A few questions about leaving my bf baby for a few hours

[naturelover]

DD is 10 months old, bfs about 4-5 times a day, eats three square meals as well, and sleeps through the night (most of the time).

If I left her for a few hours with DH, would I need to express do you think, to avoid becoming engorged? I haven't felt engorged for ages, but then I haven't skipped any feeds either.

She hasn't had a bottle for 3 months either, and drinks water from a cup, so would this be the best way for DH to give her milk, do you think? I've got some ebm in the freezer although I wonder if she would actually be fine with just food and water for a few hours. What do you think?

Would milk (even from a cup or bottle) be a comfort to her when I'm not there?

I'm probably making a big deal over nothing. The fact is that I've only left her with DH once since she was born for more than an hour or two, but I'm feeling a bit trapped and feel like I really need a "day off". In reality I'd be nervous about leaving her for more than 4 hours or so. I've got myself into this ridiculous situation where I am the one who always puts her down for naps and now I feel so tied. The fact is that DH is a wonderful dad and would have great fun alone with DD for half a day.

I'm still nervous about leaving her though - for her sake - she's just not used to me not being there all the time. I could do with some reassurance please!

i would totally think at this age if you have fed her before you left and you would be back to give her one or two feeds before bed then i really wouldnt bother with the ebm- just water from a cup and food will be perfectly fine for her. They dont NEED 4-5 feeds a day at that age- tohugh is all good stuff and will be v good for her when she has it- but for 1 day she will be fine without. i bet she doesnt even ask for it without you around but will be v v keen for a feed as soon as she sees you again! i went back to work 2 days a week when dd1 was 10 months and on those days she was fine with just 2 feeds and still slept through. you might be a little uncomfortable so maybe take a pump with you just in case? you might be fine though....

You sound like me 12m ago

Go for it with some EBM in the fridge just in case. I suspect that she will be fine without it (DD was when we finally went for it!). They are all different though so test the water a bit and see.

DD went to Nursery for settling in at 11m, half days for a few weeks before I went back to work. She was fine, loved the fun and games, napped brilliantly (even though she had always been BF to sleep) and we have not looked back since.

HTH

Thanks nowwearefour.

Do you mind me asking if you left your baby for progressively longer periods before leaving her for a full day? How did she handle the separation?

We have no family nearby and she's been in no childcare so is only used to me or DH with her at all times. I wonder if I should have got her used to me not being there all the time before now.

Although I'm not going back to work, I do feel the need now (long overdue in fact) to have some "time off" and have a bit of "me time" (hobbies, freelance work, days out).

The other issue I have right now is difficulty expressing more than 40ml at a time! So it's a laborious process leaving enough for a feed.

Expressing is a nightmare! Even worse when, after all that hard work, they don't drink it and you have to pour the whole lot down the sink. You feel like crying! If you're not fussed about using exclusively EBM, you could try mixing it with a wee bit of formula to increase the amount.