I can't make useful comments on many of these things, but the handling two children at once, and the sharing of attention - if Pearl is a helping type child (and most are), getting her to help with the new baby will help a lot. And this doesn't need to be anything complicated "I need you to hold this toy near baby's head to keep her amused while I change her nappy". "Will you give me a cuddle while I sit and feed baby". "I'd like to read you a story, will you please bring me a book?" (works while feeding).
Other things - keeping a fruit bowl with a couple of pieces of fruit in it in reach (not too many, or they might all end up with bites in them!) so that if Pearl wants to eat while you are feeding she can be self sufficient (and bring you one as well!). I also used to keep water bottles where kids could reach, so that if I needed a drink while feeding, they could bring me one.
There are lots and lots of little things that will make this easier. I found the worst was trying to get multiple children to sleep, and my older ones watched (too) much in the way of Wiggles while I tried to settle younger ones. People will happily give you much advice - if you want it, please ask!
I think that you are very brave, to have made this choice. I had the advantage of time when I had one small child, to wait and see, so chose to not have a second one as a single parent, and I am so very glad that despite the medical issues, I was able to have more.
And a final thing - there may well come a day when you believe that you can't cope. Call a friend, call family, get them to come and be the responsible party. You are welcome to call us, and we will do our best to be there for you (A is very good at putting infants to sleep!). That panic of not being able to cope happens to lots of people, especially when there is a shortage of sleep.
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Date: 2010-05-06 02:22 pm (UTC)Other things - keeping a fruit bowl with a couple of pieces of fruit in it in reach (not too many, or they might all end up with bites in them!) so that if Pearl wants to eat while you are feeding she can be self sufficient (and bring you one as well!). I also used to keep water bottles where kids could reach, so that if I needed a drink while feeding, they could bring me one.
There are lots and lots of little things that will make this easier. I found the worst was trying to get multiple children to sleep, and my older ones watched (too) much in the way of Wiggles while I tried to settle younger ones. People will happily give you much advice - if you want it, please ask!
I think that you are very brave, to have made this choice. I had the advantage of time when I had one small child, to wait and see, so chose to not have a second one as a single parent, and I am so very glad that despite the medical issues, I was able to have more.
And a final thing - there may well come a day when you believe that you can't cope. Call a friend, call family, get them to come and be the responsible party. You are welcome to call us, and we will do our best to be there for you (A is very good at putting infants to sleep!). That panic of not being able to cope happens to lots of people, especially when there is a shortage of sleep.