Need help with sleep...feeling very tired and frustrated

A few days ago I was SO excited my LO's were sleeping in their room and I was finally in my bed. They started it off with waking twice (1:30 and 4:30) after eating around 9:30-10. I thought ok...not too bad I can handle this. Keep in mind I have been used to sleeping almost the whole night through with very minimal waking since they slept on my nursing pillow. I think I was spoiled. Now they are waking more frequently every night and even worse at the same time which really frustrates me because I just haven't been successful at tandem (and getting them back off me) anywhere but on the couch downstairs which is a lot of work every hour or two. SO I'm exhausted and trying not to give up hope. Each time they wake up they eat really well and go right back to sleep. They've been really fussy and clingy during the day so I'm kind of wondering if they're going through a growth spurt and pray it will be over soon. They're 15 weeks. I feel like they are never going to STTN and right now I'm hating breastfeeding because they scream at me at night because they're not getting the milk they want (another thought to the growth spurt) and it seems like people who formula feed are having STTN babies by now. I'm so envious. If they'd just wake up once or twice I'd feel like I could survive but this waking up almost every hour is for the birds!!! I'm loving sleeping in my bed but feel like I'm never there. I have HSHHC and will skim through again today but I don't like letting them cry and if they're hungry they need to eat. Sorry this is so long and disorganized. The lack of sleep is really getting to me.

 

:hug: I know it's tough going on little sleep. All babies sleep through the night at different ages, regardless of if they are BF or FF. It does sound like your little ones might be going through a growth spurt.
I hope they go through this stage for you really fast! Hang in there, Momma!

 

HSHHC doesn't recomend CIO for young babies. It will help you start a daytime and bedtime schedule/routine which will help at night. Is there no way to set up a place to feed them upstairs so you don't have to trek up and down the stairs? I also wouldn't be so sure they're screaming bc of not getting enough milk, is might just be regular fussiness, teething, gas, ect. But it could be a growth spurt, which means it will pass if you just keep chugging along for a while. ((hugs)) I hope you feel better. If all else fails a few more nights sleeping while they nurse won't hurt. I did it most nights till mine were around 4 mos.

 

It really sounds like it might be a growth spurt. I think that NOT STTN at 15 weeks old is way more common than STTN at 15 weeks. I exclusively FF and mine didn't consistently STTN (12 hours) until 6 months old. They started to do longer stretches at 12 weeks but it was very hit-or-miss and it sounds like that's what yours are doing too. It sounds like you are doing the right thing by feeding your babies when they are hungry and at the same time creating healthy sleep habits by letting them sleep in their crib.

Hang in there, hopefully it is a growth spurt that won't last long. :hug: I hope you get some rest soon.

 

I'm sorry. ((hugs)) Sleep deprivation is killer, isn't it?
I don't have any good advice for you but if it makes you feel better, my FF babies are still waking once or twice at night, sometimes 3 or 4 times, to eat.

 

At 15 weeks we were up 2-3 times a night and we FF so like pp's said I think not STTN is way more common. Not that this helps your situation, but just know that you are not alone. It does sound like a growth spurt so I would just keep doing what you are doing right now. Can your DH/partner get up with you to help you at least change and prep a baby while you feed the other? And then take, swaddle, cuddle and put that baby down to sleep while you feed the second? :hug:

 

Do you have the ez to nurse pillow? That was my salvation for my LO's. Yours are getting big, though so I can see the problem. How about taking the couch cushions and parking them on the floor around you for extra support? Or just rearrange so your couch could fit in the more comfortable area for you (baby's room, your room, etc.)- It's a little less convenient but who cares if it works for you. Also, my little guy is 14 weeks and still waking frequently too. Every evening is different and he never seems consistent with how long he sleeps, but I do find that if I give him a bath, a little tylenol for his teething, and a good routine ending with him getting to bed by 7/7:30 at the latest, he does sometimes sleep through for 5-6 hours, which is considered STTN acc to doctors. HSHHC does say that studies show FF, BF and tube fed babies are all alike w/ re: to how long it takes to STTN, but I sympathize because my FF twins STTN at 12 weeks and never looked back. Hugs!

 

:hug: Sorry it can be so frustrating to take a step forward and then go back. I would say to just try and hang in there. Sounds like a growth spurt and they are just hungry. Can you give a bottle of EBM to the baby who is not nursing so that they can be fed at the same time?? Mine didnt STTN until they were 9 months old and at 15 weeks were definitely getting up at least 3 times a night :wacko: :lazy: Hang in there.

 

QUOTE(mel&3 @ Mar 12 2009, 11:01 AM) [snapback]1224980[/snapback]
Do you have the ez to nurse pillow? That was my salvation for my LO's. Yours are getting big, though so I can see the problem. How about taking the couch cushions and parking them on the floor around you for extra support?


I do have the pillow (that's where they used to sleep at night :blush: ) but I have a hard time balancing it when I sit on the floor. They are really starting to outgrow! Their knees hit the end and their little legs dangle off leaving them feeling very insecure when the pillow is wobbly as it is. That's a good idea about the couch cushions or at least maybe I can arrange the couch pillows to fit where the nursing pillow will be to support it enough to allow me to put them down on a blanket so I can get up and put them back to bed.....or if I can wake DH up he can get them and put them back. We'll keep working on it. We'll get there one day. I hope

 

QUOTE(DATJMom @ Mar 12 2009, 12:02 PM) [snapback]1225084[/snapback]
:hug: Sorry it can be so frustrating to take a step forward and then go back. I would say to just try and hang in there. Sounds like a growth spurt and they are just hungry. Can you give a bottle of EBM to the baby who is not nursing so that they can be fed at the same time?? Mine didnt STTN until they were 9 months old and at 15 weeks were definitely getting up at least 3 times a night :wacko: :lazy: Hang in there.

Definitely one step forward and one back but eventually you get to where you need to go, right? I have several appointments coming up in the next 6 weeks so I'm trying to get enough EBM stored up for that and then I'll start the bottle at night. I have a hard time finding time to pump much during the day and now that they are off of me I'm able to pump a good amount (2-4 oz) after the 4ish am feeding so I quit forcing myself during the day.

It's good to see I'm definitely not in the minority and it's normal for them to be waking so much. I guess I was scared I was making them wake up more since I moved them to their room. I suppose it hasn't even been a week so we'll keep chugging away and hope we get it all down one of these days. I'll read through HSHHC again. Daytime is still a jumbled mess.

Also good to know ff babies aren't always different. That takes away my frustration with breastfeeding a bit. :blush:

 

Daytime is a jumbled mess for us too. Hang in there, you're not alone! You're doing a great job!!

 

When I used the EZ2 nurse pillow even when they were newborns, I found I had to put a regular pillow underneath it on either side in order to balance it. Have you tried that? Might help.

Also I've been reading HSHHC and my tip for you since you are short on time is to first just read the chapter on Months 1 to 4 and then his section in the back on multiples ... then you can read the rest when you have time. (And he does say in there that sleep training can be OK for 6 to 8-week-olds if you are desperately exhausted or need to return to work, and that it does work for a lot of 8 to 16-week-olds. He definitely doesn't push it at that age and says if they are hungry, feed them, but he does talk about ways you can do sleep training that young if they're waking for other reasons.)

 

I agreeeeee! it is way more common for babies at 15wks old to not STTN yet! I remember being so frustrated reading about others babies who STTN, and mine wouldn't! Hang in there, it will come. For now, feed your babies, it is probably a growth spurt, which means it will pass : )
Mine did not STTN until 8months and I bf.

 

Thanks again!! A quick update...last night seemed a bit better and they even woke up EVERY time together. I did make an adjustment though. I started the night with nursing them in their room on the floor with couch pillows supporting either side of the EZ 2 Nurse pillow. That worked great except I still couldn't get them off me easily. Sadly, DH didn't get my text for 15 minutes and I was a little afraid I'd be stuck forever. LOL That gave me some time to problem solve. We have 2 Boppy Loungers. The sides are just about the height of the couch pillows and it would give me somewhere to lay each of them down so I got those set up before we went to bed and I'm sooooo glad I did since they woke up together each time (except for morning...Jocelyn woke at 6 and Walker woke at 7). It worked like a charm and I only had one time I had to rock Walker because he didn't settle again when I put him in his crib. They didn't get up as much also! They fell asleep a little before 8:30 and woke at 11:30, 1:45, and 4:30. Maybe things are looking up. Hope it continues to get better but last night made me happy.

 

I am glad you had a good night last night and I hope each night improves for you! Hang in there Momma, you are doing great!

 

Mine are 9.5 months old, formula fed with solids and we are still not STTN. I feel for ya!

 

yay for a good night! hang in there; you are one of my heroes for EBFing twins! hopefully your LO's will start sleeping longer stretches at night before too long.

 

QUOTE(SC_Amy @ Mar 13 2009, 01:51 PM) [snapback]1226755[/snapback]
yay for a good night! hang in there; you are one of my heroes for EBFing twins! hopefully your LO's will start sleeping longer stretches at night before too long.

awww thanks :blush:

 

Thought of you today. How is the sleeping going? Just wondering if you could update us

 

QUOTE(LMW1015 @ Mar 13 2009, 07:58 AM) [snapback]1226255[/snapback]
Thanks again!! A quick update...last night seemed a bit better and they even woke up EVERY time together. I did make an adjustment though. I started the night with nursing them in their room on the floor with couch pillows supporting either side of the EZ 2 Nurse pillow. That worked great except I still couldn't get them off me easily. Sadly, DH didn't get my text for 15 minutes and I was a little afraid I'd be stuck forever. LOL That gave me some time to problem solve. We have 2 Boppy Loungers. The sides are just about the height of the couch pillows and it would give me somewhere to lay each of them down so I got those set up before we went to bed and I'm sooooo glad I did since they woke up together each time (except for morning...Jocelyn woke at 6 and Walker woke at 7). It worked like a charm and I only had one time I had to rock Walker because he didn't settle again when I put him in his crib. They didn't get up as much also! They fell asleep a little before 8:30 and woke at 11:30, 1:45, and 4:30. Maybe things are looking up. Hope it continues to get better but last night made me happy.



I just have to tell you that you are a better woman than me! I think you are a ROCKSTAR...you are doing GREAT!
Linda

 

QUOTE(mel&3 @ Apr 21 2009, 03:00 PM) [snapback]1282835[/snapback]
Thought of you today. How is the sleeping going? Just wondering if you could update us

Well thanks for thinkin of me Honestly last night was AWFUL!!! The 2 nights before were better. They both only woke twice - and Walker slept a 5 hr stretch which I was really excited about. Well last night - UGH! He was up 30 minutes after I put him down - ALL night - it would take me 15-45 minutes to get him back to sleep and within 30 minutes of putting him down he was awake again - if not awake when I laid him down. There were a few times I just had to let him fuss a bit to go back to sleep. I was getting so frustrated. DD has gotten to the point of sleeping with me - which I'm trying to break - we brought a PNP into our room to put her in. They were waking each other up and I was getting tag teamed all night. ANYWAY - so it goes - not great but it goes. I think I've decided on days my friend comes over with her 2 little girls who are VERY hyper they do not sleep well at all. I don't know if it's from overstimulation or what. She had to babysit this morning so I'm hoping tonight won't be just as bad. I need sleep. We're moving in 2 days and have a whole house to pack so the stress level has been very high. Hoping once we get to DH's parents house (living with them while he is in training for Army soon) we can get a more solid schedule down and get this sleep thing straightened out. Thanks for thinking of me though. Praying for a good solid 6-8 hours of straight sleep one of these days.

 

QUOTE(LindaM @ Apr 21 2009, 04:47 PM) [snapback]1282942[/snapback]
I just have to tell you that you are a better woman than me! I think you are a ROCKSTAR...you are doing GREAT!
Linda


Thanks I don't know if things are better or worse. LOL We started doing bottles at night to get them to bed but in the middle of the night if they wake up together I still nurse like that - with the Boppy Loungers. I think I'm still in the midst of the 4 month sleep regression. CRAZY times. Looking forward to sleep again one day!!