I’m 7 weeks postpartum and feel completely exhausted by my husband and in-laws — am I being unreasonable? perspective, including if I’m doing something wrong.
I’m 7 weeks postpartum with my first baby, and I’m struggling with how things are working at home. I want an honest outside perspective, including if I’m doing something wrong.
My baby is still very young and I am with him most of the day while my husband is at work. I breastfeed him and handle most of his work like, settling, night care, etc. Because of this, I’ve told my husband that when he comes home, I need some time to rest and recover rather than taking on more baby care and household responsibilities.
A couple of days ago, My husband took the baby to his grandparents, they played with him, and eventually the baby became very cranky and seemed overwhelmed ( they are doing this since the baby is born.) My husband brought him back to me and asked me to feed him as he ‘thinks’ the baby is hungry. I tried everything to get him to make him sleep, feeding, rocking, walking, singing, etc. Nothing worked for a long time.
I became frustrated because I had already explained this to my husband and felt that he wasn’t listening to me. We had an argument.
Since that argument, my husband has basically stopped touching the baby and stopped talking to me. I am now doing everything myself again. I’m exhausted, and yesterday I hadn’t even eaten since the previous night.
There have also been expectations around me doing household work very soon after delivery. For example, I was expected to cook and do household work only 4 days after giving birth. I found this extremely difficult because I was still recovering from childbirth and caring for a newborn.
My MIL taunted me by comparing me with her daughter who had c section and did all the work even when doctor asked her to bed rest.
After a lot of cold fights, my MIL started cooking meals, which are not at all healthy or nutritious for a recovering woman. She says she doesn’t know what to feed a recovering woman.
I am slipping into depression. Currently talking to no one in the house and barely eating anything.
I’m genuinely looking for honest opinions, including criticism of me if you think I’m contributing to the problem.