I have norovirus and a newborn. Please help me get through this

[Floopyandtired]

DS is 8 weeks old and I have what I’m certain is norovirus. It’s hideous. I’ve never felt so awful. The problem is I have a breastfeeding Velcro baby (along with a 3 year old) and a partner who refused to take time off work today to help me. In the 3+ years we have been parents I’ve never once asked him to miss work because I’m unwell and can’t take proper care of our children, but today I needed him and he refused. But that’s a different story.

The baby will only sleep after a bf and very vigorous jiggle by me. My partner sleeps with our 3 year old so I will be doing tonight by myself and I don’t know how I’m going to get through this.

I have no advice apart from try and drink lots, you poor thing

As soon as DH is home take the baby and yourself off to bed. Drinks loads of water annibble some biscuits if feel like it.

What an arsehole. Hope he catches it from you. I digress… sorry your going through this hopefully it won’t last allll night. Lots of water

I've been there . Just want to say if your baby is fed, clean and in a safe place, one night of mum not shushing them and rocking them to sleep won't hurt.

I have been almost exactly there - I had one of the worst and most long-lasting noroviruses I've ever experienced when my son was 7-8 weeks old.

Hopefully yours will be short like most noroviruses. As others have said, drink lots of water, nibble bland things (though I have found dark chocolate surprisingly good as a thing to eat when I have stomach bugs)

It's probably to late tonight but when ibwas in q similar position I was given string medication because they were worried about me dehydrating and not being able to feed baby properly. Will baby only sleep on you? If so could you sling her up so even if you're back and forwards to the toilet you can still "hold" her. Your husband is awful not to help.

Put Moses basket or bouncy chair in the bathroom so you have a safe space to put the baby.

That sounds terrible. You poor thing! I've had a good few stomach bugs over the years and it's just horrendous!! It's really unfair of your partner not to support you 😔.

Do you have any family you can ask for help?? Xx

I hope your husband gets it too.

If he does, leave him with the baby and toddler and go out for the day - just as he has gone to you.

Ffs no job is so important you can't take a day off for an emergency like your partner being too unwell to look after your own kids 😡

I've been there. DS was 10 weeks and DH was away at a conference. I remember putting DS in his car seat on the bathroom floor so he would be kept safe whilst I sat on the loo with a bucket.

I laugh about it now. And one day you will be able to as well. You will get through tonight. Drink lots of water, and diorlyte if you've got some.

Call your husband repeatedly and make him come home. You shouldn’t have to put up with norovirus alone with two small children. Not only is it dangerous as you could faint or get more unwell but they’re likely to catch it too and then it’ll be a nightmare. Hope you feel better soon.

If you can get hold of Smart water it contains similar levels of electrolytes to dioralyte but it’s easier to tolerate

Do you have any friends/family who can help?

Hang in there, OP. Call your husband again and tell him it's unsafe for you to be in charge of the children for much longer.

That said, also hang on to the possibility that it could be short lived. This has happened to me before and it suddenly lifted after about 5 hours and although I was exhausted, the relief was immense. I very much hope it passes for you very soon.

I've been there. It was hard me, baby and toddler all came down with it.

Lots of films to entertain your eldest, feed lying down if you can.

Then have a proper conversation with your 'partner'. Literally dump the toddler on him the moment he gets home and turn your back on them. He gets no choice on this

Thank you so much everyone for being so kind. I’ve just woken up in bed with no memory of getting here. Turns out I fell asleep holding the baby on the sofa and my DP took him away and put me to bed. I still have to do all the night feeds but I think seeing me passed out has made DP realise how poorly I really am and he’s sleeping downstairs with the baby tonight, only bringing him in for feeds. Here’s to a better tomorrow.

Oh that’s good news. Have you stopped being sick? Hope you can get some sleep and start to recover.

Hope you feel better soon! It's a truly awful feeling.

I had something similar, DC was 6 weeks old and it was my husband's very first day back at work after having 6 weeks off on paternity leave. He had already got to the office in the city by the time I was ill but really didn't want to turn around and leave again. My dad ended up leaving his work to come and help instead and thankfully DC took a bottle from him.

It's so difficult when you're ill with little ones. In the first year after each of my babies I had 2/3 sickness and vomiting bugs, and wondered if it was just the sheer exhaustion/being totally run down of new motherhood. As if it wasn't hard enough without that happening!

Just woken to feed the baby and I am starving, so I guess that’s a good sign. Still sticking to ice lollies until tomorrow.

Your husband had to look after both children and just bring the baby to you for feeds. You have to tell him this is non-negotiable.

Plenty of fluids, eat dry toast if you can. Hope you feel better soon, you poor poor thing

OMG how scary passing out with the baby. Your DP isn't a complete bloody idiot then.

Good luck for tomorrow.

I'm so sorry hun. This happend to me. My dh went to the pub after work. 3 years later im still fuming!