I go back to work today 
I'm so not ready to leave LO. She's only 10 weeks old!
I went to bed at 9:45 (couldn't sleep of course - first day of school nerves), LO woke up at 1 to eat, and I had to be up at 5. I'm a zombie! How do you manage, WOHMs?
papaya / 10560 posts
I went back when ds was 8 weeks, and have to go back when this one is 6 weeks :-(. Ds was still waking up 2, 3, 4 times a night until he was probably at least 6-8 months old! Lots of coffee. I swear, I was so tired I felt drunk!
persimmon / 1361 posts
The first day is the worst! I cried dropping LO off at daycare at 8 weeks, but it gets easier with time. My LO started sleeping better and we got into a routine pretty quickly. Good luck on your first day back. You'll get through it 
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
@matador84: I think I need a Starbucks to open in my house! If these opening day speeches are boring I will definitely fall asleep!
@Amelieisme: thanks for the encouragement! I am definitely going to cry a bit on the way to work.
apricot / 335 posts
Hugs. 10 weeks is little, I'm in awe of all the mamas who have to go back so early. I webt back much later (5 m and 9m) but my two have been such crappy sleepers i was up as if with a very young baby.
Coffee, coffee, coffee. Having other working moms at work helps as they understand. Try to enjoy the little things about being baby free - I've come to relish my quiet time driving into work after drop offs. Sounds silly but simple pleasures are where it's at for me at the moment! I also love the social aspect of work.
Hopefully you'll find its easier once you're actually at work, sometimes the anticipation anxiety is the worst part.
Good luck!
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I took naps while I pumped and in my car at lunch. I was lucky to have a very understanding boss that let me come in late or go home early for the first few weeks.
honeydew / 7586 posts
I went back when B was 8 weeks. It's rough. I sobbed the first few days I left. It gets easier though, I promise.
As for the logistics of it, my husband helped out A LOT the first week. He took care of most of the nighttime feelings just because he knew how stressed and, I hate to admit, fragile I was was at that point. He really took one for the team.
After that, we started taking turns with the night wakings. Last week, at 10 weeks, he magically started sleeping through the night. He usually wakes up around 5 and I try to feed him and let him play when I shower and get ready. Then, I pass him off to DH. This morning, DH fed him and now they're both sleeping in bed.
It's trial and error but you'll develop a routine. You learn to function while tired. My kids don't even notice my zombie-like nature.
You got this! Good luck!
Oh, also, coming home to LO is the best feeling in the world!
grapefruit / 4923 posts
aw, 10 weeks seems so little! i was a zombie for a while when LO went through at least a month of 4.30am wake-ups. i started going to bed really early--that helped a bit, but i think it's just hard! all of us moms deserve a big pat on the back. and a massage, and mani/pedi.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
It gets better. It becomes your new normal and you get used to it. My LO was a crap sleeper and super high needs so being at work was actually less tiring! Hahah.
The hard part was the 4 month regression. That's when coffee came back into my life. 
And do as much as you can the night before to prep for the next morning. Have pre-made breakfasts ready. Prep bottles, have outfits figured out, coffee ready to go, meal plan etc.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
All I can say is it gets better.
Find a good routine so you aren't going too crazy, even if the routine means getting up four times a night.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
You just get use to not sleeping. It sucks. Caffeine helps.
Good luck!! Prep as much as you can the night before, so in the morning all you have to do is throw everything in the car. You will find your groove!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@swedishfish: HUGS! That first day and the first week in general is the worst. It does get easier, even though it doesn't feel like it ever will because it feels like someone is tearing your heart out.
As for being a WOHP, it's hard. Keeping to a schedule is the best thing we ever did for ourselves and our daughter. The routine helps her know when mealtime is, when bedtime is and when wakeup time is.
The days that suck the worst when you've been in the routine for a while? When the baby is up all night and so are you. Then you have to go to work. Hello, zombiemom.
honeydew / 7811 posts
@swedishfish: it's hard, but you can do it. Be patient as you figure out a routine that will work for you. Big hugs! I'm still adjusting and I've been back well over a month!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
Xander started sleeping longer around 11 weeks, right before I went back. I'd do a dream feed (where I actually ended up waking him, oops) at 9:00 p.m. before I went to bed and then he'd sleep until 5:00 a.m. Good luck to you!
honeydew / 7235 posts
Agreed with others - it gets better!! We were down to one waking a night before he started sttn, and I just got used to it - definitely a coffee drinker again!
pear / 1563 posts
Good luck! I'm only on my fourth day (second week) and while it is still hard, nothing has been as tough as that first day. Hang in there and just get through today!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Give yourself some time to work out the kinks in the schedule. I was finally in a good groove 5 months in.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
I kept saying to myself, "they grow up so fast and before you know it this will all be behind us"... And it does go fast. My girls have (mostly) been sleeping through the night for about a year!
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
I'm also just in my second week but I can tell you every day it gets a little easier. We were up a lot of the night last night with gas pains (or something) and I am just chugging coffee at work today. Trying to appreciate that I can sit and have a cup of coffee with nobody crying (Well, at least not in my presence, I know she's screaming her head off at home with DH )
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Aw good luck today!!!
You just drink a lot of coffee and keep telling yourself that it does get easier!
And I have gone to bed at 830pm before!
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
So. Much Coffee....
Good luck!! It all gets easier and easier as you settle into a schedule and rhythm!!
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
Going to bed as early as possible, new clothes, and coffee. And Hellobee! That's how I make it work.
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
Like @Smurfette: said, caffeine has been the key so far. I've been back at work for about 2 1/2 months, and I'm still trying to figure out how people do it. Good luck starting back; it's hard, but leaving LO will get somewhat easier as time goes by.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
I was a wreck all night. I've been chugging caffeine all day, which I'm sure is not helping my pathetic supply....but man, this is hard. I cried pretty hard this morning. Super hugs, I was wondering how you were doin
papaya / 10473 posts
@Bookish: @swedishfish: Thinking about you both today and sending you hugs! I hope you're both making it through the day ok.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
@grizz: Thanks. I'm surviving. I'm being kept busy, and as long as I don't look at her picture, I'm good. But of course I'm looking at her picture... 
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
@Bookish: How did your day go? I cried on the way to work and a little during the opening breakfast but I was alright for the rest of the day as long as I didn't focus on it. Pumping during lunch will be an adventure!
Thanks for all of the advice and encouragement, ladies! I made it through today. Hopefully it will be a little easier leaving tomorrow and then I have a four day weekend. Thank you, Rosh Hashanah!
pear / 1861 posts
It gets better. My LO is 2 and I just now make it out of the house okay since we both sleep well and she doesn't wake up. Now the 1st few months back after maternity leave? NO IDEA how I survived! It was rough!
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
@swedishfish: it went ok. They threw a ton at me at work, so I was crazy busy. Probably for the best. pumping was pretty awkward, and I just barely made enough, but at least I got a decent amount.
And then AF showed up. Sigh.
nectarine / 2667 posts
@swedishfish: You'll find your way. I started drinking coffee after rough nights & do a lot of prep work in the evenings (with my husband's amazing support). It's definitely a big adjustment, but you'll get to that new normal. And your body can do amazing things with small amounts of sleep!
Plus, you're teaching in the classroom soon right? Those kids will keep your mind crazy occupied, so you'll barely have time to miss your sweet little lady
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
@Bookish: oh no, AF? That's terrible!
@JoyfulKiwi: yes, our students begin on Monday so the classes will keep me busy. Today was definitely better than yesterday! I'm glad my husband is like yours in terms of support. I wouldn't have made it out of the door on time without him!
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
@Bookish: hopefully it's a one time only appearance while BF!
cherry / 228 posts
Oh @bookish. AF is just the icing on a cake that doesn't sound yummy. Sending hugs to you.
@sweedishfish Hugs to you also. Hope you enjoy your long weekend and things are easier next week!
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