To ask what keeps you so busy with a newborn?

[Floraleigh]

Apologies if this seems daft but I'm a first time mum and no idea what to expect from my NB. I've seen the stories that I can't have a hot cuppa for months, but why? If babies sleep 14-18 hours per day, what am I doing whilst baby is sleeping? What keeps you so busy and knackered?

Trying to prepare myself and DH as he seems to think he'll have time to keep up hobbies at the same pace when the baby is here. This isn't meant to be goady, really haven't the slightest what to expect from a tiny baby!

I would add - it's actually harder later on. Once they sleep less and climb or run more, it's far harder work. Apart from the first month or two when you will be a walking zombie, non-mobile babies are the best and easiest time of your parenthood.......

You can read or drink tea while they feed. Then you change them and they sleep for ages. There’s no reason you can’t shower, nap, do housework, spend time with visitors etc. infants are wonderfully portable too. It’s when they are mobile that it gets more difficult. It can be as easy as you make it.

I couldn't read while breastfeeding with DS1. If I turned the pages of a book or magazine the baby unlatched and screamed. I could watch TV if I turned it on before I started. It was difficult to drink tea or coffee because, again, if I moved my arm he lost the latch. It was painful and difficult - I had to use nipple shields because I was bleeding and sore and he found latching on hard.

He didn't sleep after feeding. He woke up, needed changing, was alert for an hour or so (and needed constant carrying to keep happy), started crying, eventually fell asleep. He woke 20 -30 minutes later screaming and hungry.

DS2 was completely different and fell asleep for a couple of hours after feeding. But then I had a 3 year old to entertain.

I wasn't trying to make it difficult. It just was. And I was shattered because he didn't sleep for more than 2 or 3 hours at a stretch at night for months. I couldn't nap when the baby did because he didn't nap for long enough.

You will look back on this question in a few months and know lol !!!. Well yes newborns sleep but inbetween they may not want to be away from you and as time goes on they are more awake in the day and wake at night ! So I can tell u this u will feel a tiredness like you never felt in your life . Just get your husband to come running into the bedroom every 2-3 hours all night for a
Few weeks screaming and demanding food then screaming a bit more if they have colic And then have him stuck to you all day too ! That might give u some idea of a typical day . Oh and don’t forget the constant checking on them to see if they are breathing , nappy changes , sore boobs , breastfeeding , or bottle sterilising as well
As trying to feed yourself and tidy the house and wash clothes :)) . My advice !! Buy sweatpants cute ones that look ok if u leave the house. Eat cake and chill skip the. Any groups for a few weeks and order food online :) oh and if your husband comes home demanding dinner or complaining u look tired or the house is a mess . You are perfectly entitled to throw your nappy bin in the direction of his family jewels !!! ;)

I wouldn't drink tea while they fed after seeing the result of a scald on a boy in my class - his whole arm was very scarred. HCPs warn against it and give leaflets out about it every time you see them.

Lecture aside, I loved being confined to the sofa with DS1 as I got to read all those long novels I'd been saving up. I've never read so much in my life! So I was rather disappointed that DS2 reacted to the sound of pages turning with a fury that was like something from a horror film. Every time. So I barely read a word when he was a baby and had to make do with Lovefilm and Netflix instead.

They'd both scream if I put them down for a second though. DS2 particularly. I had to use the loo with him strapped to me in a sling! 5pm - 6pm was the worst time - I had to cook for DS1 but DS2 screamed the house down every evening without fail.

And then they become mobile and you have to prevent them accidentally killing themselves every two minutes. And THEN, they learn to shout 'Muuuuummmmmm?' every single time you sit down to try and do something else

😂😂😂 I have 3 and non of them have left me any free time at all 😂 you will be so so so shattered but so in love with your tiny human(s) 👍🏼 nothing we say will prepare you - good luck 👍🏼