Separation from my Baby Preparation

My 5 year wedding anniversary is coming up. We planned a little getaway to the same place we got engaged, Niagara Falls. This trip is something that we need, it’s important that we find time to reconnect as a couple and get out of our daily roles of mom and dad. While I’m really looking forward to this trip, I’m also nervous because it’s going to be the first time I’m away from my (soon to be) 9-month-old breastfed baby. I know I have to mentally, and physically prepare myself for this separation from my baby so that I can enjoy our anniversary (and not lose my milk supply).

This includes affiliate links. That means that if you purchase through these links that Califf Creations will receive compensation that is of no extra cost to you. This helps cover the costs of Califf Creations.

Preparing for Separation from my Baby

Mentally Preparing

To prepare mentally for this separation from my baby, I am reminding myself that it’s ok to take time for myself. It’s ok to take time to be a couple. In fact, it’s crucially important since just like any relationship, marriage requires work and attention. You have to take time to nurture love and reconnect. That is virtually impossible to do with two little ones hanging on you every second of the day. Getting away for even a date night can do wonders.

Since it’s our 5 year wedding anniversary, it is only right in my mind that we take a couple of days to be a married couple. This is how you maintain a healthy relationship. You make time for each other, get away together and remember what it was that brought you together in the first place. I’ve been reminding myself about how much we need this time together as part of my mental preparation.

Separation from my baby can do wonders for a mom’s mental health as well. I need to take time to be myself, be a woman and a wife, not just a mom. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom and I love being with my kids all the time, but I also love a hot shower where I’m not listening for crying! This time is for me to relax, and hopefully get rid of some of the anxiety I’ve been feeling lately.

***If you follow me on Instagram you’ve seen my posts about anxiety***

To mentally prepare for a separation from my baby, it’s all about reminding myself of the good that will come out of it, and getting some extra fun and snuggles in before I go. I know my kids will be in good hands with my parents and in reality, it’s only a couple days!

Physically Preparing for Separation from my Baby

Why do I need to physically prepare for separation from my baby? It’s because he is breastfed! I’m nervous about my supply since I won’t be nursing for a couple days. My plan is to set an alarm and pump every 3-4 hours while we are away to keep up my supply (I’m bringing both my double electric to use in the hotel room and my manual pump to use if we are out or in the car). I’ll have bags to store the milk and back home with me.

The problem is, I just don’t respond to a pump the same way. I look at pictures of my baby and it doesn’t really do it. There isn’t as much milk removed as when I nurse my baby. Therefore, I am expecting a bit of a drop in supply. In order to compensate, I added some pumping sessions to my day in preparation for the separation from my baby. Hopefully, this will boost my supply a bit. In addition to pumping, I started drinking lactation tea and will continue to do so during the separation from my baby.

I didn’t really pump at all until I started preparing for this trip. My entire stash of frozen milk came from using my Haaka pump. That might also be why I’m not responding well to the electric pump. I’m hoping that having a few pumping sessions a day now will help my body learn to respond to that as well as to my baby nursing.

Check out the breastfeeding products that made my life so much easier, including the Haaka!

It’ll be Worth it!

It’s a lot to think about and is probably part of what has caused me anxiety lately, but I know it will be worth it. Separation from my baby isn’t something that I look forward to, but reconnecting with my husband and myself is. That is how we stay true to our marriage and to ourselves, while still being good parents. I’m getting lots of fun with my kids in before leaving them for a few days, knowing that it will all be worth it!