New mom needing help

Mistie - posted on 06/08/2009

PS she is still nursing and doing well!

Mistie - posted on 06/08/2009

Well, I'm probably the last one to ask since my daughter is 19 mo and it still feels like things don't get done right or fast enough- but I do know that no matter how messy the house got we aren't living in a pile of filth now but she is happy and well adjusted- I didn't "put her down" until she started wanting down at about a yr old and she wanted down all the time now- she also sleeps with us and has no problem staying with her gaga whenever we go out- just follow your gutt- I always put "people before things" since that's the opposite of how I grew up and it works- also- you need to get plenty of rest- ALWAYS sleep or at least rest when baby does- it's a life saver and helps with your patience too! try to do one thing a day like mon clean the bathroom, then the next day you are able dust everywhere, then the next day sweep or vaccuum. It wasn't how I was used to cleaning but it works- things always get done , there just isn't that mental thing of a day where the whole house is clean- once you get pst that it helps!

Karen - posted on 06/02/2009

I have a 9 week old and am finding that housework is nonexsistent. It is bugging me. - I had my husband watch the baby while I cleaned the bathrooms. - Laundry I do a load a day - lights one day, towels another, dark clothes - etc. I put it in in the morning and maybe dry them the next morning or that evening after my husband gets home. - Dishes and cooking are another story, but I have a husband that is WONDERFUL and helps with a lot of it. I am not expecting a clean house for another 10 years. - I figure that way I will not get my hopes up.

Ingrid - posted on 06/02/2009

Hi Jessica, my son is 13 weeks and I also have a 2 year old. I think you just need to take each days as it comes, some days you can manage more.. I sometimes put the baby in a sling and carry him around so i can get a few things done in the house. Don't be too hard on yourself. There will always be dishes and washing but you need to look after yourself and bubs first of all. Also I have found a routine in Tizzie halls book that really works for us and manages to give me time to do things. Check out her advise and routines. I have found this time round that they really do work quite well and give you times when you can actually get a few things done and helps the baby sleep longer. http://www.saveoursleep.com/ also check out the interview with her.. even when my son wasn't waking at the right time i would just follow the routine as 2 hours awake 2 hours asleep and 4 hours between breastfeeds. most of the time it helps

Dara - posted on 05/26/2009

My kids are 4, 7, and 10 and I don't think I ever got back into the full full routine. They say kids change your life and they do. It 's all good, but realistically they make more messes, they need more attentions, they have more activities. I am thinking my house will be neat and tidy again once they go to college. Until then....I just deal. I wish I would be Susie Homemaker...but I don't think that being a good mom means your house is in order all of the time.

Jessica - posted on 05/09/2009

Thanks for the help!! I'm able to get the floors done a week...which is such a big accomplishment in my book. My hubby is slowely realizing the challenges we go through during the day and that the house come second to Brian.

Katheryn - posted on 05/07/2009

I have a high energy child and I am so NOT high energy. He was exclusively BF'd and I went back to work at 9 weeks. Full Time. It took lots of energy. A few things that got me through it all.. Sleep when the baby sleeps if you need the extra rest, use a baby carrier so you can get a few things done, prioritize, don't waste time on he things you don't absolutely need to do right now. If somenone asks if you need anything, have them come over and watch the kid for an hour or two while you take a bath and sleep. Don't worry if the house is a mess, babies are only babies for a very short time, there will always be dishes and laundry ;)

Brittany - posted on 05/02/2009

I was exhausted too! People kept telling me to 'do things' when she was asleep, but others told me to sleep when she slept. It was so confusing until I found a carrier (Moby Wrap) that she loved to snuggle in while she was awake and I could do stuff with her because my hands were free AND I could nap when she did if I needed to. It was a great solution for me. Good luck!

Stacey - posted on 04/29/2009

It's different for everyone. I thought I would never be able to get any household chores done until I used the carrier. My son loved to be carried around in the carrier and I was able to get so much accomplished when he was 3 months. Now that he is 10 months old I do everything during nap time and can usually get 30-45 minutes to myself while he takes his second nap. :)

Tiffany - posted on 04/29/2009

Don't stress too much right now. Enjoy your little one! It takes time to get in a routine. It seems overwhelming with a new baby, but I promise it will get better. I think every new mom goes through this. When my son was an infant, I would clean and get stuff done while he was asleep. Eventually, you'll learn to do things even when he's awake. I do dishes every night so that I don't have a bunch to do; plus my husband's home so he can watch the baby while I get the kitchen cleaned. At your son's age, swings are a blessing. They keep them entertained for a while. Hopefully, you'll be blessed like I am and have a baby that can entertain himself for a while which helps you be able to get stuff done too. I never held him alot during the day, so maybe that's why he does so well at entertaining himself. As far as being tired, there could be a lot of factors. Your body is still healing and recooperating from having a baby. I'm sure breastfeeding takes a lot of energy too. Just hand in there, things will get easier. Good luck!!

Jessica - posted on 04/27/2009

i feel the same way....i would rather spend as much time with him as i can.

Treva - posted on 04/27/2009

it takes time. I have two girls, I work full time, plus I sing on the praise team at church every other weekend. It gets tough. You just have to learn whats more important. Sometimes I'd rather spend time with my kids playing outside with them then spending all day cleaning. So you do what you can when you can and just know your children are only young once.

Jessica - posted on 04/27/2009

Thanks! It's good to know I'm not the only one who's house slacked off. I try to get at least one room in the house done.

Treva - posted on 04/27/2009

getting into a routine takes time. I would agree cut yourself some slack...give it a few months to adjust to being a new mom and enjoy your little one! With my first child it took me about 3 or 4 months to get back into the swing of things. When I had my second I didn't have that long...cause my oldest had just started school and my husband was over the road (truck driver). But my oldest enjoyed getting to help out when she could. Just enjoy him while he's in the baby stage because before you know it he'll be crawling, talking and walking!

Lauren - posted on 04/27/2009

our daughter is high needs and we also exclusively breastfeed. It has only been in the past 2 weeks that I've been able to accomplish much, and she'll be 6 months in 2 more days! Cut yourself some slack and ask hubby to understand the adjustment period =)

Liz - posted on 04/26/2009

Make sure you are eating enough and try to get as much sleep or rest that you can. House work can get caught up later. My son was probably around 3 months when he developed a good sleep/awake pattern. Before that I could usually put him in the swing and he would fall asleep, so I could have my hands free to do some things. the one thing I never got that I think would have been useful was a front facing carrier.