Sleep deprivation/ PPD / PPA

I’m sorry to hear it’s been a lot for you! Can hubby do the packing if you give him a list of stuff to do? Is there anyone else that can lend a hand at the moment? Sounds like you have a lot on but take a step a side and do something you enjoy doing for yourself before baby was here (I know that’s probably not the advice you want to hear right now because you have alot going on) but self care might help prioritise your mental health then could try pumping again if you feel less stressed and hubby can help with feeding whilst you catch up on sleep, give hubby more tasks to do!

Hope you feel better soon and good luck with the move

hubby works all day and he tries to help at night by changing the baby in between feeds, he also tries to keep her for an hour in the morning while I sleep but it’s never successful. And nobody is patient enough to watch my fussy baby long enough for me to do something I enjoy. I don’t even have the time to pee most days, which is probably not helping my mental state. I feel hopeless…

Where are you based? Call some helplines that can give some suggestions in regards to the breastfeeding/pumping? Is there anything that helps (a bath before bedtime to try and get more sleep?) hubby to take baby for a walk for up to an hour so you can get some sleep

I mean bath before bed time for baby* only because this has helped me and when he doesn’t settle partner takes him out for a walk

Are you not sleeping because baby is wanting fed or comforted or is it anxiety? If you're packing a whole house up husband is just going to have to help or you may need to employ someone to help with this if you have no support because you really cant do it all and you will end up sick (physically or mentally.)
And I know it's so much harder when baby is BF but husband is just going to have to learn ways to soothe him- would taking a bottle or dummy maybe help? Would you consider some formula or pumping even so you can get a few hours sleep at night and husband can feed?

the lactation consultant I reached out to seemed to think that pumping isn’t a good idea right now, seeing how it overstimulated my breasts and caused engorgement. Bathing is sometimes helpful with baby yes. As for the stroller walk, he hasn’t tried yet so I will def suggest that. Thank you!

baby isn’t sleeping because she wants to be both fed and comforted. I don’t have a problem falling asleep, it’s the staying asleep that can’t seem to happen. I’d really rather not consider formula and pumping hasn’t really worked out for me as I ended up badly engorged for days.. my mother has been helping with the move a bit but it’s honestly still a huge mental load.

What is your sleeping arrangement right now? I know this isn’t an option for everyone but have you tried bedsharing with baby? It’s the only way I got sleep at night in those early days. The lullaby trust is a good resource for bedsharing safety and so are happycosleeper and cosleepy on Instagram.

I’m so sorry to hear this.
My advice, for your own sanity, would be:
- start pumping. Baby needs you to be healthy, which means not so tired you could do yourself serious harm.
- walks outside in the pram during the day.
- when you’re trying to sleep, use an eye mask. The pressure over my eyes worked miracles for me x

co-sleeping is the reason I can squeeze in short cat naps to be honest. Thank you for sharing the resources! I have been following La Leche League’s safe 7s for co-sleeping.

I’m definitely going to give pumping another chance, I honestly can’t think of anything else. Walks are a lifesaver after hard nights! Thank you for the eye mask tip, I’m gonna try it!!