Newborns and navigating schedules..
My partner is currently looking for work whilst I am on maternity leave.
I'm really grateful for the time I have with him even though I know it's important that he secures something new.
More so because it has taken such a massive toll on his mental health and confidence.
Our 18 day old baby has been keeping us on our toes...
And consequently the lack of sleep has lead to some really intense arguments.
3 so far. Which have involved my partner needing to pack up his stuff to leave.
Anyways to try and find a resolution.
My partner stated that once he wakes up he is unable to go back to sleep.
So he wakes up between the hours of 6-8 am. He then walks the dog. And comes back to relieve me from the night shift.
I sleep somewhere between 2 and 4 hours and then I'm back up again. As I would have pumped before going to bed that allows him to feed baby and top up with formula.
I try and stay up for as long as I can manage but once I notice milk production is tapering.
I do the 15 mins afternoon dog walk then I head off for a nap.
I then get up around 4 pm and stay up until 9pm.
Pump for the 11pm feed then head off to bed.
When I wake I'm up from 11pm straight through until he gets up. Between 6 and 8am.
So far it's working... He says mentally he's still not in a good place but it has been giving us some space and some time to just get on with things without getting in each others faces...
As a new family. How did you navigate this period of time?
I'm really grateful for the time I have with him even though I know it's important that he secures something new.
More so because it has taken such a massive toll on his mental health and confidence.
Our 18 day old baby has been keeping us on our toes...
And consequently the lack of sleep has lead to some really intense arguments.
3 so far. Which have involved my partner needing to pack up his stuff to leave.
Anyways to try and find a resolution.
My partner stated that once he wakes up he is unable to go back to sleep.
So he wakes up between the hours of 6-8 am. He then walks the dog. And comes back to relieve me from the night shift.
I sleep somewhere between 2 and 4 hours and then I'm back up again. As I would have pumped before going to bed that allows him to feed baby and top up with formula.
I try and stay up for as long as I can manage but once I notice milk production is tapering.
I do the 15 mins afternoon dog walk then I head off for a nap.
I then get up around 4 pm and stay up until 9pm.
Pump for the 11pm feed then head off to bed.
When I wake I'm up from 11pm straight through until he gets up. Between 6 and 8am.
So far it's working... He says mentally he's still not in a good place but it has been giving us some space and some time to just get on with things without getting in each others faces...
As a new family. How did you navigate this period of time?
31-35, F
