I am going to lose my mind

[rbp]

The baby won't stop screaming today. I made the stupid decision to make a somewhat nice dinner, and now I have no one to eat it with. H normally gets home around 7:30, but he texted "very sick patient, don't wait up." I am losing my mind because M screamed the entire time I was cooking. I kept taking breaks to try and calm him to no avail. I wore him in the Bjorn while I was chopping vegetables, but I got really hot and it was making my back sore. Now I am feeding him because that's the only thing that will soothe him, which means that I can't even eat my dinner. I didn't even have time to do my physical therapy exercises today. I cannot fathom how I'm ever going to be a functioning member of society again, let alone next week when I go back to work part time.

Today sucks.

[andthentherewere10]

Sept 22, 2014 19:19:29 GMT -5 rbp said:

The baby won't stop screaming today. I made the stupid decision to make a somewhat nice dinner, and now I have no one to eat it with. H normally gets home around 7:30, but he texted "very sick patient, don't wait up." I am losing my mind because M screamed the entire time I was cooking. I kept taking breaks to try and calm him to no avail. I wore him in the Bjorn while I was chopping vegetables, but I got really hot and it was making my back sore. Now I am feeding him because that's the only thing that will soothe him, which means that I can't even eat my dinner. I didn't even have time to do my physical therapy exercises today. I cannot fathom how I'm ever going to be a functioning member of society again, let alone next week when I go back to work part time.

Today sucks.

Is he 6 wks old? That's the worst time. It gets much better. My baby loved listening to the washer and dryer at that age. I would actually close him into the laundry room and he'd listen and asleep. Loud and rhythmic helped. I'm sorry.

[sjh722]

I'm sorry. Some days suck. It gets better. ((hugs))

Feed him, eat your dinner when he goes to sleep, and have a glass of wine.

The first few weeks back to work required a lot of preparation but you get into the swing of things and it's nice to have a routine.

[betsyray]

I'm sorry newborns are really hard, especially with an absent H. Take it minute by minute. It will get easier but I know that knowledge may not help right now. Can you do something to pamper yourself once you get the baby down? Glass of wine? Hot shower (or bath, if your foot isn't up to it)? Hugs.

[aspentosh]

Seriously, I know it's hard to imagine, but it DOES get better. The first 3-4 months were miserable for me. Not that that makes it easier to get through it... but eye on the prize?

Hugs.

[Deleted]

I totally feel you. I still have not showered and am wearing my pajamas from last night... and my H was home with me for the most part. All she wanted to do was snack all day, I barely was able to squeeze in lunch, and we just finished dinner. From 4-7:30 was the worst.

[SJ]

I am also unshowered!!

Hugs. He cannot possibly scream forever.

[cricketwife]

I'm so sorry. I cant remember how your mobility is but can you get outside? That often serves as a "reset " button.

[rbp]

He doesn't really go "down" for the night. He just randomly sleeps in small stretches 24 hours a day. I am so tired. I need to go to sleep ASAP.

I don't *think* there's anything wrong. He seems perfectly content now that he's eating.

He's seven weeks today. He actually had a few pretty chill days before today, but that's small comfort now.

[water*drop]

I'm sorry. Newborns are hard.

[rbp]

Sept 22, 2014 19:28:01 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

I'm so sorry. I cant remember how your mobility is but can you get outside? That often serves as a "reset " button.

Yeah. I can get around, just slow going down the stairs. I need to take the dog out before I go to bed. That's an ordeal in itself since I'm alone and have to take the baby too.

[havarti]

All mammals go through a cranky evening phase at 6 to 8 weeks. I know that's not great to hear right now, but for most, there's an end not too far in the future. Good luck mama!

[gibbinator]

I'm right there with you today. I think ds2 caught the cold the rest of us have. *Hugs*. Hope you have a good night as a trade off.

[ssmjlm]

Hugs. The witching hours were the worst for us. I don't think we ate together for quite some time. It was hard and we spent a lot of time wandering around outside b/c that helped calm her besides the boob.

FWIW, 6w was when E fell into a better pattern with day and night. We sort of set 10pm at "bed" and did her routine and then we all went to sleep.

[Deleted]

Could he have (silent) reflux? That is one of my fears. Every time A has even a hint of spit up and tenses up, I think "ack, is this reflux?!"

Also, how is your sister doing? Would you consider having your mom back (shame on me, I know)?

[countthestars]

I'm so sorry. I remember those days. They will get better, even though it doesn't seem like it.

[dancingirl21]

Hugs. The newborn age is so hard. Hang in there. Drink wine!

[barefootcontessa]

I would think gas issues. If you lay him on his belly what happens?

[rbp]

Sept 22, 2014 19:32:44 GMT -5 @mrsspunky said:

Could he have (silent) reflux? That is one of my fears. Every time A has even a hint of spit up and tenses up, I think "ack, is this reflux?!"

Also, how is your sister doing? Would you consider having your mom back (shame on me, I know)?

Lol, thanks for making me laugh. ;-) I'm more tired since my mom left, but I'm actually less stressed on the whole. I am so angry at her for making me deal with her drinking problem and her lying about it. She's a good mom and I care for her, but H and I decided that we have to out our foot down in the future that she can't drink, period, when she's in our house or with M.

My sister is fine, thanks for asking. She had a really bad stomach bug and went home last Wednesday.

[leonard131]

I am so sorry- six weeks is tough. You think it is getting easier and then they like to " ha ha sucker I am going to make your life miserable". I remember breaking down in complete hysterics one night when we tried to grill a nice dinner because he was crying so bad.

[greycat]

It will get better! DS had days like that. Non stop eating / comfort nursing was usually a sign of a growth spurt for him.

Eat while nursing. I spilled so much food on DS when he was little. I wouldn't have eaten otherwise!

[toesie]

Week 6 was awful for us. But after that, it got much, much, much better.
Hang in there! You've been doing great.

[Blue Moon]

Hang in there! Those days/nights are enough to make anyone lose their mind. It's even more frustrating to have to do it alone the majority of the time. I spent nearly all of Friday covered in spit up rocking my screaming baby in the glider and thought the screaming would never end. Hopefully your H can get home earlier than expected.

I'm the least qualified person to give any kind of advice, but when B gets like that we cycle through all the 5 s's from the Happiest Baby on the Block. Swaddle, side, swing, shush, and suck. So I swaddle her real tight, turn her on her side, swing/jiggle her in my arms, give her a pacifier/boob to suck, and play a loud white noise app in her ear. Sometimes it works, and of course sometimes it doesn't. Just keep telling yourself you're doing the best you can. I totally get it. Many hugs!

[rbp]

Yeah I really should have run upstairs for a SwaddleMe. I suck at doing it with a blanket.

I can get him calmed down, it just sometimes only lasts a minute or two. I'm sticking to frozen dinners until H quits working late!

[rbp]

Look how sweetly he's sleeping now. Too bad I have to pick him up to take Biscuit out. (wilted)

[bowies]

I eat breakfast and lunch hunched over the coffee table with a baby on my boob. Drape a burp cloth over his body in case you drop food ( and you have Biscuit as a vacuum, so bonus ).

MOTY over here!

6 weeks was the height of his gassy pissiness too. He was gulping more air but hadn't really learned how to fart on command yet.

[whitepicketfence]

Big hugs.

I had a few days like that last week when all three kids were sick. I ugly cried each of those nights after they went to bed. My nerves were so shot from listening to the baby cry for so long. It sucked balls.

::: passes around a huge bottle of wine:::

[rbp]

Thanks ladies. H just called and said he was in his way home. I kept my contempt to myself because I know working 14-hour days is no picnic either. I am feeding M again and am going to pass him off to H when I'm done so I can at least get a couple hours of uninterrupted sleep.

[h]

Hugs. That sucks, I'm sorry.

[litasail]

Any chance he's in the six week growth spurt? nurshable.com/2012/05/27/six-week-growth-spurt/

Hang in there, mama. It really does get sooooo much better.