Premature and sleeping issues - just found BW

[Wifen]

Hi!

I have a son who are almost 6 weeks now but was borne 5 weeks early. Our instructions from the doctor was to have him close to us as much as possible to "make up" for the lost time in the womb. So we have carried him a lot and he sleeps between me and my husband in our bed. We have always walked and rocking him too sleep but now he is to heavy (5 kg) for my back. I got the BW book of a friend and have recently read it and are trying to get him to sleep on his own. He was already on EASY schedule so that is not the problem, even though he only is awake for about 1 hour including feeding before he starts to yawn again. So we put him to bed and we lie beside him to reassure him when he starts to cry. The problem is that his tummy is quite worried and disturbs him when he is settling in. And then he starts to fuss and cry of the tummy and then he gets OT and cries for that reason. What do we do? The last two night he has cried for over two hours and then he is hungry again so I feed him and maybe then he goes to sleep but that more of exhaustion.

Even for the naps he cries a lot and it really tears me apart emotionally. Are we trying this too soon or to fast or to sooth? He also fuss and groan a lot in his sleep, probably because his tummy is worried. He usually groan and curl up when he start to wake up as well, usually takes 20 minutes. Does this disturb his A time? The last days there has been very little A time before he starts to yawn again, it that normal? I have sorted out everything in my food intake that can upset his stomach such as cow milk product, beans, onion and so on as well. I have no clue what o do more.

A lot of questions, I am very grateful for all tips that you can give me *worried first time Swedish mom*

 

[woopster]

Hi, what is it you want to achieve? Are you happy with him in your bed? Do you want him to sleep in his own bed?  Can you post what your day is like. How long is he awake for? How long does he sleep for?

You have to remember too that although he is 6 weeks old he is really only 1 week. He is very much a newborn. And being a bit early - he will tend to sleep a lot more than usual. 

You say his tummy worries him - what do you mean?

How often does he feed? Are you breast feeding?

[Wifen]

Hi!

I want him to get to sleep on his own without us walking and rocking him to sleep. For now I think it is OK to have him in our bed but will change after the summer holiday to get him to sleep in his crib.

Usually we get up at 7.30. I feed him (he is a very fast eater and only breastfeeds for 10 min approx.) and then change his nappy. He usually start to yawn quite soon after feeding or nappychange. I try to activate him a little by talking to him and so. After the third yawn I try to get him to sleep by going into your bedroom and laying him on his pillow. This is between 30 min and 1 hour after he has woken up. Usually it take a while to get him to sleep. Before he usually slept for 1 hour. So I usually breastfeed him every second hour but now it goes approx 2 1/2 - 3 hours between which is what I want. Unfortunately it has taken up to 2 hours sometimes of cries and then he is hungry again and then I feed him and after that he might get to sleep mostly because of exhaustion I think. How do I get him comfortable to sleep on his own? He is so used of getting to sleep in our arms. And all the crying really kills me...

He hasn't slept this much earlier but this was before we realised that he has been OT and overstimulated a lot so I think we was in a bad cycle that made him eat more often and not so good sleep in between. At night after we Finlay has gotten him to sleep, I breastfeed him laying down and usually he gets to sleep afterwards.

The stomach problem is that he gulps air when he eats and usually he doesn't burp afterwards despite our efforts. The pain of the air in the stomach hurts and he groans a lot due to that I think. Usually it ends with a puke or that the air comes out from the other end. He tends to puke while he sleeps as well which is a little worrying (the PJ's getting wet and sometimes he gets it wrong and starts to cuff).

We swaddle him now and it helps a little as he is mostly a spirited baby.

[woopster]

Hi, I think first thing in the morning it might be worth just feeding him, changing him and putting him straight back to bed. I think he may be over tired.

You might want to check out the breast feeding board for some advice on positioning.  How are you winding him? Is he held upright over your shoulder?

For sleeping you could try putting him to bed while he is just drowsy. Have you tried pat/shh?

Also have a look at the reflux boards. He could be eating frequently because he has reflux. The constant eating soothes the throat.

[Wifen]

Ok, thank you very much for the tips    I will check the other boards about breastfeeding and reflux. I have also a doctor's appointment this week and will ask about if he possible have reflux. 

We try with pat/shh and shh works if he's not too OT. We now wind him down in our arms, at least we don't go around and rockin him any more to get him to sleep.