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dh back at work tomorrow - am scared :(

22 replies

pinkyp · 16/12/2010 20:53

I have a 9 day old baby and a 3year old ds. With my 1st ds my dh was lucky enough to have a few months off work but then i sufferd anxiety when my husband went back to work. Now dh is due back tomorrow and i can feel the anxiety setting in...he does have 5 days off after tomorrow but its my first day alone with them both, my dh has helped LOADS since he's been off. We've each delt with one chid each at bedtime / tea time etc so i've never delt with them both on my own. Has anyone got any advice to calm me down? I dont know wether to go out shopping maybe to distract myself or to a soft play etc? Dh wont be back in the house til after 9pm.

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Megletitsnow · 16/12/2010 20:57

Town might be busy as the schools break up and everyone will be Xmas shopping, same goes for soft play. Do you feel up to cold weather and busy shops?

TBH I wouldn't get dressed and just have a quiet day at home with lots of cbeebies. I barely did a thing for 6 weeks after having DC2.

Can you go round a friends house for a while?

FakePlasticTrees · 16/12/2010 20:58

plan your day - and make the plan realistic! You will be fine. I know it doesn't feel like it, but you will be.

pinkyp · 16/12/2010 21:00

I have to take ds to nursery and pick him up in the afternoon, might call to see a friend if she's in. I'm ashamed to say i havent even made a meal since giving birth so i think maybe tomorrow might be a survival day Blush

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Scootergrrrl · 16/12/2010 21:01

Even if you sit and watch telly with the three year old and feed the baby all day, you'll have got through it on your own. Don't set yourself any goals apart from getting them fed, bathed (if possible) and asleep. Good luck!

SingingTunelessly · 16/12/2010 21:01

Do you have any family/friends that could come round? Everywhere is so busy at the moment it might be more stressful to be out and about.

MaudOHara · 16/12/2010 21:01

Don't expect too much of yourself or your DCs - if you can get your DH to prepare meals that you can just grab when you need them, and yes lots of cbeebies.

If you get stir crazy and want to get out then wrap up warm for a quick trip to a park but I would avoid shops for now as it will be manic.

Good luck - you'll be fine

Megletitsnow · 16/12/2010 21:02

I didn't make a meal for at least 3 weeks following both of my DC's. We survived on M&S ready meals and Domino pizza. You're already doing better then me Smile.

Silkstalkings · 16/12/2010 21:08

You have a nursery that's a bonus! I would stay in and appreciate that, catch some zzzs between feeds/changes.
I wouldn't do softplay unless you are babywearing - it's difficult to rescue a stuck child otherwise! Libraries are free and 3yr olds love them.

pinkyp · 16/12/2010 21:09

ready meals! why didnt i think of that? that could be our trip out to get one lol. Dont really have any family who could call round my mum and me have "issues", i sound like a loner now too.

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Firawla · 16/12/2010 21:09

I would go out actually, maybe not soft play or anywhere too crowded (unless you have one you know wont be too bad but i think its gna be holidays starting, so may be packed?)
When my dh went back to work after I had my 2nd, one of my friends was having a party/gathering type thing the other side of London and i thought about it and was a bit unsure shall I go or not, maybe too difficult with 2 small children etc, but I decided to go and really glad I did because then you feel confident that yes, you can manage with them fine and get out and about and get on with life. Otherwise I might have spent another week or so just stuck inside worrying about travelling too far or doing too much, so for me I think it really helped just to go for it, it gives you confidence. I wouldn't say you have to go OTT but go and see your friend while your out to drop off your other ds to nursery could be a good idea?
Good luck and im sure you will be fine. You'll just get into your own routine with them and probably soon it will be like 2nd nature just doing both of their bedtime bathtime etc by yourself

ExistentialistCat · 16/12/2010 21:09

Oh pinky, I know exactly how you feel! I was begging DH not to leave me alone with my two DDs (just 14 months between them) when he had to return to work, and I'm also prone to anxiety. But you know what? We survived. There was some crying (most, but not all of it from DDs) and fraught moments but it was ok. And once we'd done the first day on our own, the first meal on our own, the first bedtime on our own (ok haven't actually cracked that one yet), it became much easier. And I felt so much better about myself knowing that I didn't HAVE to have DH there to cope.

So, you ask for advice. I'm going to offer two sets of suggestions, one to do with your mindset and one to do with practicalities. First of all, since it's just one day initially, what about trying to treat it as an experiment or even an adventure? You don't have to get everything right. Sometimes a mindfulness approach can help: Take notice of your feelings, acknowledge them, and observe them almost as an outsider.

In case that sounds insanely esoteric, here's some practical stuff: Do things. Softplay or a toddler group where your 3 year-old can let off some steam while you pass the baby round for cuddles sounds good. I found that I'd get a lot of support going to activities like that and stating from the start how overwhelmed I was feeling, rather than trying to keep up appearances. Shopping sounds more ambitious but if your DS is up to it, why not? Coffee with a friend? Go to someone else's house?

As for bedtime, is there anyone at all who could be around? I still call on our regular babysitter to hold the newborn while I do the toddler bedtime. But if she isn't available, I do as much of the bedtime routine as possible with both children and either wear the baby in a sling or leave her in the bouncer downstairs for 10 minutes to have a final bit of quiet time with the toddler.

Finally, and very importantly: Plan a reward for yourself. This is a reward just for still being there at the end of the day. It shouldn't be contingent on any specific achievements. Perhaps DH could look after the baby and you could have a bath when he gets home?

Sorry to have gone on and on. I just wanted to send you lots of support because I really sympathise. I hope that some of these ideas might help a little. I'll be thinking of you and will check to see how you're getting on!

ExistentialistCat · 16/12/2010 21:11

I started my post when you hadn't had any replies yet, pinky, and now I feel a bit silly for being so longwinded when everyone else has managed to say similar things much more concisely!

pinkyp · 17/12/2010 14:17

well....woke up feeling okish. Managed to get ds to nursey 45 mins late Blush baby decided he wanted a feed at last min, then pooed, then was sick over clothes. Was snappy with ds1 as he is asking questions all the time and its a tad annoying. Got back home, made sandwhich, fed baby on and off, covered in little bits of baby sick and milk, baby sounds like hes done the biggest poo ever! My next plan when baby finishes feeding (hopeing he is full after a hr bf otherwise he'll try latching on to anything that comes slightly near his face) is to changed his bum,pick ds1 up, show baby off at work,meet dh for dinner and nip to tescos. Wish me luck! oh i've not managed to pick breakfast dishes up yet or any house work...

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pinkyp · 17/12/2010 14:18

baby sick all over cushion now

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Poledra · 17/12/2010 14:19

Ach, don't worry about housework and dishes! As long as you, DS and the baby are warm, clothed and fed, the rest of it is just window-dressing! Well done on getting this far.

Dalrymps · 17/12/2010 14:25

You're doing fantastic. Tbh, it doesn't matter about baby sick or housework, just that you're managing is enough at this stage!

My ds2 is 9mo and ds1 is 3.2y, there are still lots of days where I gey naff all housework done but they are clean, fed, warm and happy (apart from the obvious toddler tantrums and baby meltdowns!)

Just the fact that you can do it yourself will give you a huge sense of achievement and your confidence will grow each day.

ExistentialistCat · 17/12/2010 17:06

Been thinking of you today, pinky. Sounds like you're doing a fantastic job. Good luck with the evening shift!

Silkstalkings · 17/12/2010 18:02

Well done pinkyp. My big tip for you is babywearing, you can get so much more done if you have a wrapsling. Saved my life when I had #3 and a 3 schoolruns (infants and pre-school) a day to do.

pinkyp · 17/12/2010 18:21

Thank u for your support everyone! managed to nip into work, quick brew with friend at work, met dh for half hr, nipped to boots, got ds a mcdonalds (saves me cooking), back home...feeding baby again. Managed to takebreakfast plates in kitchen Blush. Feels like a miletry operation my day lol

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MaudOHara · 17/12/2010 22:55

Well done - next time will be easier

Dalrymps · 19/12/2010 21:24

Wowypu managed loads! Well done, it'll get easier and soon just be 'normal' if you see what I mean Smile

Dalrymps · 19/12/2010 22:08

Wow, you*

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