Well, things have gotten better already on the breastfeeding battle lines. I finally had a few moments to myself and happened to get an email newsletter in which the main article was breastfeeding challenges. I read through it looking for the "symptoms" of what Brooklyn was doing. Her actions made me think I was trying to feed her too often. She was spitting up everything that went in her, only sucking for a minute and then just started bouncing her face of my boob. But, my logic was totally backward. Apparently she was too hungry and I had been waiting too long to feed her! So I fed her every two hours instead of every three and today was a much better day in that regard. (I know I'm supposed to watch for the signs, but running after Isabella has taken up a lot of my attention and I miss them sometimes.) She ate hard every time, then she burped hard and she didn't spit up even once! I'm quite happy for that. But someone tell me this wont be the way it is for the next six and a half months, it is so hard to stop life every two hours for 20 minutes.
I don't think it would be that hard to do if she let me put her down ever. She can be dead asleep in my arms and I'll just put her down on the couch next to me so I can read/play/cuddle/feed Isabella. It takes about two minutes before she realizes she isn't being held and she begins to cry. Scream in fact. Belle did not get held all the time. She just needed to know we were in the same room to be fine. Brooklyn is quite the clingy little one. I've tried to let her cry it out as we did with Belle, but she just cries and cries. She will not stop on her own. Is this a phase too? Or how can I get her to at least nap in her own bed during the day? I simply cannot hold her 24/7 I have three other people to take care of.
Any advice?
And thanks for all the sweet words. I feel your virtual hugs! I'm so glad everyone enjoyed our Christmas letter. It's great to be candid and let people know the good and the bad things that are shaping our character and have them be met with positivity.
So, it's about 11:00. The girls are finally asleep and I have been working for three days on getting the lights on our Christmas tree. I will finish tonight. I will.
5 comments:
Emily naps in her crib - she won't sleep amongst the commotion anymore. She is also a tummy sleeper - won't sleep on her back.
:)
I held Abby almost 24/7 when she was that little so I have no advice. I'm nervous for baby #2 when I can do the only things I have experience with!
Does she maybe like being in a snuggly or Baby Bjorn?? That's my battle plan for when baby #2 comes so ... yeah.
Good luck! I'm glad you did figure out the breastfeeding though.
I am so glad Brooklyn is eating well again. My suggestion echoes Jen's...do you have a sling or Bjorn? For the first month of her life Avelyn LOVED the sling and it was the only thing that calmed her.
Good luck!!
It may have to do with her ears as we discussed on the phone. Try sitting her in her car seat to sleep - that is what I had to do with De; I even put her car seat in her crib.
The sling or snuggly or Bjorn(?) sounds like a good idea if she insists on being 'attached' to you.
It sounds like Brooklyn is so much like how Sarah was. She would only sleep on me. For like the first 3 months till she got too heavy for me (sore back), then the battle started. Fortunately for me (I guess), she was an only child at the time, and I didn't have to worry about another toddler. I don't really know what to suggest except to hang in there, it's bound to get better. At least Brooklyn quiets down after about 1/2 an hour. I let Sarah 'cry it out' one time and she cried straight for 2 hours. (In retrospect, I can't believe I let her cry for 2 hours, but I was desperate for anything to work, and 'the book' said that she would eventually be quiet. She wasn't.) But, she did sort herself eventually and became quite a good little sleeper.
Good luck! :)
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