Sunday, November 11, 2012

Baby doesn't sleep

My impression of babies is that they drink milk and they sleep.

When Little N first came home from the hospital, that's what she did.

Ah.. she also cried. She cried when she wanted milk and after drinking, she sleeps.

Of course, I also very quickly found out that babies pee and poo as well. A lot.

But just before Little N turned a month, she started crying more..

A WHOLE LOT MORE.

And not only when she wanted milk.

She cried and she cried. She cried when she wanted milk. She cried when she was drinking. She cried when we changed diaper. She cried when she wanted to sleep.. but oh, she wouldn't sleep. She'd doze off in my arms but once I put her down, she'd cry and she will not sleep.

Yes, that's right. She doesn't sleep.

She sleeps okay at night, waking up twice or thrice. But in the day, she'd stay awake almost all day, save for a couple of 15 mins or 30 minutes nap if I'm lucky. I started tracking how long she would stay awake and panicked when I realised she was up from 830am to 3pm.. and then 330pm to 8pm.

She'd wake up from her naps crying. Or she'd cry in her nap and then continue sleeping for a while more.

And the crying got louder and louder as she gets more and more exhausted.

Until she goes hoarse and her mummy also starts to cry.

Well meaning relatives and friends tell me "Babies do that."

"All babies cry."

"I remember my baby crying a lot too."

"It's colic. There isn't any reason why babies cry."

But I refused to believe that Little N is crying like that without any reasons. Finally, I suspected she had silent reflux and started the medication prescribed by the pediatrician. And thankfully, she got better.

Oh, she still doesn't always nap very well and still fusses at times, during some feedings and especially in the evenings.. but at least she naps once or twice a day for longer stretches now and doesn't cry as much.

Well meaning relatives and friends say "Things will get better."

This I believe and pray it'd indeed be so.

One of the rare occasion Little N nap in her cot. 
I tend to put her in a rocking chair so she gets rocked to sleep.

14 comments:

My Sinfonia said...

A big hug...

Vi said...

It must have been so stressful before you discovered the reflux. Glad it's better now. Add oil!

Petunia Lee said...

She looks sooooooo cute!! May she start crying less and giggling more!!

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Thanks Petunia! She knows how to smile now! Looking forward to the giggles..

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Thanks Vivian! :)

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Thank you YM..

Blur Ting said...

You must have heard this a million times, but they go through phases. All I can remember is there is no time for a new mommy to rest at all. Not even for 30 minutes. It's an endless cycle of feeding, burping, pooing, crying, rocking, dozing, more crying.... but it'll get better.

Open Kitchen Concept said...

You are right, Ting. I shall be patient :) Thanks!

Wen-ai said...

Hang in there! It will get better! Caring for a newborn is all about trials and errors. Don't be too hard on yourself ok? Have you tried swaddling Little N? Most newborns I know secretly enjoy to be swaddled. They will protest in the beginning but after a while, the snug feeling that they get from swaddling calms them and will usually sleep better.

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Thanks Wen-Ai! Little N is 2 months now! Heheh. Things are definitely stabilizing :) I know what you mean about swaddling. I've done it - she woke a few times because she tries to struggle out of the swaddle so I stopped swaddling after her full month :)

Malar said...

From my experience, babies are like that the first 3-4 months!
It's tough time for you..... Hope she sleeps better so that mommy can rest! ;)

Vi said...

How's baby? Just came back from Bj. It was better than expected!

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Oh Vivian, it's good you are back. BJ must be getting cold now! Heard it snowed recently. Baby is more stable now.. she still hates to nap but she's much much more predictable.. (or else I've grown smarter, eh hem.. or better at understanding her, hahah)

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Thanks Malar!