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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not know how anyone pissing does this?!

238 replies

YaImStruggling · 29/10/2021 22:34

How the fuckity fuck do people get themselves back together after having a baby?

My son is 9 months old and I still look like a fat deflated pancake who's hair is scraped into a greasy bun 7 days a week on top of my spotty head.

I feel like I have no time to even remotely think about getting back to "me". How the fuck do people do it? I used to be slim, I was so happy with my body before pregnancy and birth. I want to lose weight but don't seem to have the time to make healthy meals, I want to make more effort with myself like my hair or makeup but literally WHEN. My son spends all day basically trying to kill himself with anything he can find so unless I throw on a coat when I've rolled out of bed and take him out for the day looking like shit then I spend all day chasing him round the house (just started crawling).

I absolutely love being a Mum but I am just horrified at how shit I look permanently at the moment but feel I have no time to do anything about it.

When do you start feeling like yourself again, or at least getting one minute to actually do something for you?

I have a husband but he works long hours so by the time he's home it's more like tea, bath, bed and crash.

Yet I go out and see other mums who look so put together with babies younger than DS. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong.

OP posts:
Lunaduckdrop · 29/10/2021 23:12

Put him in a playpen while you shower and do your hair and make up. It'll make you feel better about yourself. After lunch, take him for a walk in the pram or pushchair to get him to sleep, giving you a bit of time to yourself in the afternoon.

FluffyBooBoo · 29/10/2021 23:13

This is not the thread I thought it was going to be!

I was expecting a husband with a very poor aim...

TotallySuper · 29/10/2021 23:16

@nc87653

I had 2 under 2 and even though I was fucking exhausted, when the babies were in bed, and DH was home from work, I'd haul my arse to the gym. I also walked A LOT in the early days, pushing a buggy around the park, walking to playgroups etc.

Lost the baby weight twice and I'm a comfortable size 10.

I get my hair done (highlights) every 6 weeks on a weekend so DH can watch DC, and I buy nice clothes and expensive make up to help me feel good.

You are my new idol. Kudos to you! Due baby 2 next year and I'm going to try and be like this!
sbhydrogen · 29/10/2021 23:17

You gotta let him whine a bit of you need time to do your hair or make-up. Or just accept that he's going to crawl over to the most dangerous thing in the room, like a plug socket. Just ensure that it's covered :) I've never used a playpen or travel cot as I don't have the space.

I found having a shower and brushing my teeth first thing really helped.

eddiemairswife · 29/10/2021 23:29

Playpen. Eat sensibly. How come you put on so much extra weight?

StarryNightSparkles · 29/10/2021 23:39

Please be kind to yourself op. You are not doing anything wrong 💐

Walk with the buggy as much as possible.
Have a shower/brush teeth when baby is in play pen or take baby in bathroom with you and sit in bouncy chair.
Slow cooker - bung everything in it in the morning and by dinner time it's ready.
Quick meals like fish parcels with veg and rice. Stir frys, salads etc.
Take baby into your room when you are getting ready and let him crawl about.
Make it into a game chat/sing away and include baby.

I mean this in a lovely way but it sounds like you are helicopter parenting and putting yourself last. Try not to stress about it as the time goes so fast, enjoy your precious wee bundle 💐

Namechangerextraordinaire1 · 29/10/2021 23:42

It's really hard. With my first I lost the baby weight pretty quickly and never really lost "me" at all.

With my second she's 16 months old and I still find it hard to shoehorn a daily shower in and rarely look in the mirror before I leave for work. It seems that no matter what time I get up in the morning there isn't time for anything else. The evenings are a haze of after school activities for the oldest, nursery pick ups for the youngest and cooking/cleaning/prepping for the following day before I collapse on the sofa with zero energy.

So.....no help really, sorry!

Righty · 29/10/2021 23:42

Be kind to yourself OP. Treat yourself to a new top or handbag and do a few things you like to feel better - walking or something hair/make up. Are you returning to work soon? I found getting dressed for work and having independent adult time that way brought me back to feeling like me again!

hemhem · 29/10/2021 23:51

Sometimes its just really hard! Give yourself a break. I was back to "me" in terms of fitness, sleep, grooming etc by age 2 with DC1 and by age 1 with DC2 but it goes in phases where some months are shite and we all get ill, I look dreadful and live in leggings and tshirts. Other months I wear nice clothes a lot and get my hair done at the hairdressers and generally feel put together.

Two things that really helped me were getting a personal trainer for 1 hour a week at the house and getting an online subscription to fitness classes. There are loads out there now since everything went online in lockdown. I'd ditch your Pure Gym membership and spend the £20 on something you can do at home like the Peloton app, Les Mills on demand or similar.

I also got good at entertaining DC while I was in the shower. I had a playpen by the bathroom door, put them in with toys where they could see me, and would sing them nursery rhymes while I washed my hair. They found the whole thing quite funny! Same for cooking or doing hair/makeup - put DC in bouncer or high chair, give snacks and sing to them while they watched me do whatever I needed to do.

You can get a lot done in 10mins bursts

MrsA2015 · 29/10/2021 23:52

Took me 5…5 years that is. Then I got pregnant again, so now I’m in the thick of it a year later. Sad

CharlieParley · 29/10/2021 23:52

Oh your post brings back memories, YaImStruggling. Memories I was very keen to bury. I could have written that back then...

I'm sorry you're struggling, it really is so hard to look after a baby that age. Especially when they start crawling.

Can't help you on the weight, but I see you got a lot of good tips on how to be more active.

On the issue of looking after yourself a bit more, I used to find that time passed so quickly, just caring for my son, that it'd be the afternoon and I'd realise neither of us was dressed properly and I'd scramble to get us both changed just before DH walked through the door. House still in a complete mess.

So at some point, just like you now, I decided that sucked, and I got into a pretty strict routine (we lived in a two-up-two-down terrace). I would go downstairs with him for breakfast, and immediately afterwards go back upstairs, put him in his cot and get dressed (showered in the evening when DH could watch him). Then I'd get him dressed, play some peek-a-boo or something while doing it, put him back in his cot with some toys, tidy his room, the bathroom, then we'd go downstairs until nap time. I'd just keep talking about what I was doing so DS could hear me.

Between doing it every single day in the same order and at the same time, plus keeping up a running commentary and the toys, which I changed every now and then, I managed to keep him happy enough to get the upstairs done and me and him fairly presentable. (I definitely looked more put together when DC3 was a baby though.)

Obviously he whinged more some days than others, but I felt so much better following the routine that I stuck to it anyway. Especially since we always played together as part of the whole getting dressed and tidying routine. So by the time I got downstairs, we were both dressed, the upstairs no longer looked like a tornado had gone through and we'd already done some proper play.

I wasn't too ambitious on the tidying or the appearance, but compared to before the routine it was a massive improvement for me. It made me feel so much better. Obviously I have no way of knowing what you do, or even if a routine would work for you if you haven't already got one. And if that's not for you, could you carve out even ten minutes in the morning to just spend on you by putting him in his playpen? Maybe with a Baby Einstein video on the TV to keep him entertained? My youngest two loved those videos.

I didn't know it back then, but the best thing I taught my son with that routine was actually how to entertain himself. We'd play with a toy together, then I'd put him in his cot with the same toy and he'd carry on for a little while. Over time that little while got a bit longer, and then longer and eventually I could even sit down and have a (lukewarm) cup of coffee while he played in his playpen or on the floor in front of me.

Pottedpalm · 30/10/2021 00:01

@RJnomore1

Playpen.

Might not be fashionable but it’s safe.

At lest gives you time to put foundation on and drink a cuppa.

Yes! Saved my bacon when dts were small. Last year a friend whose daughter was expecting twins asked for advice on my ‘must haves’. Looked a bit dubious when I said playpen, but they hot one and say it’s the best investment.
Newbabynewhouse · 30/10/2021 00:02

Omg feel the exact same as you right now!!! Daughter is 8 months and I think I. The same weight and size as the day I gave birth.. still waiting for stomach to go down and on bloated days I look 7 mo the pregnant! Nan said yesterday "ooh you've out a lot of weight on, what are you doing about that?" Nothing nan....! Nothing right now! I wouldn't say I stuff my face either just always so busy to think about cooking from scratch or going for a nice stroll with pram in between steralising bottles timing feeds etc.. it's hard...

Newbabynewhouse · 30/10/2021 00:06

@MrsA2015

🎶Into the thick of it... into the thick of it... into the thick of it.... URGH 😅

Wackaday · 30/10/2021 00:08

I got a play pen at 9m but mines didn't like it much either but I found you had to just make it interesting in there with just a few toys at a time to focus on that you could rotate every few days.
Mines is almost 2yo now but I remember the 9m stages; sometimes I'd still be in my pjs unshowered until after 1pm. I then decided to shower before bed instead and found this worked better as had more time for myself, grooming, face pack etc.
I am now back at work which is a desk job and have found the weight has piled on more than when i was on mat leave as there is less opportunity to move. I still wear my mat jeans and trousers Confused sometimes! It's definitely worth building in some exercise time each day that you can do with baby around even if they are in a baby carrier hanging off you (helps with resistance!).
And as hard as it is, try letting him cry and self settle a bit more if safe to do so. Mines is so clingy and cries for attention all the time.

Definitely try and get some block of time for yourself each week when DH is home for yourself. Self care is essential for your wellbeing.

TheMoth · 30/10/2021 00:09

I think a lot is luck. I kind of bounced back quite quickly. But I was also bf and walked miles cos I was so bored.

I look back on photos of when dc2 was a baby and, although my belly was a saggy mess under clothes, my thighs are amazing cos I had one in a pushchair and one in a sling and walked and walked.

I look knackered in all the photos though.

Inanun2 · 30/10/2021 00:11

Develop the art of a quick shower and let you hair dry naturally. All done In 7/10 mins .
Leave baby in safe place, play pen or when they are sleeping.

TunnelOfGoats · 30/10/2021 00:17

Get a jumparoo. My DS loved his. It was about the best thing we ever bought him. I used to put him in it in the bathroom while I had a shower, and while cooking or doing bits and bobs. Also I walked for hours and hours with him in a buggy. It was good for both of us. He had fresh air and sleep, I got fresh air, peace and exercise. Even if you don't colour your hair, just get it regularly trimmed. Also, BB cream is a quick and easy way to look a bit better. Add in some mascara and lip balm and drink plenty of water or herbal tea. Don't be too hard on yourself though

Summerfun54321 · 30/10/2021 00:18

Depends on your baby and your body. My first DC I was fit as a fiddle, decent birth and straight back into exercise after 6 weeks. 2nd baby was very clingy and I had all sorts of body issues after the birth and it was SO hard. With my 2nd I invited my gran to sit with baby while I did a home workout or had a shower etc, leaving a clingy baby to fuss and whinge is stressful for you and baby. Don’t be hard on yourself, these young baby years are a snippet of our lives in the grand scheme of things.

watingroom2 · 30/10/2021 00:34

My Youngest is 10 and in the last year I have begun to get my body back - it gets easier as they get bigger.. but they do get bigger and they get bigger quick..

Hold them - snuggle them - it goes too fast.

Wackaday · 30/10/2021 00:35

@Duckypoohs

Surely 9 month old babies sleep a lot, like pp said pop him down in a playpen if you need to do something. He's not going to expire in a whiff of smoke if not paid attention to for a few minutes.

If you are a gym type person, surely they have crèches? No idea.

I would say the last two words in your comment is the most accurate way to describe your contribution here. What an unhelpful bit of advice to put forward to OP who just needs some kind words and encouragement
C8H10N4O2 · 30/10/2021 00:40

I need to work on leaving him to entertain himself a bit more I think

And work on the fact that you may be a mother but you are still a person and that does not mean surrendering all sense of self. Its a balance. The baby can spend just a bit more time by himself in the playpen. If you are worried about fitness then more walking with a pushchair can help.

Whatever day DH has off, carve out some hours to get out of the house on your own and do whatever makes you feel good - be it hairdresser, gym or sitting on a park bench with a bar of chocolate, headphones and a good book!

PieMistee · 30/10/2021 00:41

Playpens are the answer. Or in our house a travel cot I had 3 under 4 it was the only way. They were happy and safe I wasn't insane.

StillMedusa · 30/10/2021 00:45

Rope in every relative and friend you can!

My DD1 has a 6 month old ..she's on mat leave and her DH works long shifts. Baby is getting clingy and teething now but I have him just for an hour or so a few times a week so she can either go swimming or shop in peace, and DS2 goes there and plays with him two mornings a week after he walks the dog, so she can shower in peace/ get washing done/clean... every little helps!

It's only a couple of hours in a week, but it helps (both DS2 and I work so can only help so much)

BUT she also..just gets out.. walks miles with baby (with my dog) which combined with breast feeding has helped her get her body back to normal (she's been lucky there that he is just a natural at feeding) I'm sure she wouldn't mind me saying that some days she does not look great... but no one minds..in real life most people DO NOT look amazing when they have babies or toddlers.. they look tired, and harrassed!

It's ok to let babies whinge (safely..play pens are great) to give yourself a little time to shower in peace etc!

I had three under 3 and I can now laugh at the passport photo taken shortly after no 3 was born... I look like a corpse! Skin ghastly, hair ghastly..body... well not good! BUT it passed.. eventually I looked more like me again :)
I didn't have any help as we were a Forces family miles from any relatives, hence me saying.. if you have any family near.. use them!

But it will get better, honestly :)