I could use your advice ladies. I need to travel to Europe from the US for work when LO is 7.5 mths old (in 1.5 mths). LO is currently (6 mths) sleeping through the night from about 1 am to 9 am. Time difference is 6 hrs. Here are a few options (with my worries).

1) I travel overnight, arrive in Europe in the morning. Do my presentations for most of the day, with short breaks to pump and dump. Presentations again the following day, ditto about pumping. Next day travel back to US for a total of 3.5 days gone.
Worries: Absolutely exhausting for me (I could take an additional day there, arriving the day before the presentations, but that would increase my major worry). Is there a risk that LO will wean himself in that time period? He does take a bottle of EBM on occasion, and had no probs with a dummy introduced on occasion just recently, but will still be BF at 7.5 mths. This is my main fear regarding option 1. I will miss LO terribly (have never been away for longer than a few hrs, and don't know how I'll pump on the flight), but want to do what's best for him.

2) Bring LO and spouse along on trip. Stay for only 3 days in Europe (total time gone 4.5 days). Try to only adjust his schedule by 3-4 hrs, if possible. Feed LO in between presentations, and pump for spouse to feed inbetween. Worries: Any jetlag issues? Will his schedule be messed up upon return to US (in other words, will he stop sleeping through)?? LO could get sick on plane.

3) Bring LO and spouse along on trip. Stay for 10/11 days, with the business work towards the end of the trip. Go to a friend's wedding; meet my parents (father has never seen LO), meet more colleagues. Try to adjust LO to European time. Worries: Will the jetlag issues/sleeping issues be worse??

I would personally go with option 3. The jetlag won't be worse, in fact it should be better as you will have more time to adjust to the time difference as well as being more relaxed and less rushed or stressed out. Option 3 just seems much more enjoyable for all involved!

I have NO experience or knowledge I'm afraid... maybe I should shut up then ...but I would take preference for options 3,2,1 in that order.

Btw - well done you. I really admire not only women who get on in life, but who manage to be terrific mothers at the same time