My desultory attempts at sleep training have had desultory results. The two things I have been successful at have been a) getting T down at 6:30 even if it means lying down with him for a while - re-entry after our trip kind of screwed everything up, and b) getting him to take a paci rather than a boobie when he wakes at 9 PM and go back to sleep for three more hours.
However, after that it's kind of a mess. He's been waking at 3 AM and pretty much been up for the day for ages now - just rolling and chatting and whining and crying; I had been going out to the living room and just sleeping on the couch, but last night he sounded so pitiful I just lost my resolve and instead fed him and co-slept with him instead. Last night this worked out well, but it doesn't always. If only co-sleeping was the answer, but it's not. Sometimes it makes everything worse.
I am so afraid of being sleep-deprived and un-focused at my event. It's still five weeks away so there is some hope, but...I have to say, I'm scared. I am also scared of not having enough breast milk, and apart from introducing formula, I'm not sure what to do about it. Being the last month before the event, there are a million things I need to get sitters for - I have ten sitter-events in the next five weeks, double my usual amount - and even though I have now upped my usual every other day pump schedule to every day, I don't think I'm going to have enough to get me through four nights. I am also experiencing the bizarre side effect of now only getting half my usual output - the last two-three nights I've only gotten a measly one ounce! I can only imagine this is stress-related, but jeez - not helping!
When it was just Bobby at the event, my friend that was watching him during the night dances could bring him down to the ballroom for me so I could feed him - but now with a sleeping toddler in the room this is not going to be an option. And I absolutely cannot run up to the room to feed him, either. I really don't know what to do except tell the nighttime sitter to text the daytime sitter, who will be enjoying the night dances, to come get him and bring him to me for feeding in the ballroom if he's really inconsolable. The sad thing is, he shouldn't need feeding during those times, if what I'm doing now holds - and certainly not more than one bottle.
Can I just say how glad I am I'll never have an exclusively-breastfed baby during my event again? This stuff is so anxiety-producing!
In other news, at least we had this cute moment today.
Is it the cost that is keeping you from turning to formula? If you're only able to pump an ounce, could T be fussy because he's hungry & your supply is low? If I remember correctly, it was around 4 moths with E that I needed to take Fenugreek & Blessed Thistle again (I had to take them to get my milk in too when E was born) 3 pills 3 times a day for 3-4 days & I was back to full supply. I am sure you're right that in 5 weeks you should be on an up swing for good sleep
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you got the comment I just sent but the gist of it was to tell you about the milk share program: www.hm4hb.net. It is terrific and probably has something in your area. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable photo!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work with the pumping... hopefully when the sleep regression improves, your milk supply will pick up. Exhaustion isn't good for milk supply -- a cruel irony of parenting an infant.