Alone with LO

sea8884

So my amazing husband took two weeks off with me since I was recovering from a c-section and wasn't at 100% after one week. I was so grateful for the extra time with him being here all day with me but now I'm absolutely terrified to be alone with my LO. I have horrible anxiety and I'm a huge worrier (am I overfeeding him? Is he eating enough? Why can't I tell why my own baby is crying when his father can?). I'm so nervous for Monday to come but I know that I have to deal with this eventually but I'm so scared of screwing something up or something happening to him and not knowing what to do. 

Mamabeagle

We all have these fears and just want our babies to be healthy. What you are feeling is perfectly normal. 

If LO is consistently giving you wet and poop diapers, they are in fact getting enough to eat. And dad's have different skills than moms, like I can really only soothe our son by breastfeeding while he can calm him by humming. 

It's going to be emotional and stressful but as long as you are doing your best and care about your LO, you're doing amazing. 

ByeByeSpotts

I feel your pain. My husband was home for 2 weeks and goes back Monday (at a new job on top of it all). I'm more nervous about his parents being in town (from across the country) and me being responsible of entertaining them. If I don't have them over, I feel like a brat since they came all this way to see their grand daughter. But when they are at our place they just sit on the couch when all I want to do is rest and watch tv (they don't watch tv). I also want to nurse comfortably and not hide in the nursery. I cried yesterday when I thought about Monday. My husband had to go into work today for a few hours and I asked his parents not to come over. Told them i needed the day as a test for LO and I.

StephEppie

This was me a few weeks ago. It was terrifying to me to have it just the two of us. I'm not gonna lie it's really difficult and I look forward to her dad coming home every day but try and get her and yourself into a mini routine during the week and that will help, also take walks together, it'll make you feel human to be outside. What I did was the first day he was back to work I had a friend come over and bring lunch and hang out for a couple hours. That really helped to ease in being alone. Once your babe goes down at night take a few minutes to get some things set up for yourself for the morning. I get my coffee set up in the French press abs water filled in the kettle and make sure all my pump parts are clean and set up for the morning and that really helps me feel setup for the day

Cejiml

I had these feelings with my first and second. But I found a routine for us pretty quick. I will say I was a little bored at first with no adult conversation but that's no big deal. It can be a little tricky especially after a really rough night sleep wise but you will find your way. Good luck  

willashbaby

Thankfully babies are designed to survive new parents, baby won't remember if you mess up some, don't worry. 

BarrettJ89

It can't be worse than my first time being left alone with all 3 kids... The baby had (still has) horrible colic and was only about a week old, my parents drove across town for me and dropped off SD (8 years old) to our house, and I got DS (13 months old) to bed on time. I thought I was Super Mom... until the toddler woke up screaming bloody murder. I went to rock him back to sleep, no luck. Something wasn't right. He then projectile vomited all over me. THREE TIMES. I had vomit in my hair, down my shirt, ground into the carpeting, you name it. I had no choice but to bathe DS after trying to calm him. The baby is in the other room screaming and I couldn't touch her or her pacifier because I was covered in vomit... Poor SD ended up trying to soothe the baby while I cleaned up the disaster, and she helped to find me clean clothes. I was wandering through my living room in my bra (also soaked), a week pp (not a pretty sight), covered in epic gross-ness, with my front window wide open for all the neighbors to see.

Mind you, the first time I had DS and SD on my own, SD ended up puking her brains out. 

mrscammack

I've been feeling super nervous about this as well. DH was home for the first week and it was so emotional the night before he went back to work, we both cried. My mom has been coming by from 9-3 everyday this past week to help me so even though LO and I are alone part of the day knowing I have the help coming keeps me sane. I think I'm going to be a wreck the first day it's just me and LO alone all day long but I guess, like everything else, the more you do it the easier it gets. 

ashhsa

I felt this way at first too. Now I look forward to having all the cuddles to myself. I promise you you will thrive you are already more capable than you realize. 

l4rk

I'm worried about this too! My SO had the first week off, and then my mom has come during the week for a few days. She's coming again next week, but then my parents are leaving the country and it will be all me. The idea of taking care of myself AND this tiny human is overwhelming...

kaym6

My husband has been back at work 2 weeks now and has already done a few 24 hr days being gone overnight (military) this week he's going out of the country for 3 nights for work and im tired just thinking about it. We have no family in state so it's just me! You guys will all do awesome we got this

karynste19

I was in your shoes a few weeks ago. DH was so wonderful for those two weeks. I didn't know how I would be once he went back. It all worked out. It's more difficult doing house work since LO wants to be carried all the time but in general I can say it's going very smoothly. You will figure it out!  Don't worry!!

krrpe99

Our DD is 4 weeks old, and I still dread Mondays. It's so nice having someone else around to help out on the weekends. Like others have said, you develope your own routine when you have to. But the feeling of wanting the husband around may not go away. 

essentialpeace

SH had a week off. I was in the hospital 5 days including delivery so I was alone day 1 at home recovering from a section. My family had a stomach virus so I couldn't call anyone. 

It it wasn't pretty but we survived. I felt really empowered and I hope you will also! 

cali1710

Totally get it! My husband only took one week off as he wants to take more off in the summer. I was terrified when he went back and was so scared. Even now when he goes back after being home for the weekend I feel anxiety. But it gets better. I found going out to my parents for the day or getting out even to go for a walk or grocery shopping helped a lot. Sitting in all day was not helping. 

maureenmce

OP - I am totally terrified too!  I hadn't been until today, but I had a really rough day while DH was out running errands.  LO was cluster feeding like *constantly* and at one point was screaming her head off to nurse, but refusing to latch at all.  And she normally naps right after each feeding but didn't sleep a wink for like 6 hours - just non stop nursing and diaper changes and crying. By the time he came home I was a wreck.  Now that DH is back and helping, of course, LO is a perfect angel, nursing like a dream, sleeping peacefully right after, and the apartment is clean, dinner is cooking, everything feels amazing.  It's just so much easier with another person!  
But I'm sure I will get into a routine with LO eventually and be fine and you will be too.  Also, everyone I know who is a parent says the first 12 weeks are the hardest and then it gets much more easy, fun and rewarding.  So I'm trying to keep that in mind and take it one day at a time when things are tough.  12 weeks doesn't seem that long compared with the 41 weeks I was pregnant!  

Also, I'm setting my expectations low for each day - if I keep LO fed and diaper changed, then it's a successful day.  Anything else (developmental play, exercise, cleaning, working on personal projects) is a bonus.  Anyway, good luck, mama!  I'm sure you'll be great.

alisongem

5 weeks PP and I still dread the upcoming week every weekend. My hubby got 2 weeks also and it was so hard when he had to go back. I hope it gets better!