2nd DC due in 2 weeks - anxious now

[Littlerayofsunshine]

I am overall starting to feel anxious about the labour, being away from DD, coming home with new baby, keeping her routine, establishing breastfeeding, and doing it all alone until DP is home in October. and the overall coming home without dp..

I just keep thinking, How am I going to keep the routines and for DC2 to fit in, as in for example: I still cuddle DD with her milk at her cot-side then she goes off when im downstairs. but how will i do this? (she's 18months)

DD sleeps 7-6:30/7. if this changes this will be tough! i never felt tired as such when she was newborn... but with 2 it will be different..

sorry if this sounds so silly

not silly at all hpney
plan what you can
have abox toys for distraction purposes only to be used when you are feeding baby
fill the freezer and accept any offers help you can find
are you parents helping out?

I found various ways of juggling a toddler and baby - though mine was a little older than yours. I found that I could feed the baby and read a story to DS at the same time. I used to put him to bed and then worry about getting the baby ready and off to sleep. And after a while I found that if I work the baby up when I needed to wake DS she got into a routine that was a bit more like his (going to sleep earlier in the evening) so I got a bit more sleep. And whenever the baby went for a nap, I would stick cbeebies on and curl up on the couch with DS for a nap. I don't think you can work out most of these details til you have the new baby, but you can do things to adjust both their routines a bit.

You will find it tough with a newborn and an 18 month old though - do you have any family or friends that could come and stay for a bit? Having some extra pairs of hands around could help a lot. Otherwise, going round friends houses so you can take turns juggling things, even if they have small children too can help.