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I don't get anything done lol

Honestly, I think at one point, my husband really thought that I just laid around all day staring at that cute baby, instead of dealing with insane exhaustion, constant nursing, as well as trying to figure out how to get things done in very short periods when the baby wasn't screaming at me. Eventually, he got it. Baby wearing was a lifesaver for me, and when I discovered it, that's when *some* things got done.

I second the baby wearing! It's the only way I ever get dinner made. I also had to seriously re evaluate my concept of "getting things done". My husband once made a comment about how I get to relax all day...until he spent a whole day with the baby.

I could not fathom how I'd ever get myself out of the house when I was on leave! My baby ate alllll day and rarely napped - I considered it a productive day if I peed multiple times and rinsed off (can't even call it a shower since it was so short). But it got better, and I get to work on time every day, somehow! I just put aside expectations during my leave and went with it, and it did get better as she got older and was able to entertain herself!

it's super hard in the beginning. it gets easier over time as they nap longer and more predictably! just take care of yourself right now.

I also loved both the ergo w/ insert and the ring sling when she was tiny. making lunch with both hands FTW! I never figured out the moby.

Oh, sweetie! Your LO is still so young! It's still hard to get things done 9 months in; it was impossible to get things done when he was itty bitty. You just learn to let things go and appreciate the little victories when you actually do a load of dishes or make it out of the house on time. It gets easier as they get older but I still consider my day a win if I brush my teeth and keep the baby alive!

I'll third baby wearing. My doula taught me how to put the Moby on and put LO in at 2 weeks pp, and my life changed instantly for the better! I won't say life immediately got easy, because it didn't, but having my hands free really did make things easier.

Also, I didn't get anything significant done in the newborn phase beyond keeping my son fed. I think that's okay! Maternity leave, however short, is not a holiday, it's a recognition that taking care of a young baby is a more than full time occupation. If I managed to shower, eat three meals, and take a short nap, it was an amazingly successful day (in hindsight--I felt bad about it at the time). It gets a lot easier as time goes on!

This post makes me feel a lot better. My son is 5.5 weeks and we just got out of the house today at 1 - it took forever! Most days I don't get dressed until noon or so...I usually end up looking at the clock at 3 pm wondering where the day has gone!

I didnt at all when LO was an infant. If DH wanted clean clothes or dishes, he did them himself. He knew better than to give me a hard time about chores! I would have ripped his head off.

nothing got done. when DH got home I would have him watch DS so I could shower or clean up a bit. He was usually happy to do so since he hadn't seen him all day.

Be kind to yourself! He's so young and you're not supposed to be getting things done! Sounds like you're doing a lot as it is. This reminded me of an article I read a bit ago. Hope it helps!

http://www.bigcitymoms.com/blog/archive/2014/01/new-mamas-get-nothing-done-and-other-untruths.html

It gets easier as they get older especially when they are on 2 naps!

Don't listen to snarky comments from people- I think people have baby amnesia and forget what it is like. A baby is all consuming and that's how it should be! it is such a short time in our lives. I got nothing done in the early days of colic babyland.

We had family visiting from oot when dd was a couple months old and it was a nightmare. They wanted to go out to eat every.meal. wtf?

It was impossible with my 1st. I can remember not eating all day because he wouldn't let me put him down for a second. I don't know if dd is just easier or I have the hang of things now. I put her in the swing, I cook, etc., mainly because I HAVE to in order to take care of DS. Don't be afraid to let him cry for a little bit so you can shower or make a meal. With DS it was like he would break if I let him cry. It gets easier and better.

@matador84: I feel the exact same way. It seemed impossible with LO #1 but with #2 it all seems to get done and it's probably because it has to!

@Danizaur: hugs mama.

How old is your LO? There's a growth spurt around 6 weeks that is BRUTAL.

I was never very good at baby wearing. I'm really short and I always felt like LO was down by my knees. I had a rock n play though and I took it from room to room. He would watch me do dishes or mop or whatever from the rock n play too. Maybe give it a shot? Or the swing?

I'll echo PPs too, you're not supposed to be getting a bunch of housework done on mat leave. You've just grown an entire human being, birthed him, and you're his sole source of nourishment. THAT is a lot of work!!

@Danizaur: have you heard of the wonder weeks? It's available as an app and it goes by gestational age. It's always been spot on for my LO. It described developmental "leaps" that babies go through. It was a sanity-saver, though it didn't really help me get much done lol. It was just nice to know why he was going nuts! I think there's also a 4 week growth spurt, but I'm not for certain.

What he's doing sounds like normal (frustrating!) newborn behavior. When my LO was sleepy at the breast but not getting a full meal in, I'd wipe his face with a cool washcloth, switch sides, change his diaper (like you've been doing)or even just passing him off for a few minutes would get him awake enough to finish eating.

Hang in there, it gets better.

It gets better! And soon you won't even remember. My LO isn't even 6 months yet and she is so easy these days. The newborn stage is so so tough but it really does fly by (I know it doesn't feel that way when you are in it though). You are not supposed to "get things done", you are doing the most important thing by taking care of your baby. Hugs!

@Danizaur: four months was a rough period for us too, my girl started teething and went on strike! Some kids are just destined to be frequent feeders so don't be alarmed if he isn't stretching out his nursing sessions. Is he having plenty of wet and dirty nappies and gaining weight? Is he happy for the most part?

As for getting stuff done, I coped better by having a weekly schedule and aiming to get out every other day. I had a different chore to do each day (laundry, vacuuming, groceries etc) which made life much more manageable, I even had a routine for doing stuff during nap time (first nap was having a shower, making the bed and other housework, nap two was for me to relax and chill out and nap three was for starting dinner and having a tidy up)!

Hang in there, Mama - you're doing great!!

At your son's age? I didn't get anything done. If I left the house that day: it was a frikkin treat. I felt on TOP OF THE WOOOOORLD!!!
Seriously, in those first 3m, if I showered, loaded the dishwasher and made a "meal" (short, not too complicated meal), then I was very accomplished. Even those tasks required being very quick and efficient and using lots of distractions for baby.