Motherhood

[vineyard]

Hi there I'm a first time mother and although I dearly love my 7 month year old feel slightly overwhelmed with the waking up twice in the night to the weaning my mindset is in overdrive. I will soon be returning to work after my maternity leave to a new position after being promoted to , and concerned about how I will juggle work, baby and find me and DH time? any advice

I have a 7 month old too, who doesn't sleep well either. I'm not back at work for a couple of months yet, bt the things that help me cope riight now are:

1. I co-sleep some of the time, I'm still being woken 3-6 times a night but dd settles back to sleep quicker and I don't have to get out of bed.
2. I use a sling when I'm trying to do the housework.
3. I use our local surestart and go to every baby group going. I felt isolated at the start of my ml but it's much better now.
4. I sleep whenever I can sleep. Dp and I take turns to have a lie in at the weekends. Sometimes the knowledge that I will get a 4 hour stretch of sleep gets me through the week.

Does your dc settle ok in the evening? I found things got much easier when dd started going down at a regular time so I got a bit of time to myself, or to tackle jobs that aren't easy to do with her.

When I'm worried about going back to work (I am) I try to think about the advantages. Some for dd, like how she'll form a stronger relationship with my mil who will have her some of the time, and some for me, like how I'll be able to go to the toilet in peace. Also I think that it isn't avoidable so not worth dwelling on too much iykwim.

It might not be that helpful to say it, but you will cope - you have to, so you find that when the time comes you just get on with it because there is no other choice.

My DS was still waking once or twice a night prior to introducing solids, so only started sleeping through at 7.5 months. So you may find that the two go hand in hand to getting a good night's sleep!

The only other thing i can suggest is try to be super organised so you can literally just get up in the morning, get yourself and your LO dressed and be out of the door on time. In practice that means preparing sandwiches etc. the night before and cooking meals for the week at the weekend/ during time off to freeze. You will work out a routine with your DH. When i went back to work i got my DS dressed while DH got showered and dressed and then DH would give him a bottle while i got myself ready. How 'hands on' is your DH?

thanks at the end of the day there are similarities in the routine with the sling like the going to the toilet in peace idea. He does settle in the evenings oing to bed between 8-9'oclock

matana -thanks for the organisation tips, good to see 7.5 maybe looking at good night's sleep my DH is pretty good bless him just give him a bit of information on the routine and he's good to go

I know it's not always for everyone but could you try and get him into bed a little earlier? I love mummy o'clock when both dc in bed (usually between 7 /7.30). It gives me a little respite from the day and as I go to bed embarrassingly early at the moment means I do have some adult time.

Agree with others that going back to work will just happen and you will cope but it is exhausting and you have to be super organised (unlike me!!)! DC are nearly three and 8 months and I am dreading going back to work in a couple of months but I survived last time and hopefully will again