Leaving baby at 6 weeks for a wedding

[Anonymous]

I took my baby to a wedding in Europe when she was 6 weeks old (eg. prior to two month shots), with the blessing of my pediatrician. He did say he wouldn't recommend a long flight with a baby much younger than 6 weeks, but it may be worth discussing with your own peditrician. In terms of logistics, for me (and it seems that other PPs have had the same experience) it was pretty easy to fly with a 6 week old. So, I guess I fall in the "take your baby with you" camp.

[Anonymous]

Okay, what the heck is an "honorary bridesmaid"?

We went to a wedding in DC, 4 metro stops from home when my son was 5 weeks and that was hard enough. I definitely wouldn't leave the baby, esp. if you're exclusively breastfeeding.
As far as travelling with the baby, you really won't know if you're up for it until after you give birth. If you have an "easy" baby, maybe, but you may find that you're too overwhelmed just to run everyday errands, much less fly across the country with a 6 week old. And would you take the baby to the wedding and the reception? The last couple of weddings I've been too the band was so loud that I would be worried for a young child's ears.

I'd wait until you give birth to purchase a plane ticket--6 weeks out isn't too bad for booking air travel.

[Anonymous]

At 6 weeks postpartum, be prepared for leaky breasts, which are not fun in formalwear! You might want to do some research on best breast pads...

[Anonymous]

Just fyi, 6 weeks pp, I was still bleeding.

[Anonymous]

Honorary bridesmaid? So you're not really in the wedding? In that case, I'd plan on skipping it. I would rather have died than leave my baby at 6 weeks for more than an hour, but that's just me. That's really, really early on. I know it stinks to miss the fun, but it will be more than worth it in the long run.

[Anonymous]

My best friend was due 1 month before my wedding. She did not come and it was no big deal! I was sorry to miss her, but now that I have a baby, I am even more understanding! I would have found that to be too hard 6 weeks post-partum, especially traveling that far. Also, you don't know if you will have any complications or if baby will have any issues. May be best to say your regrets now and then plan a trip to visit her when you can have one-on-one time and bring baby when baby is a little older!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just fyi, 6 weeks pp, I was still bleeding.

Me, too - like a stuck pig and it was disgusting! I also had 4th degree tearing and could not have lasted on a cross-country flight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree. I would tell your friend that you cannot come. Your baby will be too young and you never know what issues you'll and your baby will be having then. Your friend can live without your being present.

[Anonymous]

As someone else mentioned, 6 weeks is a major growth spurt. Your baby will likely want to nurse every 2 hours or so. Not only would it be very difficult to have enough pumped supply built up at 6 weeks for your baby, but YOU need to have your baby nurse that much so that your body ramps up milk production.

Even if your baby takes a bottle well, at 6 weeks I would be leery of going 100% bottle for a few days.

I agree that you should either skip the wedding, or take your baby with you. Newborns are a snap on the airplane!

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP. The 6 week-ish growth spurt (my daughter's came closer to 5 weeks) is ROUGH. I literally nursed (with a few little naps in between) for my husband's entire 10 hour work day one day. This is unfortunately something you can't really prepare for, since you won't make enough milk until the spurt itself starts. You should bring your baby with you unless you're comfortable with formula in case there are gaps that need filling in.

[Anonymous]

Do you even want to go to the wedding or do you just feel obligated? If you really want to go, I'm sure you could do it. I would skip it though. No way would I have wanted to travel with my 6 week old. It's sounds stressful to me. I'd be worried about what I was going to do with the baby on the plane if I had to use the restroom. Take him in there. Ick. Dealing with the headache of security? Carrying bags with a baby in the sling too? No thanks. I'm kind of a worrier though (and I don't even like to fly solo). I didn't even want to leave the house when my ds was six weeks. It took me a long time to get the hang of bfing too, and it zapped my energy.

I definitely wouldn't want to leave the baby either. They grow and change so fast even within a few days. This is also such an important time for bonding.

I'm sure your friend will understand if you decide not to go.

[Anonymous]

No one said to leave the baby, I would either take baby or not go.

1. My breasts leaked heavily at 6weeks.
2. Good luck finding a dress with your melon breasts and still preggo looking tummy. You might still be in maternity then.
3. When my baby was 6 weeks, he was nursing at least every 2 hours. They sometimes go through these spurts where they nurse every hour
4. If you are truly serious about nursing, you will be putting that is jeopardy if you leave your baby at 6 weeks. Also keep in mind, you probably will not get much from pumping at that time.
5. My DH is an awesome very involved father. He always has been, but I'm sure he would have been terrified if he would have been left alone overnight with the baby. Heck, I would have too. My mind was not in a good place post partum.
6. The bleeding might not have ended.
7. If you have a c-section, you might still be in a big of pain.

[Anonymous]

I went to wedding when baby was about 10 wks. and did not bring him -- was gone 4 nights. It was a huge mistake. I did not have the motivation to pump as much as needed, it ruined my milk supply and breastfeeding was effectively over when I got home (son who has always had some bottles got too used to them while I was gone and would not take breast). I saw lactation consultants, got a hospital-grade pump -- could not recusitate the breastfeeding. At the time I was not so upset, but now that I am breastfeeding 2d child for 8 mos. successfully I feel like son and I got cheated due to the wedding.

In hindsight I should have not gone or brought him. Babies at that age are so easy to travel with. They can sleep anywhere. I flew with my son starting at 1 mo. old with pediatrician's permission. Advice was to get the window seat and keep baby in his carseat, under the hood, not let people poke at him, etc. and wash hands a lot.

[Anonymous]

I went to a friend's dd's communion when my own dd was six weeks old. I got a lot of "how could you go" from people but I had always promised this little girl that I would be there and I wanted to be there. The service/party was a few hours away so I went for the weekend and it was no problem. I pumped alot to have supply and then I pumped when I was there. I actually was so happy to sleep for the weekend and contrary to a lot of people on this board, I really didn't miss dd so much--for me, I didn't get into the "can't be without out her" for many months later. No I didn't have PPD but I think bonding can take some time for many of us. Bottom line, if you want to go-go and if you want to stay home-that is fine too (no friend would be mad) and of course I also think it would be fine to bring baby as long as we are not in flu season.

[Anonymous]

Book the ticket and asume you will bring baby as lap baby. Cancel at the last minute if you can't handle all of it.