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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask the most ill you’ve been looking after a baby alone? I feel like I’m in hell!

57 replies

qccbsp · 05/09/2023 10:25

I feel horrendous. Home with a one year old. I actually don’t know how I will survive the day. Literally nobody to help.

OP posts:
Seagullchippy · 05/09/2023 10:26

Sending hugs. It's hell, I remember. Try to allow yourself to go as slowly as possible.

PureAmazonian · 05/09/2023 10:26

Norovirus, the day after dd had it. DH was away. 😵‍💫

ScarlettBeauregarde · 05/09/2023 10:27

I’ve had to duck out and be sick in between looking after my 18 month old once, that was no fun.

I suggest you throw good parenting out the window today and just set both of you up in bed with CBeebies on an iPad and tell DC mummy doesn’t feel well. Fingers crossed you’ll get some quiet time. Hope you feel better soon!

whitebreadjamsandwich · 05/09/2023 10:27

D & V whilst 6 weeks pregnant with agonising upper gastric pain that had me writing on the floor with a 1 year old who also had d&v.....that was a fun day. Didn't die though. Will they go in their play pen/snuggle on the sofa with you? Can you drag yourself out to the garden so they can play?? Make a floor bed and lay down while they play with their toys next to you?

Thelaundryfairyhasbeenassassinated · 05/09/2023 10:30

Sending hugs. Basically today is about the both of you staying alive. If that means endless TV and justeat delivered to the house so be it. Be kind to yourself. You can and Will get through this. If you are up to it make a snack tray/plate to have out for them and a water bottle to drink from. Hopefully reduce the pressure of dealing with meals Xx

PinkDaffodil2 · 05/09/2023 10:31

Norovirus - I passed out feeding my 9 month old 😬 hang on in there, prioritise fluids / painkillers as appropriate for yourself and milk for little one and a safe space to put them down when you can’t face it.

TokyoSushi · 05/09/2023 10:31

Norovirus, 10 weeks pregnant and 1 year old DS, DH was on a stag do in Berlin, bad times, but you will get through it!

Pinkpots · 05/09/2023 10:34

When you feel you can manage it get any sort of bag and gather easy drinks/ snacks/ medication/ wee toys/ wipes and anything else you might need like a changing bag / change of clothes and make up a base camp on the sofa or bed. Hopefully wee one will watch some Peppa Pig or similar and you can just lie there.

kernowpicklepie · 05/09/2023 10:35

I've just been really ill with covid while looking after my 2 year old and 8 month old who both had covid. It was so tough but I survived, somehow

Orange23 · 05/09/2023 10:35

It hasn't happened yet, and I'm grateful! I've only had colds and covid since baby, always very mildly - runny or blocked nose, that's it. I had the flu once (pre-baby) and I honestly can't imagine how I'd do it. Especially as DH caught it from me and we were both sleeping during the day!

Orange23 · 05/09/2023 10:36

Should say, baby is 19 months!

Sartre · 05/09/2023 10:36

Oh, so many times. Had a few stomach bugs including one when DC was a newborn so had to breastfeed her in one arm and vomit into a bowl with the other. Hope you feel better soon.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 05/09/2023 10:37

qccbsp · 05/09/2023 10:25

I feel horrendous. Home with a one year old. I actually don’t know how I will survive the day. Literally nobody to help.

If you have a partner get them to come home from work.

If not or not possible then screens are you friend today x

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 05/09/2023 10:37

You could also try a babysitter app and get someone over if you can afford it

ThatSunCreamSmell · 05/09/2023 10:37

As others have said, D&V where you just want to curl up in a ball on the bathroom floor but can't.

We laugh about it now but at the time... Eugh.

Gettingbysomehow · 05/09/2023 10:38

Many times, I was a single parent and had nobody else.

CrotchetyQuaver · 05/09/2023 10:39

The only time I completely bailed out was with an ear infection. Just took to my bed and told my DH it was down to him. Kids were around 5 and 6. He was not happy at all but I was so unwell I was beyond caring. Ear infection turned out to be a very nasty one with at least a couple of follow up trips to GP to find a medication that worked. I wouldn't wish that level of pain on anyone.

Whattodo112222 · 05/09/2023 10:41

Had the most horrific tonsillitis once during the pandemic. Felt like actual death. My lovely ex just left me to cope with my 8 month old..
You do find a way to get through it... lots of fluids.. do what you can to get through the day xx

Seeline · 05/09/2023 10:42

HG whilst pg with my second.

Probably the worst though was when my back went and I could barely move. Couldn't pick them up, couldn't put them in the cot, couldn't get on the floor and I was just in so much pain all the time and getting no sleep.

toomanyleggings · 05/09/2023 10:43

Been there several times. It’s shit. Hugs op

CluelessHamster · 05/09/2023 10:44

Worst ever throat infection in my life, felt like I was swallowing razor blades and I couldn't speak above a whisper. Begged GP for antibiotics but nope. Begged pharmacist for something useful but could only offer honey and lemon as I was pregnant with dc2.

Dc1 was nearly two and manic.

Sad times.

Sending you a hug a cup of tea. This too will pass xx

CapturedLeprechaun · 05/09/2023 10:44

Covid, June 2020, whilst looking after a 1,3 & 4 year old as a single parent. Two weeks without seeing a single other person, and I was so unwell I actually had to crawl on the floor to go to the toilet because I couldn't even walk. Taught the 4year old how to dial 999 incase I didn't wake up, because I actually thought I might die 😂 The kids ate plain bread and apples for about three days, and we ordered takeaway constantly. The house was trashed, no-one brushed their hair or teeth or got dressed, the kids lived off screen time. But we made it through.

Poivresel · 05/09/2023 10:45

D&V both me and toddler.
I remember trying to clean up ds without throwing up on him.
A sheepskin rug was thrown in the bath.
No sooner was one of us nearly clean it began again. A constant cycle of sick and diarrhoea.
That was 37 years ago and I remember it vividly, as you can read!

user1471556818 · 05/09/2023 10:47

Tv snacks lots to drink for you meds as required just get through it however you can
Hope you feel better soon

Weddingpuzzle · 05/09/2023 10:49

Full pregnancy HG with all 3 pregnancies. DS1 and DS2 were literally dragged up for 9 months of their early lives. I still wonder what effect it had on them now Sad the cbeebies theme tune and In the night garden haunts me now...