What is a normal day like for you with a newborn?

[Indadhanu]

No such thing as a normal day hun!! Oh, well, I guess normal includes bub feeding, sleeping, crying, feeding sleeping crying... not always in the order and how long she does each for depends on only the universe knows what!!!!!

Some days I am pretty energetic, and some days its an effort for me to do anything other than sit on the couch! Some days I find myself with heaps of time, and some days I can't even manage to shower until midnight.

That said, exercise is extremely important IMO for mental health and it is important to do some at least every couple of days, even if its just to walk to the end of the street and back. But I would try not to put too many high hopes or expectations on yourself and just take each day as the sun rises.

[Nai]

Provided the weather was ok I would always make sure DD had one of her sleeps in the pram while I was walking. That meant a 2 hour walk for me and a good sleep for her. I found the best thing to do was not to stress if this didn't happen due to unpredicable baby stuff but to try and do it if possible.

[Visitor7]

In the first couple of months you'll still be trying to find your groove with having a baby and with the lack of sleep. But once that passes, you will find time to do such things like housework, exercise etc. Your days are going to be very unpredictable, so I wouldn't try and aim to do something at the same time each day. Just go with the flow.

[Cally]

You should be able to manage an hour walk each day (dependant on weather), although it will all depend on how the birth goes and how you go with those first few weeks (I had a csection and was very impressed with myself for walking the 400m to the beach after 2 weeks and that was with DH pushing the pram). You will be tired getting up twice a night (or more) for who knows how long. But particularly when DD was little the walks were great as she would fall asleep in them. We tried to go for one each morning and then if she wouldn't have an afternoon nap do another one then.

Walks are great as you can do them at any time of the day, you're not stressing about her sleeping through the class you want to go to at the gym etc.

[Andjxx]

You should be able to manage an hour walk each day (dependant on weather), although it will all depend on how the birth goes and how you go with those first few weeks (I had a csection and was very impressed with myself for walking the 400m to the beach after 2 weeks and that was with DH pushing the pram). You will be tired getting up twice a night (or more) for who knows how long. But particularly when DD was little the walks were great as she would fall asleep in them. We tried to go for one each morning and then if she wouldn't have an afternoon nap do another one then.

Walks are great as you can do them at any time of the day, you're not stressing about her sleeping through the class you want to go to at the gym etc.

This is exactly the kind of thing I was thinking - aim for a morning walk right before morning sleep time and hope that the bub gets into the habit of falling asleep on the walk.

I'm not really planning on the gym too much (not even a member of one) But I do own a spin bike so that is always an option when bub is sleeping.

I realise that it may be unpredictable but I think that an hour walk each day - or even some strength work at home should be something that I aim for each day. That or I may go insane.

I am very lucky to have an extremely helpful husband as well as no other children so I guess that will be a help.

[MamaPan]

i think everyone's experiences are different but at least 1 hour walk a day was certainly doable for me, even longer or more than 1 walk. DS slept well in the pram in the early days and also i used ot carry him in a sling and do another bit of a walk too. exercise and getting out in the fresh air were really important to me so i made it part of my day. that said, sometimes it didnt happen and you have to be ready for that - but if it is important to you i say prioritise it and make it happen - you will be happier! Once he got a bit older i found it harder - and now that he is 12 months he wont sit in the pram long enough for a long walk so i need someone else to watch him while i go to gym or something. enjoy it all - exciting times ahead!

[nic]

I was walking DD to school after DH went back to work, DS would've been around 4 weeks at the time. We did this for about 2 weeks, until I could drive again. My little man, loves the pram, problem was when we got home, he would wake when the pram stopped, little bugger.

With DD I would walk quite a bit. I loved going for a walk to the papershop, 6klm round trip. It's nice to get out of the house, into the sun, and not feel so isolated.

Definately doesn't sound unrealistic at all. Like Jody said, just go with the flow, if you get a walk in, great! if you don't, there is always tomorrow

Congrats on your pregnancy BTW

Nic

[satya]

For the first 6 weeks I did not manage any exercise. I'd had stitches and they were sore for most of that time & I just couldn't walk far at all without being in huge pain & feeling like everything was about to fall out.

That was one thing I did not expect after giving birth. I'd never realised with a vaginal birth that walking could be so difficult & painful - no-one warned me - the first I new of it was when I went to the physio class after the birth and she told us to expect not to be able to walk far for at least 6 weeks.

I was also trying to breast feed and it wasn't working so I had to express and then bottle feed it so it took double the time of breast feeding. It felt like you just got one feed over and done with and then it was time for another.

My bub is chucky so I always have loads and loads of washing to do - his clothes, wraps, sleeping bags, millions of bibs & face washers, my clothes that he chucked on & basinette sheets.

Of course you have to fit in eating (believe me in the early days that can even be a challenge as when you go to eat you realise it's time to feed bub again), having a shower and getting dressed, and if you are really lucky you might get some house work done.

When I finally stopped getting pain and had myself into a routine (around 6 weeks) I found that by the time I'd got myself & bub ready for a walk the weather had turned. It would be raining or too windy to take him out, or it was time to feed him again, or his dad was about to finish work. Something always seemed to happen around the planned walk.

My son is almost 3 months old and we've only been out for a handful of short walks. I find I get most of my excercise walking around a shopping centre as we don't have to contend with the weather and there's always a clean area to change or feed him in if we need it.