How did you adjust??

meep13

How did you when you got home?? we've only been home two days and I'm already feeling trapped and lazy I'm so used to being in school and working 40hrs a week that sitting at home is driving me crazy we don't have cable so all I have to watch is movies that i've seen a million times and I'm becoming emotional and crying...and that is not like me at all...

 It doesn't help that it winter and the days are short and so it is dark by 6:00 at night...Everyone says "sleep when baby sleeps" but I feel like I can't fall asleep...

I'm sure most of this is just hormones, and adjusting but any advice would be helpful how did you handle coming home with your first baby?

PunkyBooster

My parents were here, so they were helping a ton. I did try to get some rest, though I find it much easier now than I did in the early days.

Hormones are a b!tch- those calmed down a lot by the start of week 3 for me, though I still get irrationally annoyed with strangers while out and about.

Just hold your baby and know that the hormones will subside soon. Let yourself cry when you feel the need, it's totally normal, natural, and healthy. 

If you feel up to it, take some short walks- I took a walk down the street and back one of my first days home and it helped me a lot. DH took the dog, I wrapped DS in his moby and we took about a 8 minute walk but it was something, it got me dressed and outside! 

ActiveWoMOM

We went on a lot of walks.  Even if it was just for ten minutes, getting out in the fresh air felt amazing.  You will adjust.  Congrats on the new addition!

Copernicus08

Invite people over, go out for a walk or to the store even if for 10 minutes, call someone to talk. I found that being by myself was/is the hardest part and I actually called my co-workers during the day just to have some conversation and support. 

Are there any new mom support groups near you? Our hospital has them a couple times a week and it's nice to go out and be with other people in the same situation.

Honestly, for me, even getting DRESSED makes me feel better. It's easy to stay in jammies or grubby clothes, but even putting on mascara and real pants makes things better :-)  

AdriannneL

We went and stayed at my moms house for the first week, it helped a ton having somebody around that knew what they were doing with a newborn. I think if we had just came home and tried to figure it out, I would have been a wreck, between me being sore, trying to figure out breast feeding, and figuring out my baby!

It is still really hard for me to sleep when the baby sleeps, Masons 2 weeks old, I've gotten to the point now where if i don't catch a nap or two through out the day, the night seems impossible to get through. I've had a few times when I've completely broken down and cried right along with baby when hes bawling and nothing I do will help, hes not hungry, doesn't need a diaper change, doesn't just want to cuddle, won't sleep. Its such a worthless feeling to not be able to calm your baby down! If daddy's around take turns getting up at night to care for the baby also, share the load, I dont know how I would be able to get through any of this without an amazingly supportive boyfriend.

I've also gone through a the thought process where I feel lazy also, I'm used to working so not working I do feel lazy, and I have no money except to cover my half of rent and bills. But the way I look at it now, there's no reason to feel lazy, I might be sitting down all day, but I'm taking care of my child. And nothing beats that, take the time to relax and get to know baby, you're far from lazy. take time to take care of yourself also, get a shower in when you can and accept all the help that's offered..that's been another hard thing for me to do, accept help, but you'll be so happy you did at the end of the day.

Remember, you've only been home for 2 days, things will get easier, it just takes time, and everything you hear is very repetitive, but very true.

jerseyjewel716

I know how you feel sometimes I think I'll go crazy staying in my house endlessly. The first few weeks are rough because you are adjusting emotionally and physically (atleast for me they were). We've been home about 3 weeks now and It gets better. I could never "sleep when baby sleeps" and I hated that people kept suggesting that. I make plans to get out even if it's just to get coffee with a friend when DH is home, my mom comes by just to hang out, invite friends over (i'm sure they are all excited to see your LO), check to see if the hospital has a mom group alot of them offer them for new moms. Also getting a shower, putting on clothes that aren't sweats and a little make up tends to make me feel like a new person. Hope this helps.

Bailey81

I got out of the house as much as possible starting at three days postpartum. If I'm going out alone, I make sure he's fed and then give myself an hour to ninety minutes to go do something while my husband watches him. If the kid's coming with, I put him in his stroller or the Ergo so people don't get in his face and we hit the market, the mall, the coffee shop ... If I hadn't, I think I would be out of my mind by this point. 

Showering daily also makes me feel human. If he's fed, clean, and content, I steal that time to take care of myself.