Babies first week, who helped you after delivery?

Question

My husband and I have a small 2 bedroom apartment and live right next to the hospital I will be delivering at. He is saving up his vacation time to take a week off when the baby is born to help me.


It sounds like most woman have had their mothers helping them. I would love for my mother to help me, but she works and there would be no place for her to sleep.

My husband and I will be fine on our own? Or should I plan on making accomendations for the first week...??

Answer 1

You both will be fine, many couples do it themselves. best of luck

Answer 2

If your husband can be home all week, then you shouldn't need any other help that week. For some women though, it takes several weeks for them to get back on their feet, particularly after a hard delivery or C-Section. I would try if at all possible to make a back up plan for some help if you need it after that first week is up. Your husband does have the option of taking more time off (unpaid of course) under the family leave act. Or perhaps a younger niece could stay a few days. Maybe just having a part time maid if you could afford it come in to help with chores.

You'll probably be ok to go it alone after week one, so don't worry too much, but a back up plan is always good reassurance.

Answer 3

I did not read the other posts so I apologize if I repeat someones response.

Take turns getting up with the baby at night. Have dad get up the first night since you did all the pushing the night before. Then you switch every night since he will be on vacation. Hopefully by the time he goes back to work you would have gotten (is this even a word?!) some sleep.

Best wishes to you and your family. By the way take a nap when your baby takes a nap. You'll need it.

Answer 4

Here's the kind of "help" I received from loved ones. The day I got home from the hospital I had to HURRY to get home and to get the baby settled because 15 minutes after we arrived home, my MOTHER came, picked my HUSBAND up and went up to Saratoga Race track (opening day)...So I was left all alone. THEN, my husbands friend arrived the next day and he and my husband spent the next several days "visiting" each other and not paying any attention to me OR the baby...and I didn't see my mom again for 2 weeks after my son was home. So, YES, you and your husband will be FINE with the baby... especially if I can do it all alone. You are VERY fortunate that your hubby cares SO MUCH to be WILLING to take a week off to help....

Answer 5

it should go fine, if your husband depends on you for dinner (and you think hes not capable of cooking much)or you prefer you could make a week or 2 of meals and freeze them or make sure to stock up on easy stuff he can make like sandwich stuff and pasta noodles with jars of sauce. when i had my 3rd baby i was so worried that my husband wouldnt feed himself and the other 2 kids on time or healthy things and that the house would get so dirty since i was in the hospital for 4 days (c-section) or that he wouldnt remember to set the alarm to get the oldest off to school. im a stay at home mom so i take care of it all. but he did great and he took such good care of me when i came home. i prefer him over my mother (she helped with #1) he knows a little more of the day to day and what to do without having to ask all the time. so what im getting at is he will do great im sure. i cant wait my hubby is taking 2 weeks off when i have the baby im preg with right now. it will be heaven

Answer 6

My husband and my mom both took off the first week to stay with me.. It was nice to have someone there who knew what they were doing, even though it all comes natural after the baby comes.. I think you should ask your mom to take off too and maybe she could help out with the other stuff you will have to worry about.. Like cooking, cleaning, etc.. Its not easy at first with the new baby but after a while it will be a piece of CAKE.. CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK..

Answer 7

Oh my...dont they have paternity leave where you live? In the U.K. Dad's get two weeks paid leave....but good for your husband...a week will help you a lot. Mine was with me for two and then he had to go to the City to work...he only came back at weekends..I was tired as I had had an emergency C section, but I was ok. My Mum was too bust working to help me and my sisters have babies themselves....my advice to you is to sleep when the baby does..even in the day. Just lie down for a while....anmd dont try to be perfect with the housework. Concentrate on yourself and baby....you'll be fine!

Answer 8

Only my husband helped me :)
If you have a vaginal delivery -- you'll be back to your old self by the first week! (if you have a c-section, that's a whole other ball game!)
I was out and about shopping with my son [alone!] when he was 3 days old!
Our parents came to visit .. but didn't really help us out.
My husband took a week off of work as well.
You'll be just fine .. it's not nearly as hard as people make it out to be! :)

Answer 9

Ha~ I wish someone helped me...I did it on my own, but it was by how I was raised...I was raised that the man of the house works, and he needs his rest before the next day..so I was the one that stayed up all hours of the night...But when my son turned 2ish my husband stepped up to the plate...either that or I was going to have a nervous breakdown :-)~

Answer 10

I had no help after my son was born. it was just me and my boyfriend. He took 3 weeks off after the baby was born. We survived! It's hard, but if you work well together as a team, I'm sure you will have no problem with just him around.

Best of luck!

Answer 11

My husband and I did it on our own, my mother works. It only takes 1 person to care for a baby.