New Night Weaning Plan
webMistress0609
member
Just to recap my previous posts on this subject, the sleep specialist told us to cut the time Ari nurses in 1/2 at each nursing for 5 days, then 1/2 again for 5 days, then stop.
Sounds easy right? Well, I posted yesterday that we apparently have some teething going on, so Ari has increased his night nursing again. Plus cutting the time in 1/2 isn't as simple as it sounds. His 1st nursing only lasts about 5 mins. If I cut him to 2.5 mins I'm basically stopping him right as I let down, which pisses him off greatly. I can pull him off at 4-5 mins w/ no problem, but that's not helping us cut this session. And I can't stay awake at the other nursings to cut him off or even time the sessions.I tried giving him a bottle of water last night & that was a fail. I ended up just soothing him from 1:30-4:30 whenever he wanted to nurse last night to hold him off as long as possible, so he basically fussed on & off that whole time. At least it wasn't hysterics like when DH takes him, so we at least had some success with that.
One thing I've noticed is that if Ari doesn't do that 1st nursing at 11:30 ish, he sleeps way longer. That 1st nursing must start the whole process of setting off his reflux, b/c he sleeps for crap starting about 20-30 minutes after that session. The few nights he's skipped that session he's slept for 6-8 hours. Basically that 1st session makes or breaks the whole night.
So I think I'm going to pump right before that 1st session, give him a bottle of EBM & just start cutting the amount in the bottle. That way I don't have to worry about the whole "I just let down/haven't let down yet & he won't pull off". I think the sooner I cut that 1st session the quicker the others will fall into place, especially after this tooth breaks through.
Ugh. Any other ideas? I need to be careful about Ari getting too upset b/c that means puking/hysterics/being up all night. I'm not opposed to some crying in DH's arms but it just doesn't work for us.
Re: New Night Weaning Plan
No advice from me....
But I just wanted to say that I'm continually impressed at how in tune with Ari you are. I think you are doing such a great job trying to help him and make him more comfortable. Good luck and keep it up
I like this idea! I'll give it a try - thanks!
Truly, I don't know if cutting nursing time is even a reasonable idea. I may have a bad taste in my mouth from your previous postings about this sleep doc, but it seemed like he was very out of sync with what your problems and goals were. For a kiddo like Ari, it doesn't sound like cutting his nursing TIME at each session would do much but really tick him off and make things worse in the long run as he would just be getting foremilk. I know if J had a nursing session cut off early he was so much more gassy and reflux-y because there wasn't as much fat in his belly to settle it. Maybe the MD has a theory behind this that isn't apparent. I think the bottle idea and the empty breast idea are great. Does this doc have experience with just sleep disorders or also the reflux? It almost sounds like your GI doc and the sleep doc need to get together to figure something out.
I always feel so awful for you and Ari (DH too). It seems like as soon as one thing gets figured out then something else comes to ruffle the feathers and make you change things again. I can't believe you still have your sanity!
Having your DH offer the bottle will also help sort out the comfort/hunger signs question. If he's truly hungry, he should take it from the bottle from your husband, but if he's just getting in the habit of being comforted by you he might not.
For us, my husband would go in and LJ would just plain FREAK OUT. He wanted me, and only me. Not even necessarily to nurse, just to have me there. It was a mess for a while there.
You know, I think you're on to something with this. I kind of had a bad taste in my mouth too given the doc wasn't really listening & just kept bashing night time feeds in general (even for young babies) & saying things like "well if you were bottle feeding this would easier b/c it's an easier habit to break & you can count ozs" I don't disagree with him that if Ari's reflux is still bad & then he's nursing a lot @ night & laying down afterwards, it's going to create a vicious cycle of nursing to comfort his throat & tummy that's inflammed from too much night nursing, & I have seen myself that the rare occasion he does skip that 1st feed he sleeps longer. Also, I told him that Zantac didn't do sh!t in the past for Ari but that's what he recommended for upping his meds. I asked for other options & he had none.
I think I'm going to make another appt with the GI. I really am sick of taking Ari to doctors & having tests done & I hate to put him through more but I'm still really worried about his reflux being so out of control this late in the game.