I am going on a cruise tomorrow for 3 nights and 4 days. I am so scared my DS is going to forget who I am when I return. Im also scared he is going to wake at night screaming, wanting me and Im not there for him. Ugh I know he is in good hands. I wouldn't leave him with anyone else.

Also, my son is 7 months old and I am still nursing, I have several bags of milk saved for him while Im gone, but is it bad that I am just stopping cold turkey with the nursing, and should I start back nursing again after 3 days just to wean him again later? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. UGH - Im so worried.

Here is your mantra, "It will be just fine"

You need to relax or you will not enjoy your cruise at all and I know that with a 7 month old you NEED this trip!!

Your son is not going to forget you. I went away fro 3 days when my son was 6 months old. The night I got back he was asleep. After a few hours he woke up crying, so I went in to get him. He actually said "mama" when I picked him up. My heart melted and I teared up. It was only the 2nd time he'd ever said it. He will not forget you!! Have the person who is watching him show him lots of pictures of you to make him happy.

As for waking up and wanting you. You are leaving him in very caring hands. For his entire life there will be times that he wants things he cannot have including you. And for his whole life there will be times when you cannot be there. It's heart breaking, but he will be OK.

And as for the nursing...I'm assuming that you're pumping to get that saved up milk. Why not pump and dump while you're on your trip to keep your supply up? Or do some hand expression on your trip. I think that the trip may be a bad time to stop cold turkey if your breasts become engorged and painful, you want to enjoy yourself 100%.

You are a good mama for being so concerned! It will be OK! And also keep in mind that he won't remember any of this later in life.

Have a great time!

I can only imagine how hard this is going to be on you. Who would have ever thought that going on a trip would be this hard! :confused:

You are leaving him in good hands and you know that he is going to be fine.

NOW.....to you! Just try to relax and enjoy a little R & R ! Hopefully once you leave and get past that rough time make yourself enjoy every minute.

I am not sure who you are leaving him with, but I am sure they really love him and will enjoy the time they are going to get with him. They will play and laugh and more than likely be quite entertaining for him. In a way...this will be a break for him as well.

I am a SAHM and when we have been trapped in the house for several days due to the weather.....my daughter gets so sick of me! THen if we get company, she will run and jump in there arms as if she is so happy to see another face. It hurts my feelings, but it is very understandable. But I know that she still loves me.

We have never left her overnight, but when we have left her for several hours and then return to get her, you would never even know we had left. She could really care less. I know 3 days is a totally different story, but the time will fly by and before you know it you will be back with your baby. Then you will wonder when you will be able to take another trip! :D

Have a great time and let us know how it went!

Big hugs to you!

Kim

I will definately be pumping on the trip. I produce alot of milk and if I didn't pump, I would be in trouble. I was wondering, though, if I should stop breastfeeding my son but continue to pump. Im just saying, I hate to cut him off of the breast for 3 days, go back to nursing (when I get back), and then have to turn around in a month or 2 (or longer) just to wean him again. This is my first little one - I just can't make a decision for myself. I love nursing. I love the closeness with him. So, that's why I need advice from you experienced moms :)

Thank you so much for the advice. You have no idea how much that means to me and how better I feel. You all are the greatest.

TAKE ME! :bouncing:


TAKE ME! :bouncing:

TAKE ME! :bouncing:


TAKE ME! :bouncing:

TAKE ME! :bouncing:



:D

I enjoyed breastfeeding and the closeness/bonding time I had with my daughter as well. I weaned her at 9 months only because I was going to be going back to work (we get 1 year off in Canada) and I wanted to make sure she was weaned in time so I didn't have any problems returning to work....if I would have known how easily she would have weaned I would have breastfed longer.... I think go with your gut instinct, if you feel like you will miss breatfeeding then by all means don't wean yet. But if you think that you'd enjoy the freedom of not breastfeeding anymore than take the opportunity. He will be past the hardest part by the time you get back, so it will be easier. Good thing you are going to be pumping on your trip...I remember one day I had a day to myself...my bestfriend took me to the spa and dinner and a movie for my birthday when my daughter was 7 months old, and by 11 hours later I was so full of milk I pumped 13 ounces easily in one sitting! Your little guy will be fine while you are gone, he has no concept of time so it won't feel near as long as it will feel for you. So relax and enjoy your trip. If you decide to continue breastfeeding try to time your pumping sessions for very close to your same routine at home, so your body keeps producing at the same times. If you decide to wean then gradually increase the amount of time between pumps, and slowly decrease the time you pump for, your body will think baby is eating less and it will gradually start producing less milk...and just keep increasing the time between pumping sessions...and the amount you pump eventually you can just stop....when I weaned my daughter, I took one feeding away during the day, and replaced it with a snack and sippy cup of milk. Once she was doing well with that I'd take another away and again replace it with a snack and sippycup...I made sure I didn't take 2 consecutive feedings...it would be breast sippycup, breast, sippycup, breast. That way my body stopped producing as often, but I never got engorged. Eventually she was weaned right down to only 2 breastfeedings a day...one right before bed, and one first thing in the morning. And the last one I took away was the bedtime one. She did really well with it. And I had no problems at all. Goodluck with your decision and have a great trip.