What was one thing that saved your sanity during the early post partum days?

[Allthesweets]

Hoping for inspiration. :)

Malbec

Lockdown, funnily enough 😂 being able to close the door and be in our own bubble was absolute heaven

A partner that pulls his weight and actively participates as a parent.

oh wait.. I didn’t have that

from the things I did have, hydrogel breast pads and silver nipple cups for breastfeeding. still using both when needed 18 months on!

My mum

• Sertraline
• Bottle feeding (not planned, but BF didn't happen for us) so we could both do feeds
• Caffeine (not BF'ing)
• A cleaner visiting once a week
• 'the caddy' - a felt carry caddy with sections that we filled up every morning with nappies, wipes, creams, soothers, kindle, water bottle, charger etc anything the baby or I would need that day, and it went everywhere with us.
• Bridgerton had just landed on Netflix, so naturally that was the biggest gamechanger. Kind of regret not naming my son Duke now...

A more experienced mum saying “Men? Oh hahahha don’t expect anything, men are useless at this.”

Until then I’d been feeling like DH was the only man in the world not able to soothe a crying baby, not any use to do night wakings etc.

Next to me crib.

perfect prep machine.

pre made bottles of milk for during the night

my mum coming and staying for a few weeks

a husband that pulled his weight and took turns during the night

my brother and his wife on the end of the phone to answer every tiny baby related question i had

all that… I was still knackered

if I was to do it again, I’d have hired cleaners to come and clean the house too

A snack box in the bedroom to keep the energy up through the night (mainly containing choc digestives, cereal bars and crisps); a big refillable water bottle; a freezer full of meals that could just be defrosted and reheated (lasagne, curry, bolognaise, cottage pie, casseroles etc); husband doing all the washing and dishes; a cleaner coming in every couple of weeks; going for short walks outside when up to it (I had a c-section so couldn't walk too far at first); a long phone charging cable; and an acceptance that I would be getting very little sleep but trying to remind myself that it wouldn't be forever. Looking back (my son is 4 months now), those first few weeks are all a bit of a blur now to be honest. It was hard but also amazing to be in a little bubble with our amazing son and just shut the world out and learn how to be parents. It's such a special time, enjoy it!

My daily walk with girls overheard podcast on. Baby slept and I felt like I got a break from it all for an hour

Walking for miles

Moving in with my parents who were incredible (I was very lucky I know) Dad cooked everything (bone broth with watercress to restore my energy) & all other meals / both parents walked-the-floor at night & changed nappies & just brought DS to me for feeds for the first few days... and they did the same with each subsequent child...
Dad remained a devoted Gparent till he passed away 3 years ago in his 80's (was still ironing/cooking/making beautiful Chinese food/driving the "kids" around) Dmum still tries to help with bits/stuff now but she's in her 80's and less robust.
I couldn't have managed without them - miss DDad every minute just because

• Accepting that I was clueless and just going with the flow
• Netflix
• M&S ready meals
• Dummies
• Nursing cushion
• My wonderful husband

And yes, an extra long phone cable.

Afternoon sleeps.

A water jug nearby at all times

Sitting and feeding and putting no pressure on myself to do anything else.

Nipple cream

Freezer meals and pre made meals.

perfect prep machine
dummies
mam bottles
swaddles

DH - who did every nappy change for the first fortnight, every bath when he got in from work, and was good at soothing the babies to sleep.
dummies - both my babies loved them and slept through the night with them from 8 weeks and 9 weeks respectively.
bottle feeding - so DH could take turns, and the babies’ stomachs stayed full for longer between feeds, giving us a good 4 hours sleep at a time.
work - getting back to work at 4 months, to relieve the boredom and isolation of maternity leave.