I forgot to ask in my earlier post. How are you guys planning to handle your first one during the hospital stay for delivery? Till now my daughter has never spent a night without me. She doesn' t go to my husband also in the nights, even in half sleep she comes and sleeps close to me or looks to feel me with her hands. I am really terrified how to manage her during delivery/hospital stay duration i.e. for couple of days.

Also she goes to daycare now. Is it good to send her to daycare when the baby is home? I am afraid she might get new infections from school and it is not good for the baby for first 3 months. Last winter she had multiple ear infections from day care and suffered a lot. If she is home how do I recover and do baby duties? These things are scaring me every minute now. What have you guys thought of? Give me some ideas, so I can plan from now.

I have mild lower abdomen pain most of the time I think due to increasing tummy weight. It wasn' t so bad last time. Already I am taking deep breaths while doing physical activity. Are you guys feeling the same? Is it not too early to feel so? My weight gain is on the mark, not excess.

Lot of questions, hope I get answers.
Wish me good luck.
CK Dreamymommy replied. Hi Ck....Though I am not an experienced mom by any standards I have friends who have been where you are.

Most managed with help from back home to manage two kids and the ones who were not that lucky hired help. This friend who is also in NJ got an Indian lady to come in for the day everyday to cook and offer light help with the baby. I am not too sure how expensive such help is but apparently it is not as expensive as one thinks it will be. It is worth checking out. And if you find some such help you can always keep your elder daughter at home (and divert the money you pay for the day care towards this househelp) My friend had that lady come in a month or so before she was due to deliver so that her older son could get used to her.

I hope this is of some help. I may not be in the same spot as you but you know I have similar worries due to my circumstances. And as much as everyone says we don' t need to worry I think we do need to plan ahead and then leave everything to the powers beyond believeing that if he gets us to it, he will get us through it!

All the best and take care. Aparna replied. CK,

In my case, my son is used to sleeping next to his dad. My first trimester was very bad (with nausea and weakness), my h' band used to take care of him. Now also, as my tummy is getting big, I put a pillow in between me and my son but he mostly sleeps next to his dad.
We are not sure if we are going to get help during delivery, so our plan is to leave him with my cousin here (she has two kids and my son likes to spend time there). If he really misses me, my h' band is going to stay with him after delivery (when I am in hospital).
My son also went to sleepover couple of times by now.
My suggestion would be from now on at least, make sure there is bondage between your daughter and your h' band.
I am planning on sending him to day care after delivery. I took flu shot and planning to do the same for my kid. I know there is a risk of getting infections/sick but taking care of two kids full day sounds harder.
Touch wood, I am feeling active and feel like cooking. Ofcourse, end of the day I do get backpain and getting difficuly sleeping. Three more months to go :)