Is it ok for the mother in law to keep a newborn baby at her house away from the parents?

Um, NO?

She should still be producing colostrum, which the baby needs more than anything, if she's going to breastfeed at all. Also, this is a critical bonding time between parent and child.

I'm confused from your question. Is the MIL your mother? Why not tell your mother that you want the baby back NOW? Why can't your MIL come help out and really give your wife a break, if she wants to visit so much? That would be much better than taking the child away from his parents so soon.

If you meant to say her mother, and your MIL, I'd suggest the same thing. Let Mom come and stay with you and help out with the baby for a while. MIL gets to visit, mom gets help and rest, and baby gets to stay home with parents and breastfeed. Much better all the way around.

I'm surprised your wife agreed. Mine was in the NICU for the first month, and that was agony for me.

I'm a mother of two, both of which were only fed formula due to a chronic condition I have that I need meds for. Both of them are healthy, happy and well developed. As for your mother (or your mother in law?), your wife seems to think it's okay to make these decisions without you. She knows how far away this woman lives, and should have consulted you on it. Talk to your wife, and let her know that this bothers you. Remember, if you communicate rationally with your spouse, she will understand your concern better. As for your baby being barely a week old, your wife should have known better. They teach against trips like that in parenting classes at least until the baby is 6 weeks.

That is definitely not OK - mother and baby need to be together to bond and to breastfeed.

Maybe the mother-in-law can come to YOUR house or else you and your wife can go to the MiL's? Someone suggested post-natal depression, if that is the case then being separated from her baby is probably the worst thing for your wife. She needs her baby back and some help - and fast!

It does seem a bit extreme becuase it sounds like mother is not staying with her baby, so the baby can't be breastfed. Perhaps you could invite her parents to stay with you to spend time with the baby as a family.

Formula is an adequate way to feed a baby but as you know, breastfeeding is normal and optimum.

Perhaps your wife could be suffering from post-natal depression - it can make mums do unusual things; it is something that needs medical help.

Does she resent leaving the country at all?

Listen to your wife - her needs, her feelings, her future plans, so that you can better understand how you can move forward as a family.

I live in a different country to my parents - any chance of setting up skype and a webcam for you and your parents? My parents see their grandchild every week on a skype video call.

In my opinion, this is entirely unacceptable, and I'm on your side rather than your wife's. No matter what's going on in terms of moving, etc., the baby's needs should always come first. A newborn physiologically expects breastmilk as his or her first food, and obviously that's what's best for your little one. On top of that, the baby has spent 9 months inside your wife's body, and as a newborn will need as much time as possible with her in order to adjust to life outside the womb.

Is it possible that your wife is feeling overwhelmed by the birth and new motherhood, and perhaps experiencing post-natal depression? I could not have been separated from my little boy when he was born for ANY reason, so perhaps there's something else going on?

In any case, my personal feeling is that the baby needs to be back with you and your wife ASAP, to bond and be loved by his or her parents. Your wife's breastmilk supply may have stopped in the meantime (her body needs the stimulation of a baby to continue producing milk), but if she continues putting the baby to her breast very regularly, she will start to produce again.

Best of luck with the magical adventure of parenthood. And I hope you get your baby back very, very soon!

No, it's not healthy at all. THis is an important time that a baby has to spend with his mother in order to bond. Also, breast milk is a baby's only natural immune system against nature. You are about to go to the Phillapines and you want your baby to be as healthy as possible.

ok i agree with you on the part of the baby being far away from you and your wife, newborns need to be with the parents.grandparents are for visits not to raise your child for 2 or 3 months. BUT her breastfeeding is not your decision,they are not your breasts theyre hers and its up to your wife to choose to do so.

Go pick up your son, its only an hour drive and if grandma wants to see him she can come to your house to visit or stay for a few days.you both need to get adjusted to the babys schedule at your house.

Personally I don't think that is a good thing either. Your wife should be bonding with her child. I know I couldn't do that; just hand my baby over right away after birth. I'd feel incomplete.

Hi ok that is wierd i know they want to see the baby because you will be leaving but that doesnt make sence. the baby should be with his mam&dad bonding and if yee wanted to breast feed him thats your choice not theres. i think they should have a bit of cop on and not have taken him away from yee.

H

I, personally, don't like it at all. Those first few weeks, even months, are for the parents to form a bond together. I would never let my parents do that, if I were to have children. But, then, I would let them see it. So, no, its not okay. But thats my opinion.