After some advice, bubs isnt here yet (7 weeks to go!) but DH and I have made plans to go on a social outing when bubs is 6 weeks old. We will be travelling one hour away.
I hope to breastfeed and Im anxious about how I am going to leave bub when she is so little for about 8 hours (this includes travelling time).
Im thinking I express and introduce a bottle once a day for a week beforehand? I really dont want this to interfere with breastfeeding though. Or I could get a babysitter to come with us and have her stay at my friends place close by, so I can breastfeed right before and as soon as we get back (will be away for 3 hours from my friends place).
I would get the babysitter. You might not want to leave your baby either. All those hormones make you not want to be too far from your baby in the early days. I remember going to the shops for 1/2hr and bursting into tears, lol. So it might be better to have bubs close by
Breastfeeding is quite a task that it usually takes 6weeks to adjust and learn to feel comfortable, so a good idea to just concentrate on that rather then introducing bottles and things into the mix.
To expand...... I had all sorts of grand plans to leave my baby and express for a wedding when DD1 was 6 weeks old. When she was born i quickly realised how difficult that was. Not only logistically for breastfeeding, i did not get into the swing of breast feeding for a good 3 months, but i was not ready to leave her anywhere at 6 weeks old. It's pretty much worked out for us that i either take my babies with us when they are that little or we don't go. Now they are older, i will happily leave them, but i found it just wasn't something i wanted to do when they were tiny.
I ended up going shopping with SIL one day when Ds was only 2 weeks old. I had only planned to go for an hour or so but we ended up being gone 5 hours :/ Anyways I already had some expressed milk and Dh was with him as well.. He didn't even wake the whole time i was gone though ..
But in saying that I would honestly take your baby with you. or wait till baby is here and see how you feel about the situation. Maybe take your mum or MIL with you to watch bub somewhere (get a motel room for the night or something like that rather then driving back an hour when you might be tired from a newborn)
I would also get the babysitter so can take baby with you and leave for a shorter time. At 6 weeks for 8 hours you would need to express at least once I would think just to feel comfortable, and in my mind expressing can be difficult and even if not is boring and time consuming, much easier to have the baby close at hand to drain the breast.
I would take baby with me..a 6wk old newborn would be no trouble at all and a relief to you when you your breasts get full.
From experience, a NB is easier to take places and is the best age to get out and about with baby.
Personally, i would plan to take bub (even to the social outing) and def be open to cancelling the plans, you know - play it by ear. Don't feel pressured either way. You do what feels right at the time.
All the best for the final stages of pregnancy and your transition into parent hood. xoxo
I would get the babysitter, but in saying that, could you take bub with you?
Also agree with catherine, you will work out what feels right with you and your DH. If I were, maybe cover all bases now, look at all your options. Then closer to the due, you will know in your heart what decision sits right with you both, and then do that one.
Thanks so much for your advice girls. You all have been very helpful!
Im thinking I will see if my mother will come down and look after bub at my friends place while we are at the game, that way she is close by, and I wont have to introduce a bottle.
The social outing is actually State of Origin III, I dont think its very appropriate for a little newborn, with all the very loud noise, and it will be cold. What do you girls think though? I would absolutely LOVE to bring her.....
Last edited by Summertime; March 28th, 2011 at 08:30 PM.
I took my 4 week old on a hens night, and a couple of football games! I'd definately take a baby to a footy game. All rugged up in a sling like a hug-a-bub. Perfect!
We took my DD to AFL and RL games at that age, in a hug-a-bub like Junglemum says - with a hat on too, the noise will be very muffled (e.g. one with flaps over ears) - DD slept through most of it, when the sirens went she would stir a little but not wake up. Will be doing the same with this bub. I think as a result of the footy DD is very at home in crowds and noisy situations they don't phase her at all (in fact she has a slightly worrying obsession with "Storm Man" Melbourne Storms mascot!, and Hawka). I found sporting events great for taking babies too, it doesn't matter if they make a bit of noise and you can socialize too, if awake she would peer out the sling and be fascinated by flags and different faces around her etc. At most stadiums (well certainly all in Melbourne) have baby change rooms, just for the warmth for me factor I would go feed her in the room at half time and they had a TV in there too so I could follow what was going on if took a bit longer than the break etc. In terms of temperature she was always very cosy in the sling and is like a hot water bottle for you.
oh -I agree with the slinging idea! A hug-a-bub (or similar) would be perfect, comfy for you, comfy for bub...and if it is really cold, maybe you have a poncho? I used to put my baby in the hugabub with a big poncho over the top, with a fairly open neck..for air...this also made breastfeeding in the open warmer. I get reynauds, so exposed nipple as latching was not fun! That said, bub soon warmed it up! LOL . also good for cold weather in the open feeding: nursing singlets - keeps your tummy warm... xo
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Leaving 6 wk old newborn for 8 hours
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