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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that having a newborn is a doddle...

86 replies

WordGetsAround · 23/04/2016 17:09

...compared to the first trimester of pregnancy?

I'm having my best first trimester so far (DC3) and yet I still feel absolutely shocking. I keep thinking, well soon I'll have a whole new human to look after as well but having a newborn is much easier then this, isn't it?

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 23/04/2016 17:11

From what I remember you are totally correct!

There may be a stampede of people behind me who disagree though.

Chippednailvarnish · 23/04/2016 17:12

Consider it a respite before they learn to answer back.

SweetieDrops · 23/04/2016 17:13

Depends on the newborn, DD was a very chilled out newborn and not a screamer so I found the newborn stage easier than being pregnant, friends with more challenging, colicky babies found the opposite.

Jenijena · 23/04/2016 17:14

YABU.

//stares at three week old who only sleeps when being held, is either awake and feeding, awake and crying, or awake and pooing

//contemplates sleep deprivation as a method of torture, not to mention mangled nipples

//dares not even contemplate what has happened down below

//remembers first trimester when I went on holiday twice, a couple of camping weekends, had a bit of an extra lie in in the morning but did, actually, feel alive enough to spend time with DS1.

For both of us, this too will pass...

thenewaveragebear1983 · 23/04/2016 17:14

God yes. Also, having a newborn and toddler is infinitely preferable to being pregnant with toddler.

Fanfeck · 23/04/2016 17:14

I was coming to give you a biscuit but actually I agree!

Fwaffy · 23/04/2016 17:14

Well I had a reasonably okay first trimester and felt shell-shocked by newborn babydom so maybe you get either/or??

MrsTerryPratchett · 23/04/2016 17:15

Depends on the pregnancy; depends on the baby.

Pinkheart5915 · 23/04/2016 17:16

I agree
I had my first baby last year and found a new born a lot easier than I did the first few months of pregnancy.

LittleBootsTheBabe · 23/04/2016 17:16

A doddle if its not the first time!

First time it's all aaargh I'm responsible for this tiny person, it takes hours to get ready to leave the house, why are they crying? I'm soooo tired, I'm crying too, why did I ever think I could do this?!

Fwaffy · 23/04/2016 17:16

Oooh, currently pregnant with DC2 actually so I'm going to go ahead and cling to thenewaverage's advice. Forget whatever I said before.

Pogmella · 23/04/2016 17:17

Yup. Sure its not the case for all babies, but dd is 4mo and its been way easier than being at work.

RJnomore1 · 23/04/2016 17:17

Before I knew I was pregnant with dd1 I was terrified because I actually thought I was dying I felt so ill.

ARichVernacular · 23/04/2016 17:19

Both times pregnancy was a piece of piss for me. I found the baby days quite hard, esp second time round; however, now that I have two school age children who never sit still or shut up, I frequently find myself lost in dreamy nostalgia for the days when their biggest problem was always some variant of hungry/tired/sitting in effluence, and their only questions were 'more bickit mama?'

LBOCS2 · 23/04/2016 17:21

Also, having a newborn and toddler is infinitely preferable to being pregnant with toddler.

Yes. Yes, yes, yes.

I have a 3yo and a 5 day old. It's amazing, I can get off the sofa! I can climb stairs! I can stand up without wincing and feeling like I've been kicked in the fanjo! I can get out of bed! I can actually parent my DD instead of sitting on the sofa persuading her to do as she's told via the medium of skittles-bribes!

I had a shit first trimester as well. This is easier.

roundtable · 23/04/2016 17:21

First - yes

Second- no no no! Screamed 24 hours a day, slept in 45 chunks. He's a bit better but still spends most of the day crying and that's never changed since being a newborn threenager now with bells on.

53rdAndBird · 23/04/2016 17:22

Definitely true in my case. Not a particularly easy baby, just a really really miserable pregnancy.

Original poster
WordGetsAround · 23/04/2016 17:22

thenewaverage I read your post three times and thought you were comparing it to being pregnant WITH a toddler and couldn't work out what you were going on about. It was only when Fwaffy said she'd take your advice that I read back and finally understood what you meant!

This is surely proof that first trimester messes with your mind and body!!

OP posts:
MissTurnstiles · 23/04/2016 17:22

Very much depends on your birth, too.

DD was a reasonably 'easy' newborn but my recovery from my birth injuries was protected and complex. I'd have taken the exhaustion and nausea of the first trimester over that any day - and it was over sooner, too.

Galena · 23/04/2016 17:24

Oh fuck no!

DD was premature, born at 27 weeks. when she came home from SCBU 3 weeks before her due date she only slept if held, only slept for 45 minutes, completely refused a bottle (even with expressed milk in), screamed whenever she wasn't sleeping.

They were the hardest 5 months in the world ever.

MadamDeathstare · 23/04/2016 17:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ScoutsMam · 23/04/2016 17:25

True here too. Easy babies and miserable pregnancies.

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 23/04/2016 17:27

You're very brave to tempt fate like this OP Grin

Totally depends on the baby (and the pregnancy of course) Newborn dc2 nearly broke me. (reflux)

Roseberrry · 23/04/2016 17:27

True. I love the newborn stage. Mine wouldn't sleep without being held either but I was happy to hold them all the time!

Oxtailchambermaid · 23/04/2016 17:29

A million times no! I would have shoved my two back in if I could. OK twins a different ball game but still being pregnant was so much easier in comparison to the newborn stage. Think my record was 17 hours straight having to hold one or both.