your pump and the battery pack and pump in your car or a private room wherever you are going. I've done both when necessary.</p> <p>And one night shouldn't mess up your supply at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788792 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 09:18:05 +0000 SweetiePie 2788792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: I was going to say the same thing as you about the hand pumps. They are only $30 or so and I always found them to be more efficient at removing milk and even plugged ducts than my electric. Of course baby was always the best at it but I turned to my manual pump when I had an issue like that.<br /> Also it’s good to have if/when you decide to wean. I used it to pump to comfort, which only took a couple minutes. Hooking up to an electric for that would be super annoying to me. </p> <p>Also just good to have one for trips/airplane/long car rides, etc. So much smaller and easier to transport. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788780 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 08:49:46 +0000 skinnycow 2788780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was in this situation I brought a hand pump with me just in case, but pumped before I left and was always fine. One night shouldn't mess with your supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788761 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:26:04 +0000 PawPrints 2788761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh but to answer your question - it's pretty unlikely your supply would take a hit from one evening, regardless of what you do. The issue is whether you'll be uncomfortable. And yes definitely make sure you have a couple of pumped bottles in the fridge just in case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788760 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:24:43 +0000 PawPrints 2788760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many times does LO normally nurse between 6:30-11:30pm? I'm guessing probably once? I would nurse before you leave and I really think you'll be fine. I had huge oversupply and soaked through all my nursing pads and yet I was still able to leave LO for an entire evening much earlier than that - around 10 weeks - without any engorgement, simply because LO was already in the habit of sleeping from 6-11pm straight without a feed. It would be worse if you were going away for a big chunk of the daytime, when you'd normally be feeding every 2 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788743 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:41:42 +0000 Pollywog 2788743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd nurse, not pump before you leave. Then I'd leave the babysitter with another bottle (or two). I'd plan on hand expressing or using a manual at the party. They're like $30 and I used mine all of the time, especially when I was in awkward places. Mine was super quick and efficient. </p> <p>I left LO who was similar in nursing to sleep and round the clock for a similar timeline at 5.5 months. I nursed at 6 and then pumped at 9 (and then got the "your kid is still up and wants nothing to do with the bottle. Stop pumping" text from my mom. I headed home around 930 because he was hungry and overtired. I really hope you have a far better experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788742 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:29:43 +0000 Anya 2788742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many feedings are you missing between the time you leave and 1:30am? If it's just one, you will probably be fine to just pump or nurse as soon as you get back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788741 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:25:57 +0000 bees_knees 2788741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pump in the days beforehand to keep some milk for a bedtime bottle, and nurse him right before you leave (it sounds like, for you, nursing is more effective at removing milk than the pump is?). FWIW, in that situation I would probably be engorged and uncomfortable...which I can deal with. But I also would leak through all the nursing pads in the world...which I cannot deal with :silly: I’d mostly play the party by ear, but def have a plan in place in case you’re super uncomfortable/leaking....hand expressing in the bathroom sink or something. Practice hand expressing before hand if you need to, it’s easy once you get the hang of it. Plus then you wouldn’t have to drag along a hand pump. I am a milk cow so I wouldn’t feel like I needed to bring storage bags to keep the milk, but that’s just me! I def agree with @Littlebit7: though...one night out won’t affect your supply! :happy:</p> <p>ETA: hand pumps are fairly cheap, and some women find them more effective at removing milk! Might be worth the purchase anyways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788740 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:19:32 +0000 Littlebit7 2788740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found I used the hand pump more than I thought I would (mainly for emergencies). Target is 15% off all items online and the lansinoh pump is on my list for baby #2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788735 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 21:45:58 +0000 MsBAM 2788735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: I think I may be engorged a bit too from skipping the bedtime feeding, not sure though. I’m usually pretty soft by LO’s bedtime. Is it worth it to buy a manual pump for one night? I probably wouldn’t use it again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788732 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 21:15:46 +0000 Littlebit7 2788732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely bring a hand pump with you. You don't want to be that engorged mom in the bathroom hand expressing into the toilet (just take my word for it)<br /> You could even bring a milk storage bag (and a ziplock to double bag) and save the milk.<br /> Will it affect your supply if you skip? No. Will you possibly be uncomfortable if you don't pump or relieve pressure? Likely </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/going-out-for-an-evening#post-2788727 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 21:08:46 +0000 MsBAM 2788727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>I’m going out for an evening to a Christmas party with my DH. The party starts at 7, I assume we’ll leave by 630 at the latest. We may not be home until 11 or midnight.... or later. This will be my longest time away from LO. I exclusively BF and LO is 6mo. LO can usually go 3-4 hours without eating but I nurse to sleep for every nap so he eats every 2 hours during the day.... LO goes to bed between 730-830 latest and usually up around 130am for a feeding lately... Will being gone this long effect my supply or should it be okay because it’s just one evening? </p> <p>LO is 6mo and I was going to pump before we left for the party...like probably around 530 hopefully (it takes me 40mins just to pump just over 2oz). I was planning to pump for a few days leading up to the party so babysitter has enough milk. </p>