Hi, I have a 2 1/2 year old and the first 6 weeks were a brain fog to me. I was exhausted.
Babies don't always read the memo about newborns sleeping a lot! my little one slept on average 8 hours in 24, went through stages of cluster feeding and this made breast feeding excrutiatingly painful until things settled down.
I was overseas with no family close by, luckily with a very supportive partner.
The key things for me that got me through it:
My partner helping to settle the baby and get her to sleep after the evening feed, so I at least got some rest before the next one. Echo what a gran said about expressing and getting dad to cover one night feed if its possible.
Someone gently offering to watch baby so I could at least have a quick shower.
A gentle reminder that looking after myself was looking after baby, so drinking plenty of water, eating well etc
Friends turning up with food that could just be put in the oven, not needing to worry about cooking is one of the best gifts a new mum can have.
Just general re-assurance that a. you are not alone and b. It is the same for all parents and you aren't a terrible mother.
I think the internet has much to answer for, with "perfect parents" everywhere, that we just give ourselves too much of a hard time.
Just be there for her and make sure she knows shes doing a great job.
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