How do you cope with your baby when you started work?

[shulyn]

Hi Mummies,

I'm wondering are you guys coping well with your kids when you started work? I find myself very tired esp my boy is coming to 6 months, he has been waking up in the middle of the night at least 2-3 times. He cry in the night either for milk if not i got to pacify him to soothe down..Day time my mother is the care taker, and my mum told me sometimes when my boy is taking a nap, he will cry out of sudden...

Imagine having to work, morning 11 plus bringing my boy to my mum house, 6 plus after work going back my mother house for dinner and bring him back again, sometimes weekday (twice a week) need to go back my in-law house for dinner, can be as late till 10.30pm then go back my house, housework like laundry, sterilising baby bottles every night) etc...By then when im ready to sleep, its already 12mn...im always distrubted a few time from 12mn - 7am...

I keep thinking maybe its my 1st time being a mother, i havent adjusted back to my previous lifestyle...Sometimes im so lazy to wake up esp my boy doesnt want to sleep anymore around 7am, i got to entertain him...

Am i the only one out there so tired? Or there is other mummy out there having the same tiredness? Care to share your experience, how you cope?

[stonston]

I go to work at 7.20am every morning. When my boy was around 6mths old, I only reached hom at 7.30pm everyday. Once home I had to express milk, latch him, bathe, eat. Then play with him.

Thankfully he does not wake up in the middle of the night. Even if he does, my husband & maid will take care cos I need to wake up very early in the morning.

It was quite tiring but I got used to it after a while

[Phoebii Cheng]

Originally Posted by shulyn Hi Mummies, I'm wondering are you guys coping well with your kids when you started work? I find myself very tired esp my boy is coming to 6 months, he has been waking up in the middle of the night at least 2-3 times. He cry in the night either for milk if not i got to pacify him to soothe down..Day time my mother is the care taker, and my mum told me sometimes when my boy is taking a nap, he will cry out of sudden... Imagine having to work, morning 11 plus bringing my boy to my mum house, 6 plus after work going back my mother house for dinner and bring him back again, sometimes weekday (twice a week) need to go back my in-law house for dinner, can be as late till 10.30pm then go back my house, housework like laundry, sterilising baby bottles every night) etc...By then when im ready to sleep, its already 12mn...im always distrubted a few time from 12mn - 7am... I keep thinking maybe its my 1st time being a mother, i havent adjusted back to my previous lifestyle...Sometimes im so lazy to wake up esp my boy doesnt want to sleep anymore around 7am, i got to entertain him... Am i the only one out there so tired? Or there is other mummy out there having the same tiredness? Care to share your experience, how you cope?

Hi Shulyn,

Yes it was like that for me as well.....my son would wake up 2-3 times in the middle of the night for milk....my sleep was disturbed, even on weekends, he would wake up around same timing as weekdays around 6-7plus in the morning, so weekend it was tiring for me too.....

But Thank God, as he progress to 1 yrs, now he is 16mths, his sleeping habits do change, he slept through the night and did not cry for milk....but last two weeks, dont know why he would wake up at least once in the middle of the night like 2-3am for milk.....

As for your housework, why not you do it once a week? Me & hubby do the housework once a week, so that not so tiring for us, and try to get hubby to help you too like if you come back, if you change baby mayb hubby can strelise bottle for you?

For us, I m the one who wakes up at night, while hubby is the one who's does the laundry after work.....

But dont worry, as your baby grows, you will not feel so tired anymore.....hey I also thought I am the only one who's perpetually tired.....

[shespice]

Am sure we would feel tired at one point or another. Everyday is waking up and getting baby ready for nanny by 7.15am. Go to work then evening pick up around 6 plus or so and we go ta pao food for dinner. We usually get home around 7 plus. On days when I cook its more tiring since after whole day at work. Once home, I would try to spend time with baby, feed her, wash her up again before she sleeps. After she sleeps, I do laundry, wash and sterilise her bottles, do other chores like feeding the dog and picking up her pee and poo LOL. By the time I get to express my milk its around 11pm and so tired. Sometimes I close my eyes and falling asleep while pumping hahaha. Most days would sleep almost at 12 also. So far my girl is managing to sleep through and occasionally will wake but go back to sleep without any feeding. Her last feed for the night is usually around 8-9plus before she sleeps.

[CanCanMum]

Originally Posted by shulyn Hi Mummies, I'm wondering are you guys coping well with your kids when you started work? I find myself very tired esp my boy is coming to 6 months, he has been waking up in the middle of the night at least 2-3 times. He cry in the night either for milk if not i got to pacify him to soothe down..Day time my mother is the care taker, and my mum told me sometimes when my boy is taking a nap, he will cry out of sudden... Imagine having to work, morning 11 plus bringing my boy to my mum house, 6 plus after work going back my mother house for dinner and bring him back again, sometimes weekday (twice a week) need to go back my in-law house for dinner, can be as late till 10.30pm then go back my house, housework like laundry, sterilising baby bottles every night) etc...By then when im ready to sleep, its already 12mn...im always distrubted a few time from 12mn - 7am... I keep thinking maybe its my 1st time being a mother, i havent adjusted back to my previous lifestyle...Sometimes im so lazy to wake up esp my boy doesnt want to sleep anymore around 7am, i got to entertain him... Am i the only one out there so tired? Or there is other mummy out there having the same tiredness? Care to share your experience, how you cope?

hi shulyn babe~hahha~~its part and parcel of being a mother....i was like you last time

everyone here has been thru this difficult period *sigh and shakes head* lols

there are times when i go to work with only 2 hours sleep

dozed off at work even.....frustrated and sleepy....stressed and irritated......

how i coped arhh? just bear with it, you will only be difficult during baby times....once they sleep thru the night and once they have learnt to walk, it will be far more easier for you.

anyway to return home earlier? Or your mum stays far from you izzit? Whenever i reached my mums place, i packed dinner, changed my boy, carry him on carrier (last time when still a baby) and off we go. Less than 30 minutes. Coz the earlier you return home, the earlier baby gets to sleep and the earlier you can sleep also. If i m not wrong, 6month old baby needs at least 10 hours of night time sleep everyday.

Also if you can, limit to inlaws place to every weekend like every sunday? Coz its less tiring for you. Otherwise you need to bring baby from mums place then go MILs place wahh.....its very tiring.

[stonston]

Shulyn, my husband just reminded me how I survived: 1 bottle of chicken essence everyday without fail. Plus weekly massage on weekends.

[SunShine07]

I also went thru all these. Me need to wake up before 7am every morning for work. My son will wake up 2-3 times at nite for feed. Back home from work about 8pm evreyday. Initially not getting used to it also. Now like nothing already...maybe it is the power of love bah lolz...

Even till now my son already 20 months old also wake up 2-3 times at nite for feed, he is milk lover, so no choice.

[shulyn]

Originally Posted by CanCanMum hi shulyn babe~hahha~~its part and parcel of being a mother....i was like you last time everyone here has been thru this difficult period *sigh and shakes head* lols there are times when i go to work with only 2 hours sleep dozed off at work even.....frustrated and sleepy....stressed and irritated...... how i coped arhh? just bear with it, you will only be difficult during baby times....once they sleep thru the night and once they have learnt to walk, it will be far more easier for you. anyway to return home earlier? Or your mum stays far from you izzit? Whenever i reached my mums place, i packed dinner, changed my boy, carry him on carrier (last time when still a baby) and off we go. Less than 30 minutes. Coz the earlier you return home, the earlier baby gets to sleep and the earlier you can sleep also. If i m not wrong, 6month old baby needs at least 10 hours of night time sleep everyday. Hello CanCanMum Babes.. Thanks for all the positive advice and encouragement! > you know my baby sleep quite late, around 11plus..Is it normal? Cos by then when i reach home, its usually 10 plus...When im at my mum house, we usually leave 9 plus after our dinner and i will bath at my mum house. If its at my in-law house, we usually leave around 10plus, reach home before 10.45pm... Also if you can, limit to inlaws place to every weekend like every sunday? Coz its less tiring for you. Otherwise you need to bring baby from mums place then go MILs place wahh.....its very tiring.

> Actually i prefer to be in the weekday, cos weekend prefer to spend more times with my baby..Sat will be an outing for us, sun will be a rest day...Before that, it was once in weekday and once in sunday, but worst is we stay longer...When we are at in-law place my baby seldom sleep and i couldnt take afternoon nap, so end out choose both days on weekday...

[shulyn]

Hello to all working mothers out there!!!

> StonSton, Shespice, Phoebii, CanCanMum and Liang Jia...

Thanks for all the sharing...you guys really been through that stage...After reading all of your sharing, i understand its just a period of transition stage, i just need to adjust a few more mths

you know, my baby takes very long time to finish his milk...Esp in the night, he will cry for milk, he needs to take 2 rounds in order to finish the whole bottle of milk, sometimes still got leftover...1st round the most he can drank about 70ml, i will go and heat up the milk for 2nd round. after that change his diaper and continue the 2nd round. The whole duration takes about an hr, like this my 1 hr sleep is gone... (This is the most tiring part, so sleepy yet must wait until at least 1 hr then can sleep...)

Every night he is like this, sleep until 2-3 hours, he will cry again, this time is not for milk, i just need to soothe him down...

My mum know i didnt sleep well everynight and she always offer to help me look after my baby in the night. Though im so tired, im still willing to take the hardship cos i feel its my responsibility as a mother, moreover bonding is so important for us cos day time we already dont have so much time for them...

[CanCanMum]

*sayangs* ~~~

side track a little.....yr baby berri ke ai~~~

[ochklk]

I burst at my hubby one day after being stress up for so many days when I went back to work.. He use to sit infront of his com or play his guitar once he back home, now after the bursting, he do share the house chore with me, when back home around 8.30 to 9pm from my mother in law house after picking our son and having dinner there, I wash up my son and read stories to him, my hubby will pack the baby milk necessities to the room, luckily is my boy only wake up once for milk around 2-3 am, I divide the colour of the clothes, wash my hubby's collar/sleeves then put them all in into indivuals net and throw it into the washing machine, he will hang the clothes. I ironed the clothes and he will vacuum the floor and mop it after that. All these are done by myself alone before my bursting and it lasted for over 10 days until I really have not time for myself at all and no air to breath at all. But luckily my hubby can understand it.

I find looking after my son and doing all the house chore is something I can cope and do it bery well, but with work... I really wear out...

[stonston]

Actually I got a maid cos I know I definitely will get very tired if I have to do housework. I'm a perfectionist, if I do housework, the house must be spotlessly clean. & by that, I mean I will vacuum, mop, wipe everything EVERYDAY. This was what I did during my pregnancy until my husband got my a maid.

Now with maid, husband n wife quarrel less cos less things to fight about. More time for each other cos can put my boy and maid at my parents' place without worrying if we are taxing on my parents too much cos they can still go out if they want and they usually bring baby and maid along with them to 'show off' to their friends.

If you are really tired out by housework, maybe can get those PT cleaners to come and do the cleaning. Spending abit of money to keep your sanity is worth it. Like my friend who will get the cleaning lady to come in on Sat afternoons when baby is napping and she & husband will rent DVD to watch together. At least have some quiet and relaxing time to yourself and husband

[Ottermum]

Originally Posted by shulyn Hello to all working mothers out there!!! > StonSton, Shespice, Phoebii, CanCanMum and Liang Jia... Thanks for all the sharing...you guys really been through that stage...After reading all of your sharing, i understand its just a period of transition stage, i just need to adjust a few more mths you know, my baby takes very long time to finish his milk...Esp in the night, he will cry for milk, he needs to take 2 rounds in order to finish the whole bottle of milk, sometimes still got leftover...1st round the most he can drank about 70ml, i will go and heat up the milk for 2nd round. after that change his diaper and continue the 2nd round. The whole duration takes about an hr, like this my 1 hr sleep is gone... (This is the most tiring part, so sleepy yet must wait until at least 1 hr then can sleep...)seems like he's just looking for comfort...not hungry...if he's hungry he'll finish the milk...how about giving him the pacifier and patting him back to sleep? dont't have to change diaper...the cold wipes wake him up... Every night he is like this, sleep until 2-3 hours, he will cry again, this time is not for milk, i just need to soothe him down... My mum know i didnt sleep well everynight and she always offer to help me look after my baby in the night. Though im so tired, im still willing to take the hardship cos i feel its my responsibility as a mother, moreover bonding is so important for us cos day time we already dont have so much time for them...

I'm staying with mother in law but go back with dear son spend the weekend @ my mum's place...

when he's there he never wakes up for milk!! @ mum's place we sleep together on a King size mattress...middle of night he wakes up i'll give him pacifier and pat him back to sleep...he sleeps from 9pm til 8am ...

back to mother in law's place he sleeps in his playpen and always wakes up, dont't wanna sleep back! so i have to give him milk...and he always dozes off w/o finishing the milk!!! Thankfully he only wakes up once...

so i guess most babies wake up not because they are hungry...they just need some comforting...

[shulyn]

Originally Posted by Ottermum I'm staying with mother in law but go back with dear son spend the weekend @ my mum's place... when he's there he never wakes up for milk!! @ mum's place we sleep together on a King size mattress...middle of night he wakes up i'll give him pacifier and pat him back to sleep...he sleeps from 9pm til 8am ... back to mother in law's place he sleeps in his playpen and always wakes up, dont't wanna sleep back! so i have to give him milk...and he always dozes off w/o finishing the milk!!! Thankfully he only wakes up once... so i guess most babies wake up not because they are hungry...they just need some comforting...

Hi Ottermum,

My boy is like this, he often cant finish his milk, we must always try and try a few times before he can finish. Very often at night when he is crying loudly for milk, he can finish the milk, just that i need to feed him 2-3 times before i give up. And all this takes about an hour including changing diapers etc.

Btw, you mention the wet wipes will wake him up. I usually change his diapers btw 9.30-10pm before he go to bed. By 5 plus, isnt it must change? I'm using drypants at night want for longer usage...

[shulyn]

Originally Posted by ochklk I burst at my hubby one day after being stress up for so many days when I went back to work.. He use to sit infront of his com or play his guitar once he back home, now after the bursting, he do share the house chore with me, when back home around 8.30 to 9pm from my mother in law house after picking our son and having dinner there, I wash up my son and read stories to him, my hubby will pack the baby milk necessities to the room, luckily is my boy only wake up once for milk around 2-3 am, I divide the colour of the clothes, wash my hubby's collar/sleeves then put them all in into indivuals net and throw it into the washing machine, he will hang the clothes. I ironed the clothes and he will vacuum the floor and mop it after that. All these are done by myself alone before my bursting and it lasted for over 10 days until I really have not time for myself at all and no air to breath at all. But luckily my hubby can understand it. I find looking after my son and doing all the house chore is something I can cope and do it bery well, but with work... I really wear out...

Hello Ochklk,

Sound like my hubby is also helping you alot. Luckily my hubby is also one of them...Some of my friend husband does not help them, most of the chores done by them.

As for my hubby, he's the same like your hubby. When we are back home, after helping me (less than 20 mins job) he can sit back and relax, always in front of his laptop. Initially cant cope but after we have talk and devided our job, like is much easier. We have got a part time helper every weekend to ease our housework. But still i find i still have plenty to work to do..

[shulyn]

Originally Posted by stonston Actually I got a maid cos I know I definitely will get very tired if I have to do housework. I'm a perfectionist, if I do housework, the house must be spotlessly clean. & by that, I mean I will vacuum, mop, wipe everything EVERYDAY. This was what I did during my pregnancy until my husband got my a maid. Now with maid, husband and wife quarrel less cos less things to fight about. More time for each other cos can put my boy and maid at my parents' place without worrying if we are taxing on my parents too much cos they can still go out if they want and they usually bring baby and maid along with them to 'show off' to their friends. If you are really tired out by housework, maybe can get those PT cleaners to come and do the cleaning. Spending abit of money to keep your sanity is worth it. Like my friend who will get the cleaning lady to come in on Sat afternoons when baby is napping and she & husband will rent DVD to watch together. At least have some quiet and relaxing time to yourself and husband

True, i agree...We have got a part time helper few months ago..Though with a part time helper, weekday also got some light housework...For me, after settling down my boy to sleep, i will sterlise his bottles, wipe the floor daily with the wiper sheet, clean the tables if dirty etc...And for the clothing, there is only the 3 of us and i still need to wash the clothing 3 times a week...Sometimes still must find time to beautify myself like facial, body scrub etc...sigh, endless work...