Today was a fine example of this. Connor woke up around the usual time of about 8:00. (He's been sleeping around 12 hrs. a night, so that's nice) Took his morning nap from 9-11ish, and then I woke him up to eat. Now usually, when I say this, a few people look at me and tell me not to wake him up but honestly I believe that is the secret to why he sleeps so good at night. I am sure to monitor his afternoon naps, to make sure they don't exceed 2 hours, and so far that has worked for us. After I woke him up I nursed him, and after he was done he went in his swing for a bit while I got some housework done..some time went by, he laid down for a nap, and woke up about a half-hour before he was supposed to eat. (which is unusual) He started crying uncontrollably like he was hungry so I proceeded to feed him. When I thought he was done, I started to pull him away and he DEFINITELY was NOT interested in being done, so I just let him continue even though I knew he was not getting anything. After about 10 minutes of that..I finally pulled him off and just let him be fussy. Now, this sounds like he's not getting enough food and that is about enough to devastate me, but I didn't let it worry me, because this has happened before and then he ended up being just fine by the end of the night. So, about an hour passed and the fussiness increased so I got some frozen breast milk out and offered him about 2oz. He downed it, and when I tried to pull that away, you would think I just pulled the dearest thing away from him! ---he was MAD--- At this point, I was about to the end of myself, because I was thinking what I possibly could have missed or what on earth he could be crying about. While I was trying to calm him down, he spit up quite a bit, so I made the justification in my mind that he couldn't possibly be starving, but who knows??? I put him back in his crib, because I thought he could possibly be just way over-stimulated from everything, but he kept falling asleep and then waking up, falling asleep and then waking up about every 2 minutes or so. I went to another room where his crying wasn't so pronounced and just sat and tried to rack my brain about what could be wrong!--this just isn't normal behavior for my child!- 30 minutes or so after I put him down, I got him back up and gave him some gas drops..I had no idea. But I knew that couldn't hurt anything. He fell asleep a little after that- and slept for about an hour and fifteen minutes before he woke up crying again. It was time to feed again, so I did and that time seemed to be a little easier when he stopped, but he still was fussy.
So, now he is in a swing..-kinda fussing, kinda not. And I'm sitting here just trying to not over-attack myself for feeling like a bad mom. He is definitely being fed enough, his diaper is changed, and I'm just not quite sure what else to do for him. There are countless things that could be going on- I understand that- but it is definitely not fun being on the mom side of this. All you want as a mom is to do the right thing, and be the best that you can be for your kids. I can honestly say, that I have done this; I guess now is just one of those times that is totally out of my control. He'll be fine-I'll be fine, I know this. But in the meantime, I'm trying not to let this confusion of not knowing what to do, frustrate me further.
Now-I'm going to try and just cuddle my little guy and love on him, and we'll see what happens. After all, what have I got to do tonight?? Definitely nothing as important as making my little one feel better...
Lol. Wesley will get strangely fussy too sometimes. It could be growth spurts (which is the hungriness), or teething. Does or did he arch his back? Wesley used to do that and it is a sign of acid reflux, but he's over that now. I understand when you say you feel like a bad mom--I get feeling that way too, esp. when he's screaming at me like, "Mommy! Don't you know what's wrong!?!" But just do your best and he'll be ok. And even when I think I'm doing something wrong, he's always happy to see me, so I guess I don't suck as much as I think I do. Lol. :-)
ReplyDelete-TJ @ www.measuringflower.com
Growth spurt sounds most likely. You should let him nurse even though he is not getting anything. Your supply will increase to match his hunger needs.
ReplyDeleteSometimes when babies are growing they go through a period when they nurse more. He may just be trying to increase you milk supply. Just a thought! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you just need to supplement your diet with more chocolate....and lots of it. (ok so I am fibbing, but I have always wanted to give that for advice!) First off, you are the cutest first time Mom I have ever known, and Secondly, you know your little guy the best of anyone. You did everything I have done short of crying and wheeling their crib into a walk in closet to get a breather. Was that TMI? :-) He most likely was disturbed by either a stomach ache or wanted to eat and cuddle. You learn as you go! Days like this make us smile and shake our head when we hear things like.... Susanna Wesley used to sit and pull her apron over her head and pray throughout her day. I so get her. And I so get you. Love you!
ReplyDeleteThankyou everyone for your comments! Tonight seems to be a bit better than this afternoon. When Chris came home from work, and I met him at the door with little guy..he was all smiles for his daddy. We'll see how tonight goes, but so far it's better ;) Deena, if I had a walk-in closet that's definitely what I would have done also. I think Susanna Wesley is my hero. It's funny because I just read about her the other day! She kinda makes having only one child is a piece of cake! O well- i'll get there someday :)
ReplyDeleteDiana - I remember there being days that my babies wanted to do nothing but nurse and be held by mommy ALL DAY LONG!!! Enjoy those days -- it may seem frustrating now, but you'll miss that closeness you had with your precious baby. When babies go through growth spurts they will want to nurse every hour, even if they're not getting nothing (that's what helps build up your milk supply). I always found that when we went on a trip and came back home again -- they would want me more -- they just need that security.
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