Sleepless in Lyons

Sounds like Anna is in full newborn mode. There isn't much you can do to get a newborn to sleep longer (especially at night when you'd like), but you can start teaching her that night is for sleeping and daytime is for staying awake and naps only. I found that if I kept my blinds open, went about my daily business (run the vacuum, dishwasher, let my older child be loud) and talked cheerfully and got them to play after a nap, that my kids learned that that was what went on during the day. At night, I'd keep the lights dim, would only speak to them in whispers and only to calm them, and promptly put them back to bed after feeding them, that they also learned night is for sleeping. But by their second month they were sleeping well at night, although still waking to eat anywhere from 3-6 hours, and were more awake during the day.

I know it's so much harder to get sleep when you have an older child at home, too. You can't just "sleep when the baby sleeps" like you can with your first. But I also found that I dealt with the sleep deprevation a lot better and a lot quicker the second time. Probably because I knew what to expect. Eventually your body will adjust. For now, just ask anyone you can for help, especially with the added stress of a c-section, even if it's to just watch your two-year old while you nap along with the baby. Have your husband take over when he gets home from work so you can take a nap. (I know he probably just worked a full day, but so did you AND you just had major surgery.) Try avoiding as much stress as you can. And if that means take out or frozen dinners and a messy house, so be it. No one will blame you or even care.

Good luck with your new baby and family!

B.,

I know how hard it is to not be able to get enough sleep. I too had a baby recently and have two other children to tend to. My only adive is to be a little more patient. My daughter woke up every 2 hours for about 2 weeks and gradually increased her sleep time at night as long as she ate enough. She too is nursing and I make sure she eats enough before laying down. One more thing that helps is to take her a warm bath before bed time, that helps relax her and with this warm weather cools her down.

I wish you the best and congratulations.
N.

B., congrats on your new baby! The first few weeks are always the hardest. Everyone's trying to get used to everyone else and trying to figure out scheduals all at the same time. There isn't much you can do to get your baby to sleep more through the night. But one thing I would suggest is wait 3hours between feedings. Your baby is waking up to eat only to fall asleep right away again and so she isn't getting full and is hungry again right away, so when she wakes up to eat sit and hold her, sing to her, rub her hands and feet, do what you can to keep her awake for another half an hour to an hour then let her eat. She needs to nurse for at least 10-20 mins before falling back to sleep so keep her awake while she's nursing, rub her cheeks to get the sucking reflex going again, tickle her feet, and after a few mins burp her. Pat firmly low on her back just above her butt, then change her diaper and resume feeding. The first feeding will be harder because you have to wake yourself up too but then she should sleep really good until the next feeding which hopefully will be 3-4hrs away. Although every 2 hrs is very typical but it just seemed like your baby is falling asleep too soon and so she isn't getting her fill of milk and this can lessen your milk supply making nursing even harder. You can do this. I know the first few weeks are so hard but ask friends and family for help and they will be more than happy to babysit for you while you nap. You just got home, everyone should understand. Also call on your hubby to help out during the day too so you can nap while baby does. Take advantage of your 2yr olds naps too!

Sounds like your new bundle has her days and nights mixed up. My first, during her first week would do the same thing little Anna is doing. Now you say she nurses and falls instantly asleep? Is this breast feeding? Mine where, and they can try to use you as the pacifier. During the day wake her regularly for a feeding if she falls asleep gently wake her and offer the breast(bottle) again, just make sure she gets enough. Right now she is getting a appetizer (not full) and waking soon.When you would like her to sleep for the night (or for longer periods of time) makes sure she get a good meal and is full. Lay her in her bedroom, and when she cries at night listen for a fews minutes look at time, is she hungry or needing comfort? You may want to wait a few minutes to she will calm herself. If she still cries queitly offer her pacifier or thumb which ever she uses. It worked for me to not offer a meal everytime she cried. I hope this works and you can get some sleep.

Dear B.,

I can surely relate to only sleeping a few hours at a time, but I did not go through a C-section. Have you thought of pumping your breatmilk and putting it into a bottle so that when baby wakes up dad can feed her so you can rest. When my daughter Sarah did that every two hour wake up thing I put her into be with me and she nursed while I fell back to sleep. I know some moms are very afraid to fall asleep with the baby nursing but I really believe we know our babies are there plus I've never heard of a case where the mom rolled over and smothered the baby. So that way we both got sleep. But if that is to scary I would try filling a few bottle with breat milk and letting dad feed the baby and then put her back to bed. My email address is ____@____.com me know if this helps at all.
Your all in my prayers. C.

My advice is to try to work up longer stretches in between nursing so that when it is time for Anna to eat, she'll be genuinely hungry and more likely to stay awake during feedings. My daughter was the same way when she was little. Always falling asleep when I nursed her so she would wake up constantly to eat. When I would wake during the night to feed her, I'd lie next to her to nurse her because I think cuddling her just made her go back to sleep instead of finishing feeding.

Hi B.,

My son had the same reflux problem, and he would wake up to eat every two hours and not nurse enough falling back asleep... UNTIL, I would coax him to stay awake while nursing by gently stroking his cheek, or using a cool wash cloth on his feet to prompt him to stay awake. Also, try not bundling him up so much, by keeping him too warm, makes them sleepy as well.

Can you set some breast milk aside in a bottle, and perhaps your hubby can feed so you can get the much needed rest you desperately need to stay healthy?

Hope things work out for you and baby too!

Blessings,
C.

There really is nothing to stop the every 2 hour feedings I would guess until she can go longer without feedings. I suggest you get help during the day so you can rest and be ready for the night time feedings. Hopefully, you can rely on a neighbor or family to help out. Good luck. Been there, done it too...

hi B.!
Congratulations on the new little one :) Hang in there, I'm sure it will get better as your little girl gets older. My suggestions would be sleep when she sleeps as much as you can. With my son I would keep his blinds open so he could see the sunlight in the mornings and the dark skies at night. I would do my regular routine (vacuuming, laundry etc. ) during the daytime with his door open and keep it very quite at night and I also tried to put him on a routine. I also tried to get outside and in nature as much as possible to give him some stimulation and sunlight and I talked and played with him (as much as you can play with a newborn). I also had my husband bottle feed him breast milk so I could get a 4 or 5 hour stretch of sleep. I'm sure recovering from a c-section as well as complications is very difficult. It sounds like you're doing a great job. If you can, get as much help as possible from close friends or family. Most important take your days one by one. I strongly believe that as mothers we have been given this gift of endurance and strength and even when you think you can't keep your eyes open anymore, somehow we just make it happen.

My best to you!