Leaving a newborn/breastfeeding

[Moonchild5]

I just wanted to know how & when anyone left their baby for a few hours with someone else especially if you breastfed? I’m in no hurry to leave my 2 week old however last year I was due to go to a concert, it got cancelled & rescheduled to this Sunday. I had no intentions to go anywhere until I stopped breastfeeding but as this is paid for etc I wondered if it’s okay to leave her for a few hours?(will be 3 weeks on the day) I’m not bothered about not going etc I can send my partner with one of his friends as it was a birthday gift for him last year. I would be expressing milk to leave if I did go.

I would express and see if she will accept a bottle from Your partner or whoever will look after you first. If she will do it gladly then you can have a night off. If she screams and won't eat from bottle then she will be very distressed at you leaving her. My friends baby tried bottles for the first time age 8 weeks while she went to a wedding and barely drank anything for 12 hours which was awful for baby and grandma caring for her

Personally I'd try to get rid of the tickets.

I got my DP to bottle feed her.

If you try bottle feeding her she will go for your breasts.

It helped that he cuddled her from when she was born so she was happy to be with either of us.

I had a similar situation although LO was 6 weeks and I was unable to express. I left the babysitter with some pre-made formula. Thankfully LO slept for the 4+ hours I was away.
I felt pretty tense during the gig but I had made arrangements pre-birth, not imagining how attached I would feel, and our friends were going through IVF at the time so I thought cancelling because of my baby could be insensitive.

She’s had a couple of bottles when I struggled with breastfeeding at first. My issue is more should I leave her at 3 weeks old rather than the milk situation. I feel terrible. I had no issue leaving my son 10 years ago but I feel more anxious this time even my partner holding her makes me anxious(he does hold her all wrong though & is clueless as it’s his first)

If she'll eat ok then only go if you want to

I had tickets for a concert when DD was 9 weeks old and I ummed and ahhed a lot but on the end I couldn't leave her a friend took the ticket and went with my DH.

It's a really personal decision but I just couldn't leave her at that age, especially as I was breastfeeding and I was worried she wouldn't take a bottle while I was away.

Yeah it really is I’ve know people not leave their kids for up to 2 years & I’ve known people to go out days after giving birth. I would like to spend time with my partner as we’ve not done anything together alone in about 2 years but also don’t want to leave her. I feel very different this pregnancy/after birth don’t know if it’s an age thing

I left my 3 month old to go for a meal out (cousins hen do). DS had taken a bottle a few days before and had a few ounces.
On the night he had one ounce then got upset - DH kept trying for an hour or so, then messaged me which I didn’t see for half an hour, then it took me half an hour to get home. In the 2 hours he’d not taken any milk then cried himself to sleep!
I wouldn’t unless they’re really really reliable taking a bottle and will settle for the other parent.

If you're breastfeeding, the other consideration is your comfort, if you're away from baby for 3+ hours, you may become engorged and sore and leak. I couldn't leave mine for more than 2 hours at a time until they were 3ish months, for my comfort rather than clinginess!