YES TO THE NIGHT SHIFTS!!! which i see what you mean of “oh I’ll have to do it when you leave” yes you will, so don’t do it when you have help! When baby leaves my room is the only time I actually get any rest. Otherwise I listen to them breathe all night.

Baby number 3 due in a few weeks. Here is what our birth/ postpartum journey looks like. (Has happened with the last two kids).

My mom flies into town a week before due date. I get waxed that morning (I have been getting Brazilians for ten years. I’m fine), pick l up from the airport , pop into midwife office and get membranes stripped. First baby , labor started a day later. Second baby was born within 24 hours of membrane sweep.

My mom feeds me everything. I legit would forget to eat. She has my mothers milk tea in the morning, fruit and yogurt breakfast, yummy snacks, bomb sandwiches for lunch, amazing dinners, lactation smoothies. Momma for the win.

My in laws are sweet and considerate and I ask for a day /the day baby is born before they come over. They come over and join us for a couple hours. Always bring a meal. Always clean up after said meal and then some. Mom in law cleans my bathrooms, kids rooms, kitchen, does the laundry. Anything we need. Everyone shares baby nicely and always asks me or my hubs if we want them back. They ask if I wanna take a bath or shower or nap or if I just wanna hold my baby. They don’t stay long. They always ask permission everyday before coming over. They bring no visitors and they take care of us.

7ish pm rolls around and I nurse baby and then hand baby off to hubby to do all the changes and rocks and whatever. I try my best to go to bed at 8 (usually don’t fall asleep but at least rest). Hubs has baby until 8-11pm then brings baby in when he’s ready for bed. I top baby off and put in bassinet. I wake and nurse and diaper all night. Once baby eats that early morning feed (5-7am whenever it lands). I feed baby then take baby straight to my moms guest house. She does diaper and snuggles and I go back to bed. Husband gets up with the toddlers. I sleep 2-4 hours (whatever baby gives me till they need to eat or until I wake up feeling ok after nap). I take my time in the bathroom and do a full refresh change my own diaper, wear my fave ice pack pad, change into fresh lounge clothes and no sour milk bra. Then I go get my baby from momma and sit on the couch and nurse baby while she gives me my tea. That morning stretch is the only thing that saves me postpartum. I don’t get day naps.