[M!ssy]

DH and I live overseas, but I've come home to have our first baby. DH arrives this Friday. I'm booked in the following Friday to have the baby and DH leaves 2 weeks later to return to work. Depending on passports and visas I'm planning to head back about 5 weeks after the birth, which means 3 weeks apart from DH. Just wondering if anyone has been in the same situation and has any advice?

[axiomae]

Get some help! Do you have friends, grandparents, relatives nearby? Anyone who can help you? It can be a very emotionally erratic time with post-birth hormones, sleep deprivation, and general WTF-am-I-doing syndrome! Assuming this is your first..

Get help is my best advice. Cook all your meals before the birth and freeze them. Don't do any cleaning and sleep when you can. Good luck!

[spannah]

My DH returned overseas, on deployment, 3 weeks after DD1 was born. We were actually living overseas at the time so had no family around to help.
As PP said definitely gather friends and family to help. Prep meals and freeze. Grocery shop before the birth.
Good Luck!


ETA: organisation is key. But also breathing. Slowly. Take your time. And live in the moment. Don't worry about what baby might do (or not do) in an hour or a day. Focus on what's happening right now. Otherwise, combined with lack od sleep and hormones, you can really start to stress out.
Breathe.

This post has been edited by spannah: 24/01/2013, 07:24 AM

[joy6328]

My hubby does FIFO so I was alone 2/2. I found it easier without him to be honest. Yes it's harder in a way but you only have you and the baby to worry about. You don't need to cook or clean or sleep around another person, you can relax in a way and just enjoy bub. i found it quite positive