What Is A Nursing Vacation?

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What is a nursing vacation?

What is a nursing vacation you ask? Whelp, a nursing vacation is not a vacation from nursing like I originally thought, and maybe would even welcome in this moment. A nursing vacation is a full day (or two if you can) that you spend with your baby prompting them to breastfeed and letting baby nurse when they show even the slightest of interest in nursing for food or comfort. 

This is a tactic usually used by moms that are experiencing low milk supply or that just want to increase milk supply.

I recently wrote about the relationship of my breastfeeding journey colliding with my period coming back at 6 weeks postpartum, and how that has created supply problems. 

Some of the best things I’ve done to increase my milk supply during these week long (or longer) dips in milk production are power pumping and sneaking in a breastfeeding vacation here and there! 

How do I ‘do’ a nursing vacation?

If you have multiple children, a lactation vacation is most easily done if someone can watch your other children, your partner is home, or if you invite a family member or bestie over for the ultimate pajama and movie day to help tag team things. You will want to be as relaxed and easily accessible to your baby as you can all day- and unfortunately chasing after toddlers or other children doesn’t make that as easy as we would hope. 

You will want to treat this day almost like a sick day, you are taking care of your body after all. So don’t worry about household chores, getting work done, or anything else that can cause stress or that you’ll get caught up in and could distract you from your baby’s slightest cues. 

You will want to hop in bed or on the couch (wherever you are most comfortable) with drinks, snacks, and diapers on hand and snuggle in! If you have your other children home with you, have them join in. Even they will enjoy some almost one on one time with you while eating, snuggling, and watching movies. 

Settling in now, you are going to try to pay attention to your baby in the background all day. Are they sticking their tongue out? Turning their head around? Accidentally brush against your arm and try to attack it? Plop a boob in their mouth and get them to latch on! 

If your baby typically sucks on a pacifier throughout the day, you will wan to take it away for today. If your little one has the need to suckle for comfort, it will be at the breast- even let them keep up that small suck if they are sleeping at your breast. 

What do I need during a nursing vacation?

It takes a lot of prep work to do “nothing” while your a mom. Although, I know and I promise that breast feeding is never nothing- it is a lot of work! But there are several things you’ll want to have on hand within easy reach so you aren’t having to get up and down all day which, let’s be honest, will mean you end up getting caught up with something blowing your relaxing breastfeeding vacation. 

Here is what I recommend to have within easy reach:

• Diapers, wipes, & rash cream
• Nipple balm
• Extra outfit for baby (or 2, depending on their blowout frequency)
• Several water bottles and other drinks such as sports drinks or juice
• Both healthy and yummy snacks (think nuts, protein bars, fruit, your favorite candy, etc)
• Phone and charger
• Heating pad (your nipples may get sore, and heat can help. Also, it’s just cozy)
• Comfortable robe so you can do plenty of skin to skin
• Small toys if your baby is old enough to be entertained by them
• Breast pump in case your baby takes a longer nap due to all the feeding and comfort

Do nursing vacations actually work?

For a majority of women, a nursing vacation will help increase your supply, but you may not see the change immediately. To make more breast milk, most of the time all you need to do is increase the demand for it. You can do this by incorporating pumping sessions, power pumping, nursing vacations, or simply putting your baby to your breast more often. 

So, in theory, nursing vacations are like all of the above on steroids. And if you’re able to do it for more than a day? Golden! 

When should I take a nursing vacation?

Some new mamas like to use nursing vacations in the first days and weeks of their new baby’s life, beginning with the “golden hour” immediately after birth. Similar to the golden hour, new moms will continue nursing on demand, resting, and lots of skin contact with their newborn in the early weeks. 

Another time mothers should consider a breastfeeding vacation is if their milk supply is low or unstable or baby is going through a growth spurt. Whether your baby is starting to sleep through the night, you went back to work, started you period, or any other small reason- many moms will face a dip or decline in their milk supply at some point. A lactation vacation can “take you back to your roots” and remind your body that it needs to continue producing at a larger amount. 

In the end, most mothers will see some type of increase in their milk supply within a few days. But if you don’t, you shouldn’t worry too much. If you are concerned about your milk supply, there are several other options to boost your milk production and lactation consultants are always a phone call away!

Your little one is the first priority. If you don’t think they are getting enough at the breast alone or you notice that you’re having breastfeeding problems, you can breastfeed first and then “top them off” with a bottle of expressed milk or formula. Just be sure to pump or hand express each time you give them a bottle so your body knows they are still needing additional milk.

Good luck on your breastfeeding journey, and happy vacationing!