Bringing baby home - life with a newborn

[BellysGonnaGetYa]

Hi All,

I'm a soon-to-be FTM and as D-Day draws ever closer, I'm starting to think more about what life will be like when our baby arrives.

Most of my friends have kids (although they are a lot older now) so I have heard all the stories about endless nappy changing, constant crying and sleepless nights but I was wondering if anyone could give me a brief summary of their experience of their first day/week/month as a parent?

Is it hell on earth? Was your baby constantly attached to you, preventing you from doing ANYTHING? Did you find it as difficult as you'd imagined or were you pleasantly surprised?

I know everyone's experience is different but I'm interested in hearing how it was for you.

TIA x

Mine was hell on earth I'm afraid. Endless inconsolable crying- particularly late afternoon/evening and then after feeding in the night. Got better from 3 months and fine after then, despite the periodic sleep regressions.

Thanks all, really appreciate your replies. It's great to hear everyone's different experiences. I know I'll just have to wait and see how things pan out for us but I like hearing how everyone else found the early days.

I'm currently a mixture of excited and terrified! I think arriving home from hospital and it just being baby, DH and I will be a real 'WTF do we do now?' moment! If only they came with instructions 😂 x

I think arriving home from hospital and it just being baby, DH and I will be a real 'WTF do we do now?' moment!
It is EXACTLY that. When you realise they've just let you... leave... with this small human...? And you're in charge?

Honestly don't worry, though. The baby will make it quite clear what to do (feed it almost constantly for the first weeks and at every growth spurt, which happen approximately every 24 hours; don't attempt to put it down in the expensive cot/crib/Moses basket when warm, stinky you is right there to be slept on; show it the bath then decide it probably doesn't need one because you're terrified; hand it to DH for all nappy changes, you're busy/resting/attempting your first post-birth poo – good, memorable times; stick it in the sling while wondering why you bothered buying a pram at all, except it makes a useful hallway spot for the mountain of washing you haven't done). Enjoy!

@burritofan I love that 😂 can imagine all of it happening! X

With my first it was awesome - yes exhausted, yes emotional but I just sat about feeding and getting spoiled by DH and our parents etc. He also slept a lot during the day.

My second cried a lot and did. not. sleep. ever.
Ended up hallucinating with lack of sleep, she wouldn't even be held by anyone else at all (a theme which continued).
Add to that a demanding toddler who was very ill with constant tonsillitis and yeah....very different experience.