u/Loose_Lobster6848

I am having a few newborn struggles, I’m 10 days pp hopefully they’re all the normal teething issues (pun not intended) and not a sign I’m an awful mother. If anyone could offer some advice or experiences they’ve had and how they managed that would be great.

1. I’m struggling to balance self care and newborn care. I shower every other day which is a blessing, I’m never out of pyjamas though and I have only left the house once for a coffee, riddled with anxiety.
2. On this note I am worried about using dry shampoo with my newborn, and also more so about using deodorant, I’m worried it’ll make me smell different to him and that he’ll accidentally get some in his mouth while feeding
3. I do not feel tired, I feel EXHAUSTED. I’m talking like out of it almost ill tired. I am going to talk to my midwife about getting a blood test to see about my iron and different levels but I’m currently on two types of antibiotics, iron and anti inflammatories as well as the injection from my emergency c section
4. I do not really want to see people, apart from my mum and my partner I just don’t really want to call anyone or talk to anyone because I don’t want to say I’m struggling and then get questioned with why and receive advice about what I should be doing when I’m already trying my best
5. exclusively breast feeding is really hard, I worry that he’s getting enough, I worry about my supply, I worry about not waking up to him in the night, it’s all super difficult and I’m hoping it’ll die down but I’m in the trenches atm. Also with this, leaving the house, I am struggling to leave the house because I don’t know when he’ll want feeding and I don’t really want to just yet struggle with both hands to feed and have a muslin round me and everything.
6. There is so much to juggle. I have to make sure he’s fed, burped changed, then on top of that take my meds, make sure we’ve both had our vitamins. And now his cords fallen off I can bathe him? But when and how often does he need this, the water is hard I don’t want him to hurt. Nappy rash is awful it looks so painful but no cream is working for that. Also he’s managed to scratch his face and now I feel awful for not using his nail file earlier
7. and my final one I want to do what’s best for him, I already feel like I’ve watched too much tv around him, like I’m on my phone too much. All sorts. I think I just need to go easy on myself but that’s easier said than done!

So I’m planning to go and see Kneecap tomorrow night, I will be 38 weeks on the dot. I am having a sweep tomorrow morning. I’m feeling a little anxious but remind myself I can stand right at the back and I don’t have to stay if it gets too much.

Does anyone have any advice? Will baby be okay?

Does anyone know where I can find the kind of syringes that are in the “my expert midwife” colostrum harvesting kit? I know some people aren’t a fan because the end is wide but I’ve found that very useful, u just don’t want to spend £20 for 5 syringes

So my (mum) name is double barrelled, for some reason it’s very hard for people to try and pronounce or spell without use of the phonetic alphabet, but I’ve become very fond of it as it’s my parents, you know? They’ve both contributed so much to my life and I’m so grateful.

My partner’s (dad) last name is sort of difficult to spell but not really. The issue is we got together and immediately fell pregnant. We knew very little about each other but everything I’ve learnt about his father, whose name he has, is abhorrent. He left my partner when he was a child for years, he has said he doesn’t want our son to be a “pussy” or feminine at all (little does he know he already has leopard print trousers), he’s an awful bigot and the list goes on. He’s not checked in throughout the pregnancy at all and quite frankly I despise him.

My partner is upset that the baby won’t have his last name, I have said that our baby can have his last name as a middle name but I want nothing to do with his father like that. So at the minute his name is Otis Leigh [dad’s] [mums-double]. Does this seem unnecessary? I don’t want my baby to be berated for his name but I understand my partner would be upset if he wasn’t part of baby.

I’m 37+1 and I just feel so so anxious. I’m debating walking round to the pharmacy to see if they’re check my blood pressure because I’ve had a minor headache but I’ve felt off for the past few days with tight feeling in my chest and just not feeling right. I just want baby here now, I feel so so anxious about him getting here and it feels like there’s so many things that could go wrong. I have an induction booked at 39 weeks as baby is measuring very big and I opted for that over c section.

Does anyone have any advice on how to manage it?