A day well spent

We have been parents for a week now and we are slowly trying to adjust to the major life change. So far my plans to stay organised and stick to a meal plan have largely worked. This is mostly thanks to my husband who has stepped up to hold the baby while I am cooking and sometimes cook a meal himself.

The past few days have been hard as we have struggled to get little man to sleep. He is generally a very sleepy baby which is great, however he will not sleep unless he is being held and refuses to sleep in a cot or a Moses basket. He won't even 'side-car' he has to be held. This means we have been forced to co-sleep which is something I really didn't want to do. I fret about the potential risks we face, but in reality our hands are tied. It isn't exactly healthy or risk free to leave the baby to scream for hours which he would do if we were not with him. Studies have shown that babies left to scream undergo high stress hormone levels causing their brains to develop differently, making them more anxious and affecting their behaviour in later life. These studies suggest that on the other hand babies who are well attended and not left to cry are calmer in the long run and become less clingy and more confident. With my history of anxiety issues I don't want to run any risks that might lead the little man to develop anything similar.

Fretting about doing the right thing is so hard when you both just want the best for this little person you love so much. We help each other by talking through our decisions, as well as with our families.

I Really don't know what I would have done without my husband. He has been the best husband and father I could possibly have asked for.

I was feeling a little concerned about how our days are going. It is now early evening and it feels like we have only been up for a few hours. all I do is feed the baby, cuddle him and try to do a little housework. For a few days I felt bad aBout this, but then I was watching a TV programme about the Amish. the Amish have a saying, a'a day spent canning vegetables and making quilts is a day well spent.'I t made me reflect that what I am doing is perfectly acceptable. Right now all I need to do is care for my baby however or whatever form that might take. My life is simple now and there is nothing wrong with that.