Which is harder, being 8 months pg and taking care of a toddler, or having a newborn and toddler?

[naturelover]

I'm hoping the former is harder, because I'm really struggling!

I'm a SAHM with no real help with DD Mon-Fri, and 3 weeks after the baby is born I can realistically expect to be completely alone Mon-Fri with TWO to take care of. I admit I'm daunted.

Right now I've reached the point of looking forward to not being pregnant anymore (nature's way I suppose of making us look forward to the birth). I have a sore back, feel enormous, have piles, restless legs, can't sleep and just generally find it bloody EXHAUSTING running around after a two year old! To think that last time, I had a month off work before the birth to rest and nest. This time I'll be lucky if I get a half-day respite from DD in the next month...

Sorry for the moan. Am hoping others are in the same situation so we can give each other moral support.

PS any tips on managing with a newborn and toddler would be much appreciated!

I've got a 2 week old, 19 month old and 4 year old.

So much better now than when i was pregnant and thats after a c-section.

It does help though that baby so far is a dream - sleeps and feeds and goes to bed at 7.30'ish after a couple of hours cluster feeding.

The first week was hard though and was glad of family help as 19 month old had chicken pox.

But no heartburn, can roll over in bed, can bend down etc.

I've also very spoilingly got my cleaners to come twice a week for a few weeks as DH already back at work - well he was pretty much straight away.

Oh so good to read it gets better! I'm only 29 weeks with an active 19 months old, but I can barely handle and hate being pregnant this time around, in fact the entire thing has me going into depression (and it was so good in the 2nd trimester when I felt better).

Naturelover, I don't think that your 2nd one is necessarily going to have colic-- I know two people who had a colicky babe first and a little sleeper second. And nobody had two colicky ones. Colick is not that common, you just got lucky the first time, poor thing.

The sling will save my life, I hope. Was fantastic with dd, and can't imagine how it would work without when the new baby comes....

I'm at 21 weeks with a 2 and a half year old and still find myself thinking "what have I done?"

Hope it does et easier!

Hello Tulip,
That's reassuring advice. Where did you get your easy meal recipes? My 3rd child is due today so we're going to buy a freezer. I've gone right off cooking and am v bored with our meal plans especially shepherds pie, spagbol and tuna pasta.
Ideas v welcome