Here is a little run-down of what my night was like last night (it's been about like this for the last 2 weeks, give or take one or two night)...- James fell asleep after a long cranky period, slept from 6:00pm - 9:00pm (this is unusual).
- At 9:00pm he nursed, and fell asleep, so he went into his crib for the night.
- 12:30am he nursed again, fell asleep, into his crib.
- 3:30am he nursed again, fell asleep, blah, blah, blah.
- 4:30am woke up, didn't want to nurse, gave him soother, rocked him to sleep, into the crib.
- 5:30am nursed again, fell asleep...
- 7:30am he is up for the day, happy as a lark.
This is how my nights have gone for the last 2 weeks or so. It doesn't make any difference what he eats before bed, if he gets a bath, or if we keep him up later. He is also very fussy at the breast again, and I am just exasperated, and beginning to think that I need to quit the breastfeeding! Am I losing my milk? Or what? Also, he hasn't pooped now for almost 3 days, so I am guessing the formula I was giving him got him plugged up. How do I relieve him? I decided no more rice cereal (he was getting approximately 1-2 tbsp. of rice cereal two times a day, and a little bit of pears too) or formula until he poops again. I've also been lathering him up in moisturizer before bed too, for the eczema. I just keep praying, and praying every night (and throughout the day) for a better night, but so far no luck. I'd really love to get a good sleep tonight before James' dedication tomorrow. Please pray for us, that I will know what to do to help him sleep! I'm coming close to my wits end on this one, I just want to get some sleep!
I should mention on top of all this, that despite what my blog may be portraying, I AM enjoying James a lot. He is a happy little guy, and he gives me the sweetest smiles. I just need you to know that all of these problems do not affect my love for my little babe!
Note: I've been off the anti-depressants for about 3 weeks. I'm beginning to wonder if my anxiety is causing the feeding/sleeping issues? Maybe messing with my milk supply? I see my Dr. this week, so I may have to go back on the meds to fix this. If you are on/were on anti-depressants, I'd love to know if you experienced anything similar.
14 comments :
Annika started to be fussy at my breast lately (pulling off, screaming, pulling off, screaming, etc...)She's not even 3 months, and my mom (she was a lactation consultant) told me that Annika is probably teething. So when they nurse and are sucking so hard their gums start to itch and ache. So if James IS teething, perhaps that has something to do with the fussiness during nursing time. Do you notice if he's drooling more?
I don't really have any advice for you, mostly just sympathy! I was so used to getting up only once a night with Keziah but lately it's been two or three times. It's frustrating to see them back-tracking instead of improving and it makes you feel as though you're doing something wrong. But it's probably just a stage that James is going through - I actually thought of teething too (I noticed the previous commenter mentioned that). It's unlikely that he's hungry enough to eat that often and the fussing at the breast seems to make sense. You could try some infant tylenol or orajel and see if it makes a difference...
This is just speculation - it's hard to say anything for sure since every baby is different. If only we could read their cute little minds...
BTW - great pic of James looking in the mirror. He lifts his head up so much more than Keziah (she hates tummy time!).
Oh and another thing - I've been told by a couple of doctors/nurses that it's totally normal for babies (even breastfed ones) to not poop for an entire week! So, he's probably OK to not go for a few days...
From what I heard and discovered rice cereal (and barley and wheat) "blocked" Palmer as well after being on them a after about a week each. He went days without pooping - like 5 or 6 and doc said it was fine until about 10 and then he'd start concerning himself. Wouldn't you know day a day or 2 later - it took care of itself!
That being said I decided I didn't want to deal with that worry anymore so I moved him to oatmeal (James may be a bit young for that just yet) and those problems cleared up so it may be the cereal more than the formula (?) - not that I have any medical experience whatsoever.
Just to give you a "you're not alone" perspective - I find that those always make me feel better when I'm experiencing something new that is tough to deal with in mommyhood.
aw....Heather... What a little stinker that James is!! :)
Daniel had some issues with constipation for about a week, I switched his cereal from rice to barley (there's less iron in barley), and I gave him a bit of corn syrup in some water a couple of times a day. It seemed to work for him, but every babe is different. Just keep at it and try and rest in knowing that this season WILL PASS!!!! Try to get as many naps in durring the day as you can (even though it's so hard when there's so many other things to get done around the house!), so that you're not dragging your feet when you get up from an unrestful night. Am praying for you, keep praying, God is with you.
Hey Heather... Sorry to hear things are going a little bumpy right now. I don't have much advice either except to say try not to worry, babies are weird sometimes. Ben and Sam both were never big sleepers and it wasn't till around 8 months that they started sleeping longer than three hours at a time. Sometimes Sam still has nights where he is up at least every three hours. He's just weird that way. :(
Also, I have a LOT of experience with constipation. My doctor always said a few days to a week was okay. If I started to feel that my baby was in pain though I (with my doctor's support) would give him half of a gelatin suppository. Usually, if he was really gummed up he would push it right out before it could do any good, so I would put on a laytex glove and just hold it in there till it stimulated him to poop. (Actually, I just did this to Sammy today. Poor guy, but he just won't push out hard poops and it gets worse and worse the longer I let him go.) I would ask your doctor for suggestions since James is so little.
As far as the corn syrup, you probably know this, but just a quick warning... "Light or dark corn syrup is often used to help babies with constipation. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that due to the potential theoretical risk of botulinum contamination babies should not be given corn syrup (or honey any product) that has not been pasteurized(sterilized) or declared botulism spore free."
Oh, I have another suggestion... Sam and Ben both always slept better with music. Ben slept best with upbeat stuff, but Sam loves Twyla Paris lullabyes. Cranked up good and loud. And fuzzy blankets. Sam sleeps better with fuzzy blankets. Who knows why? Not me. I'm telling you. Babies are just weird.
Keep doing what you are doing... Praying and trying out lots of different stuff. Eventually you'll find the magic formula for your own little weirdo. I know it is tiring and frustrating though. I feel for you. It's hard enough to have your whole life changing, but coping with all those changes on almost no sleep makes it almost unbearable. (Even though you love your baby with every fibre of your being.) I'm praying for you.
LOL. That should read:
any honey product
not honey any product...
I proofread that too! Sigh. I think it's time to go to bed.
i will be praying for you that James will sleep better and that everything will go well. Blessings tomorrow James' baby dedication!
Hey! I know EXACTLY what you mean...my little guy, Tate has been fussy when I've been nursing him too...for more than a month already, he'll just pull and pull like he doesn't want to eat, but then when he lets go, he acts like he wants to eat again...very frusterating! AND he has also been waking up a LOT at night again. He was doing well, but lately he wakes up at least 4 times a night...and yep, it is SUPER tiring. This morning he woke up at 6:30 and wouldn't go back to sleep. So I totally feel with you Heather! Hopefully things will get better for us though!
I have no advice to offer but I thought I would just let you know that we are praying for you!
Hey Heather. Hayden used to be pretty regular - but after we got home from our trip he decided to go on a poop strike =) Both our pediatrician and the public health nurse recommended that I drink some orange juice - because it acts as a natural laxative in breast fed babies. Well - after 10 days with no #2 from the little guy - it worked like a charm! Hope it works for you too...
Jeryn
Erica - Wow, that would be so nice to have a lactation consultant in the family. Thanks for the advice, I think you are right about the teething. I hadn't thought of that!
Jamie - Thanks for understanding. I'll be praying tonight that we both get good sleep!
Nicole - I heard the same thing about rice cereal, so I've switched to oatmeal. We'll see how that goes.
Nin - If it comes to that, I may use the corn syrup antidote. I've also heard I can use plain sugar water.
Becky - Thanks for the great ideas! I love that you call babies "weirdos", that totally made us laugh. Hahaha!
Vanessa & Kimberley - Thanks for your prayers. They really help A LOT!
Andrea - Thanks for understanding. It does feel good to know I'm not alone. I'm hoping and praying that your night tonight is better.
Jeryn - I'm trying the orange juice tonight!
Cool Jeryn! Next baby I nurse I am so trying that! I hope it works for you Heather, and I'm glad you weren't offended with the weirdo thing... I hesitated over writing it, but honestly, babies are just so weird sometimes. There's no other word that seems to fit as well! :)
Except for "precious"... "Precious" fits pretty well too!
Post a Comment