baby updates
Sep. 14th, 2003 07:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mamajoanNow that Isaac has officially reached the 3-month mark, I was really looking forward to the end of his colicky episodes. And really he seemed to have stopped having them, for several weeks at least. But then ... came last Wednesday. *groan* He was fussy pretty much the whole day (thank goodness I was working from home so he wasn't disturbing my coworkers!), and come nighttime he was just unmanageable. He kept screaming and screaming; he hadn't eaten much all day, but every time I tried to get him to nurse, he would scream more. I tried pumping a bit, on the theory that my breasts were too full for him to handle (he gets fussy sometimes if they're too full and he's too tired or hungry to deal), but that didn't work. From about 8pm till about 9pm he screamed pretty much continuously and nothing was working. I was getting pretty worried about the not eating, so finally I broke down and called the doctor. Of course he calmed right down while we were waiting for her to answer the page, the little stinker! ;) So he was nursing calmly when the ped called, but she and I had a nice chat anyway. She had some good suggestions/ideas, and anyway just talking to her was reassuring enough, as she assured me that it sounded like I was doing fine. She put forth the theory that maybe he was a little nasally congested and having difficulty breathing while eating. I guess that's possible. Anyway, he was okay after that.
Still, he has been pretty fussy the past few weeks and I've really started to worry about his lack of sleep. During the daytime, it seems like he takes at most two naps, of about 45 minutes each. And then at night he'll maybe sleep for nine or ten hours. It's not enough for a little guy like him! And there was a period over the last two weeks or so when, pretty much all the time (except for limited periods when he would be happily eating or looking around), he would be crying out of sheer exhaustion. His little eyes get all red-rimmed and he just looks so terribly tired, you just feel so bad for him. Because he clearly wants and needs to sleep, but somehow just can't.
Anyway, this was really starting to wear me down -- not just the strain of constantly dealing with a fussy baby, but of worrying about him not getting enough sleep, and feeling sorry for him -- but in the last couple of days it seems to be getting a little better. Yesterday (Sat.), I left him with my mom for over four hours and he didn't eat the whole time, but he slept a lot. This represents several huge milestones: first, that he went such a long time without eating; second, that he slept so much; and third, that I actually went out and did social fun stuff (with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
anotherjen and her daughter and another person) without my baby! It was VERY weird being out in the world, just enjoying myself like a normal person. Cool, but weird.
Anyway, and today, we're at our place alone, and Isaac has so far slept from: 3:30-4:00, 4:20-6:20, and now 6:40-7:00 and counting. (I can't even believe he slept for two straight hours! He NEVER does that except for at night in bed with me!)
So I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm really hoping that he can get caught up on his sleep debt (assuming that he has some) and start sleeping more during the days as well as at night. Also, I think the fact that he went so long without eating while my mom was watching him (plus he went 4+ hours without eating several other times this weekend while in her care) means that I've been feeding him sometimes when he didn't necessarily need to be fed. I'm going to try *not* immediately popping him onto the boob when he cries, if it seems like it hasn't been very long since he last ate. And I'm thinking about trying him in his crib overnight as well, so I can have my bed back. I do enjoy co-sleeping with him, but I don't think I sleep as soundly or as long that way, and if he could sleep the same amount of time in his crib, I would be better rested. And that would be good for everyone. :)
Another problem is that when he sleeps for the long periods (as opposed to the 30-minute naps), it's almost always on his tummy. Now, according to all the experts you're not supposed to let babies sleep on their tummies any more because of the risk of SIDS. But Isaac really likes it, so thus far my policy has been that it's okay for him to sleep on his tummy as long as I'm awake the whole time, and checking on him frequently; but it's not okay for me to go to sleep while he's on his tummy. Obviously, then, if I'm going to try putting him in his crib overnight, it'll have to be on his back (or side), and that might mean he won't sleep as well. Sigh. Well, I guess I'll just have to try it and see.
In other news, Isaac smiles more and more frequently now, accompanied by adorable little cooing noises. :) It's a beautiful thing to see, even at 3 A.M., and makes everything better. :) Also, he's able to spend longer and longer in his crib staring at his mobile and making cute noises, or lying on his floor gym doing the same, or even just sitting in his chair or stroller. This gives me hope, because I'm really looking forward to the times when he can be awake but entertaining himself, not needing me every minute.
Also, he's been working very hard on getting his hands into his mouth. He seems to have some inkling that they are attached to him, and that he can control them, but he hasn't fully worked it out yet. He'll spend many minutes just waving his arms around, but in more deliberate fashion than he used to, trying to direct them toward his mouth, frequently whacking himself in the face. Sometimes he'll pull both fists in tight against his chin and then open his mouth wide, as if that might help get them the last centimeter or so. :) It's very cute. (But if you try to help him by pushing his hand the last little bit, he shows no interest in sucking it. He wants to do it himself, dammit!) If you hold him on your shoulder, he'll almost certainly manage to start sucking on a fist. And occasionally he'll even stop nursing to suck on his fist. LOL!
So, all in all, things with Isaac are still perking along. Oh, and in case I haven't mentioned recently, let me reiterate how wonderful and supportive all my coworkers are, including my new boss. It's really fantastic; I'm so lucky. I still have my doubts about the viability of the whole taking-baby-to-office thing, but so far it's not a complete flop, so hopefully it'll continue to work out for at least a little while longer. Also, since I have a bunch of work to do that doesn't really require interaction with coworkers, my boss has given me the option of working from home 4 days this coming week. That won't work for permanently, because it would just make me feel too isolated from all the goings-on at work; but for this particular week with this particular set of tasks, it might work out, and will probably feel better for me. I find that I'm more relaxed when working from home, because I'm less worried about Isaac's fussiness disturbing my coworkers.
Anyway, that's the latest on us; sorry for the length. :)
Still, he has been pretty fussy the past few weeks and I've really started to worry about his lack of sleep. During the daytime, it seems like he takes at most two naps, of about 45 minutes each. And then at night he'll maybe sleep for nine or ten hours. It's not enough for a little guy like him! And there was a period over the last two weeks or so when, pretty much all the time (except for limited periods when he would be happily eating or looking around), he would be crying out of sheer exhaustion. His little eyes get all red-rimmed and he just looks so terribly tired, you just feel so bad for him. Because he clearly wants and needs to sleep, but somehow just can't.
Anyway, this was really starting to wear me down -- not just the strain of constantly dealing with a fussy baby, but of worrying about him not getting enough sleep, and feeling sorry for him -- but in the last couple of days it seems to be getting a little better. Yesterday (Sat.), I left him with my mom for over four hours and he didn't eat the whole time, but he slept a lot. This represents several huge milestones: first, that he went such a long time without eating; second, that he slept so much; and third, that I actually went out and did social fun stuff (with
anotherjen and her daughter and another person) without my baby! It was VERY weird being out in the world, just enjoying myself like a normal person. Cool, but weird.Anyway, and today, we're at our place alone, and Isaac has so far slept from: 3:30-4:00, 4:20-6:20, and now 6:40-7:00 and counting. (I can't even believe he slept for two straight hours! He NEVER does that except for at night in bed with me!)
So I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm really hoping that he can get caught up on his sleep debt (assuming that he has some) and start sleeping more during the days as well as at night. Also, I think the fact that he went so long without eating while my mom was watching him (plus he went 4+ hours without eating several other times this weekend while in her care) means that I've been feeding him sometimes when he didn't necessarily need to be fed. I'm going to try *not* immediately popping him onto the boob when he cries, if it seems like it hasn't been very long since he last ate. And I'm thinking about trying him in his crib overnight as well, so I can have my bed back. I do enjoy co-sleeping with him, but I don't think I sleep as soundly or as long that way, and if he could sleep the same amount of time in his crib, I would be better rested. And that would be good for everyone. :)
Another problem is that when he sleeps for the long periods (as opposed to the 30-minute naps), it's almost always on his tummy. Now, according to all the experts you're not supposed to let babies sleep on their tummies any more because of the risk of SIDS. But Isaac really likes it, so thus far my policy has been that it's okay for him to sleep on his tummy as long as I'm awake the whole time, and checking on him frequently; but it's not okay for me to go to sleep while he's on his tummy. Obviously, then, if I'm going to try putting him in his crib overnight, it'll have to be on his back (or side), and that might mean he won't sleep as well. Sigh. Well, I guess I'll just have to try it and see.
In other news, Isaac smiles more and more frequently now, accompanied by adorable little cooing noises. :) It's a beautiful thing to see, even at 3 A.M., and makes everything better. :) Also, he's able to spend longer and longer in his crib staring at his mobile and making cute noises, or lying on his floor gym doing the same, or even just sitting in his chair or stroller. This gives me hope, because I'm really looking forward to the times when he can be awake but entertaining himself, not needing me every minute.
Also, he's been working very hard on getting his hands into his mouth. He seems to have some inkling that they are attached to him, and that he can control them, but he hasn't fully worked it out yet. He'll spend many minutes just waving his arms around, but in more deliberate fashion than he used to, trying to direct them toward his mouth, frequently whacking himself in the face. Sometimes he'll pull both fists in tight against his chin and then open his mouth wide, as if that might help get them the last centimeter or so. :) It's very cute. (But if you try to help him by pushing his hand the last little bit, he shows no interest in sucking it. He wants to do it himself, dammit!) If you hold him on your shoulder, he'll almost certainly manage to start sucking on a fist. And occasionally he'll even stop nursing to suck on his fist. LOL!
So, all in all, things with Isaac are still perking along. Oh, and in case I haven't mentioned recently, let me reiterate how wonderful and supportive all my coworkers are, including my new boss. It's really fantastic; I'm so lucky. I still have my doubts about the viability of the whole taking-baby-to-office thing, but so far it's not a complete flop, so hopefully it'll continue to work out for at least a little while longer. Also, since I have a bunch of work to do that doesn't really require interaction with coworkers, my boss has given me the option of working from home 4 days this coming week. That won't work for permanently, because it would just make me feel too isolated from all the goings-on at work; but for this particular week with this particular set of tasks, it might work out, and will probably feel better for me. I find that I'm more relaxed when working from home, because I'm less worried about Isaac's fussiness disturbing my coworkers.
Anyway, that's the latest on us; sorry for the length. :)
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no subject
Date: 2003-09-14 06:18 pm (UTC)I've long been of the opinion that the workplace needs to be more supportive of families (because it's the right thing to do), and that a strong component of that is providing space for children, both on-site childcare facilities and arrangements other than just unpaid time off for new parents. So it makes me really happy to hear of there being workplaces where at least part of that ideal has been realized.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-15 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-20 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-14 07:14 pm (UTC)I have a book called "The No-Cry Sleep Solution"--do you want me to mail it or bring it when I see you, which I hope should be sometime this month but I can't promise. :( What does your Friday look like? (day and evening?) I don't teach most Fridays.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-15 09:15 am (UTC)I would love to check out that book if you don't mind parting with it. I'll be at the office most Fridays during the day, but the evenings are generally pretty free. Really, I'm free just about every evening except for Mondays when we have choir rehearsal. I could probably arrange to be working at home some Friday, except that it's the day we have company meeting (with free lunch) so I usually try not to miss it. But I'd miss it for you. :)
Don't hold your breath
Date: 2003-09-15 11:30 am (UTC)Seriously, my 3 years old still require almost constant attention. I have to make sure she isn't hurting herself or anyone else, she demands my attention when she's bored, and she does that in very clever ways. She only quiets down when she is watching TV (when we visit my parts, neighbors, etc), and I don't have a TV...
I hope that she'll learn to read soon.
no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 12:05 pm (UTC)Happy threemonthsday to you
Happy threemonthsday dear Isaaaaaaaaaaaaac (and also Joan who should probably be sainted on the grounds of all those nappies alone and oh dear god this really doesn't scan anymore...)
Happy threemonthsday tooooooooo yooooooooouuuuuu!