and I am so proud of myself. Seriously. It's not easy to go on a long trip as a nursing mum, especially when you are with a tour which cannot accomodate your needs. The first day was the toughest, on my 2nd pump on the plane, I felt really sorry for myself and I was plagued with worries on how to survive the rest of the trip when I got into Rome. So the first day was a bumper, jet lagged and stressed out. I even felt like going home, didn't help that I was missing Jarrett.
Surprisingly, it got easier from the 2nd day onwards, I just got into the swing, and had no problem expressing on the coach or anywhere else. It helped that the tour pace was relatively ok, sometimes with breaks in the day where I could hop back to the room for an hour or so. It also helped that my travelling companion, aka my sis was very supportive. She even helped me to time when would be the next pump and was very accomodating when I said I would need to return to the hotel every 4-5hours when we were on our own in Florence/Rome. The huge problem I had was when we got into Venice. There was some screwed up with the schedule and I had to go without a pump for 7 hrs. You can imagine how sulky I was and I went around whinning (ya..again). Poor sis had to endure with my black face. Apart from that, all went relatively well. I got a few weird looks now and then from the people sitting around and near us, and the tour director looked really curious when she came round our seats when I was in the mist of expressing, and the air steward who looked really shocked when he saw my bottles of milk (with no baby?!?) when I went to the gallery, asking where I could wash my bottles.
The tough part about the trip was missing Jarrett and worrying whether he was okay. Wx said he was really fussy the whole time I was away and drank so little milk. When I got back, the 1st time he saw me, he broke into a smile and then he got really angry and started shoving me away but at the same time holding on to me (does it make sense?) and wailing. The little one was showing me he was really angry I was away for so long, leaving him behind. I felt so gulity! While a part of me feel good knowing that my baby missed me when I was away, another part of me feel so bad that he had a really tough time and wasn't eating and sleeping well. For the rest of the day, Jarrett would follow me with his eyes whenever we were in the same room. This morning when I left him for work, he showed me his pissed off face again. Argh............I don't think there's going to be another long trip anytime soon! If there is, he's going to have to come with me.
10 comments:
Wow!! Well Done Girl!! Going on a long trip and continuing on the expressing.
Although we have not done it but I'm sure it is not be easy leaving the young one behind. We're taking a short trip to HK in a few weeks time so let's see how it goes.
I like to imagine the Air Steward's face when he realises that you do not have a child with you. He may think you're suffering from post natal blues or something. LOL
Hi,
It wouldn't be easy leaving the little one at home, esp the first time. These days even when HB and I go on dates, we'll be missing Jarrett within 2hrs max. So we always end the nite early. Funny thing is when Jarrett shows us his pissed off face whenever we leave him behind. It's so adorable. See if Issac does that when you go to HK.
As for the Air Steward, I'm guessing there was a hint of horror too when he saw the pump & bottles! LOL!
Its amazing how you did all that expressing! And carrying all that milk around in between cities! Did you have to freeze it and carry it in a cooler bag or something? The last time i did that when i was Bangkok - 3 weeks post birth - it was so tough keeping the frozen milk cold from hotel to home!
hey girl,
I didn't bring the milk back cos I have too many packs of frozen milk in the freezer. It was pump and throw which made it easier as I didn't have to lug the sterilizer with me too. But it was still stressful, cos I had to plan everything around the boobs, like rushing like crazy for 10-15 mins of break, bugging the tour director every few hours on the most updated schedule (I think I was her most irritating tour member) and it wasn't fun lugging the stuff with me. I found out towards the end that many tour mates were wondering what I was lugging around with me all the time. LOL. Plus engorgement is really not funny...my sis was kinda stressed out too by the milk biz.
I did my research thou on how to transport milk back home, so if u need the info for baby no.2, let me know =)
Ouch! Pump and throw!!! What a waste!! I remembered each time i pumped, it was so precious coz i would be sitting there for 30 mins to 45mins pumping and it was so tiring. So i just cant get used to the idea of pumping and throwing! But its all coming back to me now..yes..sterilizing of the containers and the pump..yeah it would not make sense for you to lug the bottles of milk around for 2 weeks. Still i admire your determination! I would have stopped there and then! Well for number 2 - dont think i am going anywhere for a long time without the baby if i am on total breastfeeding. Anyway, I will be on 6 months maternity leave - so I should be all right..
It's a case of supply over demand. I've stopped freezing the excess milk since my return. No point doing so cos Jarrett never gets to touch the frozen stash. I still have abt say 80packs or so in my freezer. Milk bags not cheap leh, doesn't make sense for me to freeze and throw them later which is what I have been doing. Wx and I used the expired milk for foot soak. I wanted to give away to other babies, but no one I noe need them.
I am thinking the reason why u needed to spend so much time for each pump was to do with ur pump. It's very impt to find one which works for u. I take abt 15mins on average, using a dual electric. Let's chat abt bfing when u come back in Sept! =)
poor mummy. haha. but i'll soon be like that too, in the NEAR future. LOL. need ur guidance ;)
Don't worry. U're in good hands. I'll be there to share tips with u come ur time. But wun be so soon lah, if not ur mum will faint.
whahahaha! lest i stay single for life. LOL
Hey think maybe its to do with my pump then - wah! 80 packs of breast milk!! that's an awful lot of milk!! yeah what do you use to store? I used the avent containers and then they dont come cheap! I wanted to check out the pumps again but eryk kept insisting that its fine - and i am just looking to spend more $! yes let's catch up on breastmilk bags/containers and breast pumps - never thought i will be saying this though...all these years we been friends!!hahaha
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