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Maryland Babies
SarahKate31
member
BFP#1: 01/10, M/C 6w
BFP#2: 06/10, M/C 5w
BFP#3: 09/10, DS born June 1, 2011
BFP#4: 07/12, M/C 5w3d
BFP#5: 12/12, EDD 08/18/13
My Blog: Decorate This
Another perspective on the newborn stage...
SarahKate31
member
I hope I don't get flamed for this, but I've read a lot on here lately about how the newborn phase is SO hard and it's awful at times and it's just something you have to power through to get to the other side. I know that is true for many, but I wanted to mention that it's not ALWAYS that way. I don't think it's ever EASY, but honestly, for us it wasn't that bad at all. There were frustrating times, but I adjusted well to not sleeping, BFing went reasonably well, DS slept well (and through the night early at 6 weeks), and things went smoothly. I guess we lucked out with DS being good in the newborn stage (and we'll probably get slammed with baby #2 being colicky or something). But...even though we had a relatively smooth time with the newborn stage, most of you have seen my numerous posts about DS's sleep issues that cropped up around 3 months. For us, that was (is) harder to deal with than the newborn stage.
I just wanted to mention that every family has a different experience and for all of the mommas-to-be on the board, the newborn stage could be really, really hard, or it might not be so bad. Every baby/family is different.
I just wanted to mention that every family has a different experience and for all of the mommas-to-be on the board, the newborn stage could be really, really hard, or it might not be so bad. Every baby/family is different.
BFP#1: 01/10, M/C 6w
BFP#2: 06/10, M/C 5w
BFP#3: 09/10, DS born June 1, 2011
BFP#4: 07/12, M/C 5w3d
BFP#5: 12/12, EDD 08/18/13
My Blog: Decorate This
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Another perspective on the newborn stage...
good point
Absolutely agree. I often joke that I felt like a professional in the newborn stage but now i'm like what the heck do I do ::insert whatever situation we are facing:: and I wish they came with a manual
I am SO glad you posted this. I was just telling DH last night how blessed I feel after reading some things on the bump and how hard some people have it. I tell people God knew I needed an easy baby with all that I was going through with my mom at the time, but I look back at everything and don't have a single bad or real frustrating memory. Some of you moms probably want to throw things at me for this, but like SK I want to tell expectant moms that it's not necessarily going to be awful. You can prepare for the worst, but don't expect it. You may be surprised.
I know our next kid will probably be hell on wheels to make up for B's easiness.
Someone's getting a little brother!
Ditto all of this.
I get so pissy when I see everyone (not this board, just in general) saying like omg labor/newborn stage/breastfeeding/naps/sleeping etc etc etc is SOOOOOO hard and you'll want to kill yourself. Yes, we have definitely faced some challenges but what's hard for one mom might be a breeze for another.
I am also going to chime in and say that beside the intial first week of AH I HAVE A BABY! DS has been an angel and I would love to have 5 more if they were all as easy as he was in the NB stage. DH is paranoid when something is wrong because we have had it very easy up until this point.
Mella you said it best, if I have another baby, she or he will PROBABLY be hell on wheels
You're right, but it really is a combination of expectations and the baby. A friend of a friend had a LO who was just colicky, and no reflux, and he just screamed almost every moment he was awake for 3 months. Another friend that has a LO who is 3 and she just isn't a good sleeper, at all, light sleeper, just doesn't need much sleep.
We are also lucky, besides having some latching issues at first, J was such a good baby. At 2 months he ate 6 oz every 4 hours which made going out and doing things so much easier, he started STTN at 5/6 weeks and just generally content most of the time. I also had a really easy recovery from my c/s and I can see how recovery from a c/s, and even a traumatic vagianl birth (I'm thinking severe tearing, etc) can make caring for a NB even that more difficult.
I was just talking about this today! I'd take another newborn like DS (besides his coming 6.5 weeks early and being in the NICU) any day! He got the hang of breastfeeding quickly, no reflux issues, and was STTN at 6 weeks. He was a generally happy little guy and still is.
Now the 4mw was a whole other ballgame, but maybe that is because we went through it right about the same time I was returning to work. He is now sleeping 8-10 hours a night without waking most of the time, we still have a rough night now and then but that is to be expected.
I think I may be doomed next go round!
I also think every child is different. With Aiden the newborn stage was hell. He hardly slept, we had BF issues, etc. With Claire, she slept like a dream from day one, and slept in 7-8 hour stretches by 6 weeks. While she still won't nap, she's overall a happier baby, and I loved every second with her as a newborn.
miscarriage on 11/26/09 at 5w6d