https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:10:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-748064 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:14:33 +0000 sarac 748064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I'd say that ditching your expectations and schedule and worries about how much they're sleeping and eating and pooping and how often and all that helps a TON. I don't worry about that stuff much, which really helped me to feel relaxed. </p> <p>I would suggest finding a ped who is low stress, first thing. My girl has always been little, and I might have worried about it here and there. But he just pointed out that she was a) always following her growth curve decently, and b) ate plenty and was happy afterwards. Stress over. </p> <p>My baby has, from birth, not needed much sleep (like her daddy &gt;:-&lt;). As a newborn, she'd be up for three or four hours, then nap on me for 30 minutes, maybe 45 on a crazy day. Then repeat, with longer stretches of awake in there. And she was always perfectly happy, so she was clearly getting what she needed. I would have gone utterly mad trying to force her onto some schedule or some set amount of wake/sleep time, and I'm glad that it never even occurred to me. We just did our thing, and we had a pretty chill life. I would highly recommend it to anyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747986 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:00:27 +0000 MrsF 747986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So much harder. And I was prepared for hard! She came home at 36 weeks, so not early enough for nicu, but early enough for struggles with breastfeeding and weight gain. I wasn't prepared for CONSTANT crying. Unless we were holding her and bouncing on a yoga ball, she was screaming like she was in pain every minute. At three months we got her on nutramigen and Prilosec and everything changed. She did not sleep during the day even once until after three months. It's going to be a major leap of faith to do it again someday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747893 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:57:31 +0000 chopsuey 747893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first I thought the early days were so hard.<br /> With my 2nd I realized how easy they are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747886 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:50:05 +0000 JerricaBenton 747886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say harder. I feel bad even saying it because I had an easy recovery from birth, and I think actually a really easy-going, well sleeping baby. I just think I wasn't at all prepared for the sleep deprivation and the feeling of being stuck in the house with my boobs out around the clock. I knew it would be difficult but I didn't think I'd feel so down in the first few weeks. At close to three months though, it's a whole different ballgame. It's still tough but so rewarding and wonderful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747881 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:46:20 +0000 antsmom 747881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Much, much harder than I thought it would be. I had a c-section so my recovery was not the easiest. Once Dh went back to work, I was so tired from the lack of sleep, I don't know how I functioned. Plus DS only wanted to be held. He refused to sleep in his crib at night, and ate every 4 hours (at his longest stretches). It was tough. But that was only until about 2 months. He is now 6 months old, and it is so much easier. He finally sttn in his crib, but gets up between 5-6 am EVERYDAY. But my baby is worth it, lack of sleep and all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747756 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:21:25 +0000 HLK208 747756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easier! With both 1 &amp; 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747749 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:11:51 +0000 BeachMama 747749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so so so SOOO much harder. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I wasn't ready for a baby that cried 24/7 and needed to be held constantly. I also wasn't prepared for the super wave of hormones and PPD that hit. For the first 3-4 months I had serious thoughts that I'd made the wrong decision. Luckily at 11 months I couldn't possibly love her more.</p> <p>I'm scared for #2 but feel like it couldn't be worse. I think if I'm gonna have a fussy baby, I'm glad it was #1. I think having an easy #1 and a fussy #2 would be a huge shock. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747113 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:00:26 +0000 meredithNYC 747113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Much, much harder. PPD, lots of difficulties with nursing and the sleep deprivation were hellish. I cried hysterically, several times a day, for about 7 or 8 weeks. Like some of the others here, I am scared for the next one :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-747080 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:45:54 +0000 Mrsbells 747080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>for me newborn days were harder than I thought. Much harder </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746959 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:06:00 +0000 littlebug 746959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into it not necessarily "expecting" the worst, but prepared for it. When he had a great latch from the get-go and STTN starting at 5 weeks, I was pleasantly surprised. The hardest part for me was I was still very sore/uncomfortable until about 6 weeks pp. And cluster feeding. I was NOT prepared for cluster feeding, so that really messed with my head. But even then, I still expected it to be SO much worse. And looking back now (14 weeks), I remind myself how lucky we are - he was/is a good baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746939 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:59:28 +0000 googly-eyes 746939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: Forget getting a dog, the being paged endlessly sounds like great practice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746739 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:49:20 +0000 mamimami 746739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't call it easy, but I was pretty amazed how I was able to survive with so little sleep. The human body amazes me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746659 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:20:24 +0000 daniellemybelle 746659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Reading this thread, it seems like maybe expectations play a big part? Obviously, if you aren't anticipating a C-section / breastfeeding issues / colic / etc., it would be harder. But if you are bracing yourself for horrific sleep deprivation and you have an "easy baby," then it would be easier. I'm sure it just varies baby to baby / mama to mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746595 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:02:36 +0000 LuLu Mom 746595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easier, she slept nonstop! I hate to say it but I almost got bored in the beginning becasue I thought she would be more fussy! And then her acid reflux came in and I had my fussy, screaming baby... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746578 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:56:44 +0000 KayKay 746578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so much harder! i was prepared for not sleeping, and LO wasn't even a bad sleeper. i think my expectations for how a newborn would affect the rest of my life, my sense of self, and my marriage were a little off. not that it was all bad, just that there were lots of unexpected things, and apparently i don't do well with a lot of unexpected change.</p> <p>but also so worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746510 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:37:26 +0000 Espion 746510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: That's a really great point. Maybe that's why things sometimes get harder later (if it was "easier" earlier) because of the constant schedule changes. I'm in medicine and trained when the 80 hour work week still existed, so I've honed my ability to be totally awake when getting paged 50 million times (more or less). I'm also a truly annoying morning person, so even if I didn't get any sleep, I always get a second wind in the morning. But by 3pm all I want is braaaaaaains, ha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746413 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:09:37 +0000 googly-eyes 746413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: I think the thing that got to me wasn't just the amount of sleep I was (or wasn't!) getting, but that it was so unpredictable. Some nights it was a three or even four hour stretch, while others it was up every hour after 2am or even earlier.. But if you're not a control freak the NB stage might be easy for you. :) I had a hard time letting go.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746398 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:06:10 +0000 kml636 746398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easier, but I had a good eater and my LO always slept 3 hrs at a time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-746265 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:34:46 +0000 Espion 746265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes, so I'm getting a 50/50 "it's lucky they're cute". :p </p> <p>Good thing the sleep deprivation won't phase me one bit because of my job. The trouble is going to be if he is a round the clock nurser, if I have any trouble breastfeeding, or if we somehow can't handle driving 7 to 8 hours a day when we move. </p> <p>I almost wish this kid would come a little early to have some time to get things figured out before we leave. I'm probably most afraid of BF'ing issues. (Because if we're in transit, who could I see?) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-745490 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:38:42 +0000 iheartleopardprint 745490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A lot easier, for both. I find the nb stages very easy, night feedings and all. Just gotta roll with it :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-745471 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:04:53 +0000 loveisstrange 745471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Much, much harder. I was dealing with some serious trauma and PPD and C was a colicky baby who screamed whenever she wasn't sleeping and didnt sleep nearly enough. The first 3 months were an absolute nightmare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-745428 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:46:49 +0000 shopaholic 745428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easier in terms of my sleep, not counting the first few weeks. Harder in terms of baby's sleep and schedule. I was told that they just basically "eat, sleep, and poop" for MONTHS! Umm... totally NOT my case. Baby Girl can stay awake for HOURS. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought/page/2#post-745417 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:01:52 +0000 red_seattle 745417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Harder. Sleep deprivation. C-section recovery (not so much because of pain, but because of the physical exhaustion healing caused). Baby blues. A big family event at 3 weeks (X's baptism). I caught a horrible, horrible, horrible 5 day stomach flu at 4 weeks, and passed it to X and DH. The following week I developed mastitis. We also had BFing issues that didn't resolve completely until 9 weeks. X was overall, an easy baby during that time, thank God. He did't get tough until later. But the newborn period was really rough for me because of all that extra stuff, and I'm afraid of next time because of how hard it was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-745412 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:31:37 +0000 birdofafeather 745412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: i agree about #2! it was way easier than i thought mostly bc row is a pretty easy baby and i was up and at em quickly. i'm scared for if/when we have a fussy baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-745324 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:38:24 +0000 dolphin 745324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Harder. I never knew the meaning of tired until I became a mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-745315 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:34:50 +0000 oliviaoblivia 745315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found it way easier. LO is a great sleeper and I had an easy recovery which helped. I was on my own 6days pp and it was fine.<br /> I'm worried about the rude awakening I'm in for with #2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-745294 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:24:29 +0000 CottonCandy 745294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Harder...I expected lack of sleep and stuff like that. But I did not expect the constant worrying, like my LO could die at any second if I didn't do *everything* right..I feel like I was a mad woman! It was seriously crazy how much anxiety and worry I had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-745231 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:08:56 +0000 mrsjyw 745231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they were easier, but I couldn't anticipate how much the lack of sleep would affect my body and mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-745168 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:49:42 +0000 PrincessBaby 745168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they were easier. But we were still BEWILDERED and a HOT MESS, lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/were-the-newborn-days-harder-or-easier-than-you-thought#post-745161 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:48:09 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 745161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Harder....I have to admit, our first 2-7 weeks were hellish. </p>