The first couple of weeks...

I remember when Ty was a newborn, for the first few days I couldn't even sleep I was so scared he would stop breathing. My sister laughed at me when I told her this Now she has a 4 day old bubba and is going through the same thing!

I have a crap memory at the best of times, so I'd appreciate it if anyone could tell me if they experienced this - what helped you overcome the feeling and relax enough to be able to have some sleep? My poor sis is so overtired, scared, anxious etc and I really want to help her!

I went through the same feelings too - totally normal! (Well, I always hope I am normal lol)

We had a baby monitor which we used whenever C wasn't in the room with us (ie when he was napping during the day) and he slept in his moses basket RIGHT NEXT TO the bed. I had to crawl out the bottom of the bed to go to the loo in the night

I used to express around 9pm and then go straight to bed. DH would feed C when he woke (around 10pm) and then sleep in the spare room with the baby monitor and C in his own room until his next feed (around 2am) which meant I got around 4 hours of uniterrupted sleep - all going well. Most nights this was my best, or only, stretch of sleep.

A very good friend of mine also came round and sat in the lounge for C's longer sleep in the middle of the day a few times which allowed me to get another hour or so of rest. I found it harder to switch off during the day but it did help.

RoSee wrote: I remember when Ty was a newborn, for the first few days I couldn't even sleep I was so scared he would stop breathing. My sister laughed at me when I told her this Now she has a 4 day old bubba and is going through the same thing! I have a crap memory at the best of times, so I'd appreciate it if anyone could tell me if they experienced this - what helped you overcome the feeling and relax enough to be able to have some sleep? My poor sis is so overtired, scared, anxious etc and I really want to help her!

i was the same..it settled down after the hormones did a bit but i also let it get out of hand and it contributed to my depression.. the monitor and the safetysleep helped me feel better.. this time i am a lot more relaxed though:) as for how to get more sleep i didnt so cant help there lol..this time i just force myself to go to bed and unwind .. maybe she could do it realy early when Dh still up?

I remember waking up in at night and lying there waiting for DS to make some noise before I could get back to sleep. In hospital (5 days) I barely slept for waking to check he was still breathing.
I don't know when I got over it, really don't think I have. He's in his own room now and at night before I go to bed, I creep into his room and stand there and listen for a snuffle before I can happily go off to bed myself.

Could she buy (or you buy for her) an angelcare monitor, maybe off Trade Me? They are worth their weight in gold for peace of mind.

Yip angel care monitor is the way to go. You can just open your eyes and see the reassuring flickering of the light and don't need to get up and poke and prod your baby if they're quiet

I would recommend an Angelcare monitor, that gave me the peace of mind to sleep happily, DS was in the same room as us and our flat was so small that we didnt need it for sound, just the movement setting so I knew he was okay.

Gosh those first weeks with a new baby are so overwhelming!!!