Post by skiesthelimit on Sept 20, 2012 7:27:14 GMT -5
So I'm in Canada and we get 1 year mat leave (well 50 weeks). I decided to take 27 weeks and have DH take the last 23 weeks. Well I go back on Oct 1. When I made the decision I was like "Yay it'll be great, he'll be 6 months by then and for sure STTN!" Yah... last night he was up 3 times to nurse... he is no where near STTN. My first week back I work 3, 12 hour shifts back to back. I'm going to loose my mind. At least most nights he is up to nurse and right back to sleep. But still it's so hard only getting 3 hour stretches of sleep. And now with 3 boards to follow I'm going to bed way too late. There's nothing I can do about my decision now I just need to vent. I have GAD so the whole thought of going back to work with no sleep is freaking me out...
Post by christidee on Sept 20, 2012 7:33:04 GMT -5
I'm sorry. Your husband will be home though, can he do the nighttime with expressed milk? You could probably just wake up once and pump to keep up your supply.
I can't imagine 3 12 hour shifts in a row. Hopefully sleep improves by then.
I'm sorry. Your husband will be home though, can he do the nighttime with expressed milk? You could probably just wake up once and pump to keep up your supply.
I can't imagine 3 12 hour shifts in a row. Hopefully sleep improves by then.
I thought about this but it's just so much easiery to just BF. I'm thinking that if DH takes the time to make and heat up a bottle X may be a bit "too awake" and not fall right back to sleep after feeding.
My DH and I had a routine where he would get the baby and stay with us while I nursed. I only woke up enough to settle into a pillow and latch. Then DH would snuggle the baby back to bed. Not having to fully wake-up was such a relief.
My DH and I had a routine where he would get the baby and stay with us while I nursed. I only woke up enough to settle into a pillow and latch. Then DH would snuggle the baby back to bed. Not having to fully wake-up was such a relief.
Good idea. My fear is that DH doesn't wake up at night. Most mornings when he gets up for work he'll say to me "Well that was a good night, X didn't get up at all!" And I give him the stink eye and say "Um he was up 3 times....". I'm sure i'll have to give him a few nudges before he wakes up.
My DH and I had a routine where he would get the baby and stay with us while I nursed. I only woke up enough to settle into a pillow and latch. Then DH would snuggle the baby back to bed. Not having to fully wake-up was such a relief.
Good idea. My fear is that DH doesn't wake up at night. Most mornings when he gets up for work he'll say to me "Well that was a good night, X didn't get up at all!" And I give him the stink eye and say "Um he was up 3 times....". I'm sure i'll have to give him a few nudges before he wakes up.
My DH doesn't seem to hear the monitor either. He used to say "I didn't wake at all. It must have been a really good night for you" when I had been getting up every couple of hrs during the 4 mo wakeful.
You definitely learn to function with little sleep. It does get better though, I promise. I am sorry you are regretting your decision....I had to go back at 6 weeks PP.
I'm sorry. Your husband will be home though, can he do the nighttime with expressed milk? You could probably just wake up once and pump to keep up your supply.
I can't imagine 3 12 hour shifts in a row. Hopefully sleep improves by then.
I thought about this but it's just so much easiery to just BF. I'm thinking that if DH takes the time to make and heat up a bottle X may be a bit "too awake" and not fall right back to sleep after feeding.
If you keep your house on the cooler side you can keep milk at room temp longer and he won't have to heat it. I EP and I pump around 10pm before bed and then around 6am in the morning. According to more detailed guides I've seen, if you keep your house in the 66-72 degree range you can go up to 10 hours. Our house is usually between 68-72 and when it's on the low side of that I've kept it out for 8-9 hrs with no problem.
You definitely learn to function with little sleep. It does get better though, I promise. I am sorry you are regretting your decision....I had to go back at 6 weeks PP.
Yikes! I know I shouldn't complain, I am blessed to have had 6 months off. I don't know how you ladies did it going back so soon. Props to you!!
Wow! People keep asking if I'm taking the whole year and I just say "hell yeah!" If I could have given him the first 4 weeks, I would have but I had to recover from the surgery, so....