Hi MummyMeg!

LOL at the 'all cute in the backseat'!! so true! at least she is calm though!

yeah, i think the shopping centre fear is there for all of us first timers! but i bit the bullet pretty early on in the process as it is a place FULL of desperately overtired mums and bubs, you see us everywhere pushing bubs around while they sleep peacefully away in the prams...so there is some solidarity...also, the parent rooms are a good place to go when bubs is screaming and needs a feed as invariably there are other mums with bubs doing the exact same thing. i found that i haunted shopping centres, cafes (have a coffee - decaf if necessary! while bubs is feeding or sleeping), or if worse comes to worse go for a walk around the neighbourhood...DH and I found that we got to know our area SO MUCH better after having DD! LOL!!

i also recommend joining a parents group (if you havent already). this was my saving grace as it meant that despite having horrible nights and days i could go somewhere and vent and compare notes with other mums. it was also GREAT to see other mums going through the same things as me! made me realise that DD wasnt crying because i was doing the wrong thing, she was crying, because that's just what they do! now 9 months down the track we are great friends and meet up a couple of times a week, for much needed coffees...

Also, remember, if things get really tough on the sleep front there is always the sleep school option. i recommend giving tresillian or QE2 a call and trying to book in. there is generally a waiting list, so put your name down and if in the 2 months things sort out, great, otherwise hang in there and go along. everyone of the mums in my group that have gone have found it really helps. Also there are day sleep schools that you can go to, generally run through the MACH centres. talk to your nurse or on the helpline. i went to the day one and it changed my life! (i went when DD was 6 weeks). check it all out online, there is alot out there. also, if you are interested in more attachent style, there are some great people who can come to you and give you some ideas on what to do. for this i recommend starting out with Pinky McKay (she has her own website...google her name...sorry not sure if i can mention it on here...).