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Overwhelmed and burnt out - justified?

2 replies

SophM96 · 08/03/2022 17:37

Hi all - it's long so I'll put a tldr aswell.

Tldr: I feel I get not even a minute to myself every single day, the baby is either there with me or being spoken about to me.

I'm a new mama to a 10 week old, in love and obsessed with her obviously so this is probably why I feel so much guilt.

My partner and I have been having a lot of issues recently and it all came to a head the other day. Family even got involved, it was just bad. The next day my partner was very chipper and full of beans like nothing happened whereas I wasn't and I'm still not. I've not bounced back properly at all. I'm sleeping longer, no energy and general cannot be bothered with most things. It's all still raw for me and it was hard for me to back down and give it another go. My partner and I made an agreement to take feedings and changings in turns so that the other can get a little break from it. I do the night feed and he does the mornings so I can catch up on sleep. However, I'm irritable because every moment of my day is about the baby. I don't speak or do anything unless the baby is somehow involved. When I feed her, he gets a break and at least half hour for himself to do whatever he wants (usually play games) and I leave him to it but when it's his turn I get a literal running commentary on what is going on with them both and I'm just burnt out from it. Every moment of my 24hr day unless I'm asleep (which obvs gets interrupted by the baby - not a problem) is about the baby somehow and I just need a break to myself. Even when I bathe they come in and start chatting to me and I get no time what so ever. I never eat a meal without being interrupted whereas he can.
Am I just being a child about this or is this an issue like I think it is? I definitely think I have some postpartum depression going on.
Thankyou for your time :)

OP posts:
lonelySam · 08/03/2022 18:51

GP / HV to sort out PND. Ask the partner to shut up or ask someone to come over and hold the baby why you shower / do whatever.

July56 · 09/03/2022 14:40

No you’re not being a child about it, it sounds like you need some proper sleep and a few hours doing something a way from the baby.
Could you explain to your partner that you’re exhausted and could he take a night turn, not completely possible if your feeding I know, but do the majority share and let you have some rest.
Could you arrange to see a friend away from home just to have a break doing something that would make you feel more like you?
When my DD was little I refused to do the food shop with her and always went when my DH was home, either weekends or evenings. I know it’s just the food shop but made it so much easier on my own and gave me a little bit of head space.
Unfortunately men still can’t do things without expecting applause for it and I found giving the same reaction I got for what I was doing did reduce how much my DH expected praise/acknowledgment!
If you feel you have any kind of depression please speak to your gp and get some help. Hopefully it will give you a chance to talk.
Do you go to any baby groups? Have other friends with babies? I have stayed friends with my anti natal group, 11 of us for the last 21 years and I don’t know what I would’ve done without them! Having them to talk to, call when things were tough really helped.

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