Hellobee Boards

Depending on how long you will be gone, maybe you could pump right before you leave and right when you get home (unless you nurse as soon as you get home).

I regularly go 5 hours between pumping (because of my weird pumping schedule at work) whereas Xander only goes 3 hours between eating. So it really depends on how much milk your breasts can hold.

And if it's just once in a while that you're missing a session, it's probably not a huge deal to just skip it. Though it depends on how engorged you get.

I recently went to a bridal shower and I knew I wouldn't really be able to pump there, but I was going to be gone for 5+ hours, so I brought my manual pump and just pumped a few ounces in the bathroom to relieve the engorgement. Then I nursed (or pumped, I forget) as soon as I got home. I also nursed right before I left.

if i'm going to be away from LO for a few hours and one of his feedings occur during the time i'm gone (and i can't pump wherever i am), i'll usually try to pump right before i go to try and make up for the lost session and empty my breasts. i could also do it afterwards, but i prefer to do it before to prevent engorgement, and also because if i do it when i come back, i worry that my supply won't "recharge" enough for the next nursing session.

if it's something longer like a wedding, i would probably pump at some point during the wedding. on the other hand, i know my friend was at an all-afternoon/evening bridal shower and bachelorette where pumping was not an option, so at some point in the evening the hand expressed her milk into the toilet. i know, not such a great image, but you do what you gotta do!

I was always really protective of my supply so I didn't ever go three hours (except at night) without pumping. I bought a car adapter for my pump and basically took it everywhere. There were plenty of date nights that between dinner and a movie I was pumping.

I would add that if your LO nurses as soon as you're back, I'd pump after she's done to make up for the missed session. You'll probably have more than one feeding's worth in there by the time you're back.