How do you cope when you’re so unwell with baby

[bungletru]

How do you moms cope when you’re feverish, unwell, etc. (caught whatever baby had a few days ago)
I have the worst mom guilt right now
exclusively Bf baby ,having a hard time on solids due to recent sickness
i feel awful.

Baby’s father takes time off?

I had to just get on with it, DH was self employed and if he didn’t work, he got behind and customers wouldn’t be happy but he could sometimes get home early. Once DC were a bit older and able to watch tv and play a bit on their own with me watching was easier.

You go for an easy life as much as possible. Ditch the guilt. It doesn’t serve either of you and you’re doing your best. If anyone can help out, let them know. If not, do the basics for LO, nappies feeding etc, dose yourself up with paracetamol, order in your dinner and get to bed whenever baby is sleeping.

If they're that small they don't need too much entertainment. Just rest, feed and stay at home.

Invite the grandparents round to help out? Mine is EBF so needs to stay with me but having another pair of hands helps a lot. Easy activities that you can manage, my baby loves sensory play so a big container of toys in water on a waterproof mat would get me about 20 minutes then some baby sensory videos and a contact nap

Don't feel guilty.

Easier said than done I know but your baby won't remember one minute of those few days you're ill.

It gets so much easier when they're 3+

I've had to do this and it's awful but you just have to get through it. TV was on all day, I napped when baby napped, the kids ate snacks all day when I was too nauseated to cook proper meals, until their dad got in to make tea.

Go into ‘survival mode’ for a few days e.g do the things you need to for you and baby to keep you both safe and healthy but anything else is optional extra and no guilt about TV, cleaning, laundry etc.

Hope you feel better soon!

It’s pretty shit but you just have to get through it. Dose up on paracetamol and try to sleep when the baby does. If you have a partner then feed the baby and hand them straight over. Get yourself to bed and they can bring you the baby when they need the next feed and then take them away to resettle.

Once they’re older and into tv it gets much easier to get that rest (although you’ll still have guilt for letting them watch tv all day).

Good question! I was very poorly with a postpartum infection and hospitalised for nearly a week with the baby as EBF and I still had to do all care for the baby in hospital apart from one night when a lovely midwife took her for a couple of hours as they were quieter than usual.

You just get on with it and take as much help as you can. It's horrible though, but it's a position we all have to be in at some point or other. It's obviously worse for those with no partner or family support who can step in to look after the child.

I used to make a temporary bed on the floor so that baby was safe, if I didn't have childcare cover.

Then stretch out and play with toys lying down with the baby.

Not much you can do really.

Do the bare minimum, dose up on paracetamol and get grandparents to take baby out in the pram for a couple of hours in between feeds to let you sleep it off.

Do what you need to do to survive (I vommed in a bucket while breastfeeding on more than one occasion). Toddlers had CBeebies days while I lay on the sofa with a bucket. Etc.

It is the WORST! My husband works away a lot and we have no family nearby so I just had to suck it up. It passes. It's really difficult, but just a blip. I found that I was iller for much longer as I couldn't rest or sleep. Really hope you both feel better soon. X

That's much worse than being unwell at home @lifeofsty i don't know how you coped!

I just go into survival mode. DP is self employed and works away majority of the time. I let the house go to shit for a few days and order takeaways if I get hungry. Binge tv while ds has Netflix on the iPad in bed beside me. Baby gate on the stairs and bathroom door shut incase you dose. But in my experience you can lightly drift off but knowing dc is around you very quickly jump out your skin awake. Doesn't feel great if your already nauseous

Good luck! If you take it easy now your recovery will be faster x

Lone parent so had no choice

I got covid when I had 2 week twins and a almost 1 year old. Never felt so ill in my life, I remember dragging myself about trying not to faint. Hubby was able to take 2 days off un paid but we couldn't afford for him to take anymore or we would have ended up in debt

Just want to say thank you to you all for your kindness.

I am literally doing the bare minimum and husband is helping massively but as you know when EBF it’s hard to keep away

you’re all superheroes!

I am well and truly dosed up but the fever won’t budge.. hoping I’ll be over it tomorrow!

DH took time off work if either I or DT’s were sick. No family in the country. Wasn’t ideal as he was a GP which meant cancelling surgery.

It’s really difficult, I can empathise. I can remember this well. Changing nappies while vomiting, DH couldn’t take time off (self employed) the relief when he got home so I could go to bed. Just do whatever you need to, to survive the day. Hope you feel better soon.

TV on all day.
Your H can make a pile of sandwiches for you and make time in the morning for you to take a shower.
He can also cook dinner and wash up.