December 2012 - the sleep and poo thread (too much of one, not enough of the other)

[PurplePidjin]

Coffee all round and

After ds went down last night I snuggled up to dp (he was asleep so I just kind of ended up spooning him ) when I stirred an hour later I thought I had rolled onto ds it was horrible! Ds wasn't even in our bed

Sorry there's been so many bad nights - all round I think!

After an evening of frantic feeding, during which N appeared to drain both boobs but was still hungry, he finally settled and we got 3 hours between feeds at 12, 3 and 6. The best bit though is that he went straight into his moses basket and slept between each feed! He's 6 weeks tomorrow so hopefully this is the start of things improving (probably totally jinxed it now ).

spotty that's an awful feeling isn't it. I seem to have blank patches during the nights when I'm exhausted. Like last night, I remember putting Ethan in his Moses basket after the 11pm feed. Then I don't remember anything until I woke at 2.45 with him on me. I can't work out if he'd had a feed in between or if he'd woken around half 2, and I'd got him out and he settled for a cuddle before the feed! thankfully he was in his sleeping bag, on my chest, on top of the duvet, so in a safe position at least!

pidj I'm glad work went well and dp and ds survived. Hats off to you for going out for 4hrs though. I wobbled leaving Ethan for 1hr the other night for Zumba (it was the first time I'd been away from him). Although I remember finding leaving dd (dc1) a lot easier than I'm finding it now. Maybe it's this 'last baby syndrome'?

Well Ethan's lungs work, he just managed to make himself heard while I made breakfast for the big dcs and he was upstairs in bed, by shouting! No tears, not upset, just shouting for attention!

The nighttime blanks are awful! I also found leaving dd a lot easier. I can't imagine leaving ds ever

Pidj sounds like a really successful night I get your dh enjoyed it too

spotty I accidentally freaked DH out as had been feeding O in bed and let him drift off between us, DH fell asleep, then I put him in his hammock. DH woke up layer with us cuddled up together and thought he'd rolled onto O. He was snoozing away happily but I felt awful for freaking out DH!

Last two nights for us haven't been too dreadful; am now perversely expecting the onset of colic or something else to make it dire again.

I feel there may be a rant cimung on this evening. DP has announced he's going to finish work on time tonight (has done overtime of 6am-7:30pm everyday this week). He defo will be in on time as he's going to the pub! So can't finish work on time for us but no problem for the pub!

I think we're going to be having a row discussion as he plays football Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays but doesn't see this as leisure time. Not sure when my child-free time will be, if I can ever actually leave him!

all round and strong at that! R slept 11-4:30 and 5:30-8:30 which is the same as normal. He was a lot drowsier having had the formula but the sleep pattern was the same. He also did two big vomits of undigested milk, i think because he didn't feel as full so kept drinking? Normally his spew is small, dribbles out and is clear with curdled bits

Stacey, i was determined to do it - I've worked on the project for 4 years, and known many of the kids for that whole time so I've seen them grow up. Dp is very much a willing equal partner and parent so there's no issue (apart from his stroke/bp/tiredness) with leaving them. It's only his higher earning capacity that makes me the sahp (IT vs Care) we're equally competent.

Those who are having trouble getting Lo to settle, have you tried a swaddlepod by summer. Far better than blankets. We only use it at night so that he may learn a difference between night and day sleep but he is far happier and sleeps better when he has it on. We did start with blankets but he kept escaping and waking. Just a thought.

Pidj of your sleep

Hope that didn't sounds too patronizing, or simplistic, i know its hard when they won't settle, but thought I would pass on what worked for us .

Morning everyone - I had an early December baby and I've just got around to reading this thread. I have a giganormous baby who has become extremely windy the past couple of nights (he's 5 weeks today). Only solution I've found is having him sleeping on my chest where he farts away merrily for hours and I get a bit of kip...

Is the rumour that after 6 weeks bf gets easier, true? I'm on week 5 today and i'm starting to feel like giving up, it just seems like 1 problem after another. And Heidi just never settles i get one 2hour sleep out of her a day and then its normally between 15 minutes and a hour and shes awake again. Oh and i'll be looking up the swaddle pod as well. Sorry everyone had bad nights last night.

We're 6 weeks tomorrow to - here's hoping!

Not the greatest night here either - sorry for all the other rubbish night!

Whoever said newborns is the most enjoyable part

Second the night blanks! I have No idea when B was fed or anything, glad it's not just me. Oh honey sounds horrible, I must say with dd1 the gripe water did do a little, more than the others I tried.
Well done pidj I would have had a massive wobble, I'm in a panic that dp is taking B to his friends for an hour or two at the weekend !

Ds will be seven weeks Monday but I've only been feeding him for five so not sure I can comment!

newborns are easier than toddlers

bella I think I remember with dd1 things did get a bit better after 6 weeks she had more of a 'pattern'. She was ff though. Oh and thanks pidj for comparing the feeds- There's a niggling thought at the back of my mind she would be sleeping better with formula!

I agree that the thought is in the back of your mind that they'll sleep better with formula, its good to hear that they don't.

I just had a bath even though I'm here on my own with dd and ds

Right - in laws have left the country! Mamapo, baby C and dad can now rewind the clock and get to know each other like they should have been doing for the last month I am going to become a hermit and see if I can learn what this baby I like when not being forced into an adult social schedule.

Big teary meltdown over FaceTime to my folks - so wish they'd come to visit instead of my inlaws.

Crossing fingers madly that 5 weeks is a difficult stage and that things will get easier. Last few days have been v v tough.

What would people recommend in terms of thinking about a very loose routine for a 6 wk old? I want to help little C along to eat and sleep a little more regularly, if that suits her (not making her fit any routine in particular). Any ideas?

Mamapo you could try the baby whisperer EASY routine?

I second EASY too as a principal for basing your day. I try and feed every 3 hours so that I kind if know where I am, but at just 3 weeks I'm not to strict.

Just to add to the formula debate Edward has one at bed time, about 9, and goes 6 hours, when bf he goes about 3 maybe half hour longer.

Ooh, what's the EASY routine? O is too small for us to do anything yet, but thinking ahead, so long as it doesn't involve tortuous behaviour am thinking early vague routine setting will help them have a 'frame' for day/night times as well as us..

Seriously of your sleep pidj - our key is getting him to stay happily in his hammock, not on us!

Eat awake time sleep time you time. More just EAS but that isn't as catchy

Dd just accidentally kicked poor ds in the face I swear I spend more time shouting at her than feeding ds

Ds is nowhere near ready for a routine. This morning he wanted feeding an hour and a half after his last feed and usually it's only two.

Unfortunately D seems to like eat, sleep, eat, active... Hmmm.

Just had our first baby massage. Was fab. Just did legs this week. Tummys next week :)