with bubs 24/7, how does everyone cope?

[dragonflyblu]

Okay i am starting a few threads lately but this one is just a rant.

I am with Clea 24/7, actually I have never been away from her for more than 2 hours (just once) and mostly the longest I am away from her is 30 minutes every week or so. We live O/S and DH works long hours and I am not keen on a stranger looking after Clea in a foreign country where we dont even speak the language. My point... sorry I am rambling... Sometimes I just want to get away, just have a break. But I dont know what i would actually do if I got a break? I am going to ask DH to watch her while i go for a walk once a week.

Generally i dont mind being with our baby 24/7 but sometimes I need all of my strength just to face another day of looking after her. So I take a deep breath, put her in the pram and go for a walk and wonder what it would be like to be a mother who has their baby sleep in a cot rather than pressed up against me all night, bottle fed rather than sore bitten nipples, daycare, playpens and other things to lock her in while I do stuff, routines,.... it alll sounds tempting sometimes.

Okay how does everyone else do it? Where do we find the strength?

[Hollywood]

I'm with my DS 24/7 too so I know how you feel. He does sleep in his cot for day sleeps and plays on the floor whilst I do stuff, but other than that I never get a break. Mainly because he is breastfed and won't take bottles of any kind and hasn't shown much interest in solid food yet, so I need to be there for 'on demand' breastfeeding. We co-sleep too so no break even at night.

The way I cope is to remember that this time in his life is relatively short and that one day I will look back on it fondly, even if at the moment it is pretty exhausting seems never ending. If I couldn't see an end in sight I don't think I could do it, but I know he'll be independent one day and that makes it easier to deal with. I do envy the other mums in my mothers group who get whole days of each week when they leave their daughters with their MIL, but I know my time will come one day.

[KapowSchazam]

I've got COMPLETE 24/7, without even a partner to help out. The thing that I have found that REALLY REALY helps is baby wearing. Since she was a newborn I've worn her, especially when I need to get stuff done around the house, or get ready to go out. (Hehe there's been many times when I've apologised to her for spilling face powder on her head while doing make up!)

Now that she's bigger, I have an Ergo and pop her onto my back, expecially when getting dinner ready, as at that time of day, she's at her crankiest :devil6:

I even vacuum now with her on my back - much easier then when she was in the Moby wrap in the front :D

Best of luck!

[Rainbowbrite]

I'm the same. MJ is 2 & a half & the longest I've been away from her was to go to the movies with DH while she stayed with my mum. DH has never even had MJ for more than 40mins without me :o

I'm worried about how we will both go when I go to hospy t have bub. DH is taking a few weeks off to spend one on one time with MJ & so that I can bond with bub in hospital for a while, but I just don't know.

[MrsDribbleDrawers]

I've given up trying to get things done!! Nat plays on the floor a bit, but I'm still needed for everything else, and while hubby is great, there are some things he can't (or won't) do!! I don't really want time away from her, more to have the energy to do other things!!

[dragonflyblu]

There is some relief knowing other mums are in similar situations isnt there? Lil B and Mumma Everytime I feel like this I think of all the single mums out there. You are amazing. I did baby wearing too but now she is very squirmy and I cant use my moby wrap. Need to get an Ergo. Funny how a break from bubs can mean strapping bubs to us even closer!

I also wonder about having another baby. last night I had a dream that I had a newborn ina moby wrap and Clea in a backpack style carrier on my back. Was it a dream or a nightmare?:eek:

[punkbaby]

I think you just cope really to be honest, you have too even though some days you are pulling your hair out thinking help!!! I never left my first dd for even 5 minutes till she was about 20 months old as i was on my own with her, with the other two the youngest i left them they were 11 months and even since then i guess i have had about 20 hours child free time.

I just make sure my kids are in the best routine that i can get them into so i can have a little me time in the evenings even if its only half an hour to have a shower in peace or just lay there and zone out and think for 5 minutes LOL it all helps.

It is hard though not that i would change anything :) but some days i think wow i would love a day off!

[KapowSchazam]

PB, what are you still doing hanging around here?!?!

[KapowSchazam]

Funny how a break from bubs can mean strapping bubs to us even closer!

It's funny huh! B loves it on my back. She snuggles right in and gives me cuddles and tickles the back of my neck. Hmm...that reminds me that I need to cut her nails tomorrow - she almost shreaded my neck earlier! :eek:

It just shows how much are bubs need to be close to us. I've had many offers for help with watching B, but I really don't see the need. She's happiest when she's with me, as I am with her. Yeah, it gets hard at times, especially when she's in a whingy mood, but I'd rather she be whingy with me than in the same mood, without me around.

[punkbaby]

PB, what are you still doing hanging around here?!?!
Talk to the bundle it seems to be the one calling the shots here LOL

[KapowSchazam]

Talk to the bundle it seems to be the one calling the shots here LOL

:laughing: I just spat my cuppa out everywhere! :laughing:

I feel for you, I hope bub gets a bit of a shove along very soon!