is there a routine for a 1 month old?

Eve, i also planned on studying next semester. I have 2 more modules to finish my degree and i thought i would be able to finish it this year but my lo is only 2 weeks old and i can't see myself being able to study while breastfeeding my lo. You really have to manage your time. Goodluck

Thanks, yes it is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time!

Play it by ear. Maybe take less subjects the first semester and just see how you cope with that.

Besides, when that little bundle arrives I can promise you that all you'll want to do is just stare and stare and hold them!! Studies are furtherest thing from your mind

Mia - that is so exciting - last exam!!

Thank you so much for sharing this with me - I think I might then have to do 6, shoo shoo

Hannah also had a growth spurt recently, but it lasted 2 WEEKS!! Now she's much better and back to 3 bottles a day at creche (plus breast the rest of the time and cereal and supper).

Give your baby what he needs. The tin recommendations are for average babies, maybe your son is just growing a bit quicker or a bit hungrier than other babies!!!

As for cramps, both my girls suffered from immature digestive tracts and cried each and every time they poo'd or farted until about 6 - 8 weeks old. It was not colic, this was confirmed by the paed. It was a bit better with Hannah, but Mia really suffered and screamed such painful cries when she poo'd I literally used to cry with her!! We found that Bennet's Colic Mixture helped with those cramps.

@Eve, I work full day plus studied when Mia was a baby and now with Hannah, in fact I'm finishing up my last exam on Tuesday (hopefully if I pass). It is hard, I'm not going to lie to you. You need a good support system, hubby to help babysit while you have to do assignments, study, etc. But it is achievable. I found personally, that three subjects per semester was the absolute maximum and that was pushing it to total stress levels at assignment and exam deadlines, but I've managed so far and as I say, I write my final exam on Tuesday.

Good luck

THANK YOU so very much for your inspiring words ladies, it truly does help.

I know I will only realise what I can and can't do, once Connor is here, but I'm a planner so I'm trying to plan ahead ehhhehehehe.

DH will have to cut back on his martial arts so that he can help as well. He does understand that I need time to myself and just time away from baby. He isn't at all concerned about studies though - he said that's not a priority now.

Cooking - I was planning on doing some meals now already and freezing them, but we don't have a big freezer so that plan went out the window the second I thought of it.

4 modules - there is no way I can only plan on doing 4 modules in a year. Maybe 4 a semester? Then it's 8 instead of 10 - will take me 3 years then? (wishful thinking)

Anyway, I'm going to stop stressing about this now and just wait to see how I handle things when Connor comes. Who knows, maybe he'll be a perfect sleeper and give his mommy time to study (please oh please heehhehehe)

Thanks again ladies.

Hi Eve

That is why we take maternity leave. I wanted to help out at the office a couple days a week after Dylan's birth and I couldn't.

Like Marijke says things are mundane, but they take time and you are tired from the night feeds too so I wouldn't make any plans to do too much if I were you until you have baby.

Neil loves his sport and would to something each day, but after Dylan was born he reduced it for a year to two days a week only. Firstly he wanted to spend time with his son and secondly I needed a break.

The only time I could get things done was when Dylan was down for a nap which was often only 20 min every 3 hours.

We can all tell you our stories, but the fact is that you will only realise the full extent of change that your little angel brings once he arrives. Good change, but it's hectic.

I also struggled and I love my son and wouldn't change things but every now and again you think about how easy life was before your kid. This morning I listened to Dylan cough and I worried and I thought wow a hole life ahead of worrying about my angel.

And then he comes and gives me a kiss just because he wants to and I realise it's so worth it.

Last thought - don't feel guilty for sounding negative because of how your life will change, you won't even know the extent of it until your LO is born. I still get in the shower some evenings and think "I should have waited, I wasn't ready to have a baby" (and we struggled for almost 4 years and she's almost 10 months now) but you never are truely ready. And life does change, but all it takes is a bit more planning..