serendipity, I'm quite torn between taking 4 months at a stretch. If I spilt up, I can use some between Jan and March 2011... important to me cos I cannot carry forward my annual and childcare leave. so I get more days in 2011 over my annual and chilcare leave. but if I don't spilt up, I can spend more time nursing my #2.. whether latching on or pumping. I find that pumping at home is better cos no need to drop pumping frequency. at office, I only pump once a day. so in total, pump 3 times. At home, I can keep pumping several times a day as long as I'm on leave.