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Honestly I had a break down at 3 weeks and BEGGED my husband not to go back. He ended up working from home until she was 5 weeks old and I don't know what I would have done without him. So I have no advice but lots of sympathy for how hard it is to care for a newborn!

This sounds a lot like what I go through with DS. There are days when I have totally missed lunch due to a fussy baby.

Getting into a routine has helped me. I try to wake up at the same time every day, and I schedule stuff for me around his feedings and naps. When he falls asleep for a nap in the morning, I'm usually holding him, but I'll put him in his RnP so I can clean pump parts, grab something to eat/drink, start a load of laundry, etc. During an afternoon nap, I'll try to sleep when he sleeps. During his evening nap, I'll hold him while he sleeps and watch TV.

Basically, I just try to survive! I text and talk on the phone with people as much as I can to keep my sanity. I've been spending a lot of time at my moms house during the afternoons, and that has been nice because she holds him while he sleeps so I can get bills done/eat/etc.

I got mastitis and a fever so he had to take off again
We stayed really busy. We went to visit him a lot at lunch, had lots of visitors over (I have no qualms about asking people who visit to do me a favor or hold baby while I get something done so it was helpful sometimes to have guests), and stayed outside a lot, I got back into working out slowly - when DH walked in the door he got handed the baby so I could have a break and run and shower. When we were home I baby wore her so I could do other things around the house. I kept a radio or music on also when it was just me at home as a sort of distraction from oh my another poopy diaper.

@deerylou: Dh is going back to work tomorrow and I already had a teeny breakdown thinking about it! C is only 9 days old and I have a feeling she is sleepier than she will be. I just keep reminding myself that I only have to get through tomorrow. Don't think about the whole next week or month.

At least well be going through it all at the same time

@Maysprout: bahahahah. I just lol'd at your look description!

Many sympathies, dear! I have had a breakdown a week since DH went back to work There are a few things that help. I have DH help me a bit in the morning, even if it's just changing her diaper before he leaves. He also comes home at lunch to keep me company. It's only like 20 mins, but I can usually pee and scarf down a lunch! Buying a carrier also helped; when she is in her needy mood, I can pop her in it and get at least my arms back! Lastly, I set myself one goal a day. Today, it was doing a load of laundry. At first I tried to do everything, and it was overwhelming. Just picking one or two chores a day has kept me sane and my house fairly clean.

Hang in there, we can do this!!!

Just try to get through the first few months. I think I put too much pressure on myself to adjust after DH's three weeks off and of course shortly after that we got to the six week fussy peak. Just know that if you can just get through each day it will be easier and you will find a rhythm naturally. I think the stress from trying to force some sense of a routine is more stressful than the routine is helpful in the very beginning.
@Anagram: Good luck! Remember, it's ok if baby cries. All babies cry.

Get rid of any expectations and just do what you have to do to survive!!

Figure out what your priorities are (eat, sleep, shower etc) and work those in to your day first. For example my priorities were eating and showering, I could scarf down oatmeal while holding LO but I jumped in the shower as soon as she was asleep. I made sure I put LO down on a blanket or in her bouncer each day so she could get used to not being held which in turn helped me get other stuff done as she got older. I made myself a schedule for housework and laundry and did one task each morning so I could just veg out in the afternoons. I also tried to go on an outing every second day just to get a change of scene.

And if all else fails, just throw on a DVD and park up on the couch for the day!!