Holy carp I had a baby.

[Organicavocado]

Nobody could tell me ANYTHING before I had Klaus. Seriously I thought I had this figured out. I would sleep at normal intervals because you can just roll over and pop a boob into a newborns mouth. After all, I had so much experience with boobs. And going out alone would not only be easy, but enjoyable. Changing diapers would be fun because I have oodles of cute cloth. I would finally have my pre-pregnancy brain back.

My fat would tuck into my pants. My pre pregnancy pants. Immediately.

I would heal easily from any tear.

I would not want anyone to take him away from me ever.

And if anything was rough, all I would have to do is gaze lovingly at him and be melted.

.........LOLOLOLOLOL!
I'm more like, Oh my god, where am I and what kind of truck/train hit me!?

[celestialdreamer]

I can remember that feeling like it was just yesterday. I was a pediatric nurse before my first was born and thought I knew it all. I can vividly remember the first time I was home alone with her and had complete panic that I wasn't going to be able to be responsible for this tiny person.

I remember a woman at the grocery store when my dd was about 2 weeks old asking me how old she was, and I told her. She said "oh gosh you are still at that point where it feels like parenthood hit you like a mack truck, huh?" She meant it in a nice way, but it made me start crying because I really felt that way!

I know you probably don't want to hear it but, really in a few weeks you'll get a bit of routine down and things will get easier. You've had a rough start and it is really okay to feel the way you are feeling. Are you getting enough help? Do you have a friend nearby that has had a baby to talk to? I hope nursing is going okay for you and Klaus and that you are healing well physically

[kjoy2]

Oh sh*t. And I get two of them?!

[splath]

mama! I can only imagine, and I know I'm going to be feeling the same way soon.

[Ironica]

Yep, yep. And, in full disclosure, you guys had a VERY rough start!

But I do remember how panic-stricken I was when Donovan was just over three weeks old, and DH went back to work for the first time, leaving me flying solo *all day long*. And he only worked 2 days/week for the next five weeks!

I remember when DH couldn't leave for work until I'd showered and eaten breakfast... because I hadn't gotten the hang of serving and eating a bowl of cereal while holding my baby yet. Wow, that seems sooooo long ago. You learn to do *everything* one-handed.

See, and this is one reason I'm really, really glad we're doing the whole baby thing over again... I can't wait to go through the newborn period having, you know, DONE it before! ;-) Now that I know that there's no reason at ALL to get out of bed at night (because you can bring the diapers and wipes and potty to the bed, it turns out, so you DON'T have to go to the changing table!), and that you can just stick the kid in the sling and eat, and that you don't really need 4-6 pillows to nurse "correctly", and and and... heck of a learning curve, though. And by the time you get the hang of it, EVERYTHING changes!

Hang in there.

[paphia]

Yeah, it seems like anything you "learned" or thought you knew before you had a kid needs to be left at the door and then you have to figure it all out based on YOUR baby. And it's a really good thing you're finding this out now, rather than bemoaning the fact that your baby won't get on your schedule, let anyone else hold him, sleep through the night or whatever other craziness society expects out of newborns. And unsuccessfully forcing it on a newborn for weeks/months, etc., like some people unfortunately do.

It's a crazy ride! I hope you're enjoying it, too, at the same time. I'm looking forward to all the sleepless nights, burned out days and borderline insanity that will be coming for me in a few more weeks. Try to stay in the moment so you don't get overwhelmed, if you can.

[meli-mello]

Oh jeez - I'm already going by the assumption that I don't know anything and have no idea what I am going to do and wonder who thinks it is a good idea to leave me alone with something so tiny. Now I am getting REALLY nervous.

[chely7425]

Now I'm scared to have a kid... well, not really because I want him out, like yesterday, but this should be interesting since my hubby isn't here to help out. Oy. You rock by the way Anna!

[Amandamanda]

i want to say i told you so, but I'm not sure if this was something we ever discussed.

i misses u btw. lets catch up sometime k?

[Amandamanda]

i want to say i told you so, but I'm not sure if this was something we ever discussed.

i misses u btw. lets catch up sometime k?

[ORLY?]

Originally Posted by Organicavocado

I'm more like, Oh my god, where am I and what kind of truck/train hit me!?

No- but really.

I know I'm going to sound like a bad momma, but the kid is lucky he looks somewhat cute in the morning... and that I am somewhat delirious from the lack of sleep.

[Bokoto]

Oh man, I remember how freaked I was when my mom left a week after my first was born. And I went into parenthood with lots and lots of experience with babies and children. I think the combination of the hormonal cocktail and the magnitude of responsibility for making sure this tiny being survives and thrives was just completely overwhelming.
It didn't last too long though. Out of sheer necessity and resourcefulness, you'll have this baby-slinging, boob-flinging thing down in no time. We all figure out the little tricks that make our lives easier (for me, keeping a buzzy chair in the bathroom where the babe could rest while I used the toilet or shower was a key discovery). For now, just get all the sleep you can so you have the mental resources to manage. The sleep deprivation can really undo you.

[sapientia]

Yeah, I remember having our first-dh only had the day of the birth off, and he was back at work early in the am the next day...and there I was with this tiny little person and all these natural parenting books...and no help. I was overwhelmed...so I just stayed in bed and nursed. I didn't know what else to do.
But I made it through!!!

Actually, with each of mine I've never really had anyone help for any period of time. DH always had to go back to work asap. This time I got two days which was nice.
What amazes me is how different each child is from birth on-I mean, total individuals in behavior and requiring different attention from the beginning. Fascinating.

[Jennisee]

I totally remember feeling this way after my first was born. FWIW, all those things you imagined will come soon after the initial adjustment period, I promise.

[MissAnnThrope]

I'm so glad that I have Dh over the weekend. Adjusting to a new born and 2 year old, while also trying to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally. And this is my first day home!

[ChristyH]

Oh I so remember being there! I'm so glad DH is going to be home for the first week this time too because it's been 4 years since I've cared for a newborn and I keep thinking I'm going to forget what I'm doing