April 2015 thread 2 - ruling our lives and stealing our sleep, our babies are growing up already!

[PenguinPoser]

New thread for those of us left here

I feel your pain Penguin. I've seen every hour other than 4 tonight..... so shattered. Was supposed to go on a pram walk but I think I will try and have a lazy day if I can.

Glad the nursery visit went well - scary to think about that kind of thing!

I think ultimately anything to help them self settle when they stir from the light sleep part of the sleep will improve sleep PenguinPoser but having said that ds2 self settled from very young and he is my worst sleeper. At Sam's age he would push me away at the end of a feed and I'd put him down awake, he woke multiple times a night until 7 months and still gets up at least twice a week now at almost 5. I do think you need to find their thing whether it's thumb, dummy, muslin, toy, song/sound but something that soothes them and helps them sleep. That's just based on experience of my children and those I've minded, those that slept better have always had something. One of minded boys had an old terry towelling nappy he rubbed on his nose, some have specific toys, one had her mums top, another had one of those triangle pieces of material with an animal head in one corner that was her 'cuddly', one liked anything with tags, one had to have his face totally covered to sleep. Mindees are older when I get them but it's what they've used from little that has lead to good sleep when they are 6 months +. Having said all of that I bf ds1 to sleep at night and as long as he had his thumb and something soft to rub on his face he'd sleep when I wasn't there, so doesn't mean feeding to sleep is terrible for their sleep either.

Morning, sorry you had bad nights firaffe and penguin I hope things improve quickly for you.
I have cut a muslin up into strips because dd likes to pull it over her face to sleep and I was worried about a full muslin. We also put Ewan the dream sheep on and dd self settles with that she spits a dummy back at you so I don't think she is going to take one now.
When I was little I had a dog teddy with floppy legs that I used to rub to sleep and it had to have several emergency repairs because I used to rub holes in it.

We are going to walk into town then go to baby massage today, I've just felt my coat and it's still wet from yesterday and looking at the very grey sky it looks like we going to get wet again the rain cover is getting far more use than the parasol.

Much better night comparitively. I miss my full night sleep though! The bubbles are so loud and big in his tummy it upsets me. Might see if the hv have any advice at weigh in

Definitely worth asking Fi. It sounds like he's taking in air somehow maybe when feeding? Hope the weigh in goes ok.

We had an ok night too hope everyone else did!

He's now 10lb 1oz but she had no idea about the bubbles.... suggested I keep a food diary and see if there is any correlation.

Is 10lb1 good for him FiRaffe? I think it's probably down to a fast let down but could be totally wrong. When all of mine have had a period without a feed so my boons have been full they've had a lot of milk quickly and it has lead to being very windy. Sometime I can feel bubbles and I know it's there but they don't come up. I find leaning him forwards and the backwards a couple of times helps.

Was it Sams appointment today cinnamon I hope it went ok.

My mum and nephew pushed dd out in her pram today whilst I tidied the front garden it was strange to be without dd for a few hours it's the longest I have been without her.

firaffe the HV told me to avoid tomatoes and citrus fruits to help DD's wind. Have you tried gripe water it seems to help dd and also helps if she has hiccups.

No problem babiecakes. I have to say your dp needs to get his act together for the sake of his family. Really hope your dad can help out too.

Feel free babiecakes11, so sorry your dp is being like this. No excuse at all but perhaps he's struggling too? He's been through all the difficulties with you and perhaps just feels he can't do anymore? I know you feel that way and can't just not do it so it's not ok for him but just trying to understand why he's gone from so supportive to so crap! Maybe he's finding the bf tough as it does seem very recent? He used to do bottles and now perhaps feels he has no function? If you can find the route of it perhaps you can talk to him and make him think twice.

Yes thank you wineamdchoccy it went ok. They decided not to sedate him which is what the paediatrician wanted all along. They had 3 attempts at putting a cannula in which was horrible then we had to keep him awake from 8.45-11.15 with no food. Fed him 11.15 bloke faffed around for ages so eventually he woke up when I put him in the scanner but was still enough to scan for a bit anyway then we just had to do our bed to comfort him while he cried on the bed and dh held him until he had enough data to process. I'm planning to ring them today for results. A few hours to yourself does feel odd at first but is also quite nice

Your dp needs to step up babiecakes I hope he is true to his word and 'helps' you out although so he should there his children as well. I hope your Dad can help you today.
Just a thought for September when the colleges go back would it help you to have a child care student help you once a week? I trained as a nursery nurse and I used to help a lady with a baby and a toddler 1 afternoon a week for work experience and there is a sign at the baby group from the college asking if anybody would like help to please contact them.

I'm glad it went ok cinnamon and although it's nerve wracking getting results I'm glad you don't have to wait for them. I can't imagine what you are going through with all the tests and the worry but I am thinking of you and fingers crossed the results will be ok

Oh babiecakes, i'm so sorry you are going through this. Can your family help over the weekend?

No excuse for leaving you to it at all babiecakes11, I wonder if he's projecting how he feels about himself onto you? He feels he can't cope, isn't doing enough and so is telling you you are doing the same. Either way it's not on, really hoping you can make a breakthrough with him soon and get some well needed sleep.

I phoned the hospital today and I may have to wait until a visiting consultant is in on Monday to look at the results before they make any decisions. Someone is going to ring me back today either way though.

Babiecakes you're doing amazing to keep the children fed and watered please don't be too hard on yourself about housework etc at the moment. I agree with what cinnamon said above.

Cinnamon sorry you haven't managed to get the test results yet - how frustrating. Hope it's not too long and it's good news when they do come.

Well ds woke at 2.30 which isn't great! Trying to settle her again now before putting her in the crib. I know she won't stay there beyond another couple of hours so feeling pessimistic about the rest of the night!
Hoping the weather is ok in the morning as there's a 'big latch on' event in going to try and go to I think it's a proper world record attempt for breastfeeding or something!

I hadn't hear of the big latch on, but it's a great idea.

Am in baby jail after our chiropractic appointment. DS wasn't that impressed but I hope it helps him in the long run.

I hadn't heard of the big latch on but googled it, can't seem to find any locations for it though.

Get the crisis team involved again Babiecakes it's got to be worth it as things are that desperate. you're such a great mum and you're doing great in difficult circumstances. Hope things are better tonight.

I only heard about the big latch on event last night - don't think it was greatly well publicised! It was good and we did some commemorative footprints and got a certificate

I guess there weren't many locations so it wasn't well pushed Penguin, which is a shame.

Shout as loud at the crisis team as you need to to get some action babiecakes! You need help now.