24 hours in the life of parents of a newborn

[NisekoWhistler]

We are the first in "our crowd of friends" to be expecting a baby. My husband keeps asking what sort of day/night we can expect in the first few weeks of having a baby.

Can anyone talk me through a typical 24 hour period, warts and all, don't sugar coat it.

Echo everything everyone above has said.

Regarding visitors, only have people that won't mind chaos, that'll make their own cup of tea, and who will bring cake! And if they offer help, take it! Let them wash up, or run a Hoover round.

Also make loads of meals beforehand and stick them in the freezer so you can just heat them up and don't have to cook properly, and especially things you can eat with one hand, I usually ended up eating one handed whilst DS was feeding, covered him with a towel so i didn't drop food on him. If you have a close group of friends who are asking how they can help, suggest they do a meal rota for a week for you - my friends do this and it's amazing to have a meal arrive each day that we just stick in the oven.

Also, a lot of my friends partners have found two books by Rob Kemp really really helpful, funny but realistic. The expectant dads survival guide and The new dads survival guide. Both on Amazon. Really recommend, especially if he hasn't got lots of mates that can share their experience.

Just another perspective. Yes a newborn has needs and doesn't follow a book, but outs were nowhere near like many experiences above

First week both times I stayed in bed or sofa feeding baby lots. But they slept lots, wanted cuddles, and happy as long as near us

First month - lots of feeding still, but going out with baby for walks, to cafes, visiting people, baby slept well as co slept so just fed and back to sleep as needed.

By 6 weeks old, I was back working from home part time. Baby slept in sling whilst i or Dh worked. Was happy going outside, could lay on mat on floor happily alone for an hour watching people/ playing with soft toy. They slept 11pm-6am without waking most the time.

10 weeks onwards - slept 11pm-8am without waking so Dh and I both back to good sleeping schedule. Needed holding to nap and fall asleep, but not feeding. Fed on demand, but was roughly every 2 hours in the day, none overnight when sleeping.

They both had their moments when all went to pot for the day but in general as long as they were held ( in sling or arms) and fed they were pretty contended babies who slotted in to our life fairly well.

Download the Babybuddy app from Bestbeginnings too. It's great .

My first born was hell on earth, bless his little heart. Up every hour in the night to feed, would cat nap for 20 mins, scream for the rest of the day on and off inbetween having to be walked aroudn and around and around the house etc, all until he was 8 months old when he FINALLY started to sleep longer than two hour blocks. Second born was HEAVEN - slept through the night from 6 weeks, naps for three hours a day, entertains herself pretty much. I think it ENTIRELY depends on what kind of little soul you give birth to.

My DD is 10 weeks old and I echo everyone else. Although I had books... Have I had time to read them? Nope, and I can assure you my DD defo hasn't read them!

She was 6 wks premature and was very sleepy at first and was tube fed in hospital so as a result ended up being formula fed as she just couldn't sort her latch and I couldn't express enough.

For me, I found the exhaustion relentless. Everyone warns you about it, but absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing prepares you for it. I was terrified of the nights due to the exhaustion. She was feeding every 3 hrs and I'd finish feeding/changing etc after an hour and be panicking that I only had 2 hrs until the next feed to sleep. And that was if she fell asleep straight away. Which wouldn't happen. And I'd start panicking more.

Try and get out of the house as soon as you can - fellow ladies in my NCT didn't as they were scared (which is understandable) but a couple still haven't by themselves yet and they now admit they've left it to long and it's become an issue and they are scared they won't cope.

Try and get out!!!! John Lewis is really good if you have one near you. They have parents rooms which have seats for feeding, proper changing stations and importantly, a toilet you can get a buggy in. That was my thing about going out - I was scared about going to the loo, what would I do with the buggy???!!

Seeing as I really only shop in Solihull or Birmingham, I always pop in to JL for the loo...

Now, it's getting easier at night. I can cope as she's only waking once a night now and usually sleeping from her dream feed at 10.30pm right though to 4am so I'm at least getting a chunk of 4 or 5 hrs with a couple of hours afterwards.

Only thing is now she's a bit harder during the day and I've had some rough moments where I've sobbed.

Still feeding every 3 hrs but I try and ensure she gets a nap in every 3 hr cycle - even if only 30 mins otherwise we will pay for it when she's overtired

But actually ignore the books is my advice and trust your own instinct. You will be your DC's Mummy and you are all your little one needs. Cuddles, food and love. You can't go wrong - but be kind to yourself so you can provide all those things.

Some sleep a lot.
Plan some good box sets and sign up to Netflix.

We watched DS sleep in the front rooms for hours. By day 3 I had cabin fever. So I went out to pass the time.

We fed every 4-5 hours. I leaked all over the bed. We waited for a poo. Took pictures. Figured how to use all the shiny new stuff we had.

Completely depends on what kind of baby

Some feed well, sleep all the time and you will be bored and wonder what all the fuss is about.

Some have feeding issues, never sleep (or only on you/in sling/while being jiggled) and you will be a wreck.

It's not fair really!

The first couple of weeks are a bit 'artificial'. Your partner will be on paternity leave, they'll be visitors and lots of cake, cards and presents. The baby will sleep loads. You'll be sore but will manage short outings. Then, when your partner goes back to work and you're in your own suddenly it's all real. The baby will be more demanding and you'll be amazed at how little you can get done. You'll struggle to get showered and suddenly it's 11.30am and the house is a tip. The baby will do a big poo up its back just as you're leaving for a Dr appt. Happy days! Congrats.

YY to the app.

The midwife asks you how many wet or dirty nappies they've produced and how long you've been feeding for on each side etc. We'd discharged ourselves at midnight, had had about 2 hrs sleep in total and obviously had absolutely no clue. However despite the sleep deprivation I remembered reading in a book what he should have been doing so just told her that because I didn't want to look like a crap mum who didn't know how many times her ds had wee'd

Then I downloaded an app that I could record everything in (nappies, feeds, medicines etc) and next time she came round I was able to give the real answer