Sleep anytime you both can. Even times when you could make a sketch instead is okay! Lean on friends and family. Like crazy. Get more sleep. Take photos, make drawings. And know that all of us that tell you how magical it is have just forgotten how we spent a good many moments thinking "what the heck did I sign up for??!". It is ridiculously hard AND it is worth it.
This Tiny Person, Rohan, is his own sphere and always will be. Think of a snail. Austin Kleon told us about The Sound of a Sail Eating, which I just finished. Be still. Observe. Allow constant amazement and curiosity, for him and for you. Your life HAS changed forever. Allow this transition. All is about him right now, as babies are made helpless. Drop what you can. Relax as much as you can in everything you do. And, as we all say, sleep-rest-take care of yourself when Tiny Person sleeps.
This is wearing. This is hard. So too is him leaving home for college in another country before FT and to live on the other side of the world. I've experienced that. Wouldn't have it any other way, though. It's all amazing and will lead you to glorious places you wouldn't have expected.
Nishant, been through this six times (first twins, then "Irish quintuplets", boom-boom-boom-boom-boom). As other commenters have said, every baby is different. Our first three were easy-peasy (the boy/girl twins followed by their sister). We thought we were the best parents in the world. Then our fourth slapped us back to reality.
Just go with the flow. You'll be surprised how resilient you are. Nap when you can during the day. Do as much of the night shift as you possibly can. Your wife is exhausted and needs the sleep more than you do. My fondest memories are rocking the baby in the wee small hours. Be prepared to be absolutely gob-smacked at what a great mother your wife is. Is it instinct? Grace? I don't know, but it's awesome to see.
america has great healthcare (if you can afford it), tieing you to a job, that ties you to healthcare. in america we pay for war, so others can live in democracies that pay their healthcare.
As someone who taught prenatal classes, did some labour coaching, and worked for The Maternal Health News (all this many years ago) my advice is pretty simple… when the baby sleeps… you sleep. No one follows this advice at first. They sit and watch the baby, they tidy up/do the dishes, they apparently draw the baby. Don’t. This time of following the baby’s lead doesn’t last forever but you just have to.
I have to say I’ll particularly enjoying the story and the art but please… when Ro falls asleep lay down and sleep.
Having done some action research in the US I find your comments about people hearing how bad things are in Canada is true.
Congratulations! I will wait patiently for any updates you find time to do.
It's such a special thing to draw your way through baby's birth!! Congratulations again.
I'm glad you had such a good experience in the hospital. "when you live in America you hear many horror stories about the healthcare system of Canada. Not enough specialists. Long wait times." We here that ON Canadian TV news. We have CBC news (The National and CBC Vancouver) on our cable channel and watch both every day. They make it sound like the Canadian system is falling apart. ER's close for the weekend; no primary care for thousands. We also watch ITV news in Britain they report the same.
However, US system is no better. We have the non-profit Kaiser and have always had a good experience. Some copay but it's small and reasonable. For those without insurance, it's a nightmare.
Sleep anytime you both can. Even times when you could make a sketch instead is okay! Lean on friends and family. Like crazy. Get more sleep. Take photos, make drawings. And know that all of us that tell you how magical it is have just forgotten how we spent a good many moments thinking "what the heck did I sign up for??!". It is ridiculously hard AND it is worth it.
This Tiny Person, Rohan, is his own sphere and always will be. Think of a snail. Austin Kleon told us about The Sound of a Sail Eating, which I just finished. Be still. Observe. Allow constant amazement and curiosity, for him and for you. Your life HAS changed forever. Allow this transition. All is about him right now, as babies are made helpless. Drop what you can. Relax as much as you can in everything you do. And, as we all say, sleep-rest-take care of yourself when Tiny Person sleeps.
This is wearing. This is hard. So too is him leaving home for college in another country before FT and to live on the other side of the world. I've experienced that. Wouldn't have it any other way, though. It's all amazing and will lead you to glorious places you wouldn't have expected.
Nishant, been through this six times (first twins, then "Irish quintuplets", boom-boom-boom-boom-boom). As other commenters have said, every baby is different. Our first three were easy-peasy (the boy/girl twins followed by their sister). We thought we were the best parents in the world. Then our fourth slapped us back to reality.
Just go with the flow. You'll be surprised how resilient you are. Nap when you can during the day. Do as much of the night shift as you possibly can. Your wife is exhausted and needs the sleep more than you do. My fondest memories are rocking the baby in the wee small hours. Be prepared to be absolutely gob-smacked at what a great mother your wife is. Is it instinct? Grace? I don't know, but it's awesome to see.
america has great healthcare (if you can afford it), tieing you to a job, that ties you to healthcare. in america we pay for war, so others can live in democracies that pay their healthcare.
Ah, I see. It’s official, you both have a powerful yet lovely case of baby love.
Well done.
As someone who taught prenatal classes, did some labour coaching, and worked for The Maternal Health News (all this many years ago) my advice is pretty simple… when the baby sleeps… you sleep. No one follows this advice at first. They sit and watch the baby, they tidy up/do the dishes, they apparently draw the baby. Don’t. This time of following the baby’s lead doesn’t last forever but you just have to.
I have to say I’ll particularly enjoying the story and the art but please… when Ro falls asleep lay down and sleep.
Having done some action research in the US I find your comments about people hearing how bad things are in Canada is true.
Congratulations! I will wait patiently for any updates you find time to do.
Supposedly mom's walking around/movement during the day lulls them to sleep
It's such a special thing to draw your way through baby's birth!! Congratulations again.
I'm glad you had such a good experience in the hospital. "when you live in America you hear many horror stories about the healthcare system of Canada. Not enough specialists. Long wait times." We here that ON Canadian TV news. We have CBC news (The National and CBC Vancouver) on our cable channel and watch both every day. They make it sound like the Canadian system is falling apart. ER's close for the weekend; no primary care for thousands. We also watch ITV news in Britain they report the same.
However, US system is no better. We have the non-profit Kaiser and have always had a good experience. Some copay but it's small and reasonable. For those without insurance, it's a nightmare.
Newborns start with their sleep schedule inverted! It will get better. The first 10 days to 2 weeks are hard.
Also, many congratulations to your family -- Rohan is beautiful!
When it gets easier is different for everyone. It will get easier, I promise. Change is constant.
My daughter rented a bed which maintained a certain temperature and rocked when the baby stirred. They got better sleep with that.