Normal to feel exhausted after birth of second child?

[faithfulbird20]

Hubby feels exhausted and I feel sorry for him. He keeps saying he's turned into an old man and he's old etc etc he's only 34. But when he moans it breaks my heart. I'm tired too and he helps me out a lot. He loves both kids and so do I. I'm just wondering if it's normal for him to feel like this with 2 kids? 2 weeks after the birth...I know he's struggling more with keeping the 3 year old entertained and happy whilst I look after the 2 week old newborn...he helps me with the night feeds too...

Yes definitely imo:

• he is waking in the night to do feeds which I assume you both are. It's a shock doing that again after a break
• with the 2nd you might have been kicked out of hospital quicker without so much recovery tine
• more of a struggle for you both to sleep when baby does as one needs to be awake for 2nd dc
• you're both 3 years older this time

I thought this was going to be about you being exhausted. If he's doing more childcare than he normally does, he may well be tired but that's fine. I would be more concerned with you, having only given birth 2 weeks ago. Though he's not helping you, he's just being asked to actually parent his children. Don't spend your time feeling sorry for him, just enjoy your time together as a new family of 4 and make sure you're looked after.

Did you do everything for the three year old before? Is it just a bit of a shock having to do more work for him?

Why on earth would you feel sorry for him? You have a toddler and a new born, of course it's tiring. He will survive.

There's no break with two kids. He used to be able to give the toddler to you and watch TV. When you had the first one most of the work was up to you and you could both nap in the day. But now you're working to a 3 year old's timetable! Is the 3yo in nursery?

I'm sure it's normal, but surely it'll pass.

We have a 6month old and a 3yr old - we are both shattered all the time, I think it’s very normal and can’t see it getting much easier for a while. I’m surprised you thought it wouldn’t be, have others told you differently?

It's exhausting for both of you. Only two weeks in. Just give it some time until you both find your feet and get some kind of routine together.

Congratulations 💐 my eldest two are three years apart, it was a lovely age gap 🙂