Mar 30 2009
Sleep Deprivation Can be Fun
It’s been nine days into parenthood and I have learned that sleep deprivation is as common as oxygen and water. My baby can be classified as a good baby. She sleeps 4 or 5 hours at a stretch, eats in between and has an overall good temperament. Yes, I know she might turn on me at any time, but for now she is a pretty easy baby.
Sleep deprivation is an interesting thing. I am pretty tired most of the time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I put my head down on the pillow, I can fall asleep within seconds. When I hear the baby cry, I can jump up fully alert, ready to feed, change, wipe and rock.
Being tired and fully sleep deprived has its advantages. When people visit, they can se how tired you are just by the look on your face. If you look sleep deprived, people will cook for you, hold the baby, and offer to babysit. Nothing turns a grandmother into a mother more than seeing her baby be exhausted from caring for her granddaughter. Yawn in abundance and Grandma will send you upstairs for a nap when she comes for a visit.
If there are any experienced mothers out there, is there a time (like at a two week mark) where they suddenly become more difficult to manage?
I have been told “wait until she is two days old, then she becomes difficult”, “wait until you’re home from the hospital, then you’ll see.” Ok, she’s 10 days old and she’s an angel. Am I missing something here?
Watch out for the times when she decides to switch up her schedule. It may not seem that she has a schedule yet because it’s very subtle. She will decide that she either needs to sleep more or less at a time soon and wants to be awake for longer periods of time. She will also decide that she needs more to eat and that will cause the crankies to come out. Oh, and watch out for teething! I know it seems early, but both of my boys started showing signs of teething between 2 and 3 months. Neither sprouted their first tooth until 5-6 months, though. So, there were about 3 months straight that we had some serious problems in our house! And keep trying to get enough rest. The more tired and worn out you are, the worse your baby is going to seem! Sad, but true. Congrats!!
Kristi
www.raisegoodkids.today.com
You may have just gotten lucky with a super baby, good for you! Roll with it. I’ve had a mix with my four so I can acknowledge some babes are easier than others. My youngest was a colicky, regurgitating mess who refused to use a pacifier and projectile vomited any time he tried to poop in a seated position. Weird, I know. Things that will usually affect the peace are colds, growth spurts, and teething. If your usually happy, quiet baby is making a fuss there’s probably something amiss. She’s gorgeous though, I love the yawning pics. Congrats!
Congratulations on the baby… It’s a wonderfull time - enjoy
Even with sleep deprivation you can take on the world when your baby needs you. Kristi already said it so well in her post so I just wanted to recommend a book that I treasure… The wonder weeks by Hetty Vanderijt and Frans Plooij. It’s about you baby’s mental development and helps you to understand whats going on at certain times in your baby’s life.
Best regards
Jette
www.babybusiness.today.com
Mine were wonderful as infants and I loved every minute of it. They didn’t turn on me until they (each) were almost 3 years old. Everything was cake until then. Now one is 5.5 and the other will be 3 in a couple weeks…I’m really tired now…just in a different way:)
Oh she is beautiful congrats to both of you.
The only thing I remember from “k” being in an infant is that every baby is totally unique. Mine hardly did anything people said and did things noone said she would lol.
my daughter was an angel the first two days in the hospital the next three days in the hospital she cried almost all the time if she wasn’t right with me in my bed. I think maybe it was due to the fact that I needed her on the bed as I couldnt get to her otherwise and the basket thing on wheels was a little messed up and kept rolling away so I spoiled her.
She was pretty good at home for about 4 weeks then became a screamer. Some say colic I say couldnt get enough food from mama as it went away once the doctor put her on formula and a couple teaspoons of cereal at 5 weeks. (yess I know that its not suppose to be good for them but she went from screaming 24/7 to actaually being a happier baby who cooed and played with her feet).
Made mom miserable as everyone felt the need to tell me how wrong it was…. and argue with me on it, but hey it worked she had no digestion problems, she grew fine (got tall fast), and how can letting her scream 24/7 be good for her/