We got home with our baby girl yesterday and I've been checking on her every 20 minutes to make sure she's still breathing. I know it's normal but I'm exhausted and can't turn my brain off. My wife finally told me to go to bed but I'm just lying here listening for any sound. Does this ever get easier or am I gonna be a zombie for the next 18 years?
This is totally normal. What helped me was setting up a good monitor so I could actually see her without going in there constantly. Also talk to your pediatrician about safe sleep stuff if you haven't already. That knowledge helped me chill out a bit.
The checking every 20 minutes thing is exhausting man. Have you tried deep breathing exercises or maybe some white noise to help you sleep? You can't take care of her if you're running on empty.
First night home anxiety is 100% normal. You're not being paranoid, your brain is just wired to protect her now. It gets better though. By week 2 you'll actually be able to sleep.
The terrified feeling means you're taking this seriously. Make sure you read up on safe sleep practices so you can stop worrying and actually trust the setup. Knowledge helps the anxiety.
That checking every 20 minutes thing is so real. I did the same thing. The exhaustion hits different when you're running on parental adrenaline and fear. Try to sleep in shifts with your partner if you can.
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Dude I am RIGHT THERE with you. Our second is 3 weeks old and I still check like every 15 minutes even though I know she's fine. My wife finally told me to set a timer so I'd stop waking her up by checking. The paranoia is real but it does get better I promise.