Breastfeeding vs Formula Feeding

Breastfeeding Charlotte in Hampstead Heath in April

I am so grateful that I have been able to breastfeed Charlotte without problems.  I have a very healthy supply and Charlotte has a healthy appetite.  All is well in the world . . . and all would continue to be well with the world if I weren't leaving for ten days at the beginning of next month.

Since we arrived in London three-and-a-half months ago, I have been pumping/expressing milk in every free moment I have.  While it is perhaps the most unglamorous activities I have ever engaged in, I wanted to make sure Charlotte had enough milk for her two days of daycare a week and enough to last her the ten days I will be traveling.  But try as I might, I failed; there isn't enough milk in the freezer.  I am absolutely heartbroken over it.

One of the main reasons we ran out of milk is that Charlotte goes through more milk at daycare than I am able to express while she's gone.  I think this is due in part to the daycare facility not treating the milk like the liquid gold it is (ie:  throwing away half drunk bottles instead of putting them back in the fridge for later) and Charlotte seizing the opportunity to drink all of a ten ounce bottle if it is given to her.  I spoke with the daycare (who is generally really great) about being more careful about wasting the milk and there seemed to be a big improvement after that.  But not a big enough improvement, as today Charlotte has officially started to drink formula at daycare.

My goal is for her to have at least a couple bottles worth of mama's milk for each day I'm away.  As for me, I am going to travel with my breast pump and will have to find time to express milk between rehearsals, traveling and performances.  Luckily, I am very familiar with the members of the group I'm performing with and I know that they will be supportive in my efforts.  I am going to look into getting dry ice to travel back to London with my expressed milk, but if that is too complicated, I will find a milk bank to donate to.  Mostly, I want to make sure that my milk doesn't dry up while I'm away and I don't want to waste any of the milk if I don't have to!  (There are milk banks that provide breast milk to families with moms who can't produce milk and/or to families where the mom is ill or has passed away.)

From what I've read, breastfeeding until a baby is six-months is considered a huge accomplishment and is recommended by the World Health Organization.  While we have already reached this milestone (I accidentally just typed "milkstone".  Haha!)  I would like to be able to continue breastfeeding Charlotte until she is at least one.  It is just so much better for her brain and general development than formula and I feel fortunate that it has worked so well for us thus far.

Hopefully this first round of traveling will go smoothly as I am traveling again in October, December, March and June (so far).  I am working on transitioning my work to London so I don't have to return to the states to work, but that will take some time.  Luckily, I already have some positive responses from sending my CV out to some London opera companies!  In the meantime, Jason is looking forward to having one-on-one time with our sweet Charlotte and my mom is looking forward to flying out to help as well.

As for me, I know that being away from Charlotte will be difficult, but I am happy and proud to be continuing my career.  Singing isn't just a job for me, it is huge part of who I am.   It gives me life and makes me a better person.  And despite throwing a wrench/spanner into my breastfeeding efforts, I truly believe that it is good for Charlotte to see her mom doing what she loves to do!