Coping alone with a newborn ....

After we got home from the 2nd hospital admission I wanted to go back to my place, it was the first time baby came home ( to our home).

My mum stayed with baby and myself for almost 2 weeks until we got ourselves more settled and into a routine of our own.

It was a lot of adjustment for me but once I figured out baby's hunger and I'm sleepy cues, it got a lot easier. We started our day with a morning feed then diaper and clothes change, playtime, feeds during the day, naptime during the day then we did evening baths and feeds and then bedtime.

Each person's or family routine will be different but the faster you get into your own the easier it will be.

My husband came home every weekend to spend time with baby and myself and when he was there I would take at least 2-3 hours to go out, do some retail therapy and then return home. This gave him some bonding time with baby, as well as give me a breather and you really do need one to prevent 'cabin fever' .

Thankfully most newborns sleep for most of the day and this helps you to do the things you need to for yourself, baby and your household.

Alot of people I know have used a baby monitor and it does work well for some but for us at this stage we didn't need one as our place was small and you could hear baby move from anywhere.

If possible one thing I wish I did more was to sleep when baby slept, the constant waking up at night can make you so tired. I used to keep baby with me on the bed at night, it was easier for feeds and especially since I was alone, there was nobody to help me stay awake so this worked for us.

Try to make sure you eat frequently, healthy meals if possible and snacks as well. If breastfeeding you need to drink lots of water or jungle juice if you prefer.

I didn't drive for at least 6 weeks after my caesarean section but if I really needed to get somewhere I just used Uber or my mum in law was always ready to help :)

Don't be afraid to ask for help from family , friends or neighbors, just a 1 hour break from your daily routine with a newborn can help you more than you realise.

Stay strong and be kind to yourself always..