Feedings...

I know this is only the start of my second week with the boys home, but i need some help here. Feeding two takes a lot longer with two, but now i have one who is fussy from 9-12 and the other from 12-3. Needless to say by 3AM I am at the end of my rope. Me and DH were taking shifts (9 to 4 and 4 to 9) last week but DH went back to work today and i am so overwhelmed with no sleep and the craziness of night. I got a total of 2 hours last night and that was only because i went up to DH and got him up at 2AM hysterical that i could not take it anymore and he had to get up and sooth Kevin. (He went to bed at 6PM so had plenty of sleep).

I just feel like i am going to lose it soon. I have help from my MIL during the day, but i need sleep at night to. Anyone have any ideas how i might be able to change their fussy time to daytime? During the daytime they eat and sleep.....

Thanks. Tell me this gets better. I might lose my mind if it doesn't.

Message edited 9/11/2006 7:09:15 AM.

Re: Feedings...

First off all HUGS!!!!

Can you try maybe keepign them up a little longer during the day, so they are more tired at night? Also do you feed them at the same times? I would wake the second one up to eat, depending on who woke up first so that I knew if I could go back to sleep for a little bit and both were fed.

Also, what about asking your MIL to stay one night, one night will do a world of good.

Re: Feedings...

First & foremost. Sleep when your MIL is over. You do not have to entertain her!!! You are no good to your children if you do not sleep.
I agree with trying to get them both on the same schedule. Learn to prop. I know you want to cuddle & look into your babies eyes while they are eating. That urning does go away when you know you can do both at the same time! My theroy was attempt to have them on the same schedule at the hospital had them on. If one of the boys is sleeping flick & shake his foot to wake him up. He will wake & eat. You will thank yourself when you have them on the same schedule. It doesn't happen overnight. And you will still be tired. But, you might be able to get 3 houirs of sleep at a time. Sleep when they sleep!!! The house hold chores can wait. Use your friends & families help whenever they offer it!!!

Hope this helps!!!

Re: Feedings...

Im not an expert yet, but like Michelle said, one of my friends who has twins woke the other up so they would get on the same schedule, so your whole day and night are NOT just feeding them.
Are you breastfeeding??

Re: Feedings...

Granted I don't have the boys home yet, but I have learned a lot from the nurses in NICU. They keep the babies on an every 3 hour schedule (if breastfeeding as well) or every 4 hour schedule. They also change the babies BEFORE they eat so that as they drift off to sleep during the bottle, you can keep them that way!

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I have no suggestions for you. My twins are 6 1/2 weeks and I just started getting 3 hour sleep intervals instead of 1/2 - 2 hours. All I can offer are lots of

Re: Feedings...

I WILL get better...try waking them so they get on the same schedule...and I would sleep when MIL is over without a doubt!

Re: Feedings...

They are on the same schedule mostly. That's not really my issue...it's the fact that they sleep all day and then have a 3 hour window of fussiness at night and it happens to take up a total of 6 hours of the night. The nurse today at the pediatrician office told me to feed them for shorter intervals during the day as they get mroe to eat and sleep longer at night...so we are trying that now.

I don't breastfeed...bottle feed. And right now it's every 3-4 hours. My MIL came today and i slept for another three hours...i just feel like a total zombie and i hate when i am so sleep deprived the way i get with them. I just hope it's going to get better.

Re: Feedings...

All I can offer is and the hope that it gets better real soon.

Re: Feedings...

I feel really bad for you, you can't do the night by yourself. I don't know maybe I'm lucky, but my Dh always got up with one.
I mean, its not like you have one baby, if that was the case I could understand doing it alone. But there are 2 of them, you need your Dh's help. I understand he works, but so do you, all day long.

Re: Feedings...

It will definately get easier..i know how you feel. Their were times when i called my mom when i was at the end of my rope..Be honest with everyone if you think you can't handle soemthing let your MIL and DH know so they can help. You need a support system and this can not be done alone. One of my babies had severe reflux and would cry for hours 5pm-11pm. Anyway, try and wake the babies 20 minutes apart if you want to deal with one at a time. or they sell pillows with holes in it that you can put the bottle threw and they can feed themselves. If the crying persists maybe you need to change the formula..your baby could have reflux or not be tolerating the formula. My babies are going to be 7 months and they are like different children. If you need more advise IM me. Good luck

Re: Feedings...

I have to admit...I am scared shitless....

I hope I can do this!
I am going to follow advice from a mom with quads..and schedule schedule...and Im so buying a podee bottle!!!!!!!!! for emergencies

Re: Feedings...

Ali - another think my doctor told me was get them out in the sun light. Getting them in the sun will adjust thier day night clock and make them stay up longer in the day and sleep at night. Bring them for walks during the day, or even ahve MIL do that and you rest.

Good Luck, IT WILL GET EASIER, I PROMISE!!!! I had no help at night since DH went to work at 3 am, but I also didn't have two home at a week old. It will get bette, I know it gets rough and I knwo at times I could nto handle but I took a breather and stepped away from their room and let them scream. I know it sounds absolutely horrible, but no baby will die from scremaing, and with twins you have to do what you have to do. To this day, my boys wake in their cribs and stay in there for a good hour before I come and get them.

Re: Feedings...

I dont have t wins but I can only imagine how you feel becaue I was so frustrated when I didnt have sleep with Sara. I wish I could help you. The one bit of advice is that take any help yo can. Would your MIL ever stay over one night to give you a break and a good night sleep?

Re: Feedings...

Thanks for all the advice. Last night was a bit better and i got about 5 hours, but then the boys were waking up together to be fed so i woke DH one time. I guess i have to take it a day at a time. It's so much better when you have a little sleep.

My MIL is going to come over all this week and let me get additional sleep during the day. SInce ihad about 5 hours last night i assume i will try and get about 2 more and run some errands when she is here.

I realize i need to walk away when i start talking to the babies like "stop it Jack". They don't understand that and i realize i am getting to teh end of my rope.

This is a lot harder then i imagined it to be. I am go ing to try the idea of getting them out during the day. Maybe that will work.

Re: Feedings...

Yes get up in the morning and go out..Thats what i did and it works and it will make you feel so much better. Being in the house all day can drive anyone crazy.