chunkysalsa
- 33
Can I Bring My Newborn to Conference?
- Thread starter chunkysalsa
- Start date
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Discussion Overview
The thread explores the experiences and opinions of participants regarding the possibility of bringing newborns to a conference. Participants share personal anecdotes about motherhood, recovery after childbirth, and the logistics of attending the event with a baby.
Discussion Character
- Anecdotal
- Opinion-based
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- One participant, expecting a baby soon, expresses uncertainty about leaving their newborn for three days to attend the conference.
- Another participant mentions that arrangements exist for mothers with newborns, recalling seeing women with babies at past conferences.
- Several participants note that newborns are not allowed in workshops or general sessions, and a nursing room is available for mothers.
- One participant shares their personal experience of feeling exhausted after childbirth and questions the feasibility of attending the conference so soon after giving birth.
- Another participant emphasizes the importance of recovery and suggests that staying home might be better for overall health and business.
- Some participants discuss the physical demands of the conference, mentioning the extensive walking involved and the potential exhaustion it could cause for new mothers.
- One participant reflects on their own quick recovery and contrasts it with the experiences shared by others, suggesting that age may influence recovery times.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Views differ on the feasibility of attending the conference with a newborn. While some participants express concerns about exhaustion and recovery, others share positive experiences of attending with babies, indicating no clear consensus.
Contextual Notes
Participants share a range of personal experiences related to childbirth and conference attendance, reflecting varying recovery times and individual circumstances.
Who May Find This Useful
Expecting mothers within the consultant community considering attending the conference shortly after giving birth may find the shared experiences relevant.
wadesgirl
Gold Member
- 11,383
DebbieJ
- 10,849
You are not allowed to bring your child into any workshops or general sessions. There is a nursing mother's room that you can use to nurse and/or pump while you're there.If you want your baby there, you'll have to bring along a babysitter and that person can hang out in the public areas of Mc Cormick Place while you go to your things and then they'll be able to call you if the baby needs you and you can leave your workshop and go nurse or whatever.Being a mother already myself, there is NO WAY in you know where that I'd be attending National Conference 3 weeks after giving birth unless I was promoting or something. It took me a good month or two to feel back to normal and feel like I could get it together enough to go out in public.
chunkysalsa
- 33
chefann
Gold Member
- 22,050
ChefBeckyD
Gold Member
- 20,320
I'm a pretty optimistic person - but I have to agree with Deb! Even if you have the baby early (I had a baby on June 8 - due July 9), you will be exhausted! I have just vague memories of the first 3 months after he was born!
(good thing there are pictures!) I have seen women at conference with babies - but not brand new babies.
Plus, after my son was born early, his Dr. said to keep him away from large crowds/busy public places for a good 6-8 weeks - just because he needed some time to develop, and his immune system would still be weak. Not trying to sound paranoid - because we did take him out (he went to his first car show at 5 weeks old!), but I did try to keep him away from large crowds, etc....
(good thing there are pictures!) I have seen women at conference with babies - but not brand new babies. Plus, after my son was born early, his Dr. said to keep him away from large crowds/busy public places for a good 6-8 weeks - just because he needed some time to develop, and his immune system would still be weak. Not trying to sound paranoid - because we did take him out (he went to his first car show at 5 weeks old!), but I did try to keep him away from large crowds, etc....
chefann
Gold Member
- 22,050
Just thought of something else - we're usually spread WAAAAYYYY out at McCormick Place. We get 1/2 hour between workshops, but sometimes that's just enough time to fight the crowds and get to where you need to be. I can't imagine trying to get to the nursing room, too. You'd need roller skates! (And now I have a hilarious and completely inappropriate image in my head of a 50's carhop skating around carrying a baby.)
chunkysalsa
- 33
chunkysalsa
- 33
quiverfull7
Gold Member
- 3,142
I was always up and about quite quickly with my kids and I have 7 but I have to say that I think it would be smarter for your overall business for you to stay home, enjoy your baby and get really healthy and then be ready to go out and do shows than to go to NC, have a great time but get really tired or worse and then have to extend the time before you could actually do shows and make some money... just my thoughts ... I can understanding wanting to be there but your family and being healthy is so important.
ChefBeckyD
Gold Member
- 20,320
chunkysalsa
- 33
Oh I am not upset with what you are saying at all. Actually I am thankful that this is a company where your family can come first. I am just excited? (if that is the correct word) because I am really trying to bust a move <haha> this year to promote to director. I have a friend who sells also and we both set a goal to walk together this year at NC.
quiverfull7
Gold Member
- 3,142
chefann
Gold Member
- 22,050
Good grief! That's half of the 3-Day breast cancer walk! And that's all they do for 3 days. Kristen,
We really aren't trying to discourage you. Especially when you have a goal to walk with your friend. I'd hate to think that we led you to believe that it would be a walk in the park, and then you end up having to take 2 weeks off because of exhaustion.
We really aren't trying to discourage you. Especially when you have a goal to walk with your friend. I'd hate to think that we led you to believe that it would be a walk in the park, and then you end up having to take 2 weeks off because of exhaustion.
jennjenn71706
- 42
I haven't been to conference, hopefully going this year, but I'm sure your age has a lot to do with it. Take no offense, but I am a hell of a lot younger (ok, i've never met anyone in PC my age!!!) than most PC people, not to mention people who have kids in general. I was fine within 2 weeks of having my son, and starting a stroller class, and I was 2 weeks post baby, and was kicking everyone's behind in the class when their kids were like 2.
So it really has a lot to do with that too...
So it really has a lot to do with that too...
I'm definitely not going to NC this year (I'm in Canada, so I think we have different dates from the US peeps) ... I'm pregnant and my due date is the day NC starts!!!! So while I'd really LOVE to go, I don't want to go into labour a few hours from home without my hubby and midwives there!!! (If it was in my city, I'd gladly still go!!!!)
jennjenn71706 said:
Age may well be a factor, but also the # of kids you have. I bounced back quite well after my first couple, but was totally wiped after #3. #4 wasn't too bad afterwards, but this is #5 in 7 years, so it is going to be more of a challenge to get my energy and whatnot back to normal. (Although if s/he came early, I'd probably be chomping at the bit to go to NC just to escape the madness here!!!)
Chef Kearns
Gold Member
- 3,304
From someone who did it!Last year 2006 we had our fourth. She was born June 1st and I was in Wave 1 of conference. She was 5 weeks old and I was breastfeeding. My husband came with me to conference. I pumped milk for him at the hotel and in the nursing mother's room. He never came to McCormick until the last day to walk through the Product Showcase room with me (where they would not let us take the stroller).
I gotta say, I didn't get any less sleep than I normally do. With my girlfriends we are up talking at all hours of the night and I wake up after only 4-5 hours of sleep (if that). So, you kinda have to know yourself. Is this your first baby? After my first, I don't think I would've tried it because I didn't know what to expect. Now I signed my agreement when our 3rd was 10 days old, so I guess that tells you a little something. I never let my life stop just because we were having a baby. That is how you lose yourself!
Anyhoo...do what you feel is best for you and your family. Just know that it can be done and it is not that difficult. I have a Medela pump (backpack style) for sale if you're interested! That sucker (no pun intended) is efficient and relatively painfree! (love your name btw...chunkysalsa!)
I gotta say, I didn't get any less sleep than I normally do. With my girlfriends we are up talking at all hours of the night and I wake up after only 4-5 hours of sleep (if that). So, you kinda have to know yourself. Is this your first baby? After my first, I don't think I would've tried it because I didn't know what to expect. Now I signed my agreement when our 3rd was 10 days old, so I guess that tells you a little something. I never let my life stop just because we were having a baby. That is how you lose yourself!
Anyhoo...do what you feel is best for you and your family. Just know that it can be done and it is not that difficult. I have a Medela pump (backpack style) for sale if you're interested! That sucker (no pun intended) is efficient and relatively painfree! (love your name btw...chunkysalsa!)
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