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

[PurplePidjin]

A whole day of cluster feeding leaves me tired which leads to the tearful state. 4wks5days and the last couple of days we have had long period (Hours) of awake time that need constant entertaining and interaction else the screaming starts. We don't have a play mat yet, but if I play with him in his chair he screams!

First FF went well, although he polished off the full 7oz carton and demanded boob still!!! Asleep now, hope the gripe water will keep him comfy.

Checking in ridiculously late lack of sleep is frying me.. Not to mention the early starts with school run
Off to attempt to catch up .. with baby B hanging off boob

I hate cluster feeds. I have no confidence that they'll ever end. :(

Did I read somewhere amongst my reading about a FB group??

Today I have bought a Ewan, I am very excited to see if it works! Also the comfort milk is making such a difference to the colic.

Yes cookie there's an fb group, we all pmed honey a link to our profiles and she kindly added us.

Well said seconds! DS is the first baby I've had on the other side of the world to immediate family and it has been tough. My mum is here at the mo for a 3 week holiday and it's lovely, DS will settle on her while I eat, and she takes the older DCs out during the day. I will really feel the strain when she goes home!

Yesterday was quite something, it was 43 degrees and poor DS just couldn't cope. He was awake from 7am until 10pm despite lots of cool baths and being parked under a fan. He couldn't get cool. Definitely my hardest day with him so far. DH really annoyed me when he got home from work (at 8 pm) and had to spend half an hour settling the older DCs to bed. He was really stropping about not being able to eat his dinner straight away, after I'd spent the whole day tied to inconsolable DS while he'd been sat in an air conditioned office or coffee shop! Then he took DS later and kept asking me to fetch things for him (like beer) because DS was sleeping! I'm always at someone's beck and call!!

DS has some "happy" awake time, it's definitely increasing as he gets older. He'll be 6 weeks on Monday.

Did the Facebook group happen? I'd like to join!

X post, will pm Honey

mamapo i definitely get more emotional during clustering, and wlmum am the same about lack of affection getting to me when prevented by feeding etc.. O went to sleep for 30 minutes at 9.30pmish and although prevented from anything 'proper' by bleeding, just the chance to have a teenage fumble and snooze together has done wonders for my mood now I'm.awake again..

stacey what's the trick with your v pillow and working? Do you use a laptop? Am thinking about how to manage this once dh goes back to work..

peony probably not helpful but i have been known to make O a padded nest in the bidet for morning shower etc. He can't fall out and i don't want to leave him on the big bed..

O has occasional happy non-feeding awake time, generally not more than 15 mins a day though..

Sob Ewan's not working. J is more alert than he ever is. Currently swaddled, sucking my finger and working himself into a right tizzy

Still feeding WTAF. Now in brilliant stage where she wakes, cries, refuses to latch on, falls asleep. Lather, rinse, repeat with distressing regularity and frequency.

Seymore - same here. Would love love love it if my mum or sister were here.

willyou I hope J is sleeping now?

mamapo it's really hard. Have they got any plans to visit? At booking in the MW classed me as medium risk pregnancy just because I had no family nearby!

utopian with the v pillow I have it round my waist up at my desk, with the corner perched up on the desk so Ethan doesn't roll underneath. Not sure how you'd work it without a desk tbh.

Well we're feeding after last feed at 10.45. But he would not settle after that one, and ended up sleeping on my chest. I couldn't work out if he was in pain or just being a pain, but the amount of shouting it took just to get him quiet I wasn't even bothering to attempt the moses basket. And he at least slept for 3 1/2 hrs so there's definately a plus side!

Every two hours here....

just gone 4 hours between feeds - took a while to settle him so only really 2 and half hours sleep but still, feels like right direction...

Had an early evening kip from 10-12ish, (in his hammock rather than our bed, no less,) then major feed until sleep 1.44am-3am, shortish snack and sleep 3.45am till now at 5. Doesn't look great written down but more than I've had in ages and feel like new woman! High hopes of another hour's sleep in there somewhere betweenn now and 9am too. Whoop!

Also thanks for the pillow tactic stacey,.will try it for research purposes tomorrow!

I think I'd be lucky to have had 20mins sleep in a row. Maybe an hour cumulatively? Horrendous.

Utopian and Clarella, they sound like pretty good timings! Glad you're feeling better with the extra sleep.

Well fabcy seeing you all here. We were up til 3am, he slept until 4:30 now back up shouting with wind. I neeed sleeeep!

Morning all, my boobs have gone huge today (I guess my milk has come in) and now Henry can't get a latch a well as before . Any tips ladies ?

Hi, i'm new to Mumsnet so i don't know any of the abbreviations (sorry). I had a little girl (Heidi) on the 7th of december, shes my 1st child. I've been reading this thread and i want to say thank you to you all, at least i know Heidi's sleeping isn't as bad as i thought as she seems to be like alot of your children. I just doubt myself when people keep saying to me she should be sleeping longer your obviously not giving her enough breastmilk. Just a quick question has anyone got any good tips to help deal with Colic? I already use Colief and it seems to help a little and i've also tried cool boiled water, but i hate seeing her pull her legs up to her stomach and the crying.
Also has anyone else had Mastitis and carried on breastfeeding if so when does the pain stop? I feel like my breast is a flame thrower when shes feeding haha

Emilyeggs, could you try hand expressing abit off 1st and seeing if this helps reduce the size abit then try latching on?

Thanks hale I will try that now. Ps welcome and congrats on Heidi

Welcome hales no advice but I'm sure some others will have

Emily I agree hand express a little bit, nor too much though. Your boobs will settle down in a couple of days and you can take paracetamol if you need to

emily I third the hand expressing tip. Ethan had major problems latching when my milk came in and we had an awful night. When I hand expressed so they were a bit softer he latched straight away again.

hales welcome my main tip for colic is keep baby upright as much as possible, slings work well for this. That used to calm ds1 although he was a nightmare and I had to be walking outside for him to stop shouting

Well last night wasn't the best Ethan is obviously not comfy with wind and only spent 1 1/2 hrs in his Moses basket. But oh well, I got sleep just with a baby attached! Lol

Today's plan is work and then I shall have to brave the food shop, think it'll have to be after the dcs finish school though as that'll be easier than trying to work with them home.

Stacey you need to do it online! Mine is being delivered this afternoon.

Thank you Emily and Spotty and Stacey i'll try that today thank you