doc--exactly right about the shower and brushiing teeth! I remember telling DH "It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I would rather sleep."

Breastfeeding has been great for me and the baby (now almost 16 months), but I have to remember to keep myself hydrated to keep milk production up. Water all day long and 12-20 oz. of Gatorade on most days. I don't think I could have added strenuous exercise that took additional hydration for the first several months. We did start taking walks around the neighborhood fairly early. Pushing the stroller was my main form of exercise until the doctor okayed him for the bike trailer.

I hope we're not scaring you, or anyone planning to have children. It is totally exhausting, completely turns your life upside down, and is absolutely worth it. Just relax and enjoy the baby. Other things can wait.

One piece of advice I wish I'd been better about following: When the baby sleeps, you sleep. Don't try to get anything done after you put the baby down, just take a nap. If you wake up before the baby, then you can start on your to-do list.