Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Does anyone actually enjoy the newborn stage?

106 replies

LucyJones · 30/09/2006 18:56

It's my second time round and I thought I'd cope better second time round. But 2 weeks in and I'm hating it just as much as the first time. I can't seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel - the constant feeding, winding, sleep deprivation, trying to settle etc. I think the newborn stage is like living my worst nightmare - so people hate interviews, flying etc, this is what I hate! Sorry to whinge but does any one else feel the same? Does anyone actually enjoy this bit?

OP posts:
juuule · 30/09/2006 22:58

TooTicky - Go on, you know you want to

misdee · 30/09/2006 23:01

i love the new born stage. the wonderful milky smell of a newborn all snuggled against me3, aww, its so lovely.

watching them devolope is wonderful. i was looking at dd3 baby pics and am amazed she is the same child. she is so so wonderful and cute, she is talking now, and she cames running upto after leaving the room going 'mum mum' and cuddles my legs.

and then she will go on like dd1+2, all curious, making up funny words etc.

ah i just love my kids, they are wonderful.

motherinferior · 01/10/2006 10:52

Foxinsocks, when I was having a broody phase about 18 months ago, the very lovely Blu looked at me and pointed out, nicely but firmly, that she really didn't think it was a frightfully good idea for me to go through it all again

FillyjonktheBananaEater · 01/10/2006 10:58

no, its awful

it gets soooooo much better though

and you appreciate it all the more

i dont get broody anymore, after dd's newborn phase

foxinsocks · 01/10/2006 12:33

lol MI

dejags · 01/10/2006 12:57

Poor you Lucy.

I remember telling a good friend and her very matronly mother that the first six weeks of DS1's life were without a shadow of a doubt the worst six weeks of mine. They looked at me in horror and I felt so small. Just keep repeating to yourself this too shall pass.

Luckily for me second time round I enjoyed the baby a whole lot more - this was probably because he was such an easy baby.

Am pregnant with no. 3 no so will post a thread to let you know in 7.5 months time how I am feeling after DB.

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 01/10/2006 19:47

Oh God, I'm still desperately wishing DS's life away and he's 20months! Can't wait until next year, life will be sooooo different with no under 2s.
I always wanted to be a mum more than I wanted babies.

lockets · 01/10/2006 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

hewlettsdaughter · 01/10/2006 20:06

Hi LJ! Came on here to say no, actually I find the newborn stage pretty hard. Didn't know this would be you! (did I miss an announcement?). Congrats on the birth - and commiserations that things are difficult at the mo. At least you know that things will change...

LieselVonTrappDoor · 01/10/2006 20:31

I loved the newborn stage. In fact loved everything up till 18 months.

poppiesinaline · 01/10/2006 21:32

You are not alone LucyJones ... hate hate hate the newborn stage which is a shame really cos it is a very special time. Just keep repeating

NotSoUselessMum · 01/10/2006 22:08

hated it, too. DD was an angel but it's still so bloody hard. I started believing it was going to be better at around 6/7 months. at 1 years I was enjoying it now at 14m I love it and it seems to get better and better.

i'd like to think that I'll be cool about it the second time round but I know I am deluding myself.

bea · 01/10/2006 22:27

LucyJones - i enjoyed it the first time round as it was all new and exciting and everything was a pleasure (even the meconium poo - we marvelled at how sticky and marmitey it was!!!!! - sad i know!)...

also.. first baby what else was there to do except coo and aww over that single lone only child!!!!....but that was first baby PLUS she was a very very good baby - due to my fab parenting skills naturally!!!...

2nd time - nope! endured it through gritted teeth... had things to do! no time for all that baby holding feed him and put him down... tea to cook dd1 to entertain... life to get on with!!!... PLUS he was a very ill behaved child!!!

3rd time - due any day now... not really looking forward to it... hoping it is more like first baby!

BUT... this is how i look at it... accept that the first 3 months are going to be shitty! sleepless... grumpy... dragged through a hedge backwards knakerdness... etc etc... if it actually is like that you know you just have to get on with it... if it's not! what a pleasant surprise!!!!

hang in there it will be over soon....

Original poster
LucyJones · 02/10/2006 19:23

Thanks everyone for all your messages
HewlettsDaughter - no, I never got round to posting a birth announcement Thanks for the congrats
Everyday I wake up and think today I will be postive, it's just a phase, it won't last forver, I should enjoy it etc etc... and then 6pm comes and I'm in tears. I'm not sure if it's PND or just baby blues. She's not yet 3 weeks old and I remember feeling like this for at least 5 weeks with ds. I'm trying to hang in there, today was difficult cos she fed all day and wouldn't settle and I just kept thinking 'I must be doing it all wrong', of course she's asleep now though!!

OP posts:
jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 02/10/2006 19:28

I love the newborn stage - they sleep!! I love all the cuddles and dependance.

Take them away at 9 months, bring them back at 5 years PLEASE!

Olihan · 02/10/2006 19:37

I went through all those feelings after my second. I wanted to enjoy it and cherish it and make the most of it and I just couldn't. I found myself constantly wishing the early days past so that I could feel in control again, then I'd feel so guilty that I was wishing away the precious days when they are so tiny. It was so so hard and I cried for most of it too. I think it makes it harder because you have to look after another child too, there's just no let up from it.

All I can say is, take one day at a time and remember that it does get easier after a while, it just seems like it lasts forever!!

I'm expecting dc3 in 12 weeks and I'm already dreading the newborn time. I'm in such an easy routine with ds and dd, but I know how much it's all going to be disrupted and how much I'm going to struggle. But, then I'd still go through it all again because they are so amazing once they get past the newborn bit.

Pollyanna · 02/10/2006 19:40

I like the newborn stage in theory. (the milky smell, lovely little babygrows, sweet little heads etc etc), but the reality is hell ime. by 6 weeks you feel half human, but I think it takes until 12 weeks to be almost normal. And then they aren't newborn anymore.

LittleScarer · 02/10/2006 20:23

I liked it mostly, dd was good and although I was tired and dazed I spent a lot of time relaxing so that helped!

Around the six week mark I felt pretty shitty, lack of sleep I think mostly but it got better.

I find the toddler stage hard (dd is 2.5), I mean dd is really funny and adorable but it so all consuming!

liath · 02/10/2006 20:26

I hated it & was at breakdown point by 9 weeks. Am dreading doing it again.

6 months on was good, 12 months on was better and I am LOVING being a mum to my 19 month old.

I'm looking into hiring a post natal doula this time.

cazzybabs · 02/10/2006 20:27

me - I loved it - down hill from there really!!!!

Joolstoo · 02/10/2006 20:30

I loved it, it's like a voyage of discovery.
I don't think I had a favourite stage though each bring its own rewards.

When they start talking is rather special though.

LittleScarer · 02/10/2006 20:32

Ooh yes, talking is great (to an extent!)

dd said yesterday; "Mummy silly..." Then to reassure me; "Molly silly too."

Bucketsofbloodydinosaurs · 03/10/2006 09:07

Lucy, now is the time to ask everyone you know for help, from housework to babysitting. They won't mind at all as it's not exactly going to go on forever and they'll totally understand. People tend to want to give you space in the first weeks which is fine with baby#1 because you want to keep it to yourself, but most of us need more help with baby#2.
Think who you don't mind seeing you in your dressing gown and get them round. Cleaning someone else's house is much more fun than doing your own so don't be shy.

Dottydot · 03/10/2006 09:12

It's vile and the main reason I really really don't want another one (even though dp is on a one woman campaign to have more at the moment). I hated the lack of sleep and the fact that the days slowed down to a crawl... I hated that it made me and dp horrible to each other because we were so sodding tired. The first 6 weeks are hell and there's no escaping it. Aarrgghhhhh!!

nulnulcat · 03/10/2006 09:17

loved it despite spending most of it in the hospital! not particularly enjoying terrible 2's spend most of it shouting!! about to go into tantrumy 3's and now been warned about the f*ing 4's!!!!