So, Cory has been sick for the past week. He hasn't been able to help at all with the babies b/c we don't want to get them sick, so we don't want him handling them. So, that has made for a pretty tough week for me since I don't get any breaks, even at night. They aren't sleeping all that well. They are on completely different schedules. and I have been averaging 1-3 30 min. periods of sleep a night for the last week. Poor Cory has just felt so helpless! So, the other day, I was in the middle of a feeding, trying to burp Noah while still feeding Micah. Noah started shrieking and flailing around and Micah fell off the boppy pillow and started crying as well. Similar situations happen many times a day, but this time I was at my limit. Cory could tell, so a few minutes later, he comes in with a cloth diaper tied over his face and his hands drenched in sanitizer and asks what he can do. So sweet! Especially since he feels like crap! I didn't get a picture then, but he did the same thing the next evening and I took a picture then b/c it just makes me smile to know how much my husband cares.
So, if anyone has any tips about sleeping & twins (especially those who are/have twins), I would greatly appreciate it! Noah doesn't sleep day or night...he has averaged about 7-8 hours total per day for the last 3-4 days. He will not sleep unless he is swaddled and I rock and jiggle him at the same time for 30-60 minutes with a pacifier in his mouth, and sometimes not even then. This just started recently. Micah does okay as far as sleep goes...he justs wants to eat every 1 1/2-2 hours so at night as soon as I get Noah settled, Micah is ready to eat again...it makes for some long nights. I try to feed them together at night, but lately that would mean waking Noah up just after I got him to sleep. Anyway, any suggestions would be welcome!
Otherwise, things are going well. I love being a mom. Both babies are starting to smile a lot more. In fact, today I think Micah actually smiled b/c of something I did, which is fun. I love playing with them on the floor and dancing with them around the house. Although I am exhausted and a little overwhelmed, I am living a dream that I have had for a long time and I couldn't feel more blessed.
I don't have any advice, sorry. I've only ever handled one at a time and that alone could put me over the edge at times so you're already a more patient mom than I. I don't know how you feel about supplementing with formula, but Carter was a formula baby so I can tell you right now that they turn out just fine--you could try to hand over a feeding or two to Cory so you can get more sleep. I hear of a lot of moms of multiples that do this just for their own sanity. Keep up your positive mind set, it definitely helps!
ReplyDeleteI also don't have any advice, but I thought of something that may help... why don't you join a 'mommy board' or something, and get some advice there from other new mommies. I am on a board here; Utahcountymommies.com, and they have posts about everything. I'm sure you'll find another mom with twins! Anyways, I looked one up for you:
ReplyDeletehttp://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/mommyteams_individual.asp?gid=452
Hope it helps! I'm sure there are tons more... just google!
we have actually been talking to a lady from La Leche and she says I have an oversupply, not under supply of milk. The babies are having a hard time drinking from a "garden hose" as she put it, so they get frustrated, stop early and don't get enough hind milk to really satisfy them so they are hungry again really soon.
ReplyDeleteHey Misty!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Gail gave me the URL for your blog. NOW is the time I should be your visiting teacher, not before you moved, because I have all kinds of advice I could give you. But I won't spew it all out here on your forum, so maybe email me? jhmont at gmail dot com
We always "strongly encouraged" our twins to get on the same schedule, even when it killed me to wake one up. When one got hungry, they BOTH ate simultaneously every time because I couldn't stand the thought of one waking up right after the other drifted off. Too hard on mom. Do you feed them together? If not, give it a try. It sounds crazy but I am so thankful for that nurse who 'strongly encouraged' me to give it a go right after they were born. Prop lots of pillows around you to hold their weight, then just practice practice practice getting them both started while not letting them roll off. ;-)
Remember that your health is extrmely vital for them too so you NEED to get sleep. It is not being selfish to ask someone to come over to watch them while you nap--I wish I had done that more. I ended up in ER one day without a really, really severe headache (my OB's nurse told me to head in to ER to make sure it wasn't a delayed reaction to the c-section stuff...) Anyway, after going in to ER, the doc said it appeared to be extreme sleep deprivation that had brought it on. Don't let that happen to you!
You'll survive--isn't this a beautiful time??? I know how joyful you must feel when you're awake enough to notice. Do you just look at them...two of them... and just feel amazed? I still feel amazed when I see two cute little toddler boys running around. What a miracle.
Email me. :)
mist I totally agree with your friend- you have to sleep or everybody suffers. I don't know how you do it with two newborns at night- you are amazing. I also agree with your friend- it is not selfish or weird to hire a babysitter and take a nap :) I think I might do that tomorrow :) Terrell's out of town and Leah and Owen are sick so I need a little break :)
ReplyDeleteI think Sydney woud have slept through the night by 2 months old but I never waited to find out because I would wake her up everytime Kate woke up and would feed her too. Especially if you are nursing. Get some rest and we will catch each other on the phone someday :-)
ReplyDelete