Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 21:02     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:NP-- I took a business trip at 8 weeks (not my choice, but necessary). My kid wasn't an easy baby, but it didn't go well. I ended up getting crazy clogged ducts because I wasn't a regular pumper and my kid was inconsable. He was up all night and it just wasn't okay. My husband is awesome, he handled it, but I had to cut the trip short (before people jump on me for being anti feminist, my kid went on a hunger strike and had to go to the hospital). The odds of that happening are really low and I'm not mentioning it to scare you, but because you may need a backup plan if things don't go well.


This. I mean, it’s awesome/amazing that this 8 week old sleeps 8 hours at night and naps well and takes a bottle. None of my 3 children slept 8 hour stretches or had a consistent nap schedule at that age at anywhere close to that age. Actually neither did my nieces or nephews or any of my friends’ babies. I guess this is a total unicorn baby. Fingers crossed that baby stays that way while OP is gone, or that DH can get some support if baby decides to stop sleeping.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 20:52     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:You are doing the right thing, OP. The projection is some of these comments is astounding. Your father needs you now and your husband and baby will get some really great bonding time together. All will be well. Sending good health wishes to your dad (and his caretaker).


I'm sure Dad would be fine but, my baby would always come first.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 20:50     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'd be taking baby with me too. Newborns need antibodies. If your baby has a fever and is <3 months old, they are supposed to go to the NICU. You should not be traveling. The safest way to travel is to at least give baby your antibodies.

What if the baby was exclusively formula-fed?


So I guess I should have just sent my kids to the NICU for the first three months since the were formula fed due to a double mastectomy. Good to know! I'll make sure to let my other friends know.


Your situation is completely different. However, would you choose to do this? During a pandemic leave your 8 week old?
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 20:48     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some of you women shock me. It's a week. OP will be gone for a week. it's not like she is leaving for a month. Men leave for a week on business trips and no one says anything. Her child needs his dad just as much as he needs his mom. Her husband sounds like a great dad who will be able to handle things for a week. No need to make OP feel bad.

True, but baby is breastfed. That’s the key difference. I wouldn’t leave a breastfed baby for a week. It would mess up my milk supply (pumping is just not the same) and as another PP mentioned, babies at that age greatly benefit from the antibodies in their mother’s beast milk. Now if OP’s baby was exclusively formula-fed, then there wouldn’t be an issue.


Breastfeeding are highly overstated. There are very minimal benefits for a breastfed baby.


Dp The only reason is the lack of information because it is difficult for science to "test" the benefits of breastfeeding. Each woman makes milk specifically for their infant. Not shaming anyone who can't but, just because there are no studies does not mean it isn't good for you. After all, most studies are done on men and not on women.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 20:46     Subject: Re:Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op doesn’t strike me as genuinely searching for advice.

I absolutely wouldn’t do this, but it doesn’t really matter since it’s not my life or decision.





She's not looking for the kind of advice the dcum ninnies are giving her. YOU'RE GOING TO DIE AND SO WILL YOUR BABY. AND YOUR BABY WILL FORGET WHO YOU ARE AND STOP EATING ALTOGETHER.

You people are absolutely insane.


DP Many people are not saying this. Actually, the one who is "hysterical" is you because of the shouting.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 20:25     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
NP-- I took a business trip at 8 weeks (not my choice, but necessary). My kid wasn't an easy baby, but it didn't go well. I ended up getting crazy clogged ducts because I wasn't a regular pumper and my kid was inconsable. He was up all night and it just wasn't okay. My husband is awesome, he handled it, but I had to cut the trip short (before people jump on me for being anti feminist, my kid went on a hunger strike and had to go to the hospital). The odds of that happening are really low and I'm not mentioning it to scare you, but because you may need a backup plan if things don't go well.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 20:20     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would have a fall back plan if the caretaker can't come back after the week.

Reading all of this, sounds like baby will be just fine. But back injuries can be fickle and I would have a back up plan of what will happen if a week passes and the caretaker isn't better.


That was going to be my suggestion. A week for a back injury seems a little on the light side.


+1000
OP, you really need to have a plan in place for what happens if the caregiver can’t return after a week. Have another family member on standby, if possible.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 20:04     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What does he already do with the baby? Does the baby already take a bottle? How many weeks old is the baby? How many days before you go on your trip?


OP here. He is 8 weeks old. He does almost everything. He is on paternity leave still. He feeds, changes, burps, plays, and puts him to sleep. He is combo fed and takes a bottle. I will be gone for a week.


They'll be fine. It's stressful to leave, but your DH sounds like he's going to be great.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 19:16     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:I would have a fall back plan if the caretaker can't come back after the week.

Reading all of this, sounds like baby will be just fine. But back injuries can be fickle and I would have a back up plan of what will happen if a week passes and the caretaker isn't better.


That was going to be my suggestion. A week for a back injury seems a little on the light side.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 19:09     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Son not don.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 19:06     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:At 8 weeks I would not do this. If YOU needed life-saving surgery I would do it, otherwise no. If somebody is dying, they are going to die. Your baby's life has JUST started. They don't have vaccines, they only have the immunity they got from being inside your baby and maybe if you've been nursing. Somebody else can help with the family emergency. You have to prioritize your newborn.

Sorry. I know this sounds harsh and isn't what you want to hear. But it's absolutely what I would do.


This is crazy talk. Your don will be fine. You are leaving him with some one who loves him to eternity. Maybe he’ll put the diaper on backwards, but your husband will keep him alive and there will be no permanent emotional damage. Good luck on your trip.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 19:02     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Op brand new poster. People here are insane. It will be fine and as others have said, it will actually be really good for dad and baby to bond in that way. Baby will miss you and you will miss baby, but you will both be just fine.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 18:53     Subject: Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:Newborns basically sleep and eat. They’re the easiest age to take care of, provided they aren’t colicky, so I wouldn’t worry about the DH. And I think the posters who are outraged are (perhaps a little hyperbolically) reacting to the nonchalance in OP’s leaving her newborn for a week. Most women wouldn’t be so indifferent (?) to not being with their brand new infant for a week but who knows, maybe the text doesn’t translate emotions well or this is a troll.


OP here. I’m not a troll. I’m nervous and will my baby but I know he will be in great hands. He will be with his dad, not a stranger. I trust my husband and I know he is a capable of taking care of our baby for a week. My baby sleeps an 8 hour stretch at night, takes a bottle, and naps well. I would be more worried if it were another family member, but my husband is a great dad. He may not be me or a woman, but his male genitalia doesn’t make him any less of competent caregiver.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 18:31     Subject: Re:Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
If nursing I'd take the baby with me. If your husband is on paternity leave why don't you all travel together? Otherwise, 8 week olds are super easy other than their sleep schedules.
Anonymous
Post 11/17/2020 18:17     Subject: Re:Leaving Husband With Baby For A Week
Anonymous wrote:Tips for your husband or tips for you emotionally being apart? An 8 week old is basically sleeping, eating or in a bouncy all day. It is actually one of the easiest ages to care for. Can you bring him with you to your fathers?

And that’s precisely why her husband will be fine. Each home is equipped with the gear for an invalid or a baby, trying to reconfigure either for a week is logistically difficult.

I was a single mom years ago and think it’s so much easier now, with home delivery of food and essentials. I’m sure OP will be FaceTiming her husband and the baby will hear her voice. She could leave a recording of her singing or talking, along with something that smells like her as another poster suggested. I’m sure she’ll miss snuggling, maybe also bring something that smells like the baby with her?