is there a routine for a 1 month old?

Eve, here's my advice to you:

* Try for 3 or 4 modules but I'd say max 4.
* As soon as you get your schedule take a dailyplanner and write down what you will do everyday for example: 10 pages of one subject then tomorrow 10 of the next subject etc.
* Stick to it, if you have a good day then go for 15 pages.
* Don't let your work stack up - perhaps you will have a day or something in which you can catch up, but usually when you really need to catch up baby doesn't cooperate. So don't rely on good days, rather try being a bit ahead of schedule by doing a bit every day.
* Every day at 6 or 7 pm check to see if you did your 10pg, if you didn't you are going to have to let something go in order to do it, be that bath time or a feed.
* When someone else is looking after your baby, get earplugs or earphones to listen to music because the sound of your baby crying has such a overwhelming reaction to you emotionally, (i can't explain it, you will know what I mean when you experience it) you will have to learn to block it out when hubby or someone is looking after baby.
* Cook in advance, it's going to save time in the long run.
* Be prepared that this is going to be mentally and emotionally draining, so make a little time for yourself everyday also and keep one day a week free to spend time with hubby, just you as a family.
* Guilt is possibly the worste thing about being a mother, but look at the big picture, not at what you are missing out on at that moment.
* Most working moms's secret is quality time (not quantity), so take time every day to spend quality time with your LO.
* And extend your 2 year plan by a year or so.
Oh yes and if you are also going to do housework on your own, pe proactive about it and do things as they come up, so it doesn't add up and become a mountain.
And have someone on backup for babysitting everyday for a week or so before exams start.

Thanks ladies, I guess I should get used to the idea that I'm not going to have any time to study. How do people do it when they work full day, have a baby and study?

I just spoke to DH and I told him that he is lucky that I am so understanding with him doing martial arts every night of the week (except Friday). He has agreed to stop Tuesdays and Thursdays for the first few weeks or month and see how things go. Also, if I'm having a bad day or Connor is sick, then he will also stay home.

I'm hoping that he will see what Connor is like during the first 2 weeks that he is home with us and then at least he'll have an idea of what I go through.

I also have to go back to work next year and was planning to do 10 modules. Ai toggie toggie, I guess my plan of getting qualified in the next 2 years is also out the window.

I know I may sound negative and I'm sorry. I know this baby is a miracle (we struggled for 14 months to conceive him) but I just don't think I realised that it would take so much out of me. I know it will be worth it though and if in the end I have to give up my dream of being a teacher, then I will have to do so.

I just wish he would arrive already so I know what he is like

Eve, as Marijke says, it will depend on what your baby is like - you may have an angel or you may have a baby that needs alot of attention and doesn't let you have much sleep. And babies don't stay the same, just when you think you've got them into some sort of routine they go and change it (my son never went back to sleeping very well during the day after his first growth spurt at 3 weeks, and I remember having to do my tax return at the last minute with him on the boob!). If you're trying to study and not getting around to it you may end up being stressed and start resenting your little one for not giving you time to work.

I would say give yourself 3 months, if you can, of giving all your attention to your baba. It's such a special time that you'll never get back.

Eve, that is a very difficult question since there are no clear set rules for what your baby will be like. The first week or 3 were okay for me, but after that it seemed like baby 'woke up' and things just kind of went out the door.

I was registered to write exams during my pregnancy but just couldn't consentrate and let it go. Then I thought I could do it all when B was born, registered again but never went to write. I just really couldn't find the time.

What I was absolutely naive about was that babies (if you are lucky) need a bottle every 4 hours, it takes about 40 - 1 hour just to finish the feed, then another 20 something to get all the winds out, nappy change and if you are lucky a sleeping baby and 2.5 hours till the next feed but somehow it just never happens like that.

But - it CAN be done, if you are really strict with the time you do have to yourself. It's going to be hectic and draining. If you can, get someone to come help you for an hour a day in which you can study. I remember sitting with a miz baby and an assignment due that day and being too proud to ask for help (my mother lives close by) but I wanted to do it all so I can say afterwards - look what I did all on my own, well for me it didn't work that way and I was crying and stressing and losing my temper and B just got worse - that day I nearly ran away.

Also, my LG didn't even have colic...

But try your best, you can do it!

Hi ladies

Most of you won't know me because I'm still on the Pregnancy/Birth forum but baby is due in about 2 weeks so I thought I'd start introducing myself this side

I'm trying to get as much information as possible about how baby will possibly be while he is newborn.

I have been fortunate enough to stay home this whole year, to concentrate on studies and on being pregnant. I'm worried now that I won't have time to study once baby comes.

New semester starts in June and baby is due from 6th - 16th. So I've given myself until July to get going.

Do you think this is realistic or will I have absolutely no time and energy to study during the day?

DH also has sports every night of the week so I can't study at night.

Hope you all have a great evening and that babas all sleep well tonight!

Love Eve

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I`m also having the same predicament with not knowing what to do when, how , with what.
Its only after 4 weeks that I realised that my baby was sleeping too long, and when she eventually woke up, she was impoverished, and when she had her feeds she will be gulping it down like she never ,ever had a feed.
Now , at 5 weeks , she changed her routine herself, she stays awake more during the day and she then sleeps more solidly at night and she doesn`t cry so uncontrollably like she`s got colic.

So I would say, get to know your baby, she will give you an indication of what she needs and when...