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no plan

post #1 of 15
12/25/06 at 10:26pm
Thread Starter 
So we're home now but there is NO plan for anything I have no idea how to get anything done tonight. We have no clue how to sleep. I think I'm going to head to bed for a few hours then swap with Mike. We can't get Gabe to sleep unless someone is holding him yet...I obviously missed the trick the nurses used.

They need to send home a manual, I feel so inept and I do not like that feeling at all.
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post #2 of 15
12/25/06 at 11:10pm
First of all, relax. I had no idea how wigged out I was, TRULY HOW MUCH, until Emily was past a year old, maybe not even until I had Travis. It's all okay, and you are going to be fine. I felt like a total moron for about the first six months of Emily's life. I was so clueless about EVERYTHING and had no real help through a lot of it. But we made it, and so will you. Do what you have to do, what you are comfortable doing with your baby. He's yours, and you know what is best. People are going to offer their opinions and all kinds of advice, and don't let it get to you or make you feel inept. If you feel best holding him, then hold him. If you want him to sleep without being held, then you already know you are surrounded by tons of experienced moms who will offer you ideas and support. You are going to be fine. It is going to be tough, but it gets easier and you will do fine and Gabe will be great! And look on the bright side, to him, you are an expert. He doesn't know any different, and he's going to think you are the best mommy in the world.
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post #3 of 15
12/26/06 at 3:54am
you will figure it all our before you know it!

just enjoy the time holding him as much as possible!

we are your manual!!
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post #4 of 15
12/26/06 at 4:18am
Thread Starter 
thanks ladies. I don't know what I'd do with out you. I went and slept for about 3 hours, now Mike's sleeping.
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post #5 of 15
12/26/06 at 7:45am
They probably swaddled him in the hospital. I was never that great at it, but some babies really like it. I think I read every parenting book on the market in the first year. You'll learn his likes and dislikes pretty quickly.
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post #6 of 15
12/26/06 at 9:57am
Brenna loved being swaddled! I thought the nurses were crazy for wrapping her so tight (Shane and I called her the baby burito) but she was perfectly comfy and slept great.
With his arms curled in front of him wrap him exactly like you think a burito would be wrapped with the bottom corner of the blanket folded up over his feet and the sides wrapped tightly around. Brenna liked having just her hands sticking out under her chin.

You'll get the hang of it. I think we all felt like morons at first but it really does become second nature and in no time you understand all of his cues and know exactly what he wants.

Welcome home yall!
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post #7 of 15
12/26/06 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 
Ya we saw him being swaddled and were calling him a Bean burrito (since Bean is what I've been calling him for a long time already). It takes some practice to be good at I think. I already know he does NOT like to have his feet uncovered. I think once we get to be good swaddlers he'll start to sleep alone a little bit.

thanks for all the encouragement, I really needed it
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post #8 of 15
12/26/06 at 12:13pm
You've got the right idea ... get a few hours sleep whenever you can, and switch out with DH! The first few weeks are the roughest. I still remember being afraid I'd *break* Jessi when dressing her. I kept fearing somebody would walk in the room at the hospital and take her away from us because I couldn't manage to even dress her! Give it a few weeks and that "fragileness" will wear off.

As for sleeping, Lenora had a great suggestion. I personally sucked at swaddling, but all 3 of my kids LOVED for Mike to hold them. I used to accuse him of "beating their butts". He'd hold them over his shoulder and pat their bottoms -- rather hard it seemed - and they'd go to sleep like that. Who knew???

Hang in there though .. you're not going through anything the rest of us haven't. It doesn't matter how many boooks you've read, shows you've watched, or plans you've made .... it all goes out the door when you have that precious little life depending on you for everything!
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post #9 of 15
12/26/06 at 12:33pm
AMEN, Dawn!

If you can't get the hang of swaddling, Babies R Us, Wal Mart, Target, etc, carry these swaddler things. It's like a blanket sleeper that swaddles the baby. Travis hated it, so we didn't use it. He doesn't like for his arms to be confined, so swaddling wasn't for us.
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post #10 of 15
12/26/06 at 12:34pm
When we left the hospital with Kimmy, I remember thinking, "They're letting me take the baby? I don't know anything about babies!!!" It is soooo scary to be responsible for another life. My bible was What to expect the first year and I read it CONSTANTLY!

Switching off sleeping is a good idea....sleep whenever you can!

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post #11 of 15
12/26/06 at 1:24pm
Mel you will get the hang of it and we are here to answer any questions you have. I remember feeling so stupid with Brittany because I would always be calling the doctor. Thank god they were so nice with me.
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post #12 of 15
12/26/06 at 1:24pm
nothing to add really... Just know that all of us remember feeling like that when we first brought our babies home.
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post #13 of 15
12/26/06 at 1:57pm
There's no perfect plan. The best plan is the non-plan. Just do what comes naturally. You have plenty of time to get into a schedule.

Jonathan hated being swaddled. He wanted his feet loose.
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post #14 of 15
12/26/06 at 5:27pm
Don't worry Mel, we all felt that way with our first too. You will get the hang of it in no time. Getting sleep when you can is the first step. Jason used to take the late night shift as he is a night owl and would be up anyways and then I would take the morning shift while he slept in.. You will do just fine
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post #15 of 15
12/27/06 at 9:54am
Those nurses are pros! I couldn't get any of my guys swaddled like they did. I always had an arm or a leg sticking out before I got done and would have to start again!!! Like Tammy says, you will just get ina groove. It takes time and you will feel like a complete helpless boob, but he doesn't know that! He thinks your awesome!! Just try and get all the rest you can and just enjoy the time. It goes by way to fast.
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