Mia’s First 2 Weeks At Home With Us
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Today I sat and thought about Mia’s first 2 weeks on this earth. As very organised people, we thought we ‘had this’, how wrong could we have been?! Before Mia was born, plenty of people told me “get your sleep in now as soon as baby comes, you can forget sleep” but what everyone neglected to tell us was just how hard and draining it would be when baby actually arrived.
You can just about manage in the hospital in the first 24 hours, your baby wakes up other babies on the ward, other babies wake up your baby but you just cope with it there and then and think it’s going to be different at home. I think if someone had of told me that we would get absolutely no sleep for the first 4-5 days and not even know if it’s 2 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon; I may have been a bit more prepared!
It’s all pretty much a blur, but what I can remember from the first 2 weeks is the feeling of never being so tired in my whole life, being jolted awake realising your holding baby and feeding them and had actually fallen asleep through the sheer exhaustion! Then there is the fact that baby needs feeding every 2 hours so by the time you have fed her, burped her and let her stay upright long enough to keep her milk down, the 2 hours is up and it’s almost time to start the process all over again! It’s utterly relentless!
It took me a about a week to realise that the only way I was going to manage (I was on my own with my partner away monday-friday at work) was by filling up all 6 bottles with boiling water and leaving them to cool on the side so as soon as baby needed feeding, I just had to add the powder. She also always had her milk at room temperature (it’s just the way we started it off), so her milk was ready when she needed it wherever we were. Now, before you all start shouting that “you can’t do it like that”, “baby will be ill”, “the midwives say never to do that”, etc…etc…
We did it from Mia being a week old because it was just impossible to do it any other way, and she was never ill from it and it has not affected her health or development at all! Now, I’m not saying it will work for everyone by any means but I just know that if someone had of told me to try it from the outset, it would have made the first week a lot, lot easier!!!
So, now that Mia is almost 3 years old! If I can give any new mummies or mummies-to-be any advice, it would be to give this method a go. Go with your gut and do what you feel is right, you have been carrying your baby for 9 months, you know what’s best and don’t be afraid to go against advice from others.
The first 2 weeks is hard work (and to be honest at times you feel like you just can’t do it) but it is more than worth it in the end!
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A Cornish Mum
Aww she’s soooo cute! As for anything you do as a parent beggar what anyone else thinks, it is what works for you and yours. I think people would be a whole lot happier if they all thought that way 😉
Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix and I hope you’re getting a bit more sleep now!
Stevie x P n M opens again tomorrow morning if you fancy it again 🙂
mummydaddymia
Aww thanks! Its so important to do things your own way and not worry too much about what everyone else says! 🙂
To Arizona and Beyond
My baby is 2 weeks old and last night I fell asleep holding her from pure exhaustion, I then cried for an hour because I felt so bad about it…this afternoon with my slightly more rational head on, I realise these things happen and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up so much, we’re trying our best! I agree with your idea that you have to follow your instincts and not add extra pressure of doing something that might not work for you just because you feel you have to. Very useful post for me to find today, thanks! #pickNmix
mummydaddymia
Oh bless you! I have quite a few memories of falling asleep with Mia on me because I was so shattered! Then waking up with a start not knowing where I was or what I was doing! Its such a strange sensation! Your doing great, don’t put yourself under too much pressure! The time passes so quickly, it will be over before you know it. My Mia is almost 3 now and I cant believe it! 🙂
Emma
lol so true re the no sleep and thinking you are ready and then it hitting you like a ten tonne hammer! I didn’t sleep properly for bloody weeks and the first few months were a complete blur. fun times haha. and same here re the milk prep. I didn’t do it that way as I was so scared my baby would die (wtf) and my sister kept telling me to stop being so ridiculous. id make bottles up fresh all the time. and on top of that there was all the guilt that I hadn’t tried hard enough with breastfeeding. urgh. yeah it’s not easy! #picknmix
mummydaddymia
Ahh its such a tricky time, there’s so much I would/wouldn’t do a second time round! Making bottles up fresh every time with a screaming baby is not an easy thing to do!
RACHEL BUSTIN
My baby is 8 weeks old and the past couple of nights she has slept 6 hours! total bliss! The first couple of weeks were hell! hopefully we are passed that now! fingers crossed! xx
#picknmix
mummydaddymia
Aww its amazing once they get to that stage isn’t it! Congratulations on your new baby, I remember having Mia so well and she’s nearly 3 now! 🙂
Mudpie Fridays
Thanks for the sleep deprived reminder, I am 36 weeks with our second and had managed to forget all about the non sleeping thing! As for the bottles people will tell you all the time thats wrong or you can’t do that. Its your baby and it worked for you so who cares about others opinions 🙂 Thank you for joining us at #BloggerClubUK hope to see you again this week
mummydaddymia
Oops! Sorry! I didn’t think about anyone reading it that may be pregnant now! As you know, it goes so quickly (although doesn’t at the time) so I’m sure you will be fine. Good Luck with everything 🙂
Emma
This is what I did as well, or was a life saver. Would love to have you link up at #TreasuredMoments http://mscalling.blogspot.co.uk
Jaime Oliver
i remember this time so well, i have 3 others and pregnant with number 3 … i did something similar when i moved from breast to bottle and made the bottles and popped them in the fridge minus the milk powder then just popped in the powder at the time and a quick heat and we were away 🙂
Thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
mummydaddymia
Ahh bless, lots of experience then! It’s such an easier way of doing things at such a stressful time! Thanks for commenting 🙂
A Moment with Franca
Yes you are right, you should do what you feel is best for you and that you feel is right!! The first weeks are always very difficult as you are learning to know your baby and your body. I don’t know much about bottle feeding as I’m still breastfeeding but your suggestion sounds really good. Thanks for joining me at #KCACOLS. I really love to see your posts here. I hope you can join me again!! 🙂 xx
mummydaddymia
Ahh thanks! Such a tricky time but I have learnt a lot about what I would and wouldn’t do if there’s a next time 🙂 thanks for commenting
Something Crunchy Mummy
Great honest post, the first two weeks are definitely the hardest! Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
mummydaddymia
Flung in at the deep-end! Thanks for commenting 🙂
harps
Congratulations hun! We did EXACTLY the same thing with Arjun’s milk! I had a few people shouting and screaming at me but the truth is he was absolutely fine! And he’s 15 months now and only had one cold in his first year of life! Do what you feel is right. This motherhood malarkey isn’t easy! Thanks fo linking up to #BabyBrainMonday x
mummydaddymia
Ahh amazing! I don’t know anyone (who will admit it) that used the same milk technique as us! Your right, Mias been absolutely fine as well and she’s nearly 2 1/2!! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Mum in Brum
Loving the honesty – I’m sure we all do it really at some point! At the end of the day we definitely all do it when we go out so I don’t really see that it’s any different. I found a lot of the instructions on bottle feeding contradictory and not always realistic. I’ve given up on sterilising now that Taylor’s ten months old and licking the floor. Thanks for sharing #maternitymondays
mummydaddymia
Ahh bless, it’s true that they put all sorts in their mouths don’t they so I think it’s fine to go with your gut feeling most of the time. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Julia @ Rainbeaubelle
Those first weeks are so difficult, it sounds like you are doing a great job and going with your gut is good. For the record I always used to make my bottles like that for both of mine. I think the advice has changed now but it worked for us! Thanks for linking to #sundaystars
mummydaddymia
Your the 1st person who has said you did the same!! Iam so glad! 🙂 thanks for commenting
Sugar&Rhubarb
we did this method with our first and were absolutely shouted at by others. This time round we ordered the Tommee Tippee perfect prep, so we are more guilt free 😉 silliness really!! Good luck coping with the tiredness, it won’t be long and she will eventually sleep through!!! But it’s painful in the meantime!
mummydaddymia
Ahh, it’s amazing how your made to feel guilty for making your own decisions isn’t it?! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Educating Roversi
Ah I remember all this despite my son being 15 months old. I breastfed and expressed a bottle for the hubby to help with the nightfeeds. Felt like a milk machine most of the time! Lol. We started to use a bottle of formula before bed at about 6 months but we used a flask with hot water in. ☺️ I don’t think there is anything wrong with your method, I think it’s perfectly safe, Formula companies are just covering their backs! Thanks for linking to #sundaystars
mummydaddymia
Your right, I think you have to go with what works for you and your gut feeling most of the time 🙂 thanks for commenting
mummydaddymia
Ahh thank you! I love your blog hop 🙂
Jenny @ Let's Talk Mommy
I love your open and honesty in your post. It’s hard becoming a mom and those first two weeks are so foreign to us at first too. Lovely post. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me blog hop. I hope you have enjoyed reading so many fab other blog posts and to see you again tomorrow for another great round of #sharewithme
mackenzieglanville
I love how honest you are, it is not easy being a new mum, but it does get easier. I am so happy you shared this with me at #mummyandus and hope you come back next week to share, take care of yourself, big hugs and hope you get some sleep soon xx
mummydaddymia
Thank you! We totally underestimated how much Mia would change our lives and i dont feel guilty for that at all! I will definitely be joining in next week, iam very new to all this so trying to stay on top of everything. Thanks for commenting 🙂