Em
April 7th 04, 03:13 AM
"Jennifer from Colorado" > wrote in message
> Seems that B has hit her 3 week growth spurt. She's been eating
> constantly today and was up more than usual last night. I was very
> excited earlier when an entire hour went by and she didn't eat. I'm
> dreading tonight.
>
> 2 questions:
> Am I going to be up ALL night, or will I possibly get to sleep in
> hour-long increments?
> How long is this likely to last?
IMO, how much sleep you're able to cobble together is partially based on
how well you sleep to begin with (i.e. do you fall asleep easily, etc.)
I find that I am usually very able to fall asleep and sleep for
hour-long increments. DS went through what I guess was a 6 month growth
spurt that lasted almost a month (I think) and I got quite used to 1 to
1.5 to *maybe* two hour long pieces of sleep. It was like he was a
newborn again! I find his switching from one sleep pattern to another is
what is hardest on me. Once I adjust to whatever his new schedule is, I
feel fairly well rested even if I am wakened near hourly. The adjustment
period can be a real b*tch though. It goes both ways too--over the last
week he has been switching back to sleeping in 3 to 4 hours chunks of
time and I find myself out-of-synch with him again. Waking at various
times when he isn't ready to nurse, offering to nurse him because I'm
*sure* that is why I woke up, only to have him purse his lips and turn
away, and so forth. When we are in-synch, I wake precisely when he is
ready to nurse and we both drop back off again quickly. Also,
co-sleeping will likely greatly enhance your ability to sleep the
maximum amount possible. I found that I also feel better rested if I go
to bed with DS and get up with him in the morning--resisting the
temptation to stay up later or get up earlier to "get things done." The
way I look at it, is if you have 11 or 12 hours of nighttime sleeping in
which to cobble together 6-8 hours worth of sleep, you are likely to end
up better rested than if you only start with 8 possible hours of the
night ahead of you.
Anyway, to get back to your questions. In my experience, DS's early
growth spurts only lasted a few days (usually about 3 days maximum).
This 6 month one, or whatever was going on, was a whole different story!
Best wishes and go to bed early!!
--
Em
mama to L-baby, 6 months old!
> Seems that B has hit her 3 week growth spurt. She's been eating
> constantly today and was up more than usual last night. I was very
> excited earlier when an entire hour went by and she didn't eat. I'm
> dreading tonight.
>
> 2 questions:
> Am I going to be up ALL night, or will I possibly get to sleep in
> hour-long increments?
> How long is this likely to last?
IMO, how much sleep you're able to cobble together is partially based on
how well you sleep to begin with (i.e. do you fall asleep easily, etc.)
I find that I am usually very able to fall asleep and sleep for
hour-long increments. DS went through what I guess was a 6 month growth
spurt that lasted almost a month (I think) and I got quite used to 1 to
1.5 to *maybe* two hour long pieces of sleep. It was like he was a
newborn again! I find his switching from one sleep pattern to another is
what is hardest on me. Once I adjust to whatever his new schedule is, I
feel fairly well rested even if I am wakened near hourly. The adjustment
period can be a real b*tch though. It goes both ways too--over the last
week he has been switching back to sleeping in 3 to 4 hours chunks of
time and I find myself out-of-synch with him again. Waking at various
times when he isn't ready to nurse, offering to nurse him because I'm
*sure* that is why I woke up, only to have him purse his lips and turn
away, and so forth. When we are in-synch, I wake precisely when he is
ready to nurse and we both drop back off again quickly. Also,
co-sleeping will likely greatly enhance your ability to sleep the
maximum amount possible. I found that I also feel better rested if I go
to bed with DS and get up with him in the morning--resisting the
temptation to stay up later or get up earlier to "get things done." The
way I look at it, is if you have 11 or 12 hours of nighttime sleeping in
which to cobble together 6-8 hours worth of sleep, you are likely to end
up better rested than if you only start with 8 possible hours of the
night ahead of you.
Anyway, to get back to your questions. In my experience, DS's early
growth spurts only lasted a few days (usually about 3 days maximum).
This 6 month one, or whatever was going on, was a whole different story!
Best wishes and go to bed early!!
--
Em
mama to L-baby, 6 months old!