Anyone with young babies ?

i dont know how u do it! dealing with a fussy newborn AND a 5 year old!
my lil girl only had a day of spewing so far.. i panicked! lol i didnt know how to stop it lol

i love that shes babbaling now.. shes growing up so fast! shes almost out of 000 already! lol its amazing how quick they go from being this passive lil baby to smiles and giggles smile

how did u cope when ur first got their needles? im DREADING it!
x

Actually the first needles are fine... I was crying beforehand with dd and trying to get my mum to take her so I didn't have to! Lol (she wouldn't either!) When I got there they told me to feed her, and she made a tiny whimper as the needle went in and that was it. Too busy feeding to care after the initial prick! It's when thy get older and thy look at you in horror like you've done this to them, and then scream that its really hard!
I'm not sure how I'll cope either with 2 kids... but there's not many other options is there! Lol

I understand how you guys feel when you say you are just bumbling along. Some days Ellie and I are fine and then others I feel as though I am guessing what she needs every step of the way.
I also have a very clingy cat. From day one he has been my little prince and I have spoilt him, so you can image how he felt when a new baby was introduced to the house. He did not take it well. But 11 weeks on and he is finally excepting the change and re-learning his place. Bubby is also sleeping better at night so he is able to come and get more cuddles when DH and I are watching telly.

Hi Im a first time mummy my bub isnt as young as you guys has 5 months old.Def interested in meeting other mummys to can get a tad lonely

my son is about the same age!

where is everybody??? im in auckland

Hi - I was so pleased to find this thread and read how you guys are going with your new babies smile

I have a 4 and half week old. I haven't even looked into mother's groups, I feel like I'm barely coping with life with the baby, the idea of leaving the house, dress myself half decently and make it to something on time just seems out of the question. When my husband was off work I went out a couple of times, but I've been having to force myself to go for a walk with bub once a day to make sure I even leave the house. I'm making a real effort to open the curtain and windows every day. That sounds so pathetic :/

I was sick in my pregnancy with gallstones and had surgery when my little man was 7 days old, so I'm still recovering from that as well as looking after bub. I have good family support though, my DH went back to work five days ago, but my mum and dad have been around every day, helping me with the baby.

He's really unsettled, only sleeps when he's held, and was spending a good portion of the day screaming (2 hours without a break except to breath was the record). In desperation I went to the child health nurse on Monday and she got me to change his formula - he's stopped screaming for hours at a time. Still can't get to him to stay asleep for more than 20-30 minutes in his bassinet, but it's a big improvement.

I really feel like I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time. When I'm alone with him at night (I do the late night and early morning feeds so my hubby can get some sleep, he does the last feed before bed) it's not so bad, but in the day I really feel like I'm fumbling when I'm on my own.

How often do you guys bath your baby? I never seem to get around to it. He has really good skin, but I start feeling incredibly guilty when it gets to four days and I haven't given him a bath. I often wash him with a warm facewasher on the change table, but it's such a production getting the bath ready that I can't face it unless someone else is here to help me.

Kat

well im in Soth Brisbane smile and so far ive guessed my way through most of it. ive had days that are worse than others and i just feel like laying on the bathroom floor n crying, but i always push through (barely sometimes) and try to enjoy the little things with her.. smile

@KITTYMAMMA - ive got 2 very sooky dogs (a bull mastiff and a mini foxie), so i know how u feel with the jealous pets! lol but luckily they got over it n now they LOVE my lil girl!

@KATYDID2 - oh u poor thing! sad i couldnt even imagine what your going through! and it doesnt sound pathetic, i went through a similar stage wen my girl was the same age.. she had colic and cried so much. i had so much trouble trying to feed her because her tummy was so sore (im breastfeeding her as well). i remember looking in the mirror one day n i could barely recognise the mess staring back at me. but it will get better slowly..

i bath my baby everyday, its part of her routine in the early evening and it helps her settle and sleep so much better. im just lucky she loves her bath! every baby is different, and a washing down with a wash cloth is perfectly fine

how supporting is your partner with bub? do they have any special activities they have with ur bub?
nothing makes me melt more than seeing my partner rock my little girl to sleep <3
x

Hi - I was so pleased to find this thread and read how you guys are going with your new babies <span class="emoticon smile">smile</span>

I have a 4 and half week old. I haven't even looked into mother's groups, I feel like I'm barely coping with life with the baby, the idea of leaving the house, dress myself half decently and make it to something on time just seems out of the question. When my husband was off work I went out a couple of times, but I've been having to force myself to go for a walk with bub once a day to make sure I even leave the house. I'm making a real effort to open the curtain and windows every day. That sounds so pathetic :/

I was sick in my pregnancy with gallstones and had surgery when my little man was 7 days old, so I'm still recovering from that as well as looking after bub. I have good family support though, my DH went back to work five days ago, but my mum and dad have been around every day, helping me with the baby.

He's really unsettled, only sleeps when he's held, and was spending a good portion of the day screaming (2 hours without a break except to breath was the record). In desperation I went to the child health nurse on Monday and she got me to change his formula - he's stopped screaming for hours at a time. Still can't get to him to stay asleep for more than 20-30 minutes in his bassinet, but it's a big improvement.

I really feel like I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time. When I'm alone with him at night (I do the late night and early morning feeds so my hubby can get some sleep, he does the last feed before bed) it's not so bad, but in the day I really feel like I'm fumbling when I'm on my own.

How often do you guys bath your baby? I never seem to get around to it. He has really good skin, but I start feeling incredibly guilty when it gets to four days and I haven't given him a bath. I often wash him with a warm facewasher on the change table, but it's such a production getting the bath ready that I can't face it unless someone else is here to help me.

Kat

Hun.. I hope you are not heading down a very dark road. I've been there - I absolutely regret with all my heart not getting help... I missed out on my baby because of it. You can read my blog at the bottom of my sig if you want to read more.

I've just given a big bit of advice regarding sleep in this thread... I don't want to write it out again so I'll just give you the link.

I have seen a psychologist several times over my experience with my first child - thankfully this time I have been okay, and I have been amazed at the days where I can honestly say I've enjoyed my baby... because I didn't have any days like that last time. If you find that you have more days feeling like you're not coping than days where you are enjoying it all I hope you'll let your family know and get some help.

I am not going to say that I am an expert by any means and but I do understand how overwhelming it can all be. When DD was a month old I was struggerling as wel. Her sleep was all over the place, she was colicky (not sure if you would class it as real colic cause it thankfully only last a week or so, so I will say she was colic-like) and all she wanted was hugs. It was hard. DH was also tired from working long hours and although he was supportive he was quickly getting over coming home to find me either stressed out or on the verge of tears. So when DD was asleep one morning I sat down and had a good talking to myself. I wrote down all the things that were wrong and all the things that I wanted to improve and worked out an action plan for solving the issues. It took time but having set up clear goals and detailing the path to achieve them really helped for me.
For example, one of my issues was having the house in the state it was. I stress in mess. So I asked my mum to come down and help me catch up. It took about half day to get things in order (although it took days to tackle the washing pile) but since then I have managed to maintain the house, do a little each morning and as a result I am now more relaxed.
There were about half a dozen other things that i am still working on today, but i won't bore you guys with them. Luckily enough tho when I got myself under control I was better able to look after baby girl and get her into somewhat of a routine. I still have days when I think, geez I don't think I can do this or where I want to cry from lack of sleep but those days are getting fewer and further between.
All I can say is you need to find a way of tackling the issues one step at a time. I can honestly say that I could see myself heading down the dark path that chalys n J is talking about, so could my DH. I was lucky, I was able to pull myself out of it. If I hadn't who knows what I'd be doing right now, probably pulling my hair out. But things do get better.
Sorry about the massive reply... I've never really spoken about this before and it feels good to get it out.

Perhaps slightly more on topic:
Mel-eve - I can't imagin two spooky dogs, one spooky cat was enough. I know it sounds mean but I kinda laugh a little to myself when I think about how Mr Kitty will have to go through all his issues again in a few years. DH and I are planning for number 2 in about 18months to 2 years. Poor kitty, he'll have to re-learn his place in the house again!

As for baths, I give DD a bath everyday night. She loves them and I use it as a means to settle her down for the night. Although in the beginning I was only giving he a warm wash with a cloth as well. My aunt had scared me when it came to bath time, telling me how slipper baby gets and how easy they can slip out of your hands. Silly me for listening cause DD loves her bath and DH and I Love love love giving her one.

your not alone when it comes to secret struggles with your baby.. every single mother on earth has or will go through them, and it takes a very strong woman to admit it.
Some days feel darker than others and some struggles seem harder than others, but as chalys n jay said, you need to get help. even if its just a talk to your partner or mother or friend.. help is help.
i have days when all i want to do is cry, i have no-one but my partner up here, (everyone in the world we know lives in Newcastle n we live in Brisbane)but with him working 60hours a week i feel on my own alot.
But talking to someone for 5minutes, even just on here, seems to always make me feel better and realize that im not the only one feeling a little lost, and that i can get through this.

thanks ladies!

Hi everyone smile

Thanks Chalys, I think I needed a reminder about watching my mood. The day after I posted this the psychologist from the maternity hospital called to find out how I was doing and I had a good chat with her (because I was sick when my bub was born she has checked in on me a couple of times). I am okay at the moment, I just need to be careful not to let things slip. After that, I called my mum and asked if we could go out somewhere, not the park and not home, and ended up having a really nice lunch out at the markets with both of my parents, my brother and his girlfriend. (Amazing, usually it's really hard to get us together without ages of planning). Thankfully my DS was in a very chilled out mood and was happy to snooze in his pram, or be carried by his grandparents. I really really enjoyed myself and felt physically and mentally so much better. I have all these great people in my life, I just need to open my mouth and ask for help more!

How've you all been for the last few days? Surviving with your little ones? Still sane?

Wanted to ask those of you who have slightly older bubs, when did your son/daughter start to smile and 'talk'? He's 5 weeks old now and I'm really hanging out for the moment he burbles back at me, as I continue to talk complete nonsense to him. One thing I never knew about motherhood, it turns you into a bit of a loony... I wouldn't have believed I was capable of talking such rubbish all the time! He's been smiling for the last week... at a toy monkey with a black and white face. The monkey comes out to play each time he gets his nappy changed (except the late night/early morning ones) and he loooves that monkey, he gets so excited (in a low key baby way, I guess, but comparatively so excited) every time it comes out, but the rest of us just get mildly interested looks, no smiles yet and the only sounds he makes are snorts and grunts while he's sleeping and crying when he's awake.

My daughter is almost 12 weeks old and she talks nonsense to me ll the time. We have great conversations. She smiles a lot too. Oh and the other day she gave me a little giggle. It was so cute and I was so stunned that she did it that I run from the room, grabbed my phone and called hubby. Poor little thing was so startled having me race from the room and have a phone in her face she hasn't giggled since. Hopefully soon I'll get to here it again.