The first 6 weeks were the hardest of my life!! And I had DH home for the first month, plus no trouble with establishing breast feeding. Of course the first few days of DS's life he just slept & fed, but when he woke up...wow
He had his days & nights mixed up which I never knew could happen. He had an unsettled period from about 2am that lasted up to 3 hours.
He fed every 90mins - 2hours overnight, which I expected. But I don't think you can comprehend what that actually means until you're going through it. I thought you just fed the baby & that was that - I didn't consider the time it took to feed, the pooing twice per feed, trying to settle him, him NOT settling etc!! And I hope I'm not the only one who didn't realise they were actually going to have to be awake & semi alert during all of this As I said - cannot comprehend until you're there.
I remember being so tired it would get to about 3pm & I'd start slurring my words!!
I remember feeling like I had made the biggest mistake of my life.
I remember wondering why they don't tell you any of this in the antenatal classes. Not that I would've believed them anyway.
I remember telling my DH that I'd sooner go through the birth 100 times than deal with this (and my DS's birth was long & difficult!!).
DS got a cold when he was 3 weeks old & I was so worried about him!! He kept kinda choking on his mucus & I sat up all night just about, too scared to sleep.
He wouldn't sleep in the day unless I was holding him. Then I bought a bouncer & he'd only sleep in that. Some days I couldn't even manage to get changed outta my pjs.
Then he got to 6 weeks old & everything magically changed. As someone else posted - I too feel jealous when I hear other mothers talk about their wonderful first weeks.
Oops this has turned into abit of a vent for me, sorry girls!!