Need Help!

[angel01]

I am the proud new mom on Elizabeth (13 weeks).  We started implementing EASY at about 5 weeks and were going really well.  We were on a routine that worked for the whole family.  The problem came about two weeks ago when me and DH both came down with a really bad flu.  It was so bad that if either of us raised our head we were throwing up.  My mom came and got elizabeth for the night.  If I was not stuck in the bathroom I would have been bawling my eyesout as she left!  I was lucky that I had been able to freeze a good supply of breast milk that mom could give her for the night. 

Later that night my mom called me and said Elizabeth had been throwing up and she had called our doc.  He said to give her an oz of water every hour.  If she could't keep that down we would have to take her to the hospital to be checked for dehydration.  She was able to keep it down and stayed at grammy's until the next afternoon.  I was still not feeling 100% but felt I really should be breastfeeding her so mom bought her back.  With her illness her sleep and nap times have gotten off schedule.  Before the illness her bedtime was 11:00pm ( I know this is late but it worked for our family and gave her time in the evening with DH)  She would sleep until 8-8:30.  Eat and activity until 11:30-12:00, nap until 2:00.  Eat and Activity until 4, nap until 6:00pm.  Eat and play with DH until 10:00, and be down by 11:00.

Since the illness her schedule has been put off by a couple of hours.  She won't go to bed until 1:00-2:00 and sleeps until 11:00-12:00 the next morning.  How can I shift this back to an earlier time?  Also, since the illness she refuses to go to sleep without being attached to the breast.  I have tried not giving in but when she cries so much that she gets hoarse and shakes (20mins!) It breaks my heart.

Help!

Angela

[rinajack]

Hi there.

I think there are a number of issues here, and now that your lo is a bit older they are coming to the fore. I found that from about 3 months, routine became very important since the lo becomes so much more aware of the world around them.

I am going to move this to EASY area....I think you are going to have to treat it pretty much like starting again with creating your routine.

[* Paula *]

Hi there,

Can you post what a typical day looks like. i.e E, A - how long, Wind down routine, and S - how long, so that we can get a better picture of what your day looks like.

Paula

[angel01]

Thank you for your help.  Here is a break down of our day yesterday.

Slept until 12:00pm.
E-Changed her diaper and fed her until 12:20 (She has only ever ate on one side for 10min)
A-12:20-1:45 play with our piggies, sat in our fisher price infant/toddler chair, played on the floor with soft cube toys
S- our wind down routine starts when her eyes get red and she starts to rub her eyes.  We do into her room and sit down in the rocking chair.  We sing songs and rock.  Since she was sick she gets really upset, fussing and crying until I give into her (15 mins) and give her my boob.  She snacks for 2-3 min and goes to sleep.  Before she is totally off I move her to her crib.  She napped until 3:30. 
E- 3:30-3:45 Change her diaper and eat on the other side.
A- 3:45-4:45 much the same as the earlier Activity
S- 4:45-5:30 by the time she went to sleep she only got a about 35 min sleep.  She woke up as her dad walked through the door.  I had to leave her to go to an appointment.  When I got bak he said she played with him until 7:00 (she fussed a bit and when he tried to give her her bottle at 6:30 she got really upset and spit it out of her mouth)  She then laid down on the floor and fell asleep when he went to put it back in the fridge.  She slept until 7:45 when I got home. 
E-7:45-8:00
A - Played on the floor and in her chair until 9:00.  When then when to her room and read a book (over and over again!) 
S- 9:30 again with the boob for 5 min.  She woke up at 11:15 long enough to eat a DF and then was completely asleep again by 11:30.  She slept through until 8:00 when I had to wake her and take her to her 3 month Dr. appointment.  (Healthy- 13lbs 12oz except for some eczema on her cheeks and arm) 

Any suggestions?  First I would like to stop me being a prop to go to sleep.  This ealy has only started since she had the flu.

Angela

[rebecaq]

Hi Angela,

{{{HUGS}}} it's tough to get back on track after an illness.

I think that the first thing that needs to be addressed is the boob=sleep association. If she's only nursing for 2-3 mins then she just needs to suckle to soothe herself.  Does she take a paci? This could be the best way to tackle this problem. and don't worry about it interrupting you BF relationship with her. At 13 weeks she's very unlikely to get nipple confusion    Also, unless instructed to by your doc you should keep on BF her. Just try not to breathe on her ( a hospital mask can help) and wash your hands very well before BF her.  Your breastmilk will have anitbodies for her 

As for her routine, keep things low key for a few days.  She needs lots of time to rest and recover.  Also, I think your wind down routine may be a bit too long for her age, so try to sing only one song and then do shh/pat to send her off to sleep.

Start the day at 7 or 8 (whichever you had before) even if she went to bed late at night.  It's important for you to implement the routine since she's not capable at the moment.  You will probably have a few rough days, but I'm sure you can get her back on track very soon!

If you need any help or support don't hesitate to give us a holler!

- Beca

[angel01]

thanks for the advise.  I will try waking her uo in the morning.  As for the paci, she did use one up until 4 weeks ago.  Instead she would use our little finger.  The nurse at the hospital when she was born gave is that suggestion.  It worked up until she got sick, now she will only cry when I try to give her my finger instead of my boob.  For a couple of days she would take my finger if I dipped it in water.  Now she won't even "fall" for that trick.  Any suggestions on how to get her to sleep without crying for 30 min. or so to the point of exhustion?

Angela