Oh it's very hard, especially in the beginning. It is crucial to find someone to help at least for an hour per day so you get some "me" time, e.g. to shower. If your DH cannot do it how about some relative or a neighbor, a friend? As for sleeping by herself, most babies agree to be put down once asleep but I don't know many that will go to sleep by themselves. If she won't let you put her down keep trying. She will eventually. Just try a little every day and stop trying when you feel exhausted.

As for weight, feeling blah, no time... that gets better over time. It took me 9 months to get close to my pre-pregnancy weight. It took me about 6 to start going to gym again. You get used to lack of time and you get better with scheduling and getting others involved with the baby so you can have some time off. GL!

The first 2 months are the HARDEST time with the baby. You are still trying to learn how to be a parent and you and baby are trying to understand each other. Going places is difficult and you worry and wonder about all those things. Try not to worry about your weight right now. I am 8 months out and I still have pregnancy weight to lose. You will feel like yourself again. I agree with kaja2008 and try to get some time to yourself. Have DH watch the baby or a friend or family member even for just an hour at your house. Use this time to take a shower or a long hot bath and relax. I always found walking with Hayden helped me to get out. We would go to the mall and I woiuld keep him in the stroller so that no one would touch him. It was good exercise for me and allowed us to just get out and breath some.

The best thing I ever learned....

Make sure the baby is fed, dry diaper, etc....place him/her in a safe place like the bassinet and if possible roll it into the bathroom or close enough that he/she can hear you - then TAKE A FREAKIN SHOWER!

I talk to my son, or sing, or just shower and ignore his cries if need be, but I get my shower. I feel better and he has an opportunity to rest on his own, or cry it out if he has too. But I'm a MUCH better mommy with just that 10 or 20 minutes of time to myself.

Now that he's older (5 months) he gets tummy time in the bathroom while I sing and shower and he enjoys it. If he fusses, then so be it, but we re ALL happier to just sometimes put mommy first.

I agree with hnelson...you just have to put them down and do stuff for you. I don't have any really close family and my friends all worked and I was stubborn and wanted to everything on my own. We have a Fisher Price RainForest bouncer that my dauther just loved. So I would put her in the bouncer and she would sit in there for hours. So once I figured out nothing would happen to her if I left her alone, then I started putting her in that in the living room and I would go shower and listen for her. Once she started being awake more I would put her outside the bathroom door (our bathroom is very small) and I would shower and sing or talk and tell her a story. I lost alot of my baby weight and was back in my regular work clothes when I came back to work 8 wks later but I still have some to loose. It will get easier and going places takes some practice but now it's nothing to pack her up and go. Good luck :)

well first off your still postpartume at 6 weeks. Your hormones are still readjusting and it takes time so feeling blah can be very normal. if it continues thought you need to mention it to your OB or your PCP.

As for getting back to your prebaby weight and size.... no your belly will probally never be totally flat again. YOur uterus is been streched and while it does go back most of the way a tiny pouch will likely stay... BUT women are not ment to have FLAT tummies. BUT think of it this way.... it took 10 months to get to where you are at when you deliver... it can take just as long to get back to normal. If you had a c section it will take EVEN LONGER. I just had my third c section and I now my tummy is sooo streched out (had a 9 pound 5 ounce baby in there) and my muscels are soooo weak that toning my belly will take for ever. Take the baby for walks. If its to cold where you are at (Im in Az so its nice out) maybe take the baby and do mommy and me streching and stuff. YOu can look up all kinds of exercises that involve mommy and baby together. Its great bonding and good for you to. best thing is your not lifting anything more then a baby wieght wise so its safe even with a c section if you had one.

As for going out. Yes it takes much longer but the more you practice the better you will get at it. Keep a preped diaper bag ready at all times. Then when you go to get ready all you have to do is dress you and dress baby. ANd just plan extra time for everything.

Yes she will sleep by her self.... eventually if not now. I think the only reason my baby isnt attached to me at the hip is because she is in the NICU and HAS to sleep by her self when I go home. Befor coming to the NICU she slept no where but on ME!!! was hard.

DO you havea swing or a soothing chair of some kind that maybe vibrates or rocks??? If not I would suggest getting one. At first the baby may only take a minute or 2 of it but in time she will get use to it and be ok in it. then just put the swing near the bathroom where you can see her and shower up.

Anoughter idea is do youknow a teen you can have come over for an hour or so at a time while your still there??? kinda like a mothers helper? you dont have to leave but you can take a shower and freshen up and unwind a few minutes. With my last baby I had a neighbor girl that would come watch her on my really bad fibro days. It was such a help. I didnt leave the house but I could rest and shower and what not when I needed to.

Dont feel guilty. Yes our children are blessings but lets face it there are the not so fun parts of parenthood. It doesnt mean you love her any less just that your human..... vent here when you need to thats what we are all here for.... support ;p

i remember those feelings. my daugher is 5 months old, and on and off i still feel overwhelmed, exhausted, fat and owly.
i am 20lbs lighter then i was when i got pregnant but im still a bigger girl...so the fat part i think may just come with the being female.
showering can still be a challenge. i used to take marlow into the bathroom on a lounging chair and she would be fine. but now she wants to sit up all the time and its not a very calming shower when you can hear your baby fussing.
i think that you are suppossed to feel some of those things. its just letting you know that it wont be easy, but it will be worth it!

i guess there was an advantage to having gestational diabetes - i lost all the baby wiegh plus - sorry - but i have 2 sisters-in-law who are having a hard time - so i understand - as for a shower - i have to agree i either take it while ym is sleeping and hope for the best or have him in the bathroom with me - once he stayed out and my husband watched him - and he didn't cry too much - oh well - but it is very important to take time for your self - i didn't for the first while and i was going crazy - especially since he won't go to practically anyone else - but he learned and so did i - and my husband tries hard to give me a break - although it doesn't work very often. try a bouncy seat or exersaucer or something - also do something fun for yourself - my sister went to buy some makeup and the store worker told her that they were having a "how to put on makeup" demonstration and she should come - well she came and brought me and my mother and 2 little sisters and ym - and i learned how to put on makeup - i even learned how to do it 1 handed - whole holding ym - some of the other ladies commented "that's how you'll be doing it most of the time" - i had a great time. another time my husband and i took ym to the zoo - we had a lovely walk - i've heard and seen that babies tend to sleep while outside - or even in the stroller - go shopping or to the mall and just window shop if you don't want to buy something - but get out of the house - i will give you some time to breath and exersize at one time - good luck! :)

Yep - it's hard! But take comfort in knowing that this is normal - it's definitely not just you!
I'm a big believer in the 9mo up 9mo down philosophy. For weight, sleeping, etc. I don't think you can expect to be back to 'normal' much before 9mo. My tummy muscles didn't go back together until about 6mo so I had very little strength there which was really annoying.
It definitely gets easier about 6wk then again at about 3mo.
Don't feel guilty - I just hope I cut parents enough slack before I was one!

Thanks for all your responses. I have gone out everyday since I posted this...knowing I had to do SOMETHING or else. I feel so much better! I have DH care for her while I take my showers in the morning before he goes to work.