1 Yes, it can be overwhelming, but just focus on feeding yourself and the baby.  Kiss and snuggle your girl, tomorrow is another day!

2

Absolutely nothing has been going on - let alone anything more important than taking care of your littlest sweetie.  

I totally sympathize on the constantly beginning-continuing-ending-cleaning-up a feeding thing!!!  That was why I didn't eat or drink much of anything, let alone get more than a wink of sleep, for DAYS... and it was a bad idea.  All sorts of unpleasantness. 

You might try setting a timer for your meds; inspired by the hospital's charts, keeping a chart that someone more mobile can review helped me, too... seriously, have someone else keep your "brain" documented outside of your body for a while.     Once I was through with *some* of the very early, made-me-want-to-just-die, rigamarole, I'd feed Kiddo; then just sit there holding him until we both fell asleep.  Wake up & feed him again. Then fall back asleep.  (Not sure how much of that was painkillers, and how much was sheer exhaustion...)  Every few minutes helps, and I promise it'll get better... these first few days really are rough.

Timing-wise for a bath, the best time would be right after a feeding so she's happy & you can hand her off to whoever's helping; OR... you could probably even nurse her *during* the bath, once you got settled...  not sure how slick that would work, but it occurred to me just now, so I figured I'd mention it.  But yeah, you'll probably have to really, intentionally, schedule the most mundane things for a little while.

Anyway, we're totally pulling for you & hoping it gets just that much easier, that much sooner... *hugs*

3 I agree on  focusing on feeding the baby. It will get better. The more she feeds now the more milk you will make and it will eventually get on a schedule. Not a perfect one but a do-able one. Having a baby the first time is HARD. No one tells you because its something you just have to experience. But she will only be 1 week old once and 2 weeks old once, and so on. Enjoy it even though it sucks. If that makes sense. I've followed your blog for fourish years now and realized at some point that I had met you. The hubs and I were stationed in Germany the same time ya'll were. What I am trying to say is that after all you have been through I am so happy for you to be a mom. I'll be emailing to find out her name. I HAVE to know what you named the baby you waited so long for! Cheers -gina

4 Oh, Sarah - I well remember days when at 5 in the afternoon, I still hadn't managed to shower or get dressed, or eat anything. It bothered me until I realized that my only responsibility was to snuggle with my kids, feed them, change them, and snuggle some more. The first couple of weeks, everything seems overwhelming, then you two will develop a routine, and everything will fall into place. Really, it will. I don't blame you for not posting her name publicly - although it really is BabyGrok, right? Sending much love & many prayers for you and your family.

5 Congrats!

6 Sarah,
Mine are late teenagers now.  I well remember and cherish the newborn days. We bottle fed from the beginning, so as a dad I was able to feed them too.  One big thing to know and remember.  There is NOTHING going on in the world that is even close to important as snuggling with your baby girl.  Cherish every single moment. And take lots of pictures.  Those pictures will be cherished keepsakes.
Congratulations again! She is a cutie!
Jim

7 LOL, it gets much better soon. I call the first weeks home with the baby the "survival" period. Don't worry about anything that's not directly related to your or her survival. Everything else is secondary and optional. :-D

Except, sitz baths and pain pills. You need those, girl. Believe me, I speak from experience. The sitz baths will help you heal much, much faster.