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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

He’s 4 weeks old and I hate my life

999 replies

clairindespair · 14/01/2020 09:12

Hi I’m gonna get so much shit for this but I absolutely hate my life after having my son. Birth wasn’t pleasant resulting in emergency c section and I am in a financial crisis after student loan hasn’t been paid leaving me with 70p as formula just siphons my money (unable to BF)

He screams for food and doesn’t do anything else. Just screams. Cluster feeds all through the early hours of the morning. I’m a single mum and have no one, I’ve had 4 hours sleep in 5 days and I am struggling to keep my eyes open. My house is a mess cos I have no energy or time to clean it. I am stuck on a third floor with no lift and feel so isolated as I can’t even find the energy to take his pram down the stairs in 3 bits then reassemble it. He doesn’t smile or coo or make any noise except a horrific cry and the occasional grunt. Just cries and looks blank most of the time. I’m starting to hate him. I want my old life back. I’m off uni till May and I want to go back now. I’m so fed up. I hate my life.

OP posts:
WarrenNicole · 14/01/2020 12:55

Does he stop crying when you hold him? I had to walk about the house with my DS in a baby carrier to get anything done as he did not like to be put down and would just scream and scream until I picked him up. I imagine that he felt secure being so close to me. The baby carrier was a life saver for me.

oldtownroad · 14/01/2020 12:57

You're not a horrible person you just need help. I've literally been where you are right now. I remember putting my screaming baby down and going to sit in the next room, bursting into tears and wishing that I'd never had my DS so that I could kill myself without feeling guilty. Seriously. You will get through this, just like I/others did.

Sounds cliche but you can't possibly care for another person when you are not well yourself.

StarUtopia · 14/01/2020 12:57

Lots of people have offered great advice. I'd just add, it sounds indeed like he could have reflux. My son did and was put on formula from the Docs - made a massive difference and even better, it was free.

Please don't feed him 2 bottles a hour, I'm fairly certain their stomachs can't take that much and it could do more harm than good. One bottle every 3-4 hours is sufficient. Insist on a new different HV and ask for the advice.

I was in a third floor flat, no lift, with two babies. I DO know how hard it is to get out but you must. If I stayed in I literally felt like I was going insane. Get out EVEN if it's just for 15 mins a day.

I didn't bond with my son (baby2) At all. Nothing for about 4 months. It was as if I was looking at someone else's baby who was demanding things off me and basically ruining my life. I realise now it was definitely PND and I should have shouted for more help. I've spent the last 4 years constantly apologising to him whilst he's in his bed asleep as I still feel so awful about this. PLEASE get help for this. I didn't and it's my biggest regret (I also had had an emergency c section, could be connected )

I found out (too late) that I was entitled to someone to come round and just watch the babies for a couple of hours whilst I slept, or went out, or whatever I needed to do. I should have sourced this earlier.

You need to take a deep breath, get on the phone and start demanding the help you're entitled to. Good luck.

ps I'm also close to Manchester so can help if you need anything,

clairindespair · 14/01/2020 12:57

He stops crying when I pick him up but at this present moment in time the last fucking thing I want or need is him on me. He is a riddle with no answer. My friends posted a picture of her happy smiling little boy who’s only 4 weeks older than my son, and I wish I could swap.

....aaand breathe.

OP posts:
BeverlyGoldbergsHairAndJumpers · 14/01/2020 12:57

I know others have offered but if you want a sling I will buy one and send it to you if you are ok to send me your address?
Take care Flowers
You have been brave to post on here and we will all help.

clairindespair · 14/01/2020 12:59

I do have a baby sling, I just haven’t used it yet, it gives me anxiety the thought as I’m scared to drop him or hurt him in it

OP posts:
minipie · 14/01/2020 13:00

Ah he was early so that means he’s a little bit more likely to have tummy issues like reflux... but they should go away soon.

Don’t feel bad about not feeling the love. It’s not surprising you don’t feel wonderful things about him when you have a baby who cries all the time. As long as you are still taking care of him, not harming him, holding him, that’s enough. The love will come later. He WILL get easier and more fun. Well done for walking away when you needed to.

How much is he sleeping? It’s unbelievable how much sleep small babies need (like 16-18 hours in 24). If he’s getting a lot less he may be way overtired.

ToTheRegimentIWishIWasThere · 14/01/2020 13:01

He is a riddle with no answer.
There will be an answer, whether it be reflex, milk allergy, tongue tie.l, whatever. And when all else fails remember, it WILL pass.

ToastandCheese · 14/01/2020 13:01

Sometimes there is no answer to the crying. I used to spend hours pacing around with my eldest. He stops crying when you pick him because you are all he knows. He’s been with you for 9 months so it’s a big strange world when you’re not there and he can’t smell or hear you.

Ignore your fb friends, people put on a show for fb, it’s not a true representation of life.

toomanyleggings · 14/01/2020 13:01

@BeverlyGoldbergsHairAndJumpers that's such a kind offer. Op slings are wonderful when they're tiny. Mine cried all the time as well and I got a lovely soft sling and she was so much happier. The crying will send you doolally so it's no wonder you're feeling low

clairindespair · 14/01/2020 13:02

Oh no sorry he wasn’t premature! He was born at 38 weeks so full term, the hospital got my due date wrong as by the time I found out I was pregnant he was too far along to properly estimate

OP posts:
NaviSprite · 14/01/2020 13:03

I’m a bit late to this thread and can offer no advice not already offered - just wanted to add to the voices saying you’re truly not alone OP and it’s so difficult when you’re in the thick of it but to me you sound like a lovely person with her head screwed on right, well done for all you have endured and for soldiering on. If you were a ‘crap’ or ‘evil’ mum you wouldn’t be worrying about it as you so clearly are.

My twins were premature and emergency csection, they had a stint in NICU for being so tiny and it took months after getting them home for me to feel any sort of bond, like others have said I felt trapped by them, I went through the motions and that was all I could manage. DD was a screamer, it felt constant and when my mellow DS joined in I felt I’d break under the pressure. But, it does (and did for me) get better!

I have read as much of the thread as I can but wanted to offer the following in case it’s not been mentioned (probably has so sorry if I’m repeating):

Infacol or Gripe water for painful wind/colic - helped my DD loads as she was always struggling with gas.

Hungry baby formula might help too, DS was a tank and fed constantly too, I got him onto this at roughly 12 weeks and it made a lot of difference.

If you have a bouncy chair that helped with my DD after feeds and reduced her gas pains. Also with cot/Moses basket, try propping the head of the bed up (I used a couple of Argos catalogues) as this can also help with digestion.

My DS communicated with headbutts a lot and graduated to biting when he got his first teeth (gentle biting though) it’s not any sign of dislike, you’re his world.

Don’t be afraid to let him cry a bit, this isn’t popular advice here generally but if you know he’s been fed, changed and is comfortable and the crying makes it feel like the walls are closing in then step out of the room for a few minutes, take a breather - allow yourself some respite. You’re doing brilliantly OP and I wish I were close enough to come help - I hope your GP is helpful Flowers

minipie · 14/01/2020 13:03

Ah please do try the sling! It may turn out to be the best way to get him to sleep, and you out of the house.

It helps if you can do it in front of a mirror. Try it on without the baby first.

If you are really struggling with it, maybe take him in the buggy with the sling to a local playgroup and ask someone to help show you how to get him in.

ravenmum · 14/01/2020 13:04

Are you still a bit wobbly/bruised from the Caesarean and afraid you might not be able to carry him that long?

clairindespair · 14/01/2020 13:05

I’m also scared to use my sling as if I have him physically attached to me like that, all my independence has gone. He is part of me, physically and he will be everywhere I go. I like the 20 seconds of alone time when I go for a wee or to get a drink

OP posts:
minipie · 14/01/2020 13:05

Oh no sorry he wasn’t premature! He was born at 38 weeks so full term

I know but even 38 weeks is slightly early - not premature but just slightly more likely to have tummy issues and want to be held for the first few weeks compared with a 40 or 41 week baby.

Drum2018 · 14/01/2020 13:05

He just eats and falls asleep there’s absolutely no interaction at all

That is all a baby of 4 weeks does. They do not smile, coo or interact. They cannot even see properly yet. So forget what your friends baby is doing. It's not relevant. Hope you get help from your gp. Don't be fobbed off, ask for help.

Blahblahblahnanana · 14/01/2020 13:05

Hungry baby formula might help too please don’t give your baby hungry baby milk. This type of formula contains more casein than whey, and casein is harder for babies to digest.

Although it's often described as suitable for "hungrier babies", there's no evidence that babies settle better or sleep longer when fed this type of formula.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/types-of-infant-formula/

clairindespair · 14/01/2020 13:06

Weirdly I recovered from the c section really quickly and haven’t had any pain relief through any of it, which is why I don’t feel like I should be “traumatised” I went into labour in my bedroom and even now I hate being in there

OP posts:
minipie · 14/01/2020 13:06

Yep understand re the sling. Just meant use it to go out for walks not necessarily in the house (though if it stops him crying you might prefer to use it in the house too!)

ravenmum · 14/01/2020 13:07

Do you have anything that you could put him in and rock with your foot?

mcmooberry · 14/01/2020 13:07

I think you need some company! I don't think you have PND I think you are exhausted, bored and being driven mad by the continual crying/screaming when there doesn't seem to be anything to scream about. Maybe he has reflux? I think babies with reflux experience horrible heartburn and can scream and scream. See what the GP thinks. If he seems more comfortable upright it might be that.
I totally sympathise with you, I hated the new born baby stage when my DH went back to work and I had a baby to entertain on my own and then twins which I don't even want to think about! Definitely see if there are any baby groups you can go to or you HV can put you in touch with any other mothers with babies of a similar age. My HV put me in touch with another mother of twins which was a great help in those dark days. Honestly it will get better, I know the days/nights are long but they will pass. See if Homestart can help, maybe send someone in to look after him for a couple of hours in your house while you nap/do something else. I was desperate for kids for years and years and would not have believed how hostile I could feel towards a baby screaming in the night and not going back to sleep. Sending you loads of love and hope that things improve soon and one day this will just be a distant memory and you will have your amazing son who will just get better and better xxx

Y0ubetterwerk · 14/01/2020 13:07

I haven't read the whole thread but your original message takes me back 6 years when my baby was a newborn.

He didn't sleep for more than 40m at a time for the first 12 weeks. He wouldn't eat and I lost my mind. I cried constantly, as did he. I was surrounded by friends babies that 'worked' and all I had was a constantly screaming one.

I had severe PND and almost ended up on a mum and baby mental health ward. I did everything I had to do but felt nothing but emptiness then burning fucking resentment.

It does get better but it wasn't until he was 18months that I got 'the noment' (coincidentally when he started sleeping more than 4h at a stretch). I know it doesn't help right now, but it will happen.

Absolutely Gp and ask for referral to MH team. I had a girl come out every day for an hour to help me 'bond' / give me a break from the incessant screaming. Do you have anyone you can ask to be your advocate?

In practical terms, what is your housing arrangement? If council etc, then your housing officer will help with referrals to food banks/groups that can help.

Sorry if its just reiterating advice already given. I hope it gets better

Mary1935 · 14/01/2020 13:08

Look up home start - they maybe able to help.
Request a different health visitor - call and ask for the team manager and explain your situation.
It sounds very tough on you.

Blahblahblahnanana · 14/01/2020 13:09

@clairindespair give this charity a call, or at least look at the advice online

www.cry-sis.org.uk/