Yep, I hear ya, it does get better, sometimes. :LOL I've noticed that they go through phases of night waking just like they go through phases in everything else. Just when I think I am going to go absolutely

dd eases off a little bit, then when I'm not expecting it she up again all night.

Hang in there mama, it's so worth it, but certainly not easy.

 

Yes, it does 'end', as everyone grows.

But to meet her needs, you have to buy into the needs.

Ask yourself if you truly believe your child benefits from what you offer her. If you think she does, there is your simple answer.

It will pass, i swear.

Edited because i didn't write what i meant the first time.

 

Hi Heather,

Lots of support headed out to you! I went through 2+ years of feeling like a zombie a lot of the time. I'm a WOHM and my DD was a reverse cycler for 2+ years. It will end. Someday you'll notice that she slept through one of those night nursing sessions. My DD very gradually began sleeping through the night. She's almost 4 and still wakes up every so often (once or twice a month, if that...). But she's generally sleeping through the night....after years of nursing every hour or two every night. I decided not to night wean and have never regretted the decision. It will end. Find good ways to nurture yourself during this period of time.

 

I just wanted to send you a hug

.

I know exactly how you are feeling. I had a really tough time for a few weeks. I just wanted to give up and I knew it would kill my dd. I made it through 1 day at a time. You need to do what works for your family.

 

oh, you are so wonderful, you women... just what I needed. I suspect I'll come back and read this thread again and again...

--Heather

 

I've found that my kids went through phases as well with the sleeping/not sleeping. Sometimes it had more to do with my reaction to the nursing than with the child's actual nursing patterns.

Just take it easy, and remember that the world isn't going to end if you're sleep-deprived for a few days. You'll move a little slower, and if you plan on getting less done when you're tired, you're less likely to be frustrated over how little you get done! And try to grab a nap if she lets you!

 

See my user name for the answer to question "are you tired?"

Actually, though, it has gotten MUCH better in the past year. Amazingly so.

It *will* get better. Perhaps not on the timeline you or I would hope for, but eventually.

 

Oh a big hug to you. It will change!
Follow the wisdom of you and your baby.

 

And if by chance your 2yo naps, nap with her!!! This too shall pass - really!

 

yeah, part of the trouble is I SOOOO want to nap with her and often do because she won't sleep well without me (some days this is true) -- but I HAVE to work then or I have to take up all my evenings (which are mostly taken anyway by work!) and I never see my husband -- he knows the choices I make, he's with me all the way, but I don't know if he really gets how hard this is.

again, I wish there was a place beyond this forum where I felt like i could say, "please please please don't make me have a night like last night where something was obviously wrong and she nursed ALL NIGHT LONG and was awake for a while around 4am but nursed nursed nursed allllllll night" without people treating me like I'm saying I wish I WASN'T nursing, know what I mean?

it's been insane, her clinginess. I hate to describe it so negatively. Today was the first day (maybe the 2nd?) in her little 2 yr old life that I felt like I didn't want to be with her -- that feeling passed very quickly, but, it's really really hard having a frequent nurser. it's just so obvious it's a NEED, not anything bad.

I keep reminding myself of that.

I'm filling a NEED, not just a want.

I'm a bit suspicious that this mega-nursing is because I've been doing so much more of "just a minute," or "when I'm done doing xyz" we'll nurse.

it's too late to keep going, need to sleep while I can (just finished a work thing at 1:30, will need to get up at 5:45 to go to the office so i can be home in time for M's nursing/naptime which has gotten earlier in the last few weeks.

thanks, again, for the great support -- oh, I wish I knew mothers in real life who were nursing like this! even my closest

nevermind she's awake

--Heather

 

again, I wish there was a place beyond this forum where I felt like i could say, "please please please don't make me have a night like last night where something was obviously wrong and she nursed ALL NIGHT LONG and was awake for a while around 4am but nursed nursed nursed allllllll night" without people treating me like I'm saying I wish I WASN'T nursing, know what I mean?
Yes, I have really stopped telling family members about my nights. In one sense I want them to know just how damn tired I really am, on the other, I know they do not understand why I still do it.
I also work, and yes, dh and I never spend any time alone. I keep telling myself it will pass, they will be more self sufficient. But then I am not done having babies so I guess I will be a tired Mama for much longer.
I wish I could nap, the boys rarely nap at the same time. Today I tried lying on the couch and having "quiet time" for my 3 yo who was not into napping. It worked for a little bit.
Thanks for this thread.

 

When my children did a major night nurse-athon, a few days later there were some teeth. Or they got sick. Or something else major. If your child is still teething, you could try some baby Tylenol. DD2 never complains about teething during the day, only at night, and baby Tylenol really helped her sleep, and it helped me sleep too! LOL! I never quite sleep soundly when I'm being chomped on all night long. And I'm a dedicated night nurser co-sleeper CLW. And, you're right, unless you've been there, you don't understand. Of course, all mothers with young children are tired. If you FF you would be tired. Even my friends who did Ferber would complain that it stopped working and their kids would wake up again in the night. I relaxed more about night waking when I read somewhere that children do not sleep soundly through the night until they are about four years old. That was certainly true for my oldest. My second child is 23 months, so I don't know if it will hold true. But, it makes sense to me.
Good luck!