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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:
clairindespair · 15/01/2020 21:26

I’ve spoken to uni today re the hardship fund, it takes 14 days to even look at the application and that’s the bloody quickest they can do, that’s for the emergency one and the regular one can take 28 days! Hardly emergency 🙄🙄🙄

As long as baby has milk and I have some food I cannot complain. My landlord has served me an eviction notice and has told me I have till Friday to leave, not even legal so I have another trip to the council tomorrow to show them and hopefully get the ball rolling for housing association Homes. I can’t wait to just get everything sorted so I can fucking breathe again...I need a drink

OP posts:
Sugartitss · 15/01/2020 21:47

How are you doing op?

Do you have food for you baby?

When I had my second baby my first was just 10 months old. I wanted my old life back too and one day handed her to my mum screaming and crying I don’t even like her, take her now. My mum and I sat on the couch and cried together. I felt terrible but it was the start of help for me.

How you’re feeling now is how many women and men feel after they’ve had a baby so please, please don’t beat yourself up. I still feel like I want my old life back but that’s more to do with getting older.

You’re so brave to post how you’re feeling, I hope you come back and talk xx

Sassenach85 · 15/01/2020 21:47

You’re doing so well! And if baby is fed and safe ur just doing what we all said, powering through. Few weeks and he will smile and it might not make you burst into tears of joy but a little shimmer of something will shine and you will start to see the truth in what we have all said, it all changes it really does x

SusieSusieSoo · 15/01/2020 21:56

Op I haven't read the full thread but Googling brings up some sling libraries in Manchester area they could help you find a sling that works for you. They have lots of different ones so they help you work out what works for you and loan them for you to try.

Also can you find your local children's centre. There will be some support there if you can find one. Our local one had outreach workers who would come & see you at home. Just rung up and ask for help but tell them how desperately you are feeling.

Sending you hugs it's so hard when they are so little.

You might find a different brand of formula might help as well but maybe that's something to think about later once you have some support xx

Take care op xx

HorseradishSnowflake · 15/01/2020 22:17

https://dots.actionforchildren.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIztDE5piG5wIVhrHtCh1t3ALaEAAYASAAEgLH3DD_BwE
Just thought I'd post this, I know you're getting loads of great support on here but in case you want to talk to someone on the phone they have a service you can email and they'll call you back.
I think you are doing an amazing job. I had my first when I was 24, and was lucky to have a supportive partner but I was still overwhelmed and in my darkest moments thought I'd made a huge mistake. It wasn't until he was 4 months old that I found other mums to talk to and they literally saved my life. Don't wait as long as me, if you can start getting to baby groups and find people you click with ( and ignore the ones you don't!) it can really help you feel less alone.
I love your sense of humour and determination, hang on in there, keep talking and accepting help. You're doing so well in difficult circumstances. I think your son is lucky to have a mum like you.

Mummyoftwo91 · 15/01/2020 22:21

Didn't want to read and run, just have to say op your amazing ♥️

Purpleneonpinkunicorns · 15/01/2020 22:24

Just want to say I hope your ok op and everything works out well for you both, I'm not in your area but if you ever need a ear to listen feel free to PM me

Juanmorebeer · 15/01/2020 23:19

Oh Clair, what a time you are having. I've read your entire thread! It took me back to those dark days when my dd was little, fuck me I could not do it again. I also had a birth that went wrong very quickly and ended in trauma, it is so unfair that the one time we really should be healing we can't cos the tiny babies need every last breath we have inside us. So I get it, and I think you are doing a really great job. Ignore all the dicks on here, some people just have absolutely NO idea how real life can be.

I wanted to pick up on something as I am so triggered by some of the descriptions of your babies behaviour, I too thought I was going insane SHE NEVER STOPPED CRYING OR SLEPT.

It turns out my baby did have serious reflux, caused by a milk allergy, I mean, I knew that, she was vomiting 50 times a day, could I get the GP to take me seriously? No chance, it was only when we ended up in hospital when she was 8 weeks as she had sicked so much by this point she was bringing up bile! I'd asked for gavisgon etc, maybe seen the gp 10 times they just sent me way every time. It was horrendous.

You mentioned 'projectile vomiting' how often does he do it>? When you say your clothes smell of sick, is the sick acidic smelling? Like adult sick? If so this is acid reflux. When babies do normal milk spit up it does not have that rancid smell, it is just milky and then if dries smells a bit 'off' after time. So if it is acidic, this is certainly something to mention.

You mention poo explosions, my dd's were constant. Her poo had a strange consistency, almost hair gel like and sometimes smelled like vinegar. She also went to toilet really often. I used to change maybe 10+ dirty nappies a day. I only learned over 5 years later when looking after niece and other friends babies (I had mine young like you and was the only one I knew at the time) that this is not usual! Another thing to keep an eye on.

She would not be put down, ever.

She would not lie on her back, ever, I had to let her sleep on her front and bath her in a sit up tub.

Motion was the only thing that calmed her, so in a sling on my chest moving or being walked very fast in the pram, again, lying on her front on the mattress.

Between week 1-4 she didn't sleep for longer than 21 minutes, usually only on my naked chest.

It was such an extreme time, pure survival really. I was a mess.

Blasting out white noise extremely loud did help sometimes.

I'm sure there is more I have blocked out, I feel the early weeks were just as traumatic as the birth was, so do not neglect these feelings too. See if yur hospital has a birth reflections service where you can have a bit of a debrief with midwives/doctors, when you are ready.

Keep typing to us all, we're listening, duck.

clairindespair · 16/01/2020 01:05

Hiya just been getting everything sorted for tomorrow. Infacol seems to be relieving his reflux or wind issue, he has been very content today, probably because I’m not crying at all or stressing as much, I’m taking him out for the full day tomorrow so I’m abit nervous but it will do us good and baby steps. Still feel shit and extremely stressed but I can’t keep dwelling I guess just have so much on now to distract me which is good in a way. X

OP posts:
Nana29 · 16/01/2020 01:20

Sorry about your situation. I would say contact your GP and reach out for help if your HV is useless. I know what you mean. My HV was the same. Very dismissive of my worries. So I phoned my GP.

I’m sure you love your LO even if you don’t feel like it right now but reaching out on this chat means you do and you want help so I would say phoning child services to give up your baby would be something you will regret down the road because you obviously care. First Babies can be challenging especially when you are on your own and are already facing challenges. Hang in there and phone your GP. 🤗 to you

WombOfOnesOwn · 16/01/2020 01:47

There's going to come a time a year from now where you look back at this time and say, "If I could do that, I can do anything, I am superwoman."

Hold onto that.

It's coming.

Take all this one hour at a time.

clairindespair · 16/01/2020 02:47

Thank you so much everyone xxx

OP posts:
Nifflernancy · 16/01/2020 03:04

Haven’t posted before but have been lurking. Glad things are going a bit better! Don’t push yourself taking her out for the full day if you don’t have to, it’s a long time! Do whatever you feel happy doing Smile Keep going, it’s bloody tough but you’ll get there!

clairindespair · 16/01/2020 03:10

I’m going to try a credit union loan as I have bills etc I need to pay so that’ll take some time up. Wish me luck. I ended up being financially abused in 2018 and my credit score is full of defaults and it’s a whopping 0 out of 700🤣🤣 I might rent out my love hole

OP posts:
clairindespair · 16/01/2020 03:17

Also - that infacol is literally a godsend, all I hear from Baby Corner are little parps, dunno why it’s cheered me up so much

OP posts:
Sparkle2020 · 16/01/2020 03:19

Glad you’re feeling a bit better by the sound of things x

oatmilk4breakfast · 16/01/2020 03:33

Ah, if infacol working sounds like a lot of the arching and pushing at you could be discomfort and pain in his body from wind. My son did this, cried and cried, we realised at 9 months that it was a milk protein allergy. Very common apparently. I was breastfeeding so cut out dairy and tried him on oatmilk too as he was getting bigger. You can also get formula that is easier for them to digest, possibly on prescription. Good luck and well done - you’re doing great!

oatmilk4breakfast · 16/01/2020 03:37

I should say just for clarity your little one will be too small yet for an alternative milk like oat, so I’m not suggesting you try that. He needs his formula. Was just saying if the wind continues you could go back to GP and explore the intolerance/allergy route. My son had constant wind/pain and cried so much - I was always so happy when he was able to fart!! :)

clairindespair · 16/01/2020 03:40

He doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort now and he hasn’t really cried - I mentioned CMPA to my GP and they told me to just see how we go and that some babies just don’t wind easy, I’ve got to go back in 2 weeks and if he’s still full of trapped wind they’ll look into CMPA, he seems to be enjoying doing his little toots and poots

OP posts:
clairindespair · 16/01/2020 03:40

Also I think I’ve been too quick when winding him as my mum was showing me earlier the best ways to do it and he did a burp so big he shocked himself, so many noises and strange little bubbles going on for him 🤣🤣

OP posts:
midsummabreak · 16/01/2020 04:49

It is an incredible job you are doing caring for your tiny little person. They can't thank-you right now but little by little, as their brain and motor skills development progresses, you will be showered with little smiles, then sweet grasps of your finger , then sometime later, chuckles and cuddles and unconditional love.

It is understandable you are feeling overwhelmed as parenting a newborn is exhausting, and the sleep deprivation is hideous and will feel unbearable ( it is used as torture for that reason).

Is there any way you can make an application to go on waiting list for another type of housing for a ground floor apartment or an apartment with a lift to get in and out safely with baby in pram ?
I bope you are able to see GP soon and see student advice about universal credit. One step at a time, this, too shall pass

Newname1978 · 16/01/2020 06:56

I think you should rethink taking him out for the whole day! Take it in smaller steps. Take him out for 2 hours.
It exhausting. All of it!

Justanothernameonthepage · 16/01/2020 07:05

Glad you seem to be coping better. Before going down credit union road, try calling the bill places and explaining. Often they'll agree to take a small amount or extend due date if it's a temporary cash flow issue rather than have you officially in arrears.

ChasingRainbows19 · 16/01/2020 07:14

The council will probably not do anything until you are physically evicted which could mean hostel/B&B whatever's available even with a baby. Unless they have loads of spare properties! If they know you have anywhere else to stay eg your mums that won't help.

Also as you said legally the landlord can't kick you out FrIday. Technically you could stay months until he gets a court order to get bailiffs in. The section 21 gives you two months I think? Don't leave. You may not like it I get that and sure there could be better outthere eventually but think of where you are at right now, would a hostel or b&b would be suitable for a while with your baby? You won't have a choice.

Waterchestnut · 16/01/2020 07:16

I haven’t read the whole thread, just some. And I wanted to send some warm wishes for brighter days your way.

I found my first very difficult, didn’t respond like others babies to suggestions made to settle them. Like give him a bath. The hv said it would solve all problems, not a chance he’d just scream.

I found a swing helped him. That’s the only thing that worked and he liked. But I hate suggesting things for new mothers as I remember following so many suggestions and they didn’t work, and it just made for a frustrating failure cycle.

I hope you find help for some of your practical problems. I couldn’t imagine having a newborn and no money, so I hope you get some practical help soon.