Sazz/Jason - I think the first 6 weeks with the baby is the hardest. I didn't always know why DS was crying, struggled to get him to sleep in his bassinette, and was overtired all the time. However, I felt it was harder on my DH as I found the BF hormones kept me generally happy and I could nap in the day when Hayden slept. Poor DH would try to help out at night, then go to work (and had no happy hormones). Hayden certainly has his bad days now (teething - arrgh!) but mixes in smiles and giggles which melt my heart on even the grizzliest days.
I have found that helping out at night and going to work very difficult. It would be great if I could have a nap a couple of times a day but the current work/life culture has still not fully aligned I don't think. It is currently the norm, or perceived to be the norm that the father takes a completely active role in the feeding/settling process. I am very happy to do this. Unfortunately at work, the culture is that you have no sympathy from male colleagues as they either didn't help out or also weren't given any sympathy so they won't give you anyway.

I am jealous that DW can nap during the day but then again I want her to do it and encourage her to do because she does have it worse than me at the moment as she is breast feeding. I know it takes a lot energy for women to do this and they need the rest. Sometimes you get selfish and want to complain but you can't or shouldn't. I wish I was 15 years younger as I think I could handle the lack of sleep better!

Well we are almost at the six week period so I hope that Luisa will settle in to a routine better. But I have heard the difficult period can last longer. One of the Mother's Cult accidently let that tidbit slip!!!

What is good at the moment is that we do get smiles quite often. It does help!

Cheers

Jason