Getting a schedule down...

I'm hoping that we'll be able to get a better schedule down soon. It's not like we don't have a schedule, and she's only had one full day home, today will be the second. It just seems like she sleeps during the day but not at all at night, and I'm exhausted!

Basically she's eating about every 2 hours. I'm pretty much "demand" feeding her. She wakes up like clockwork at 2 hours and cries because she's hungry. She eats about 2 oz per feeding, whether it's pumped breast milk or formula which I supplement with at night because even though I still pump at night less comes out.

I try to nap during the day but I feel like there is so much to get done. Between pumping after I feed her, laundry, washing nipples/bottles, etc, there is barely time for me to sleep when she's sleeping.

Right now she's conked out. I probably have about 20 more minutes, so I am going to try to conk out too! Whycan't she sleep like this at night!!!

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Message edited 10/12/2005 10:48:42 AM.

Re: Getting a schedule down...

how precious!!!

Re: Getting a schedule down...

Melissa,
Hang in there - it does get better. My daughter is 4 weeks today and already it has gotten better.

The thing is - you MUST sleep while she sleeps...don't worry about the laundry or cleaning the house -leave that up to your husband, or family, or hire someone to do it for now...its way more important that you get some sleep - I truly believe a tired/cranky mom makes for a tired/cranky baby. You have to take care of yourself so you can take care of her.

Now that Talia is 4 weeks old I am finding a little more time for myself, and she is sleeping more at night so I feel more human - so know it does get easier.

eta: She is so beautiful!

Message edited 10/12/2005 11:11:28 AM.

Re: Getting a schedule down...

She's so cute Melissa...

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I feel your pain! I try to sleep during the day but I never seem to be able to do it and I still don't get much done around the house.

Luckily for us Miranda usually gives us a 3-4 hours stretch at night and then another 2 hours before we have to get out of bed. Now last night that was not the casel. Yesterday the only place she would sleep was on me....ALL DAY. I love her to death but that was tiring and frustrating. She was so tired and cranky finally last night we both fell asleep on the couch around 11 and slept until 4 then I was able to get her upstairs and back down from 5-7:30 but my neck is killing me from sitting up sleeping with her.

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At night it seems like the only place emily will sleep is on me also. She falls esleep RIGHT after a feeding like shedoes during the day but when i put her in the crib she just wakes up and stays awake. She'll be all wide eyed and if not she's crying. the crib is in the room with us because we are living with my FIL and only have one bedroom, and i seriously think as long as we're sleeping in here she doesn't want to sleep in here. this morning at like 6am i wasfinally exhausted adn i took her and cuddled up with her in the crook of my arm and promised my husband i wouldn't fall esleep because he's heard so many horror stories of sids and stuff when you have the baby in bed with you, and then i just fell esleep and we were out cold. she was so content sleeping all cuddled wit hme and i trusted that i wouldn't roll over on her, because i'm a light sleeper, especially now -- and i wake up every time i flip sides, but my husband got all upset and put her in the crib and then she woke up and i had to spend the next few hours with her.

i'm just hoping we get into a schedule soon!! i know my husband is tired too beacuse he's working now but I am just exhausted!

-Melissa

Re: Getting a schedule down...

Hang in there Melissa. It will get better. I was running on fumes until about 6 weeks. That was when we really got into a routine and he started eating every 3 hrs instead of 2. It's amazing how that extra hour makes a difference.

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Re: Getting a schedule down...

My mom, being the finatic LLL lady that she is, had us ALL sleep in the bed with her. She's very co-sleeping as are many lll people, and I always swore we wouldn't do it. Plus my husband is a really deep restless sleeper, so it worries me. But if he's out of bed I want to just do it so that both Emily and I can rest at night! I know it will be habit forming so maybe it's better that we won't, but seriously, I need my rest sometimes!

I think the co-sleeper thing for the bed is a good idea. We only have a full so there is no room for it, but if we had more room I'd probably go and get it if it meant more sleep for both of us.

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We have the Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper next to our bed. One side of it comes down so it's the same level as your mattress. It's really convenient for night feedings. Although he seems to like it.Now he's getting too long for it we are moving him into his crib in his bedroom. DH and I don't want him to sleep in our bed. In the morning around 7am when he wakes up, I take him out of the co-sleeper and put him between us. He's starting to really like our bed now, he usually falls back alseep for another hour or so.

It also travels well like a pack n play, but it's much smaller. We took it to NY with us a few weeks ago.

Message edited 10/12/2005 12:59:57 PM.

Re: Getting a schedule down...

We didn't get a co-sleeper or pack n play. I kind of think the pack and play would be nice so we can spend some timedownstairs. we are completely upstiars now except for sometimes whenwe go home at night once my husband comes home. Its hard bcause the only running water and bathroom is downstairs so it probably would be easier to feed her down there sometimes and just put her in the crib. But we do have two large dogs anyway who only stay downstairs so I'm kind of glad she's up here. They seem to like her but I'm afraid they'd get so excited and knock whatever she'ssleeping in over or something.

Our room is so small! iw ish we had room for the co-sleeper or a bigger bed s o we can get the one that goes in the bed. One day Ishould post a pic of how cramped it is in here for you guys, but It's kind of embarassing for me so I haven't.

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Do you have something like the baby papasan or aqarium vibrating chair? Talia also falls asleep when I nurse her then wakes up when I put her in the crib - so now I put her in the chair until she falls asleep then move her to the crib - that seems to work a lot better.

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I have the fisher price aquarium bouncer. I am actually putting batteries in it right now! I came into the bedroom to get the scissors off of the desk to cut open the package and was lured to check the posts!! She actually fell esleep in it yesterday without it even vibrating. That might be a good idea to use it at night. i'm tempted though to just let her sleep in it at night though and not move her from it to the crib but the idea of that souns weird to me. I think she needs to get used to the crib, but definately usingi t will probably help her to get into a deeper sleep.

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It's good to know at least that I'm not the only one going through this!

She has been awake almost ALL day today. She took a huge 4hour nap in the morning and really hasn't slept since. I'm hoping this means she'll sleep tonight. Either that or she'll be REALLY cranky! I'm hoping that's not the case!

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This weather totally stinks for schedules......since it is so dark and dreary out.....Ava has been sleeping all day....I think she thinks its nite time.

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OMG, she has the most perfect little face, How Beautiful! Hang in there though it will get easier I promise.

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she is a dorable

Listen the first two weeks are hard at least in my opinion they were but you will get it down pat and you will have a schedule and things will def. get better