The realities of a night out

This has been difficult to write mainly because when I’ve had a spare moment I’ve had to fight to keep my eyes open. I went on my friends hen do a few days ago which was my first proper night out in about two years. I really enjoyed myself but I am paying for it now. I wasn’t hungover I am just experiencing extreme tiredness. I don’t get much sleep most nights with Max normally, however being out late ‘partying’ is a whole other kind of tired. I don’t know how I used to do it and I take my hat off to those who can do it all the time and go to work the next day (shoutout to Rachael!) Its 4 days since I went out and my main concern is I have no idea when I am catching up on my sleep. I can’t have an early night as, even if Max goes down at a reasonable time with little fuss, there’s no way I can miss Love Island. I live for 9 o’clock! So I fear I’m going to live in this constant state of extreme tiredness and believe you me it’s not a good look.

As I said this was my first full night out in two years and the getting ready period is very different to what I was used to. I discovered organisation and timings are key because at any moment there could be a meltdown over Peppa Pig having an advert break or Max wanting fed. I managed to get ready with a surprising lack of fuss and when I walked into the living room the look I got from Sofia was pure shock. She made me smile when she said “wow”! I think she didn’t recognise me without my hair in a bun, leggings on and sick on me. Sofia had been a bit clingy for the past few days so had to put on a bit of tactical Peppa Pig and sneak out of the house in the hope she won’t notice and have a meltdown. Mission complete I’m out the house.

The week or so leading up to going out I was like a cow, constantly milking myself with the loudest breast pump known to man! You think that once you have all the milk for your baby sorted then you won’t have to think about breastfeeding for 12 hours or so. Well that is definitely not the case, you get to about 4-5 hours into your night and your boobs are like rocks!! If you’re like me I didn’t want to take a big breast pump out and try to fit it in my clutch bag so I opted for hand expression. This is how I found myself in my friends bathroom squeezing milk out of my boobs into the sink to relieve them slightly. And if you think that’s bad, fast forward to 12.30 in Flares toilets crouched over the toilet squirting milk into it! It was definitely a low point. This is when you realise your life has definitely changed from going out pre children.

I don’t know if it is just me but before I had Zac I could wear 4 inch stilettos no problem, however nowadays I would be lucky to survive in a kitten heel. Not that I would ever wear a kitten heel. I am small so I need all the height I can get which means I end up wearing a chunky 3 inch heel that I think we will be wonderfully comfy but are the total opposite. I think it’s as soon as your body goes through child birth it realises you won’t be out as much so every time you wear heels it’s a massive shock to the system and can’t cope. The results are painful feet for the next few days making you regret your decision to ever wear them in the first place.

Moral of the story: bite the bullet and take out a bigger bag with room for a breast pump, wear comfortable shoes and make sure you have a babysitter for the whole next day to catch up on sleep.