DH is going back to work

[xekomaya]

... and I'm terrified..

I haven't been sleeping - Wyatt nurses every 1.5 hours pretty much 24 hours a day. Sometimes he sleeps 3 hours but only if you're holding him, so that rules out sleeping then. I've been counting on DH to rock him after his 6:30am nursing, but I can't ask him to do that tonight. I've been pretty much delirious by that time and its the only sleep I get at all.. I have no idea what I'm going to do

How am I going to do this?

[treehuggermama]

If you haven't already tried co sleeping that is one of the best things ever as far as we are concerned for us all to get sleep. Or if you have a rocker what has worked for me is to nurse babe on a boppy with my arms around him and catching a few zzz's. I know of some mamas who also did the same thing with babe in a sling or moby in a rocker (their LO's had reflux and would only sleep upright).

[elleystar]

My DH goes back tomorrow too. I'm worried as well. On my first day alone I'll be responsible for getting us both together and out of the house to his well baby dr. visit.
You should experiment with cosleeping tonight. We couldn't survive without it! Try lying on the couch with your LO sleeping on your chest/shoulder on the side next to the back of the couch. Best of luck to you!

[pixiepunk]

my DH is back to work today too. i'm not so much worried about the baby as the other two kids - they've been following him around for 2 weeks now, they're going to miss him so much and of course it's raining here today, so i can't even get them outside to run around. it's going to be a long day.

Xekomaya - have you tried wearing the baby? Elowyn pretty much sleeps in some sort of carrier most of the day, it's the only way i can get anything accomplished, get the other kids fed, etc. and once she's asleep from the motion of me walking around, i can sit down and she stays asleep. maybe you could try that, and see if you can catch a catnap in a recliner or something? that whole 'sleep when the baby sleeps' thing is really important if you can swing it. DH let me and the baby sleep till 11am yesterday and i was like a new person when we woke up! it was the best mother's day present ever!

and i agree with treehugger, if you're not cosleeping you should! it makes life a whole lot easier. if you are, then just try and focus on sleeping for short bursts whenever the baby does. if baby doesn't like laying on his back next to you, try laying him tummy to tummy on your chest - babies love to hear their mama's heartbeat! sometimes white noise or music can also help a little one stay asleep. my DD1 had to have music playing while she slept when she was little or she'd wake up every 30-45 minutes all night long.

and remember, this phase really won't last forever - it just sometimes feels like it when you're in the moment. as he bulks up and his tummy grows, he'll be able to hold more milk at a nursing and will then be able to sleep for longer stretches. time seems to stand still for those first couple of months with a newborn, but it really will be no time before it just seems like a hazy memory!

[Jennisee]

Originally Posted by xekomaya

I've been counting on DH to rock him after his 6:30am nursing, but I can't ask him to do that tonight.

You've gotten some good advice so far, but I have to ask--Why can't your DH still do this? If he's still home at that time and hasn't left for work, I'd say he can still do it. Your DH may work hard all day at work, but you work hard all day at home, and he has just as much nighttime responsibility as you do. If this is the only break and solid sleep you get, it's important that you find a way to still get it. If he can't do 6:30 because he's leaving for work, can he take an earlier shift in the night, so that you get a break then instead?

I hope you fine something that works for you. Sleep deprivation is awful.

[xekomaya]

Thanks for the support.. I think I was over-reacting a bit because it really wasn't that bad I decided to stay in bed all da and take it easy and we really did ok. Then today, W surprised me and slept all night (3h stretches with 25mins nursing between) and took a really convenient nap today so I got tons of sleep

We do co-sleep. I just haven't been able to get a good latch side-lying so it's still kinda a production to sit up and nurse him.. partially due to pelvic pain remaining from pregnancy -- I'm not very mobile in bed.

I did sleep with him in my arms last night though and we both slept so much better. I'm just worried its not a 'safe' co-sleeping arrangement and I feel badly. If it works for us though I think we're going to stick with it. I feel a lot better having him against me with our history of apnea anyway..

[Organicavocado]

I sleep with Klaus on me. He won't sleep any other way.. but it makes me feel better to feel him breathing. I think its perfectly safe, do you feel aware?

I hated when my husband went back to work. Really, really hated it.

[xekomaya]

Yeah I feel very aware of him. I actually have a weird.. trait? - I can't/don't move while asleep -- not an arm or leg or anything -- I've been that way since birth. So, I know I won't move in any way that would smush him or pull covers over him or anything..

I so wish there was paid paternity leave .. having DH at home for the week was amazing - and I do feel badly that he's away from his son so soon.

[GISDiva]

I know, I was terrified when DH went back to work. But we make do and we're still alive. I've even managed to get a shower every day at some point. He still gets up to fill the SNS every three hours during the night, the dear, I'm sure he's oh-so-productive at work.

[Incubator]

At least you can get yours to wake up and help. Sometimes I "accidentally" launch my firmest pillow at his head. It drives me bugguts to watch him sleep so peacefully at night while I'm up with two screaming kids who both want to be rocked and flaming nipples!