Baby breastfeeding and not wanting to leave

[casualreader2022]

Baby is eight months and breastfed. I still haven't left him for more than a few hours (if that). I get engorgement really easily and haven't really had anything I've wanted to do more than be with my baby at this point. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have time to myself, but I haven't felt like I've needed trips away or nights out etc.

There's an event coming up in July - babies aren't allowed. Baby is on solids but not enough to be left all day and doesn't take a bottle. I also don't want to get mastitis (again) or end up pumping in the toilets.

Am I being unreasonable considering cancelling event so I can be with my baby?

Any comments on how best to wean and when to naturally wean during the day in preparation for nursery in October would be appreciated.

DS is EBF (now 6 months) and I have been away from him for a few night outs luckily he happily took a bottle but would your DC maybe take breastmilk from a sippy cup?

It is a pain pumping in public I've done my fair share of that (think toilets of a concert was the worst 🙈) which isn't ideal but I found it was better for my mental health getting out without baby and good for him too.

Ultimately it's your decision what's right for your family. I have a few times had to push past the 'it's easier to stay home' thoughts to get out and I've always been glad I did.

Can't comment on nursery sorry DS hasn't gone yet but I'm planning on sending milk with him.

It's your choice, if you wanted to go you'd find a way. If you don't want to go that's perfectly OK.

If you don't want to go to the event, just say so. It would be perfectly manageable to go. None of my DC had a bottle, but would take drinks from a sippy cup from 7 months (when I went back to work with my eldest).

How late are you able to cancel the event? A lot could change feeding wise in a month and a half. Who would you be leaving baby with? Are you able to slowly work up leaving them for longer? Are you able to pump for a minute or so for comfort rather than keeping your supply? Is the event local enough for them to bring baby to you half way through?

My little one is 11 months and was still feeding quite a bit at 8 months but seems to have reduced naturally since she is eating more solids. If we're out or someone else is looking after her, she can easily go longer than she would be happy with if it was just me and her at home but she makes up for it when she can so would just be whether you would be comfortable going for longer.

If you wanna spent every single moment with your kid and not go anywhere without him/her: than do that...

But dont hide behind fear or mastitis or "my baby wont take a bottle".
You dont know what your baby will or won't do in 2 months from now.

Ignore @SparklyBlackKitten

If you want to go then I suggest offering DC snacks and a sippy cup of whatever you want them to drink every time they want boob. Do it every time before you bf during the day and they'll be a lot less dependent on you in 6 weeks time. It will also help your body regulate supply.

If they're anything like my 3 we're then they're also likely to be much better at eating/drinking when you're not around.

well you have two months to adjust your supply. It's pretty easily done and you can still continue BFing no problem. Mine were both BF till 2 years + and I went back to wrok at a year with both.

But really it's up to you. Just be honest about it, this isn't about BFing or engorgement, this is about you being unwilling to adjust your current routine - I assume because you feel anxious about leaving the baby.

Thank you for comments. It's really helpful to hear other people's experiences and suggestions. Don't get me wrong @SparklyBlackKitten and @Nordicrain , anxiety about leaving my baby is definitely there but equally, I do have a really over eager supply so when it gets to 3/4 hours max, I am super uncomfortable. It does make it difficult to enjoy myself out and about when I'm leaking or my breasts are swollen. Also, the pain I experienced from mastitis was something else so it does definitely make me think twice about leaving baby longer (that occured with pump use too so relieve engorgement).

Thank you all - I'll continue with the solids (luckily she's a good little eater) and hope she'll continue to drop her lunchtime and afternoon feeds. That'll make my decision a lot easier.