Leaving baby

[Jenmumofthree]

Hi,
my baby is now 4 months old and I breast feed him. I had to start working again when he was just 6 weeks old (I work for just 2 hours per day) this was because I didn’t get maternity pay. I hate leaving him so much so I simply don’t want to leave him at all for any other reason no matter what. I feel like I’m being pressured as partner doesn’t understand I don’t want him just taking him away to his parents without me. I’m also solely breastfeeding which I work very hard to work around feeds when I must leave him to go and earn. No one seems to appreciate breastfeeding and are more used to kids being bottle fed. Has anyone else experienced this pressure from in-laws or partner to take baby without you?

Yes I had these feelings with my first. I suppose from your partner’s perspective, you can leave him for 2 hours for work but he’s not allowed to take the baby himself for a short while to see his parents. Being given this time will be very important for his own confidence in parenting and feeling involved. I know it’s hard. I had these exact same feelings and really struggled with DH taking DD to his parents house. However, I do realise now that it’s important to relinquish a bit of control for the sake of your DH’s relationship with baby (and for your and your DH’s relationship). Perhaps start by allowing him 1 or 2 hours away at his parents while you enjoy a bath or sleep. Be specific about what time baby should be back by e.g ‘I’ll see you both at 2:00pm when he will be due his next feed by then’ having an agreed time helps ease some of this anxiety.