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Original poster

Exhausted with newborn - when does it get easier?

79 replies

BabyMama889 · 28/10/2024 15:24

I just need to hear what I can hope for.

I have a 10 week old baby. He's gorgeous but I'm falling apart. The sleep deprivation is a killer. I thought I would start exercising a bit or socialising by now but I'm SO tired. PGP still lingering so long walks are painful. I just spend all day crying and feeling like an abject failure. I know you're meant to speak to the baby but I don't want to. I'm totally overwhelmed so I just breastfeed him, change his nappies etc but I can't do more. And I can’t sleep in the day. I just can't. Never could and now it's even harder. When the baby goes down I'm so overstimulated, I need time to wind down. But he has no schedule. He may sleep for 10 minutes, an hour, 3 hours. You never know.

I spent my whole pregnancy suffering with sickness, PGP and itching from cholestatis. The PGP was so bad from 24 weeks, I was essentially house bound. I didn't think things could get worse.

My only 2 friends with babies LOVED the newborn stage and went travelling at 8 weeks (I don't think I could even spell my name to buy an airline ticket right now). They keep telling me how newborns are the best but if this is the best it gets, etc what have I done???? I'm not cut out for this.

OP posts:
AnellaA · 28/10/2024 15:36

It’s hard. Your travelling friends are not the norm. By 8 months, it will be getting a lot easier (lots of variables such as how you sleep train, what coughs/ colds/ other problems your baby has eg mine both had reflux so that was hard until they weaned)z

Now your baby is getting bigger get a sling or baby carrier. It’s a game changer.

curiouscat1987 · 28/10/2024 15:34

Ahhhh i feel you op! I had a similarly difficult pregnancy with my first and the spd took months to get better post birth. Have you tried osteopathy? Its all i found that really helped, highly recommend it!

I cant answer re when things get easier as all babies and circumstances are different, but for me it was probably around the 3 month mark. It really sounds as though this has done a number on your emotional state, id really encourage you to contact your gp and discuss with them as they may suggest medication to help tide you over. Otherwise, i suggest maybe tackling one issue at a time - for me once the spd eased up everythinf else felt so much easier as i could sleep a little more and move more without pain. Good luck to you 😊

Ryeman · 28/10/2024 15:32

YANBU - newborn stage is hard, depending on the baby. My first was very difficult, wanted to be held all the time, didn’t sleep or nap well. He didn’t sleep through until he was over a year, but it went so quickly in reality. It will get better.

HateMyselfToo · 28/10/2024 15:31

Oh God those early days are tough. NOTHING prepares you for how relentless it is.
Mine is a teenager now and I still remember how hard it was.

Some people like the baby stage. For me, it was dull and I have enjoyed my DD a little more every year.
DO NOT compare yourself, or your baby, to others experiences. Some will walk early, some later. Some will eat well, some less so. Some sleep through, some nearly kill you with tiredness.

Just do what you have to do to get through. For me it was lowering standards and having a stash of paper plates!