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Author Topic: going on cruise w/o bf baby  (Read 1343 times)

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Offline Cilla

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going on cruise w/o bf baby
« on: January 24, 2006, 17:18:19 pm »
I am going on a cruise without my baby who is exclusively bf. Needless to say, I am not sure where to start to make this happen without too much disruption to her. We will not be going till the beginning of April so I have time to start preparing her. We will be gone for 7 days (give or take) and she will be staying with my parents.  Does anyone have any suggestions to make this happen more easily. I have tired bottles here and there when I have been gone past her feeding times, but she just snacks on them waiting till i get home.  She will be right around 5 months at the time. Should I pump enough breast milk, or give her formula for that week?  Any help will be appreciated.
thanks.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2006, 01:15:34 am by GraceKellysmom »
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Offline Glynis

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Re: going on cruse w/o bf baby
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2006, 17:19:52 pm »
If you can pump enough, I would suggest that.  I know Samuel doesn't care for formula & will refuse it, but breastmilk he will drink from a bottle.
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Offline GraceKellysmom

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Re: going on cruse w/o bf baby
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2006, 19:24:15 pm »
If you can pump enough, pump away. Supplement with formula for what ebm you don't have. Make sure to take your pump on the trip and pump at normal feeding times to keep up your supply.

Why are you going on the cruise without your baby???? Is it something that could be postponed until she is older?
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Offline Cilla

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Re: going on cruse w/o bf baby
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2006, 22:45:08 pm »
thanks for your suggestions. Actually my husband is getting back from a year in Iraq and so he will have his block leave at this time.  It will partially suck because we will be going to WV for 2 weeks and then coming back and leaving on a cruse.  He def. needs the cruse and only his dad and his dads wife has met our new baby. So the WV trip is so everyone can see him and meet Ivey. The cruse is for us I wish we could just do the cruse or just do the trip.  But he needs the cruse, and some of his family has not seen him in about 2 years. So, I will just have to make this all happen and hope for the best!! I have pumped some but she does not really like to take a bottle.  I have to admit, I am nervous because she is mostly used to just her and me.  It should be an interesting few months.
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Offline GraceKellysmom

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Re: going on cruse w/o bf baby
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2006, 01:20:22 am »
Well these next few months you need to try to get her to take a bottle. Do you have a friend or family member that would be willing to come by once in a while to feed a bottle while you pump? Just a couple times a week should be good enough to keep her used to it.

You can always change your mind and take her with you on the cruise. Her airfare would be free because she is under 2 yrs old.

Has your dh been gone since she was born? How do you think he'll adjust to life with the three of you as opposed to just the two of you?
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Stacy, Mama to
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Offline Cilla

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Re: going on cruse w/o bf baby
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2006, 05:25:22 am »
He was here for her birth and then 6 days. He has been gone since then. I am sure it will be an adjustment but we have been trying to talk about it to help him get ready.  Honestly, I know we can take her, but we really need time to reconnect after him being gone for a year. I think that a happy family starts with a happy husband and wife.  I am currently living with my parents, though I will be moving back into an apartment in a few weeks, so mom should be able to help with giving her a bottle.  My mom will also be the one staying with her while we are gone except for one night when a friend will be staying with her.  I just bought an advent bottle and so we will see if that will work with her. I was thinking about letting mom keep her for a whole day and feeding her every so often, to start getting her ready does that sound like a good idea?
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Offline GraceKellysmom

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Re: going on cruse w/o bf baby
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2006, 19:27:16 pm »
It might be nice also if your mom hangs out with you so she knows your schedule. If you need to go out, she can feed her while you're gone.

My day care baby took a really neat tri-flow bottle (the nipple had three flow positions). I think it was a cheapy one from Walmart, but I vowed to try that one with my next child because I liked it so much. Everyone says great things about Avent too. If you haven't seen the topic at the top of the forum with tips for bottlefeeding, it is great.

So nice of your parents to help out in your dh's absence. I live about 8 hours from mine and I miss them so much. How special it is that they get to see their granddaughter grow up for the first few months!
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Stacy, Mama to
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Offline Erin (redstarfalling)

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Re: going on cruse w/o bf baby
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2006, 01:13:22 am »
I can understand the need to reconnect with hubby.  I can't imagine what it must be like without him around...

As for the trip, it can be done.  Start pumping if you want to leave EBM, and if you run out there's formula.  Like Stacy said, you'll have to pump during the trip to maintain your supply.  My sister did it when her son was about 7 months old - she was gone for 2 weeks to Australia - she pumped every 3 hrs during the day and I think she got up once at night too.  It'll help to make sure she'll take a bottle before you go (or at least reassuring to you!).
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Offline Cilla

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Re: going on cruise w/o bf baby
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2006, 04:15:15 am »
Thank you everyone for your helpful hints! I have started trying to get her used to a bottle. I bought an Advent one, and she did ok with it for her first try, I will really start trying to get her used to it as soon as we are done moving.  I am feeling much more hopeful that it will be a pretty smooth transition.
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