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02-20-2013 at 3:33 AM
elvinnoe
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Is your relationship different now?

Since having your baby, do you feel like your relationship with SO has changed at all? I love DH to death and we're solid, but when we get stressed, it's bad. I mean, nothing that we don't get over soon, but I feel like the stress of having a baby has made me have to go back to the vows I took. For better or worse. And honestly, right now feels like better and worse all at the same time. 

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02-20-2013 at 3:52 AM
nichhollle
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Yep. It has definitely changed, at least for the time being. When we're close and getting a long, it's REALLY GOOD. But when we fight, we fight worse than we ever had. We've said hurtful things to each other that we never would have said before. I know it's the stress. I know it will pass. We just try as much as possible to apologize and communicate. On a day where it was particularly bad, we dropped DS off at my moms and took a walk together. It really helped.

 

 


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02-20-2013 at 6:06 AM
kielpinski...
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kielpinskim is not online. Last active: 05-20-2013, 8:04 AMSilver
I can't see your ticker, so I'm not sure if this is your first. It was ten times harder on DH and me with DD. It got back to normal after a few months, but it was tough learning how to adjust to life with a baby who was also trying to adjust to life. With DS, we knew what to expect and things are much more laid back. It does get better and it gets easier with each baby.

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02-20-2013 at 6:33 AM
kleigh926
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kleigh926 is not online. Last active: 05-20-2013, 6:29 AMSilver
I know what you mean when you say it feels better and worse at the same time. It's so cute watching DH with DD and we really did want to start a family, so in that respect it's better. But DD tends to be fussy, and the sleep deprivation is just killing me. Lately nights haven't been good... we end up fighting when it's 4 am, DD is crying, I ask for help, and DH has to get up for work in an hour and a half. Plus, we haven't been able to spend very much time together because of caring for DD and me taking naps when DH is home to watch her. I know they say you shouldn't wish these days away, but honestly, I can't wait till she gets a little older and starts getting a feeding and sleeping routine.


*TTC #1 since April 2011*
Me: dx with non IR PCOS January 2012. DH: SA normal.
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DD born 1/31/13!!!
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02-20-2013 at 6:38 AM
Ladynikon
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Ladynikon is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 1:43 PMSilver
funny you ask.  My husband was reading a website just last night stating that if the mom feels stressed in the relationship.  Spending more time with their loved ones can help in many ways.  Of course he interpreted that as needing to have sex more with your S/O..... 

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02-20-2013 at 7:56 AM
jobiann
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For the most part no, we have always operated as a team and have been very giving and caring for one another. What has changed is us seeing each other in the roles as Mom and Dad and if anything that has strengthened my love for DH and he told me the same a few weeks ago. 

The other thing that has changed is our sex life, no longer is it care free and spontaneous. We keep saying we are going to "work on it" but most days we are both just so tired we are content with some cuddling time. I'm sure it will improve as DS sleeps more through the night and once he gets into his own room/crib.  



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02-20-2013 at 8:18 AM
cmhicklin
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With our first it felt like we banded together to get stuff done, but it was a lot easier to get stuff done and I could nap when I wanted so I wasn't so grumpy.  This time around, we are each constantly taking care of one kid or both kids, and trying to bring order to the house.  We have been fighting a lot, but I know it will get better when we develop more of a routine.  Hurry DS, get on a routine!

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02-20-2013 at 8:36 AM
agatha1320
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agatha1320 is not online. Last active: 04-19-2013, 7:57 AMNewbie

it def is! sleep deprivation doesn't help either. like one of the pp said when its good its great, when its bad its ugly. i'm also going back to our wedding vows, its not easy. i have a hard time leaving dd with anyone for more than an hour or so bc she doesn't willingly take a bottle so I'm not comfortable having people feed her with a bottle how we do (she nurses but we have to either give small sips with medicine cup or use drop ins and squirt it in her mouth...hope she gets better before i return to work).

we've been trying to go out just the two of us at least twice a month, even just for lunch or dinner. 

 
02-20-2013 at 9:25 AM
MrsMuq
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It took H and I a loooong time to adjust (and we still are!) to having a new baby. It was a much bigger adjustment than we ever anticipated.

What it really comes down to is providing support for each other. No relationship is 50/50 100% of the time. A lot of the time it's 70/30, 90/10, etc. When I know H has had a particularly hard day/week at work, I generally don't ask for help with DS. I'd rather call my mom or sister to look after him for a few hours if I need a break, or even call our sitter. It just makes things much more pleasant for everyone.

We've also dramatically lowered our expectation in terms of chores and errands to be accomplished, and do our best to multitask our time (like working out when our favorite TV show is on, or taking DS for walks and counting that as a workout, or running errands together so we get time together as well).


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02-20-2013 at 10:25 AM
sthomas122...
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I feel like I'm closer to my husband than ever, we've bonded in a way that couldn't ever be achieved any other way. I had a natural birth and I see a partner now, a provider, a safe-haven. And he says I'm his super-woman now! But that doesn't keep me from snapping his head off at night. Especially that first night home, his first night with the baby. I tried to tell him how she basically spends the whole night feeding and doesn't sleep. He wanted to give her a supplement (we'd been doing formula supplements in the hospital). Finally I just snapped, let him do it, and then rubbed it in his face when 15 minutes later she was back on the boob sucking away. He went to sleep then and left us alone... We have our moments but then DD does something absolutely adorable and it's all erased. It's definitely better and worse all at the same time...

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02-20-2013 at 11:07 AM
kbruington
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Oh hell yes. The first 6 months were the hardest and my husband and I barely hung on. Being tired and stressed does crazy things to people! Nothing you ever read in a book can prepare you for just how hard it is to raise a baby. All better now :)

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02-20-2013 at 12:11 PM
LovinTim91...
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Let's just say that DH and I came very VERY close to divorce after our 1st was born.  If not for counseling, we definitely would've called it quits. 

Now it is tense again, but I feel like we have the tools to work out our issues instead of just fighting. 


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02-20-2013 at 2:12 PM
brandyleig...
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We're in the same boat, as well, at 6 months. LO still sleeps pretty crappy and even though DH and I are both do a lot for our family and are solid - we have said some hurtful things to one another when fighting due to sleep deprivation. I try to constantly thank him for the things he does for our family - when he picks up overtime, when he shovels snow off the driveway, gets up with DS, etc. and he does the same. I try to remember we're both tired - me from getting up with LO so much and him for working so much. We get over things a lot quicker. Fights are worse but we do resolve them sooner. We used to stew on things for days, cold shoulder for days - I try to get over it asap now.

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02-20-2013 at 2:45 PM
Kingston54
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I agree - better and worse at the same time.  We can't imagine our life without our kids but at the same time we definitely had way less stress when it was just the two of us.

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02-20-2013 at 3:15 PM
sararn2004
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kleigh926:
I know what you mean when you say it feels better and worse at the same time. It's so cute watching DH with DD and we really did want to start a family, so in that respect it's better. But DD tends to be fussy, and the sleep deprivation is just killing me. Lately nights haven't been good... we end up fighting when it's 4 am, DD is crying, I ask for help, and DH has to get up for work in an hour and a half. Plus, we haven't been able to spend very much time together because of caring for DD and me taking naps when DH is home to watch her. I know they say you shouldn't wish these days away, but honestly, I can't wait till she gets a little older and starts getting a feeding and sleeping routine.
I'm having fussy issues over here too. Sleep deprivation is horrible as well. I'm curious how you are going to deal with the sleep deprivation when you go back to work. I remember you are a nurse, as am I. I'm concerned that I won't be rested enough. Our job isn't something you can just "wing it". I'm just hoping so much he gets a better schedule by then.

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02-20-2013 at 3:39 PM
ilenegrace
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After DS was born we were in survival mode and I put LO's need so far ahead of mine and DH's to the point that DH and I didn't even sleep in the same room anymore. We lost that intimate connection. It took a harsh wake up up call that almost ended our marriage to get us back on track. Now with DD I feel like I can identify those ruts more easily but still having a hard avoiding them completely. Its tough!

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02-20-2013 at 9:25 PM
Wild_flowe...
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Its better, we're lucky. But my first marriage ended shortly after baby so I know what that's like. Its tough but I think the most important thing to remember its to never disrespect each other bank matter how stressed you get.

William born 9/7/07
Violet Mae born 1/15/13
 
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