jet lag/feeding/sleep in 15 week old - help!!!!!!!!

[WeesaD]

Help!
DD2 (15 weeks) was a perfect sleeper until we went to the US ? she slept in her crib next to the bed from 10pm-7/8am every night.

We went to the US 10 days ago and she started waking in the night. I got her on US time as quickly as possible and by the end of 10 days she definitely was, but was co-sleeping with me as there was no cot, and waking at least once a night for a feed.
She now goes no longer than 4-5 hours and seems hungry.
We came home yesterday.

What do I do? Feed her? Co-sleep? Try and cuddle her back to sleep? (tried it but it doesn?t seem to last long).

I almost wish we hadn?t gone as I feel I?ve ?ruined? my perfect sleeper. What do I do???????:(


Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

This could be nothing to do with going to the US, it could have happened anyway so please don't beat yourself up about it. Lots of babies who were perfect sleepers start waking more around 4 months, it sounds like classic 4 month sleep regression to me.

If she is waking for a feed then please feed her. You might find that she goes straight back to sleep and so do you. If you try to offer her anything else you could end up both being awake for hours. You don't have to co-sleep but I found it was the only way we all got some sleep, so if it works for you don't worry. You could also try feeding her more often in the day to see if that helps. How often does she feed now?

Have a read of this too as it may help.

Hope it works out for you soon.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

How are you getting on now WeesaD? Have you managed to get any more sleep?

[WeesaD]

Hi Jilted, thank you so much for replying.
I did/ do feed her when she wakes.

She is feeding every 2.5 hours during the day pretty much, and seems really hungry. Last night she woke after 3 hours for a feed (unheard of!) and then I had tonwake her this morning after 6 hours as she had her injections :(

the last two nights she has slept in her crib next to the bed, but I have to say I love cosleeping, but do worry how I would ever get her out of my bed.

X

[hazchem]

hope you don't mind my two cents.
it takes me approx 10 days to get over full on jet lag. i think it took my DS twice that long to get over our trip back from australia.
lots of day light in the day helped combined with going with the flow. i found co- sleeping very very helpful for jet lag.
be gentle on yourself and your little.

[WeesaD]

Thank you. I have PND and find myself worrying over everything at the moment...

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sleeping for 6 hours is classed as sleeping through and is good for a lot of babies whether ff or bf so please don't worry about that, though I know that is easier said than done.

Don't worry either about getting her out of your bed, I ended up co-sleeping with both of mine and they both went into their own rooms pretty easily.

Really sorry to hear that you have PND, are you getting any help for it? Have you contacted The Association of Postnatal Illness? There is alot of information on the website and a helpline where you can talk to someone who has experienced PND so knows what you are going through.

[WeesaD]

It just doesn't seem like much after 10 hours! :)

I have just had to leave her upstairs crying as I just needed 5 minutes. She had her third set of jabs yesterday and they have really affected her. She had a temp last night and so slept in with me, and so I got two lots of two hours last night. So in the past 36 hours I think I've only put her down to go to the loo. I haven't showered, prepared food or done anything. I am exhausted. I have fed her, given her calpol, she is dry, bathed and very tired AND JUST WON'T STOP CRYING! Is it because she's now used tombeing held 24/7??
If I go and pick her up that's another night don't get to eat :(

I saw the doctor today and she prescribed drugs, but I sooooo don't want to take them with breast-feeding. I just feel like inam pumping her innocent little body full of drugs. Please don't tell me to stop feeding though. It's then only thing i do well at the moment.
:(

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

WeesaD know how tough sleep deprivation can be so really feel for you. You've got that ontop of PND so must be far worse than I ever got.

You can't spoil her by picking her up or co-sleeping so please don't worry about that. In fact you will be doing yourself and her a favour in the long run as she will grow up more secure and confident knowing that Mummy is always there for her.

As for not wanting to be put down, have you got a sling and will she settle in that?

Don't know much about PND but did have depression after a particularly nasty MC a few years ago. At the time I didn't want to take the tablets but they, and the CBT really turned me around. If you are worried about bfing and the effect the drugs may have on your DD the BFN have some information here and a Helpline where they can discuss the medication you have been prescribed, 0844 412 4665.

Did you manage to get in touch with the APNI? Think that just talking to someone who has experienced PND and knows what your option are may help you. Have you got someone who can have DD for you for a couple of hours today so that you can give them a call and get some sleep?

As for the constant crying, has the GP checked her ears? it could be that with flying her ears may be the problem. Have you come across Cry-sis too? There is some information on the website on how to cope with crying babies.

Really think the key to all this though is getting yourself right first. Think about ringing the APNI and then try to see what route you are going to take to put the PND behind you. Once you are feeling better dealing with DD and your new life with her will be so much easier. I know its hard, but if you have got anyone willing to help please try to accept all offers, you need as much help as you can at the moment.

[WeesaD]

Thankyou :)

I started on sertraline this morning, and within two and half hours side effects had started to kick in :(

She is much better this morning, i think it was teh thrid set of jabs that did it. So saying that she is now lying in her cot shouting, but she is overtired and cross! - I just need 5 minutes to eat a sandwich.
Unfortunately no support as her father left as soon as I found out I was pregnant, and my parents are in the US :(

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

So sorry you have not support, ever likely too that you have PND in those circumstances.

Can your HV help you in any way? Maybe she knows of a PND group that meets locally or can sort you out with a Homestart volunteer for a couple of hours a week.

Know it is really hard even when you don't have PND but are you managing to get out and spend some time with other Mums? Is there a Bfing Support Group local to you?

The only other thing I can think of is for you to start another thread, perhaps in Chat, asking for some more information on PND. Hopefully someone who knows more than me will come along.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

How are you this morning WeesaD?

[WeesaD]

Oh thanks. My HV is useless, I do get out and about as I also have a 6 year old and so we have to get out!
Bit upset today as just been told I can't join in a single with kids camping weekend with a baby :-(
So disappointed as I had told my eldest daughter about it and we were so excited.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

That's such a shame WeesaD. Really feeling for you, hope things start turning around for you soon.

Have been thinking about you having sde effects from the AD. Can remember now that the first ones they put me on gave me some very funny reactions. Went back to the GP and they gave me some different ones which were fine. The CBT really helped though, it might be worth asking your GP about it too.

Don't know if you will have the time to read this article from the BMJ but even if you don't it might be worth printing it off and taking it to the GPs with you.

Think this is the bit you will probably be most interested in:

"After four weeks of treatment, similar improvements occurred among women receiving either six sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy, or fluoxetine plus one session of cognitive behaviour therapy. The study shows that women's choice of treatment may be guided by their preference of pharmacological or non-pharmacological approaches as both seem comparably effective".

This info from the NCT website might be useful too.

And lastly, if your HV is rubbish have you tried your local Surestart Centre? They may know of a support group or know how to get some help for you.

[WeesaD]

Thank you so much. I don't want to take up any more of your time!

I have only taken two tablets of sertraline, and she didn't feed well and was very unhappy this afternoon - a link, I don't know. But I am so unhappy about the idea of BF and taking these drugs on her longterm brain development. I am due to start CBT on 7/9, as it is son soon I am thinking that I may wait to start taking the drugs to see if the CBT alone does it.

Thank you for the article - very interesting. I read that and as many links as in could find and them all seem to agree that sertraline is considered safe fir babies in the immediate term, but no idea of any effects on longterm brain development.

X

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Don't worry about taking up my time, am only too happy to help.

Really hope the CBT helps you as it did me.

Just hope I'm not coming over too Netmumsy