Bringing babby home.

It has been nearly eight weeks since our lives dramatically changed. Seven weeks and three days since the Big E came into town...

Since time goes on I seem to cope better with having a newborn, but, I also seem to be remembering all the other things I have to do, so, by each day my list gets bigger and bigger, not necessarily easier. During this time I have since gone back to University, being in my final year of study I am incredibly stressed and to be honest not a lot of fun to be living with! Regardless of all of this, I am feeling really happy! Our house move has fallen through, my student loan is yet to be processed, I have no time to eat more than one meal a day. But... Hey! I THINK THE CHILD JUST SMILED AT ME.

As time as gone on we have become very relaxed with childcare, no longer freaking out every time he cries, no longer staring over his crib making sure he is okay. Now Richard shoots up alien terrorists (or whatever) with one arm whilst the other holds a snoring child, I no longer panic when he throws up his dinner, we allow a few minutes to pass the hour of which we should re-sterilise his 'bot-bot', And so on...
I now understand how manipulative Mother nature is, babies shriek so one mildly panics, so they know to be alert and tend to the child's needs. It is all just an evolutionary ploy.

These things have come intuitively, it's strange really when looking back at his first night home I was a complete emotional wreck. I recall Richard trying to work the steriliser equipment and make up a formula whilst I cradled a crying child to my chest just thinking 'omg hurry up. please god hurry up, omg what do I do... please hurry up ARGHHH'. By the tenth mimute into the wait I started crying myself. I became over-run by guilt, it felt like because I couldn't get his food to him THAT second I was a redundant Mother. I felt almost, despicable. Now everything has healed, my stitches, and my jittery nerves! I am getting into the swing of things now, knowing to make batches of formula as and when, before he cries. Instinctively knowing wh cry means what... Currently childcare seems to get easier as time goes on. However, I am sure we're approaching the time where that will no longer be true, but by the looks of things it is going to be so much rewarding.

Elliott is now ooohing and ahhhing, reacting to his Mother oddly dancing at him and the sounds his toys make. And now, even when he complains or cries, they seem to forumulate a pattern giving us a better idea of what he is trying to communicate. I fear I am wishing a part of his life away sometimes, but I really just can't wait till he starts talking to me! It's going to be SO amazing.

DO NOT READ

Take no notice, or even better, do not read posts such as this.

No matter how many front cover magazine stories you see, or certified (certifiable more like!) people feeling they can comment, do not exercise until 6 weeks postpartum (or 8-10 if you had a section)

Exercising early can cause adverse affects, and you could be at risk to hemorrhaging, damaged abdominal muscles, infection, and spilt stitches. But, to me, more importantly than all of that, I don't think women should be concerned with all of that just yet, if at all. Take this time to bond with the child, take this time to try and get your head around what has happened. I am 3 weeks postpartum and I still feel in shock. The first night I brought my son home I had multiple panic attacks, bouts of uncontrollable tears, worrying about this little-life I had, somehow created. I felt vulnerable, and to be honest not up to the job. Feeling 'fat' on top of that and concerning myself with exercise would have been an un-called for.

When will people understand that pregnancy and labour is probably one of the most traumatic events it can go through, it needs time to heal, it needs good food, and it needs lots of rest. Not to mention, with a newborn around it can be hard to replenish yourself as it is. This kind of pressure really gets on my nerves. My best friend was told by another person that they went for jogging sessions the first week of giving birth, now I am not even sure I believe that, but to encourage another to do the same makes my blood boil.

I have found just 'getting back to normal', for instance food shopping, lifting things has had a fast impact on my shape and my body is pretty much back to normal, I'm lucky. For those who aren't so lucky and are desperate to do something, I would suggest taking the child out in the pram going for a walk, then increasing the length of the walk as you go on. Be mindful of your nesting instinct, you are probably working those muscles, by fixing up the nursery, making bottles of formula/lifting child to feed.

Please bare in mind, also that the uterus is contracting during this time, after labour it takes up room at the front of your stomach, it will go back into the pelvis when good and ready, the midwife/health visitor will check if this is taking place. Things are going back to how they were, it is a matter of time.

I would not advise another to embark on a new exercise routine given the woman's tender form, nor would I plaster on another (unnecessary) pressure at this most fragile and exciting of times.

Get a grip.