A mother is due to deliver this month - unplanned baby, other children are
13 and 11 yrs.  The husband has been furious about this situation all
pregnancy and has vowed that the baby will not interfere with his life in
the least.  He has already laid down an ultimatum to his wife that they will
attend his brother's wedding in early March in another country, *without*
the baby. This will be at least a 3 day separation, maybe more. In order to
preserve what remains of the marriage, the wife has agreed.  Leaving aside
what we think of this man, how can we help the mother to solve her immediate
breastfeeding problems:
1) Building up enough of a stored milk supply in those first 6 - 8 weeks.
What quantities? Pumping how often?  Starting when?  I thought it might be
helpful to take full advantage of those early days of copious milk flow, but
am concerned about building up the supply so that it becomes too much for
when breastfeeding is suspended.
2) Best method of feeding the baby during the separation.  I thought that a
bottle would be advisable, because the baby will surely need to *suck*, or
would it be better to have another method of feeding with a pacifier in between?
3) Keeping the mother comfortable while away, and maintaining her supply.
4) Re-establishing breastfeeding on the mother's return.
The more I think about the problems, the more I wish someone could talk some
sense into this man, or that the mother would be able to assert herself
without having to jeopardise her marriage.  (What kind of a marriage can it
be?)  I am praying that the father, despite all his rantings, will somehow
bond with his baby enough in the first weeks to change his mind about
inflicting this trauma on the family.
I would appreciate any comments.
Jacquie Nutt