To do a day out without newborn weeks after birth?

2 weeks post c section I took my 4 year old into central London to the aquarium and out for a meal and left the baby with husband for about 5 hours

it was totally fine

I also went on a night out when he was 4 weeks.

He was breastfed but had been giving him a bottle or 2 a day at that stage so he was fine

I wouldn’t think twice about doing this tbh

Lots of women arriving 2 weeks after a section.
But yeah, it's a big gamble.

Bloody hell, the bar is low.

Go and enjoy yourself! Baby will be fine with DH! I had to go in to hospital due to complications a few days after I gave birth and left my DH with our newborn and disabled DD for around 6 hours and he managed

I think it all depends on how you are. You could end up having a c section and won’t be able to drive if you do. Baby might not take to the bottle, you could have problems breast feeding. It’s an impossible question for us to answer. You will only know when the baby is here. I would say don’t commit right now. You have a valid excuse not to go, if you’re not feeling up to it. I left both my baby’s with grandparents from 5-6 days old (I know this baby with be with dad) for over night. Although baby number 1 was because I was really poorly in hospital and had no choice. 2nd baby I was just exhausted. Do what ever feels right for you and your family. If you don’t go maybe do something with your other child when you can.

Let DH look after his child - so nice to hear of a willing Dad !

Surely the family will want to meet the baby? Or have more cuddles if they have already met him/her? I can imagine lots of people would be disappointed not to have them there. Seems easier for you all to go, although you say it wouldn't be the right for a newborn, but they don't know where they are, and often cope better with loud noises and busy places than older babies. Why does anyone need to stay at home?

As many others have mentioned you have no idea how your induction and birth will go, and at least if you all go your DH can step in and look after your DC if need be, and I'm sure there will be lots of people on hand to help with the baby.

Oh, and you can never be certain that the baby will take a bottle. A couple of mine absolutely refused.

A baby does needs its mother in the immediate weeks after birth. The first 2 weeks of maternity leave are protected, and I think (hope) this is mainly to allow the mother to recover, but that time should be for mother and baby together.

"A mother cannot return to work before the end of the compulsory 2 weeks of maternity leave following the birth (4 weeks if they work in a factory)."
https://www.gov.uk/shared-parental-leave-and-pay/when-you-can-start

Oh for gods sake - as long as you are up for it go and enjoy! Your baby will be fine with their Dad - all the drama is not necessary nor are all the questions about taking the baby!

I think it’s fine as a plan in theory. People saying ‘baby needs mum’. No, they don’t need mum per se. They need a warm, loving, attentive person to nurture them and meet their needs. In many or even most families that is often most consistently the mum because of the way our society and parental leave systems are set up, because many mums breastfeed and mums are wired to meet their needs more instinctively because they carried them. But this notion that they need mum and only mum is outdated and potentially harmful to families.

I say it’s a fine plan in theory because when it comes to it might not work out. You may still be in pain from birth. You might be absolutely knackered and not up for socialising. Baby might not take to the bottle as easily/as quickly as you are expecting. There might be health complications for you and/or baby. You simply might not feel you can leave them.
I’d advise planning to go if you can, but making sure folk know that you might pull out at late notice.

I think this is absolutely fine but will depend on how you feel in yourself after birth but from what you’re asking, no I don’t think it’s unreasonable of you to leave your baby with its dad for 5/6 hours.

I couldn’t have done it. However if you feel you can then I don’t see the issue.

As a mum of 2 both husband and myself are from big families. I would plan to take the newborn, DS and husband. Let everyone help for the day and you enjoy the village.
Obviously, if one or both kids ill don't go or if you don't feel up to it. But plan for the best

There is no right or wrong answer.

I stayed at my mums for the weekend when my baby was 2 weeks old. It was her 60th and had been planned for a long time.

I hadn’t confirmed I was going until closer to the date as I wanted to see what baby was like, as in routine, how he settled etc.

It was fine in the end, but it could have been different.

I don’t think you’ll be comfortable leaving baby alone for the day though.
Do what you feel comfortable with at the time.

Oh ffs.

If you feel up for it on the day then go. The baby will be fine with its other parent for a few hours.

If you don’t feel up for it on the day then don’t go.

What a load of drama over something so simple. I genuinely couldn’t imagine living my life like this.

It’s absolutely ok. You are still a person and are allowed to do things for yourself and you are still a mum to the eldest. So yes it might be that something happens that’s you can’t go but your eldest life can’t stop because you’ve had a second

Please don't pump that early! It takes 6 weeks to establish your supply. Pump should only be used in addition to feeding to increase your supply x

Can’t you perhaps go for 2-3 hours not the whole duration?

I agree. DS needs to go to the family party but someone else can take him. DH could drop him off if he’s not comfortable attending without you.

I had a super easy recovery from birth and regularly left my newborn with his dad for up to two hours at a time but only right after a feed so couldn’t preplan and no more than two hours. I think a whole day is unwise if you want bf to establish (both for your boobs and for your baby) and be able to concentrate on your ds.

It is barking that you're being so secretive, that it's a family get together you can't take your DH & baby to & DS can't go with other family members.

you can leave the baby home with DH & expressed milk, it's not DH!s first child so he should be able to manage, but I wouldn't want to & I woukdnt put this batshit event before my newborn.

your DS can enjoy at a day with his parents & new sibling just as much.

At a couple of weeks old I was still establishing breastfeeding, with all my DC. You could aim to bottle feed breastmilk and hope to revert to breastfeeding after your event, I suppose, but pumping sufficient to have a day's surplus might be difficult that soon? I can't imagine feeling happy to be away from my newborn for most of a day but of course sometimes circumstances mean this has to happen and people survive it. How long is the drive?

You won’t know until you’ve had the baby whether it’s feasible or not. A lot depends on the baby!

@honeymelina I have the dreaded lurgy at the moment, and it is really horrible! I hate to think of any newborns, and other vulnerable people, getting this, and sadly it seems to be rife. For that particular reason - even if for nothing else - I absolutely agree with you that you shouldn't take your newborn to the family party.

Unfortunately, I also think for at least the first few months (and baby has had at least some of her innoculations), you and your DH should be trying to stay away from crowded places like supermarkets etc. It would be good if, as a family, you usually go shopping at busy times, to maybe go much earlier, or later, than normal, or to get your shopping delivered instead. Hopefully your DH doesn't work in too crowded an environment!

Sorry, I can't remember how old your DS is, but if he is at nursery or school, you can't really stop him going to either of them, and nor should you. It wouldn't be good for either you, or your DS, to get paranoid over this, but I really would try to limit everything that can be reasonably limited for now. I am so excited for you having a newborn so soon 🤗💐

Sorry but I think YABU. A baby that young needs its mummy. That's a vital period for bonding. It's also a vital rest period for the mother.

The father can just take DS and enjoy themselves?