awake every hour... going insane! and ranting

[maxomom]

so, ds is 4 months today, and for the past... I don't know how long, feels like forever... let's say week, he has been waking up every hour nursing, thrashing, crying, kicking, you name it. The only thing that seems to help is holding him up, vertically. I am just losing it though, I am such a zombie, and I am starting to get really angry, I am almost at the point that I just have to put him down and go in the other room and cry (both of us). I feel like my life is falling apart, nothing gets done around the house, bills are late, there is no food, there are about 10 loads of laundry to be done, we are out of wipes, and the floor is just gross. Yes, dh helps, but he works all day too. I don't know, mamas, how do you deal? What can I do? If one more person asks me "How is the baby sleeping" I think I am, gonna freak out! I am trying to relax, take one thing at a time, but this exaustion is making everyhting 100 times harder. I love my baby more than anything, but what can I do? I read the no cry sleep solution, and there were some good tips, but I haven't seen any improvement (that was a month ago) I am just plain tired, and my attitude sucks. thanks for letting me rant :flipped

[lara1828]

Hi Maxomom,

Have you talked to your pediatrician about reflux?

It is really annoying how people always ask how the baby is sleeping - as if this is the primary indicator of your parenting skills - IT'S NOT. My advice on that: LIE. Tell them "fine" or "he wakes up a couple times". Usually they'll drop it.

Is this your first baby? I know the hardest thing for me at this age was realizing that nothing lasts forever. Every difficult thing that happened, I thought, "I can't deal with this." But eventually it straightened itself out.

Is there someone else who could help you out a little. You might be surprised how willing people are if you just ask. Can you get someone to babysit while you take a nap? (I do this all the time - try to reisist the tempation to clean).

I think the plain truth that not a lot people talk about is that when you have a small baby, housework just doesn't get done. Keep doing the minimum you can - I was happy with one load of baby laundry a day for a LONG time.

Well, maybe that's a start. I know other people come up with more helpful suggestions. Keep your chin up.

Lara

[SleeplessMommy]

You have my sympathy :-) And it does get better with time.

[NubbyStarshine]

Could be a growth spurt? If that's what it is then it really does get better. It will change all the time...at least that's how it's been with ds (11 months old now). You will be less tired, and then you might be tired again and then less tired. Please nap when the baby naps. You've still got such a wee little babe and it's good for you both to sleep together and you need the rest too.

However, the calming when vertical thing has me wondering if it might be an ear infection. We had that with ds. Absolutely nothing would make him happy in the night except being vertical long enough for the fluid to change and then I could nurse him to sleep again. Will he sleep better in his car seat (can you bring it in the house at night and try?) or with a pillow under the sheet to prop him up?

Forget about the house. Hard to do I know but just forget about it. It will get better too. Ask for help from someone if you can...if anyone asks if they can do anything or if you need anything then say yes (10 loads of laundry, sweep the floor, bring you lunch, whatever).

ns

[maxomom]

thanks mamas!
ds had his 4 month check up yesterday, everything is fine! i thought it was an ear infection, but nope. either growth spurt or teething. i do feel better today, i paid bills, got groceries, and dh did 2 loads of laundry!!! and we might have slept better last night, i don't know cause i didn't look at the clock. i just went with the flow!
AND, I got some hylands teething tablets, gave him one and he took a 2.5 hour nap yesterday! so I think those snarky teeth are the culprits.
let's see what happens...
thanks again!

[mom2owen1]

glad to hear everything is better!

kris
owen, 11 months

[Avena]

Hi Mama,
I know exactly what you are going through! My DD just 5 mo.yep those teeth! She won't sleep and I can't get anything done either! My life saver has been Boirion's Homopathic Camilia for teething. Hang in it will get better! I've learned to live with the large Mountian of laundry too! :love

[jerawo]

My little man is almost 4 months too, and he's been having all sorts of sleeping issues this week and will no longer nurse to sleep :( He used to be so easy to put to sleep and would stay asleep for a long time. I think it's the teeth and I've been trying to use the Hylands more which seem to be helping. The only way I can get him to fall asleep is to put him in his swing, which he's about to outgrow.