Forum Index
»
Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Leaving baby at 6 weeks for a wedding
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| I am due in a month and have been debating what to do about my best friend's upcoming wedding for some time now. My friend is getting married in Oregon when my baby will be 6 weeks old. She is not pressuring me to come but has made me an honorary bridesmaid so I do feel some obligation. Not to mention, she knocked herself out for my wedding. I know for sure I don't want to take the baby with me but am afraid I won't be able to go at all because it'll be too hard to leave him, even for 3 days. I was wondering if other people left their babies for a brief trip shortly after giving birth or had to grapple with a similar dilemna? I'll (hopefully) be breastfeeding as well and am wondering if it'll be tough to store up 3 days worth of breast milk and pump while I'm away (i.e. will I be leaving the wedding reception several times to pump or have to do it on the plane?). |
Anonymous
| Why wouldn't you want to take the baby? |
Anonymous
| You'll have to pump about every 3 hours to keep your supply up. I left my baby at just short of 4 months for 2 nights and it took a while to build up the necessary supply, but it's doable. |
Anonymous
| Who will take care of your baby when you leave? It may be worth the peace of mind to just take that person with you and have your baby with you. If you are breastfeeding it will take a lot of work to build up a supply while you are gone. If you have to give some formula while you are gone it is not the end of the world either. Pumping while you are gone isn't hard just time consuming and I personally would have liked to just have my baby some of the time. I flew with my son when he was 8 weeks old and it was easy. I had my husband with me. My son pretty much just stayed latched on when we were on the plane. The hum of the engines made him pass out each time. I think it just depends. Personally I would have had a hard time leaving my son that early on. |
Anonymous
| While I'm gone, my husband would be taking care of the baby. I didn't want to take the baby because I've heard (not verified by a pediatrician) that infants should get their 2 month vaccinations before going on an airplane. And, the thought of taking a newborn on a cross country flight seems rather difficult. I'm a first-time mom though so I have no personal experience. |
Anonymous
| I chose not to be in a wedding that happened when my dd was 5 weeks old. The bride (a pediatrician) actually suggested it would be better for me not to come since the baby was too young for the trip. That said, if I had chosen to go to the wedding, I would have much preferred to take the baby then to leave her at that age. |
Anonymous
| Actually, I think taking a 6w old baby on a flight would be easy. If you are planning to breastfeed, keeping up your milk supply would be vital while you are gone. And 6w is a major growth spurt for the baby and mine always wanted to nurse nurse nurse during that growth spurt. Please reconsider taking your baby...I bet your friend would love to see your newborn and it'd be a great bonding experience for you and the baby. Just keep the baby in a sling on the plane and he/she will be okay. |
Anonymous
| I would not want to leave the baby. Just the thought of leaving something so small that you are still so attached to would drive me crazy. I have a daughter and I know how I felt when I had to go away for a whole day. Then there is the possibility that something might happen on your trip (I know, this is far fetched but still) or with your baby and you wouldn't be with him/her very quick. I would definitely consider taking the baby with you and perhaps someone who can help you out. |
Anonymous
I agree with this 100 percent. |
Anonymous
| The other thing to keep in mind is that you could go late and then the baby would be even younger. I'd take the baby. Good luck |
Anonymous
It is slightly insane to think about leaving your 6 w/o infant to go to a wedding. I mean that with affection 
The fact that this even occurred to you at all will seem incomprehensible to you when your db arrives. This is especially true with a breastfed baby. Nursing is not just about the milk, it is a relationship. Either take your db or don't go (6 w/o is actually not a bad age to fly with a db). If you girlfriend doesn't understand now, she will when she becomes a mother. |
Meconbear
Member Offline
Member Offline
|
I went to San Diego when my DS was 6 w.o. and it was a snap. He BF, slept, and pooped on the flight. That's it. I'd take the baby.
|
Anonymous
I agree with this wholeheartedly. In all honesty, before I had my daughter I thought I would continue my (somewhat) jet-setting lifestyle and be taking long weekends all the time, leaving her with my mom. What a joke! You really have no idea until you give birth how hard it is to a) leave your baby and b) pump while traveling, ugh! |
Anonymous
| I agree with all the "take your baby" posters. I wouldn't have been able to leave at that time. I wouldn't worry about getting sick on the plane, frankly. |
Anonymous
|
My friends traveled with their baby to Europe when it was three weeks old and said it was a breeze. I'm planning on taking the baby around 6 weeks (before my maternity leave is up) to go to Europe as well to see my parents.
I'd take the baby! Just make sure you book a good flight (time etc) and take the hubby with you to carry the baby stuff 
|