How did you handle everyday stuff?

FisMom · June 2010

How did you handle errands and regular things like grocery shopping? I feel that between pumping every three hours, napping occasionally (doctors' and nurses' orders), and visiting my daughter (twice a day), I can't do anything else.

My mom was nice enough to hire some people to clean my house once because I am still recovering from a c-section. There is all sorts of stuff I feel I need to do, like gardening, and organzing, and shopping for food and baby stuff, but I don't think I have the time.

How did you do it?

Thanks!

SkypekWithoutAC · June 2010

I don't think we really did...we weren't home too much, and if we were, we were either working on getting DD's room ready or sleeping. We ate out near the NICU a lot. Take it easy on yourself. Your garden will survive a few weeks, months, or even the whole season if you need to put it on the back burner. And baby won't need much. Just make sure you've got the basics taken care of and everything else can wait.

AFwife1106 · June 2010

We didn't really either. I gained more weight while she was in the NICU then I did my entire pregnancy. We ate out A LOT. I didn't have time to cook between pumping and going to see her. DH was working and when he'd come home, we'd go see her and come home and go to bed. We had her nursery done when my water broke, so luckily, we didn't have to deal with that. I think the only advice I can offer is to do what you can. It'll get easier.. we take it one thing at a time. We still need to clean out the closet, it's a mess and has been since my water broke. LOL That sounds horrible since she'll be 10 months tomorrow but oh well.

Irishsapphire · June 2010

There are some days that it is easy to spend more time with my son. And then there was today where I was really tired, I pumped once and gave my breastmilk--and I told the nurse that I would be by again by 5pm--and I overslept --so I called and let them know that I would not be in tonight and that I would be in tomorrow--it happens. I know that the nurse is taking good care of my son, and he is probably just sleeping for most of the day anyway.

I feel like I am going crazy with the pumping--I am only up to six pumping sessions. My bin for frozen breastmilk is overflowing at the hospital--it is overflowing in our freezer. My son had a little bit of blood in his stool--so he was put on an IV for a couple of days--so hopefully he will be back to breastmilk tomorrow. When my son comes home, I will probably just do breastmilk (breastfeeding) and formula for my sanity. I have just realized my limits, and I know this will be easier to manage when I go back to work on 7/7/10.

Baby stuff--I am evaluating what people are giving us as gifts and then I am looking at my registry for things that we need when the baby comes home. Last weekend, we got some newborn diapers, a Baby Einsten bouncer, and a diaper pail at BRU. I ordered my Ergo Baby Carrier. And unfortunately, my Anka High Chair was broken when we got it today--my heart sank (I am trying to be so perfect, and be this perfect mother--and the freakin high chair was broken and not perfect--luckily BRU will take it back at local store).

Oh, and it bothers me when I wash certain baby clothes, and they fall apart. It is on "My List."

It is just part of bonding and getting closer to being a mother for your child. I really treasure the time that I spend with my son, and the time that I spend as well making sure everything is in order for when he comes home.

meldoo2002 · June 2010

At first.. we didn't. It was alot of stress because I always had to "plan" to go to the grocery store when DH was home.. .and usually after bedtime. We did not decorate, do any outdoor up keep, or keep as clean a house as usual the entire first year the boys were home. I almost felt like life would never be normal again. A year later we are gardening, pulling weeds, going to the store, decorating for season... all the things I felt way too overwhelmed to do. I think you have to give yourself a break and just do the bare minimum for now. Also take any help you are offered. It really helps.

FisMom · June 2010

Oh wow! Thanks! I don't feel so bad not accomplishing much.

mek10976 · June 2010

I don't think we were able to fit the mundane stuff into our day at all. DS was born the week before Christmas, so we had crap EVERYWHERE for a long time. I'm pretty sure our dead wreath was on the door well into February. I also recall that a couple weeks after he was born, DH and I were like "oh sh!t, we forgot to pay all our bills".

It was too difficult for us to keep up with life and be there for DS. He was more important than laundry!

kessmd · June 2010

I am with you there. My life has been in a bubble for 6 weeks. I try to schedule one errand every few days and do it after I leave during the day. Pump before I leave the hospital and then come home after the one errand. I am lucky that my husband is off for the summer so that helps with him accomplishing things around the house. We also have been eating out a lot, We finally got the nursery ready last week.

I am learning to do what needs to be done and the rest can wait.

witt0198 · June 2010

I'm with a lot of the others, we just plain didn't. We hired someone to clean the house once every 2 weeks even though we didn't really have the money, we just really needed the help. I have a big flower bed, it didn't get touched for amost 2 years, it's almost in good shape again this year now. We're still trying to catch up the house and the yard, but we're WAY closer we've been working on it for the past 9 months or so gradually. DH and I took turns grocery shopping/other errands. You just do what you can, don't stress about the rest, b/c eventually you will get to it, and in the long run it's just not important.

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