I've reached my limit. Please hug me!

[Isis]

I need all the hugs and support I can get today. I've reached my limits. DS is almost 18 months old and still wakes every 2 hours or so. I know that happens a lot on this board. I've just reached my limit and I feel like I'm starting to go nutty. He tosses and thrashes and then wants to nurse constantly. He just is a horrible sleeper and I've tried it all. I'm just so tired. I have absolutely NO patience with him during the day. All week he's been very clingy (he must be teething or something) and his sleep seemed to be even worse. I'm just so tired. I know he can't help it and I know he's still young, I just feel so irritable during the day and it's not fair to him. I just don't know what to do. Not to mention, I want to TTC again when he's close to 2. How am I going to do that? He still nurses most of the night and I need to get some rest- not to mention I have infertility issues.

Please help me, encourage me, advise me, whatever- just help.

[canadiyank]

mama.

ITU sleep deprivation. When dd1 was 22 mos old I was feeling so insane and getting angry at her at night when she wanted to nurse so I decided to nightwean her. I was sad to do it but I was at the end of my rope...it went pretty smoothly, really, and I nursed her in the day for another year after that...

[sweetirishCT]

really feeling for you!!
are you able to take naps during the day when he naps?? that is what i did when dd first came home from the hosp and we were nursing every 1 1/2- 2hrs(including during the night). i never felt totally rested, but it was better than being crabby from lack of rest... also, have you tried teething tablets? they are homeopathic and work very well for irritable babies, if the fussiness is r/t teething.. my best gf used them for her ds, and they were like MAGIC-and he was a miserable baby, though much happier now...
finally, my lact. consult. suggested sitting down with a glass of wine... just one, mind you.. helps you to relax and will make it to dc through your milk, ultimately helping him to relax...
hope any of this helps!!

[Isis]

Originally Posted by sweetirishCT

really feeling for you!!
are you able to take naps during the day when he naps?? that is what i did when dd first came home from the hosp and we were nursing every 1 1/2- 2hrs(including during the night). i never felt totally rested, but it was better than being crabby from lack of rest... also, have you tried teething tablets? they are homeopathic and work very well for irritable babies, if the fussiness is r/t teething.. my best gf used them for her ds, and they were like MAGIC-and he was a miserable baby, though much happier now...
finally, my lact. consult. suggested sitting down with a glass of wine... just one, mind you.. helps you to relax and will make it to dc through your milk, ultimately helping him to relax...
hope any of this helps!!

Yes he's taken the teething tablets and they don't seem to make any difference at all. I wish they did.

I haven't thought of the wine idea. I should try that. Thanks!

[perrysmom]

I've been there... so sorry you're feeling worn out Have you read the No_Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley? It might help and even 4 hour stretches make a BIG difference. When my first ds was 18 months and still nursing every hour or two day and night I lost it and weaned him cold turkey. My heart hurts just thinking about it... I am absolutely not recommending this!!! He slept better for a few weeks (probably emotional exhaustion) and then STARTED WAKING UP EVERY FEW HOURS AGAIN!!! But by then I couldn't nurse him back to sleep and he was REALLY disruptive. The only positive was I began getting my period so I could conceive again. The book has lots of suggestions and reassurance. You're dc can learn about day and night and "nursies go byebye". It may take a little while longer but you will (in hindsight ) never regret the love and attention you're giving to your little one. Rest when you can and do nothing but take care of you two! And if it helps, ds started sleeping all night by age 3.

[mariank]

Lots and lots of hugs to you mama!!!!! Hang in there!!!!

Marian

[fire_lady]

for you mama. Just hold on...
Things will be better soon

[starlein26]

ds was doing the same thing at that age... : what ended up working for us was pushing another bed next to ours (giving us all more room in the family bed. he and i ended up sleeping on that one (pushed against the wall, he sleeps closest to the wall) and dh sleeps on the other bed (he's a 6'5" guy who tosses so much that i think it woke us all up!) :LOL
we've all been sleeping through the night since!

[alegna]

no advice, just a great big

-Angela

[my2girlsmama]

Oh mama the biggest I totally am where you are now. My 19 month old dd is doing the same. My oldest (now almost 6 yrs old) was the same, but I was so desperate I did my own version of cio...NOT recommending THAT one at all.........I was just so sleep deprived I was a danger on the roads! Mind you, I didn't do much more than 2 nights worth (cio) but we did night wean by age 2 which helped. Other than that we waited her out and co slept when we could.
Now with 19 month old, I am beyond stressed because she is more demanding than my first was, she only sleeps 2 hours at a time if that...........and naps were cut to one before the age of 1 and now are an hour at best usually. I have been on the natural remedies thread here and found the Badger's sleep balm, and the first night used she did 5 straight hours! I do find co sleeping takes the edge off and she does better..........

Good luck mama. It does get better. You sound like an awesome mama to even be considering ttc while suffering this. We're not sure we're done but I swear a 3rd may kill me!

[moonmama22]

I've been there too - my limit - just when I get there, ds starts to sleep better and I get a little relief (though that still means he wakes once or wtwice during the night). Then, teeth or a cold, or something, and again, he starts waking every couple of hours again. It's an endless cycle. I've tried night weaning, but cannot commit because I give in.
I hope it gets better for you soon!

[Kira's mom]

It seems like these patterns come and go,but eventually there are alot more sleep filled nights.Hang on tight! I have to say some nights dd will wake up a few times and lately most nights it's only once (hope i don't jinx it tonight!!)I've found she will wake up often if she's wet at all. Usually i change her if she is wet when i come to bed and she sleeps better. BIG BIG HUG TO YOU!!It has to get better.

[Alkenny]

[Isis]

Thanks ladies. He's actually slept really well the past 3 nights but I've been trying to massage him with the sleep balm while dh reads to him. Not sure if that's helping or not. I'm hoping it's the start of some good sleep