Can I go to this concert?

[Historygirl91]

Hi all, looking for some perspectives here please. I’m due to attend a very exciting possibly one in a lifetime concert in June. This was booked when I was still pregnant, my DD will be 7 months old in June.

This concert involves an overnight stay in a nearby city, it isn’t realistic to travel home the same night as it’s a good 2 hours away.

I’m panicking about leaving DD and thinking that it’s really not feasible for me to attend.

She is EBF (at the time when I bought this ticket I was pregnant and wasn’t sure how I wanted to feed her) and despite our best efforts will not take milk from a bottle. As she’s now almost 5 months I’m trying to get her used to a sippy cup but she’s reluctant.
As I’m breastfeeding she is also only used to me settling her in the night. she is happy to go to others in the day time but due to ebf has not spent any time away from me, bar a couple of hours.

My DH says I should just go and enjoy myself and he’ll take care of everything. His view is that DD will take her milk via another form if she’s hungry, but I don’t think she will 🤣 he wants to give her formula but I’d rather not, but am now wondering if I’m being uptight to cut my nose off to spite my face.

I’m due to go with a friend, and have said that I’ll cover the cost of my ticket and hotel room if she wants to go with her partner instead, who is happy to attend if I can’t go.

She’s very understanding but I feel like a wet wipe and do genuinely want to go. what would you do?

Go! I say this as a solo mum to 9 yo twins who gets quite anxious about leaving them even now. Parenthood is a grind and you need things to hang onto when times are tough that remind you of who you once were!! I went to see Prince pre having kids and it was one of the best nights of my life ever! That’s my memory that I hang onto when everything feels hard and frustrating and dull. I still feel the excitement talking about it 17 years on! Being a mum is, in my opinion, the best thing ever. But it’s also hard and you need to do the things you love. Your husband sounds great, the pair of them will manage fine. Go and enjoy yourself and make a memory you can share with your kid when they’re old enough x

You've got two months to put processes in place. Go!

Just get your DD used to others feeding and soothing her.

My DD wouldn't take breast milk from a bottle, but she did take formula from a bottle with DH when I wasn't there! This webpage has great advice:

kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

Given a once in a lifetime opportunity, I'd get DH practicing once a day with the formula now, and I'd leave the house while it goes on. By the time the event comes round, she'll be used to it and will hardly notice you're gone.

Do not miss it, you've got time to train DD to take milk from a bottle/sippy cup! Kellymom website is brilliant for advice.

Is it Liverpool? If so could you look at staying a bit further out (Southport/Formby/Wirral) so hotel is a bit cheaper?

Just go. It'l be fine, She'll be fine, your partner will be fine.
Have a great time.

I think you should go no matter what - personally I think she'll be fine, it's literally only one night just make sure you bring a breast pump so your supply isn't affected. However, as you say the other option is driving home and just not drinking. The concert might be done by 11am so you could get back at 1am no problem at that time if it's just a couple of hours

Go!!!!