Sunday, January 24, 2010

Progress?

I'm always hesitant to post when something goes well, or when it seems like we've made some sort of breakthrough/discovery with one of our baby issues, because it seems inevitable that the universe will construe it as bragging and immediately send some other aspect of baby life to shit. But, since I'm sitting here at 5 in the morning killing time until I'm sure the baby's asleep, I guess I'll take my chances.

In addition to the breastfeeding issues, we've also been struggling with sleep. Not so much that the Chicklette doesn't sleep, it's more that she was sleeping at all the wrong times (like, from say 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening) and in all the wrong places (car seat, swingy chair). And not sleeping at the right times (anytime it was dark) or in the right places (her bassinet).

At first we thought it was a day/night reversal thing, which apparently is pretty normal for a person who's spent the first 10 months of their existence in the dark. But then we started thinking (thanks to a smart mommy in one of my 4 mommies groups -- more on that some other time) that maybe she has a touch of reflux, given that she was sleeping comfortably in any sort of contraption that kept her elevated. Maybe the day/night thing was just a coincidence?

So, a couple of nights ago we tried putting her down in her bouncy chair for the first part of the night, and then in the swing after her early morning feeding. And it seems to be working, although the second part of the plan involves me sleeping on the couch in the family room for at least a couple of hours. But, I'll take it. It beats being awake, or trying to put down a fussy baby multiple times into a bassinet.

The best part of all of this (other than that the Chicklette is sleeping more at night and less during the day, and seems generally happier overall) is that I'm able to piece together 7 or so hours of sleep a night (3-4 from 9 or 10 until she wakes up, thanks to the Mr. doing a bottle feeding or two, 2-3 on the couch, and then maybe another 1 or 2 after she eats at 7 or so). It's not perfect, but it sure beats the walking dead routine I was doing last week on 3-4 hours plus little naps during the day.

We talked to our pediatrician on Friday, and he's fine with this plan. Basically, anything you can do in the first couple of months to get the baby to sleep is OK -- it's a little later you have to start worrying about setting bad habits. (Or so he says -- I'll let you know if I'm still falling asleep to the dulcet tones of the Fisher Price My Little Lamb Cradle Swing when she's in high school.)

So, it's still a work in progress. But, as they say, baby steps.

4 comments:

Melissa Griffin said...

I havent had Nola yet but I can give this advice with 100% of knowing it works...BUY A NAP NANNY! They are expensive but it was designed by a mother whos child had reflux. Check out the web-site...my friend gave me one for my shower and she used 2 with her twins and she SWEARS by it!!!
www.napnanny.com or at babies -r-us!

Donna said...

Glad you found something that works for you!!!

Don't know about the Nap Nanny - but we have had so many sleep colic issues with little man - we are willing to let him sleep any way he will... righ now that's mostly in his car seat with a blanket. The bassinette is a thing of the past for us. I even tried putting a pillow under the matress to raise one end so his head would be elevated - but no go... He will only sleep in the car seat or on my chest. And since I go back to work next week that's not an option for very much longer.

Are you still breast feeding?

leahjane8 said...

Okay, its possible we have the same baby. My kid only sleeps well in the swing too. And I felt a little weird about it, but then decided that its too early to worry about bad habits and sleep training and all that. He just needs to sleep so I can sleep. Dammit, he just woke up.

Michele said...

Have you tried a snuggle nest? They have an elevated pad that you can use, which might help with the reflux.