pregnant with first child and my husband deploys a week after due date

Katelyn - posted on 08/31/2012

If you don't mind me asking, How did it go? My husband is in the Navy and we just found out he is starting work ups for a 7 month deployment two weeks after our first baby is born. He will be gone a month, then back a month and so on for 5 months till he leaves for the big D. Overall it will be about a year. Im worried about being overwhelmed, since I am away from my family support.

Jodie - posted on 07/21/2010

My husband was supposed to leave two weeks after our first daughter was born They let him leave DP instead of AP which gave him two more weeks, which was SO nice. It was a 7 month deployment.
Where is he deploying to? Video chatting is so good. Even before she knows whats going on. Let her hear his voice regularly. Especially the first few weeks. My husbands battalion sent home videos of Daddy reading his baby a story. Autumn loved sitting in her bouncer and watching it. Try to record a handful of things like that. Video mail, storytime, all that is important for both of them. I always made it a point to talk to my husband about her watching them and how much she liked them. And i never said anything about her not wanting to watch them or not liking them. Your husband is going to be afraid that his daughter wont know who he is. But you can do a lot to make sure she knows him. But yeah, its going to take some time for her to get to know him in person. Show her new pictures and videos as much as possible. Put his phone calls on speaker phone. Dont worry about anything though. She will warm up to him nicely. And he will be coming back at a fun age for the daddy. They dont have as big of a part when theyre really little anyway. So if he has to deploy, then its the best time. Dont expect him to be able to take care of her by himself right away. My husband was very intimidated and scared to have her alone. So be sensitive to that. Help ease him into everything and let him do what he feels comfortable with before pushing him to help with more. Find some friends in your area for support. A gal pal next door can be so valuable. The best thing for me was getting plugged into a church. There are a ton of people who will be more than willing to help with a baby Take advantages of offers Just having company is so important. Someone to hold the baby while you clean Someone to talk to Find some friends now while your husband is home cuz its gonna be harder when youre on your own.

Cynthia - posted on 07/05/2010

its not easy but you have to keep your self motivated my husband left a month after i found out i was pregnant and i to am far away from family he was able to come home for the birth and then he left when our princess was only 13 days old he didnt hold her again until she was almost 5 months its hard but thats the military life........if you have friends around use every bit of help the offer every little bit counts....my husband and i were always on web cam he got to see her every chance he got and he was surprised to see how well i was doing and talking to mom does help as well

Shar'Ron - posted on 07/05/2010

he was deployed for my entire pregancy and came home just in time to witness our first child to be born. I was harder for him to leave going back to Iraq 11 days after she was here on earth. It is not going to be easy but Skype made it so much easy. No physically he has not been here but he has seen his daughter everyday for the five months she has been alive. Take pictures, write him, send home videos. Let him know how you are feeling your low and high points make him feel that he is still needed and involved even when he's away. everyday he is away is one more day closer till he returns home to his new family

Karen - posted on 07/05/2010

My husband is currently deployed. He left when our son was only 6 weeks. It is hard, but someone has to do it. Here is what is helping me. I have a skype account and we skype as often as we can take the computer and lay it down with the baby and let daddy talk to him for as long as he wants. A few suggestion i just recently got was have him make some pre-made home video of him talking to the baby, singing, and reading books. Maybe playing peek-a-boo!! You will be too busy to notice that he is not there, ok i hate that saying and it is not true!! i notice he is not there, asnd that will get better but you just have to remember that he is not just gone he is out protecting his family. Whenever you can get someone to watch the baby and "go to the store". Get a few small things... then go in your car and CRY!! It helps, i do it about once a week. It helps get out what your feeling and helps you so you dont get irratated with the baby. Another thing i am doing for my husband is i have bought a journal, everyday write in the journal of what you and the baby did. Even if it is the same thing as the day before. It helps him to know he will not be missing anything. When the journal is all filled up send it to him. Dont e-mail him and tell him, it is so much more special if it is written, it is now a keepsake for your little one! I am not saying dont tell him what yall did, tell him everything but also write it down. i hope this helps!! And good luck it will get better.

Krislyn - posted on 07/03/2010

My husband left when I was about 7 months and God willing will be home when the baby is 3-4 months. Its not easy but at the same time you learn to really bond with your baby and not feel guilty about neglecting your husband;s needs. You can fully focus on the baby and time does go by fast with all the planning etc,We can't use web cam but face book has been amazing for posting pictures right away. Your communication just might even deepen as well as your love for one another as did ours. Try to reach out to others and accept any help offered. I will keep you and you family in prayer and congrats on new lil life!

Cheryl - posted on 07/01/2010

Hubby was gone for two or our four births and missed the first year of both. To tell the truth I was to busy to even notice. I'm from England and so had no family at all but I made sure I got out and about to mother and child groups, sure I had my moments at night when the kids were sleeping but they never lasted to long.. to tired :)
I have to say it is harder with one because you do get more time to yourself and get deep in thought. Just keep busy as much as you and get out and met other mothers.

Gretchen - posted on 06/30/2010

my husband was deployed when i had our now one month old son. he missed most of the pregnancy the labor and the firs couple months of our sons life.
i too live away from family, it helps to just call my mom everyday and ask for help from friends.
as for yr husband, get skype accounts so you two can video chat and he can still see yr daughter grow, and yr daughter can better know her father when he gets home.

Medic - posted on 06/30/2010

My husband left when our now 5 month old was 6 days old....not sure how to make him feel better this was our second and we have been threw this before with our now almost 4 year old so he was confident I would be ok. And as for you the days will fly by. TRUST me....I can hardly remember the past 5 months...but hey both kids are still alive so I must be doing something right.