Don't get me wrong, I love my baby more than I thought possible but I'm almost to the end of my rope. So for the first 3 1/2 months of Finn's life he had colic. Just in case your unfamiliar with that term, it basically means he cried ALL day long and no one has answers for why. Super exhausting and frustrating. At 3 1/2 months that stopped. The rest of the month was wonderful bliss. Then, around 4 months of age, Finn has decided to stop sleeping. For the last two months I have been doing everything I know to do to get him to sleep. We are now letting him cry for hours every night. On top of that, my milk supply is leaving me and so I've been desperately trying to get him to take some formula for the last three weeks and he refuses. I know he wakes up because he is hungry but he won't take anything. On top of all that, he still doesn't nap well, especially in his bed. I've read every book out there and tried everything I can think of. Everyone keeps telling me he needs to be on a schedule and he is. I do the same thing every day at the same time. Sometimes he cries through his entire nap time and gets no sleep.
So...I'm at the end of my rope. I'm exhausted and I'm now emotional and I'm beginning to think that I'll never get a good nights sleep. If anyone has any creative advice I'd gladly try anything (or if anyone owns a tranquilizer gun, just kidding).
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I am so sorry! First of all, no one doubts the love you have for Finn just because you are at the end of your rope. And second you need to know how great of a job you are doing despite the fact you are in a rough spot. I have had many 'end of my rope' moments...having one now with a sweet 5 year old who is a bit too big for his britches. ;)
I wish I had some miracle words of wisdom for you. My only thought about the formula is maybe he doesn't like the bottle you are using?? I know when i started supplementing that my kids were SO picky to the kind of bottle they liked.
I would just keep offering the bottle as much as you can, so he'll take to it. I am sure this phase will leave you soon enough. Don't give up!!
Try Mother's Milk Tea to increase your milk supply. It tastes like black licorice, so if you're not a fan, add honey or sugar. I personally couldn't stand the stuff, so I take Fenugreek supplements. The label says to take one a day, but there's no way that'll work--you have to take enough to where you smell like syrup. You can ask your OB/GYN to make sure, but it's completely safe, and will definitely boost your milk supply. Please let us know how it goes!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenugreek
http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2134114&kwCatId=
I'm so sorry. Isaac is a horrible sleeper, too, and I've had lots of days where I was just exhausted and convinced that I would never feel rested again. I hate listening to him cry in the middle of the night, but I know that getting sleep is what's best for him and me. Hang in there. Surely we won't have kindergarteners who don't sleep, right?
One of those is rough, all together that sounds very overwhelming. I'm so sorry Jamie. Tell me the make and model of gun, I'll hook you up :-) Oh and I'm praying for you!
I agree with Missy, try taking Fenugreek. I took it with Jhonen, and am now taking it with Evie because my supply was weakening. I take 4 capsules in the evening with my prenatal, but you might have to take more or less depending on your body. I bought it at the GNC there by Target on 380. It really does work!! I'm sorry Finn hates to sleep! I know how you feel!!! It is VERY frustrating. Jhonen was like that and now Evie too. I feel like I'm failing most days, but I try to tell myself they have to sleep at some point, and this too shall pass. I've never tried to put my kids on a routine until they were older. Jhonen has one now that he's a toddler but during the first year I just tried to read their cues. It's so hard to keep them on routines anyway during the first year because babies change so often. Every time they have a growth spurt, or you think you've figured out what works, they change it up on you again, and you have to figure something else out that works. It's always a guessing game!! I'm right there with you, and it is rough!! If you ever want to come bring Finn over or get together to chat, you are welcome anytime!
One thing I did was mix my milk and formula so that it wasn't such a shock to him to taste something different. Plus he still got the nutrition from my milk while getting used to formula. I started with more of my milk and then slowly reduced the amount of my milk and increased the amount of formula until it was finally all formula. Always check with your Peditrician but we had not problems doing it with Carter. Just an idea.
As for the sleeping thing, Carter has never been a good sleeper. We did the hours of crying thing also which eventualy worked but took weeks. One thing we did and still do is play music for him as he goes to sleep. Seems to sooth him. They also have those sound activated soothers where you put them under the bed and when the baby cries they vibrate. We bought one but it didn't work well so we just ended up taking it back. But that is an idea too.
Hang in there it get's better.
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