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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
CarolinaKatie
member
Moms of 2 - how long did you have help?
CarolinaKatie
member
Hi ladies. I'm new here. My first post in the 0-3 board!
A question for those of you with an older child too. My baby is 12 days old. My older son will be 3 in August. Both are great! My older one has adjusted to being a big brother beautfiully! I could not ask for more from him! And the baby is really good - sleeps decently, we have BFing down for the most part, and he doesnt' cry much.
I had a c-s and am still a bit sore. Not too bad though. I have had help either from hubby, parents, or ILs since his birht and probably will through next week. But i can't help but be nervous for when I have both of them. Mainly for sleep deprevation! I've been able to nap well with help, but can't when I'm alone unless I luck up and they both nap at the same time for that blessed 2 hour afternoon nap!
Advice? Stories? Help! make me braver!
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Re: Moms of 2 - how long did you have help?
I'm a SAHM for the time being and my dh is home during the week (for the most part) and works on the weekends.
My mom lives 20 minutes away and would come to the house on her days off and spend the night even on the days she worked. She did this for a couple of weeks.
That being said, my dh does travel alot and is gone sometimes for multiple days/nights at a time. This is very hard to do, but somehow you just get through it. The older child gets used to the chaos that you will probably have at first.
My two both nap at the same time. My oldest naps for a good 2 hours or more and the baby will at least nap for an hour or more. Even if I get a 1/2 hour nap in, it's better than nothing.
Good luck
I had a c/s, too. DH was back to work full time @ 12 days. He actually went in on day 8 for a couple hours, and then on day 11, too. I was pretty pissed, to be honest. He swore he was taking 2 weeks off (after I was home from the hospital, so really 2 weeks 2 days), but no. Not what happened.
I managed. It was hard, and at least 2x now he's come home to me in tears, because all they do is cry, both of them. And then the dog barks...
You do learn to adjust. And adapt. And at it's worst, tune out some of the crying...
hubby was home for two weeks
mom was there for the first four days at home...
in laws came for a weekend days 13-17....
my son turned 2 during this time....it was really easy until 4 -6 weeks that's when i wish help really kicked in!
My DH works from home when he's not traveling, so he stayed home for about 3 weeks after DS was born, although he only took about a week completely off from work. My Mom came to help for a couple weeks as well (lives 500+ miles away). At about week 5 I was completely on my own (DH traveling, Mom gone).
Luckily, we fell into our groove really fast.
eta: My older child does not nap and was done with preschool when DS was 6 weeks old, so it's pretty non-stop. I also started working (I teach fitness classes) at 6 weeks. I don't ever get to nap, but I work hard to have the kids in bed before 8:30 pm so I can have some time to myself.
for my third, i had her on tuesday, stayed in the hospital til thurs, and dh went back to work on monday (per my request). we've been just fine.
my parents and other family live close though if i needed them. and dh could get off work if i need him to as well.
It has been quite an adjustment for me as well. With our NB, she is up every couple of hours during the night so I get NO sleep, then DD#1 wakes up around 6:30 when DH leaves for work. We start our day then. I get luck every now and then when both nap at the same time, but that is very rare.
My mom took off for a couple weeks when I gave birth, so she comes to pick up my DD#1 for the day when I need the break (and a nap). She goes back to work next week and I am dreading it.