Aibu to not want to leave baby?

[Drhamsterstortoise]

I have a 7 week old dd(breastfeeding).I've been invited on a work night out.aibu to not want to go.Mil says I need to 'man up' and she never felt like this with any of hers.i have an older dd and remembering feeling the same way when she was a baby.Am I overly anxious or is this normal?

[AmberSocks]

if i wanted to go out for a meal or something id just take the baby with me.you cant always do it but if i was desperate to see my friends id rather do that,they only feed and sleep at that age anyway,at least mind did anyway.

[DrMcDreamysWife]

You are Not being unreasonable. No way I would have left my dd at 7 weeks. She's nine months and I still haven't left her in the evening!! A couple of hours in the day and never with the MIL as she's obviously quite a different mother to me. She thinks breastfeeding is disgusting.

However there's also nothing wrong with leaving a baby for a few hours with someone you trust. If you feel comfortable to do so and go and have fun. I just wouldn't have found it fun or comfortable leaving her at that age.

[Drhamsterstortoise]

Mil is too involved in every decision as far as I'm concerned.She looks after dd1 while I work.Lives v close by.Is fantastic with dd but I find it a bit stifling sometimes.

[Drhamsterstortoise]

And yes runes she would.If I told her I was going back to work tomorrow she'd be thrilled!

[miffybun73]

YANBU, I wouldn't have left mine.

[trackies]

you are normal. Ignore your MIL. Nothing to do with her.

[Norem]

Op if you don't want to go don't go :)
None of mine would have been left at that age because they fed all evening.
Don't worry a jot about what anyone else thinks .

[runes]

At 7 weeks the last thing I wanted was a night out. Ds2 is 6 months now and i still don't want to leave him Does your baby even take a bottle? I ebf both of mine, never bothered even trying to get ds2 to take a bottle, briefly tried with ds 1 but he wasn't having it, and tbh I couldn't be arsed expressing so I didn't really mind. What are your mil's views on bf? If she is already telling you to man up and leave your baby at 7 weeks, I foresee issues if you continue to bf to 6 months and beyond.

[Drhamsterstortoise]

I doubt anyone else cares tbh.I've just started to realise how involved she has become in all decisions.we are not sure yet if dd will start school in sept as she is quite young-every time I have spoken to her in the past few weeks( probably a few times a week)she questions me about it and expresses her opinion it

[Drhamsterstortoise]

On it

[FruminousBandersnatch]

I would've (and have) done it but it's down to choice which is what your MIL isn't getting.

As someone else said, why is she even involved in this? Do you get to dictate when she goes out?

[FruminousBandersnatch]

"she questions me about it and expresses her opinion it"

To which you say "that's nice. Ooh, look at that dog!"

[Squitten]

When I was BF DS2 he would also take a bottle for us so I thought great, I can leave him with DH and go out. I had not calculated how bloody engorged and sore my boobs would get and how often I had to pump out to be comfortable. It was a monumental faff - and this was far beyond 7wks!

DC3 is due in Oct and I basically won't be going anywhere without baby until s/he's weaning off me. There is one exception to that, which is a ticketed event I wouldn't miss for the world, but that's one evening.

Stop discussing everything with your MIL then she can't give an opinion!

[runes]

Don't let her bully you. It's great to have family help when you want/need it, but things like feeding and when to leave your baby are up to you. Anyone putting pressure on needs to back off. Good luck, I've a feeling you might need it. If you need support to stand your ground come on here.

[Drhamsterstortoise]

Runes, maybe she doesn't understand as she didn't bf hers.bf dd1 for a year.went back to work when she was 8 months and found it v hard.Mil looked after her and is brilliant with her.I suffered from depression when I went back to work -despite trying to ' man up'!!

[Drhamsterstortoise]

Yes I think I will runes.None of my friends have children yet so it's great to have the opinions of those that have been there.Herself and dp are very close...

[DehydratingManiac]

She is telling you what you 'should' do with your 7 week old baby? I'm afraid she doesn't get a say. Of course it's merely that she wants to babysit. Not that you should be remotely concerned about smoothing waters or placating her, but if she's keen on one on one time with her grandchild, could you offer to let her come and look after the baby while you have a bath or some sleep instead? It's a fine flipping line and in reality she should be the one bending over backwards to fit round you and your decisions but unfortunately, family is tricky and keeping things amicable is one exhaustion avoided. Obviously if it's becoming a problem then it needs tackling and actually, by your dh I think.

And I disagree with the poster who said not wanting to leave a crying 2yo is precious. Again, that person's choice. I didn't leave dd until she was 3yrs old. Right for us.

[neunundneunzigluftballons]

bring her along and then we can get a second thread about it only joking but I found it difficult to leave my ds that early too because he was bf and all the kerfuffle involved in leaving him meant it was easier just to go to places that were happy to have him too like visiting friends and family.

[runes]

In fairness to her most people don't really get it with bf, I certainly didn't have a clue til I did it myself, but once you explain that it's not always as simple as just leaving some expressed milk she should accept your decisions and be supportive. If she keeps pushing you to do things her way then you may need to take quite a firm stance with her.

[DehydratingManiac]

Is she trying to help? Does she know you were depressed and think maybe that getting out there sooner might somehow help? Likewise, with your eldest going to school, does she think it might make things easier? Trying to establish if she's being well meaning about this? And getting it wrong obviously but intent is everything.

[DuelingFanjo]

It sounds to me like she is trying to use the situation to gain control. You don't have to go out if you don't want to. In fact if you don't then I think you have every right to just tel MIL you are not going and so you won't need her help with the babysitting thanks very much.

[runes]

I know hardly anyone else who bfs in real life but there are loads of us on mnet . Luckily my family have all been great, in laws included, but I know unsupportive family/friends can make it hard to bf for as long as you would like to. As I said though, lots of support on here if needed.

[Drhamsterstortoise]

Our families are quite different I suppose.dh's family love a good 'heated debate' about everything and anything and will always voice their opinions on everything.My family on the other hand are quite sensitive!

[Theironfistofarkus]

I have to work so have had to leave each of my DC during the day from 7 months. As a result I rarely feel a desire to go out without them in the evenings and youngest is 2 now -- they wake from time to time and it often takes a long time to get them to sleep. MIL desperate to have them over to hers or babysit etc. I don't want to do it and that is my prerogative as a Mum. It might not be what everyone wants but I value the very precious and very limited time I have with them. Do what makes you happy. Ignore MIL.

[Drhamsterstortoise]

Dehydrating manic-I would think she probably is well meaning but I can't always tell