Sorry I need to moan.

Woe is me post. 

I am exhausted, Imogen has gone from 1 feed a night to 3 or 4. I lost count last night. we ended co-sleeping but only because H was away. 

I went back to work today and feel completely out of my depth. My house is a tip. I have had an awful head cold for the past two days. So I really wanted to sort everything out before I returned to work and instead I have been laid on the sofa feeling sorry for myself. 

Imogen is putting weight on slowly, so that is getting me down. I am going to start introducing a bottle of formula on a night so I can go to bed early. But now I am worried what if she has a reaction. Arghhhhh my head is pickled. 

Sorry I just needed to rant. 

it must be tough going back to work when she is so small x

You say she is putting weight on slowly ? whats wrong with that ? as long as she isnt dropping centiles thats fine x

If it was your first day back i think you need to cut yourself some slack that the house is a tip- so is mine and i  havent been to work in 11 months !

The night wakings i can completely sympathise with, we co sleep when he is having a bad night and i think i would be doing it more if i was going to work just to get as much sleep as possible x

I have not given formula at night so no real advise except to say you have to do whats right by you and imogen, try it if she has a reaction you wont give it again - nothing lost

Think you need a long soak and an early night and tomrrow is another day !

Hope that doesnt sound patronising as it really wasnt ment to x

Goodness me, I can't believe you are worrying about your house.  Zoe is 9 months and I'm still using the "I've got a new baby" excuse. 

I think you are heading towards 12 weeks aren't you, I'm sure there is a growth spurt around then which could explain the extra feeding in the night.  Dealing with growth spurts is hard enough without also going back to work so don't beat yourself up.

WjellybabyS....my view re the house & housework is that as long as everyone has clean clothes to wear, theres food to eat, and the house is vaguely clean - thats fine. As jelly baby said, a GS could explain the extra feeding, and dealing with that is hard enough, let alone going back to work as well. I am going back next week, and god knows what the house will be like then. As long as she is putting weight on - slowly or not - that is fine and you are doing really well! Hannah has dropped from 50th to 9th centile so we are dealing with that atm. If you want to try formula - try it. What makes you think she will have a reaction?

Co-sleep to get through this GS, and don't worry about the house

wJBs. I still use the baby excuse 8 months on! I went back to work early on, but it was very casual as work for family, and I found that hard enough just doing a couple of hours or so. No wonder you're exhausted. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. xxx

Thanks for your replies. 

Lets hope tomorrow is better!

Right, stern talking to...

1. Feck the fecking housework

2. You've been ill. Give yourself a break

3. Work isn't going to be instantly easy. Was it when you started your job? I doubt it. You need time to settle in again.

4. Imogen is putting on weight, Doesn't matter if it's slow, as long as it's going in the right direction, she's happy and you have wet and dirty nappies. My LO put on weight v slowly (dropped from 50th centile to 9th) until weaning, when she started to pick up. At just a year she's now approaching the 91st centile and I'm wondering why I worried so much.

5. Ranting is fine and good to do on occasion, and here is a great place to do it.

6. This too will pass, Never forget that.

You have a lot to cope with at the moment, sounds like you are doing a grand job

Thank you all! 

I am having a rest this morning before work this afternoon, Imogen has been up and back down for a nap while I hitch in bed with my cup of tea!! 

She was so  unsettled last night, I gave her a bottle of formula at 8.30, she downed 5 ozs and slept till 2. She then woke up 2 hours later for another feed but at least I got a block of 5 hours sleep. I think being stressed and poor diet, is not helping my milk supply on an evening. Which is maybe why she waking so often. 

I have been stressing so much about this bottle, but I gave it to her, for the first time in a long time she fell asleep whilst drinking. A very contented baby! 

I am looking forward to work this afternoon. Now I have got the first day over and done with hopefully things will get a bit easier. Also H helped me tidy the house, so I feel like I getting back in control. Housework gets done on a weekend with H, but because we were away last weekend, it looked a tip! 

Thank you all. xxxxx

glad you got some sleep lt i hope things gets better soon! and you should see my house it is a proper tip so you are not the only one

Hi LT

Just seen your first post,but iam glad your feeling abit better this am,don't feel bad about giving her a bottle,if it makes you less stressed coz your able to relax more and get abit of rest then thats also good for her,and try not to worry about her weight,easier said than done,i know,coz iam in the same boat.Amelia now on the 9th centile and really not putting weight on,but i gave myself a good talking to,along with some other great hitchers and as long as she's gaining and she's happy in herself,developing well,healthy,lots of wet nappies,then i'd try not to worry

Your doing great going back to work when shes still little,so don't be too hard on yourself,your doing great

But feel free to come on here and moan away x