Daily routine with new baby

[OvenSeeksBun]

My DD is 3 weeks old, and I have been spending all of my time holding her while she sleeps and nursing her while she's awake. But at the same time I am watching way too much garbage television, because what else is there to do for hours on end while cuddling a sleeping newborn??? I sing to her and talk to her when she's awake, but what else should I be doing at this point?

[Aithnea]

Have you tried wearing your baby?  When my daughter was that age I took her out for walks in our Moby.  She usually slept the whole time or fell asleep shortly after we left the house.  Now she's awake for a large parts of the walks but she loves going out and seeing everyone.  Wearing her also allows you to move around the house more.

[mommariffic]

That's my favorite stage, that sleepy cocoon stage of just being a new momma. I say milk it! 

[HappyMonkey]

I watched 10 SEASONS of Stargate in the week or so leading to the birth and the months afterwards. Actually I watched 4 seasons of Stargate Atlantis too. So yes lots of tv on the computer lying in bed. It was a nice holiday!!

I think I spent most of the first month hanging out in bed with new baby.. it was wonderful!

[kl5]

My DP bought me a Kindle for this very reason. Easy to hold with one hand while breastfeeding or just holding a sleeping baby.

[Knitting Mama]

My Kindle and DVR are for sure what kept me going in those early pinned-to-the-couch weeks!

[OvenSeeksBun]

Thanks for the replies! I wear her around the house, but it's too cold to go for walks (-30 celsius). We've gone out a few times, but it's a mad dash from the house to the car.

I am really trying to just enjoy this stage because I know it will be over before I know it, but I can't help feeling like I should *do* something.

[OvenSeeksBun]

Originally Posted by kl5 

My DP bought me a Kindle for this very reason. Easy to hold with one hand while breastfeeding or just holding a sleeping baby.

I was actually thinking about this earlier today.

[Knitting Mama]

You're "doing" exactly what you're supposed to be doing at this stage-- creating an unbreakable bond between the two of you!

[BarefootGirl]

That's all I did with my DS at that stage.  He was attached to me and I was attached to the couch.  If I had to pee or get something from the fridge or do a load of laundry - anything - I carried him with me.  Mostly (when I wasn't just staring at him!) I played on the internet and watched stuff on Netflix, including the entire first season of Rock of Love, LOL...  He is 8 weeks now and we still do a lot of sitting on the couch, but I've also gotten him in the ring sling or the moby while I do a few things around the house (he hated being worn up until about 6 weeks).  He also will lie on the ottoman and wiggle and stare at the ceiling light for a little while by himself, though I have to be right there just in case he rolls or something.  If I have to put him down and do something (like shower) he is happy to lie in his crib and watch his musical mobile for about 5 minutes.  He has napped in the swing a couple of times.  We do get out of the house for quick errands during the day.  DH and I have taken him to restaurants or friends' houses in the evening a few times.  But he and I are still on the couch a lot and I am often on the internet.  It's my connection to the outside world with DH at work 10 hours a day.  I wish it was Spring and we'd be taking a lot of walks or maybe reading at the park instead. 

[Knitting Mama]

I have to admit-- it was hard to get up and do things after having our bonding "vacation" for the first couple of months!

[Yuba_River]

Let go of any guilt you have and enjoy it! I loved that stage with my first son, and it is so different this time around--that phase lasted the first week, when I had lots of help, and from then on it was back to all the activity of having a three year old. At night now I sit on the couch holding DS2 and it is so nice to have that time with him. That said, if all the at home time is making you stir crazy, do you have other mom friends you could reach out to? I have a close friend with a daughter the same age as DS, and we used to spend lots of time hanging out, changing diapers, nursing and talking while our babies slept. It was bliss. Are there meet up groups, la leche league meetings or anything else that would allow you to connect with other moms?

[mckittre]

If you want to, wear baby and do whatever you would have been doing anyway, indoor or outdoor.  If it's too cold for you to want to go outside at -30, that's reasonable, but if you really want to go out, just wear baby under your coat - they'll be fine.  If you want to chill out and enjoy the newborn, that's a good idea too. 

[greenmulberry]

OMG you and I are long lost twins. I am due in just over a week and have been watching Stargate non stop on Netflix. I am so tired when I get home from a full day at work that I flop in bed after dinner and watch TV. I just went through the whole 5 seasons of Atlantis and am now starting on the original series. We bought an internet ready TV for Christmas precisely so I could lay around in bed and watch netflix sci fi in bed with the baby after she is born, it's great. I feel like I am normally so busy that I am enjoying this time where it is OK to be super relaxed.

Originally Posted by HappyMonkey 

I watched 10 SEASONS of Stargate in the week or so leading to the birth and the months afterwards. Actually I watched 4 seasons of Stargate Atlantis too. So yes lots of tv on the computer lying in bed. It was a nice holiday!!

I think I spent most of the first month hanging out in bed with new baby.. it was wonderful!

[maydaymom10]

I was just like you 8 months ago when DS was born. Actually, you could probably find some of my "freaked out" post in the archives

Just like the PPs, enjoy this time. I felt so useless hanging out in my bed or on the couch all day, but I miss it now. DS was pinned to my chest --cried if I put him down and hated being worn for the first 6 week (I have a nice collection of baby carriers now for my efforts). I even had to sleep with him on my chest because it was the only way he'd go to sleep. I finally just gave in to my couch days and went with it. I got a Nook (chose it over the Kindle because I can upload ebooks rented from the library) and that helped a lot. Also, I caught up on all the garbage reality shows, free movies, Netflix, etc.

One thing that saved my sanity is that I tried to get out of the house once a day. I was fortunate that DS did well in a car seat. So we would go the grocery store, go for a snack/coffee, or even just drive around. I gave up trying to get the house clean and needless to say we had a lot of pizza & take out those weeks.

It's hard to see it now, but you will miss this phase. Hang in there and keep your eye on that light at the end of the tunnel.

[goldenwillow]

Originally Posted by mckittre 

If you want to, wear baby and do whatever you would have been doing anyway, indoor or outdoor.  If it's too cold for you to want to go outside at -30, that's reasonable, but if you really want to go out, just wear baby under your coat - they'll be fine.  If you want to chill out and enjoy the newborn, that's a good idea too. 

For sure.  Wrap em up in your coat and add a blanket!  It was so important for me to get out and breathe!