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

[Andjxx]

I am just wondering if some of you new mums could give me a run down of a normal day for you.

I am a very keen exerciser and have had a few (I would say negative) people telling me there wont be any time for exercise after my bub is born and I tend to disagree with them.

There is no way that i will want to be stuck in the house all day and what better way to get out than to go for an hours walk? We are getting a 3 wheeler 'more rugged' pram especially for that purpose.

Am I the one being unrealistic?

[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.