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Original poster

SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK PART 8 -- Pack the bags under your eyes and join us!

974 replies

RoRoMommy · 15/11/2007 20:04

Well...I had to think of something! DH's suggestion "Eyes wide shut--the art of sleepwalking"

OP posts:
gingerninja · 10/01/2008 10:40

Thanks for that EP, might try and muster up the strength.

DH has got a referal to a neurologist at the end of Jan. Hopefully some answers if not solutions. Just don't know what we're dealing with which makes it twice as difficult.

Hi RRM, glad you and DH are 'getting sorted' excellent that you're both willing and really hope it all sorts itself out. Best of luck, please keep us posted.

gingerninja · 10/01/2008 10:53

Meant to say EP, next time you're in C'ford do give me a shout.

RotundAlbaLass · 10/01/2008 10:55

Hi folks. I would say good morning but it's pretty manky here ... roll on summer.

Ginger I'm so sorry your DP's still unwell, you're doing so well staying together when you're so tired as well. My thoughts are with you

I'm really pleased you are feeling more positive Ro. I'm sure things will be helped by counselling, I know lots of people who have found it useful. And such kind things to say, I'm !

EP and Meg but [applause] for great progress. After all, SIFTW may be a badge of honour but there's only one thing we all really want right?

CM I reached your stage over Christmas - DS was slowly getting less horrid to be around and I started to love him more if I'm honest. I'm now sick at the thought of leaving him behind to go back to work . I also agree very much about not being you when you're sad. But it will get better. You should give yourself lots of credit for coping so well with your brood

Amber, skirmish, tibsy, beal hope you are all well.

DS is much easier during the day just now but the nights absolutely suck. Lots of groaning and moaning and rolling around and kicking ... wind I think. Nothing new there!

RotundAlbaLass · 10/01/2008 10:57

ginger - when I say staying together I don't mean you and your DP, I mean 'keeping it together' - that sounded really bad before, sorry

gingerninja · 10/01/2008 11:03

RAL (is that CSB?)

RotundAlbaLass · 10/01/2008 11:09

Yes, 'tis I.

MegBusset · 10/01/2008 13:27

EP, no, I didn't do CC for naps, I still cuddle him to sleep for those. However, learning to settle himself at night has definitely led to improved naps -- he used to often wake after half an hour, but these days I often have to wake him up!

Ginger, I don't blame you for enjoying cuddling DD to sleep, it sounds lovely Hope you are bearing up and not worrying too much about DH, again do email if you need to vent.

RoRo, hope the therapy session goes well, sounds like there is reason to believe a good talk will really help you both.

CSB/RAL, good that you are enjoying each other in the day, let's hope some good nights will soon follow! When are you back to work?

RotundAlbaLass · 10/01/2008 14:38

3 weeks Meg and dreading it. I like him now, really really like him lots. I don't want to miss out on him growing up

Fairly sure I'm going to put the house on the market and rent to this end. Might also have to move away. Just going to see how it goes when I'm back.

gingerninja · 11/01/2008 09:31

CSB, the thought of going back is harder than actually doing it IME. How old is your DS? I wasn't really ready at 6 months but by 9 months I was climbing the walls. Anyway your employer can extend your leave a little?

EffiePerine · 11/01/2008 09:33

Right, night 2 of CC.

Supplies: Cheap plonk (1 bottle), Thorntons fudge (1 box), Bond film (1).

Put in cot at 8, cried for 5 mins then silence. Made the mistake of going in to check, cue more wails (he wasn't asleep, just plotting world domination). Left, quiet again in 5 mins. Woke briefly at 10:30 (whispered fight between me and DH over turning up the light to read , asleep in a couple of mins). 1:30 (settled him, left room, asleep in a couple of mins), woke for the day at 7:30 .

I know night 3 is supposed to be the worst, so we'll see what tonight brings. But I managed 5 hours solid sleep, which is the most I've had for, ooh, about 2 years

Hope there were some other good nights out there

EffiePerine · 11/01/2008 09:36

RAL: would echo that you might find it easier than you expect. I was ready to go back at 6 months, but then I'm not that good at being home full-time.

Avizandum · 11/01/2008 09:36

EP - night 3 should be easier.....it was for me, and after that I did not look back...good luck for tonight...

PerkinWarbeck · 11/01/2008 14:55

Hi everyone - ImBarryScott here doing a spot of lurking on my afternoon off (DD is at nursery but DH has been in the US all week, so I firgure I'm allowed a little me time).

I hope you are all well - especially Ginger. Sounds like you've got lots on your plate at the moment. Hope the docs get to the bottom of things really soon.

EP your CC supplies sounded very much like mine! Hope night 3 is ok.

Sleepy vibes sent to everyone else .

EffiePerine · 11/01/2008 16:42

Hi Perkin (LOVE the name) . Hope things are still well with you.

charliemama · 11/01/2008 20:02

Evening all. Feeling a bit knackered. DS2 is still waking alot and has taken to wanting to suck for hours at night. He lies in the bed with me sucking on his dummy ( which I thought we had successfully avoided, but now at 6 months he decides he likes it !), but last night I forgot to take it upstairs so he lay in bed with me sucking me!!!

DH had his wisdom teeth out under GA yesterday so he is in a lot of pain. I am trying to be like Florence Nightingale, but so far have been quite unsuccessful. It is a good thing my sister chose the career in nursing and not me .

CSB: I also hate the thought of going back to work and would stay at home if we could afford it. But I know from experience the first 2 weeks back are the worst and then you get more used to it. There ae a lot of positives aswell (at least that's what I keep telling myself). What childcare are you using?

Meg and EP you are my inspiration it looks like I might need to employ some hard tactics with DS2 eventually. But I'm not ready yet. It gives me hope when I read your experiences that one day there might be a way out of this sleep deprived madness.

RoRo: good luck with sorting out you and DH. I am thinking of you lots.

Beal: How are things?

Ginger: My thoughts are with you and your DH. I know how hard it is when your other half is unwell.

Hello everyone else. Sleep tight.

bealcain · 12/01/2008 07:41

sorry ladies here for a moan again (i dont mean to keep being so slefish, honest)

ds2 was awake every hour from 12:30am last night. i;m tired, at the end of my tether and dont know what to do. is there anyone i can speak to in RL? are HVs anygood? what do i do?

Avizandum · 12/01/2008 09:12

EP - How did night 3 go??

RotundAlbaLass · 12/01/2008 09:45

Just a quickie to say to Beal - try your HV, mine was useless re the sleep deprivation (I think I had tried everything she could suggest except gradual retreat which DS was really too little and clingy for) BUT she visited regularly for a few weeks and stayed for a cuppa and a chat when we were in the depths of despair and it gave me moral support if nothing else. Plus, it's always good to feel like you're addressing a problem even if the solution still escapes you.

I feel your pain, my DS is the pits at nights too ATM (although I don't have any other kids to worry about, so power to you!).

charliemama · 12/01/2008 10:17

Oh beal, poor you. I really feel your pain. My HV is very supportive so it is worth contacting yours to see what she's like. DS2 is also a PITA at night, but I am really hoping it's teething. How old is your DS btw?

EffiePerine · 12/01/2008 15:05

Try speaking to your HV Beal, it can't do any harm. Sorry you'rehaving a tough time atm .

DS was a bit unsettled last night, but didn't need a feed or picking up, so I count it as an OK night. I think it was a bit cold, also my milk supply is still adjusting so I tend to be very full in the evenings - he had a load of milk, got the hiccups, then when I put him in his cot (very nearly asleep) he started crying with predictable results - threw up everywhere. Went to sleep OK after we'd changed him and the bed though. I think it was an overly full tummy rather than anything else.

He's down for a nap atm - he didn't go for his usual sleep around lunchtime and was rubbin ghis eyes, so I put in him the cot and left him for 5 mins - tears as usual but then fast asleep

Meg: does your DS cry when going in his cot first thing at night? I'm hoping that this will stop eventually - I'd love to be able to tuck him in and kiss goodnight then head out without being followed by wails! Can't complain though as he slept till 7:30 again this morning

CM: sounds like it could be teething. i know those nights when you;re attached to the baby the whole time. Have you started solids yet? Ds was pretty unsettled to begin with as his system adapted.

EffiePerine · 12/01/2008 15:09

CM: I couldn't have done CC at 6 months and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have got anywhere with DS at the time. He wasn't eating that much and I had started work, so he was making up for feeds at night. Co-sleeping was the only thing that saved my sanity . If we ever go for number 2, I'm v tempted to just co-sleep for the first year then stick them in their own bed - that would be the ideal balance for me. By 15 months DH and I were both getting resentful for not having any space to sleep! It's lovely bringing him into bed in the mornings, though, he's really chuckly and breaks off mid-feed to give me and DH a kiss

DS certainly seems MUCH happier and more settled during the day - not sure how much of this is due to sleep and how much to having hit the 15 month mark. I think it's one of the 'easy' ages (18 months is supposed to be awful so bracing myself for more battles in a couple of months!)

PerkinWarbeck · 12/01/2008 16:15

EP - re the CC:
We had a (very) few minutes' protest crying at bedtime for a little while.

Now it only happens occasionally, and more often than not it's at nap time when she's a little overtired.

charliemama · 12/01/2008 16:47

EP: It's really good to hear your story. DS2 sounds alot like your DS. He also isn't interested much in milk or solids during the day, so I am loath to stop his night feeds in case he needs them. It's catch 22 isn't it. I know he probably won't eat better in the day until he drops his night intake, but because he doesn't est well in the day I feed him at night. At the moment he goes back into his cot between feeds, but by about 4am in his in with me and sucking on a dummy. You give me hope that things will get better. I am getting a bit fed up with peoples gasps of horror when I tell them how often he feeds at night. It makes me feel like I am doing something wrong. Good lucj k for tonight. Is it night 3? hopefully after this you'll be over the worst, although I heard they can have a brief regression about night 5, but if you stick to your guns then the battle should be won!

charliemama · 12/01/2008 16:48

How many typos?

MegBusset · 12/01/2008 23:02

Just a quickie, our broadband is broke so on dial-up and it's slooow!

EP, I think the crying at bedtime lasted about 4-5 days? Since then he just lies in his cot and looks at me til I switch the light off, he's not bothered at all! So glad things are going well for you all

Beal that you are having a bad time of it. Would also recommend chatting to the HV if you have a nice one, even if it just helps you to get it off your chest. I can't remember if you are co-sleeping?