When does sleeping get easier? (For you!)

HarmsMomma · July 2011

When do you start sleeping easier? (Better maybe?)

We've only been home for a week and a half, but I'm not sleeping at all. I don't think DH is sleeping much more than I am either. I have to constantly check on DS; make sure he's breathing or is still swaddled or not covered in spit up or whatever. I'm up literally every 45 minutes or so. On Monday, we're *hopefully* giving back the monitor but I'm afraid it'll make the sleep issue worse.

Does it get better at some point? Do you eventually let go and sleep yourself? Is this just part of the transition from NICU to home?

Any tips? I'm desperate (and tired!) Thanks ladies

ETA: I did call the doctor in case this is a sign of PPD, it's just taking forever for him to call back. I'm also afraid it's because when the NICU RN discharged us, her last words before we drove away were "remember, never trust a 35 weeker" Now I keep hearing that in my mind all.the.time.

katie4253 · July 2011

The first week or so he was home I was a wreck. I cried because I was so tired. I knew it wasn't ppd because I was 6 weeks pp. Every noise he made made me shoot up from sleep. I moved the sound monitor to H's side of the bed so I couldn't hear it as well. I also give him to H whenever I can and take a nap.

Now that we are on a better routine, I'm getting more sleep. Probably like 5 hrs a night. It still isn't enough, but better than the 2ish I was getting. I'm hoping once I go back to work in a few weeks we'll have our routine down even better.

urbanflowerpot · July 2011

katie4253:
Now that we are on a better routine, I'm getting more sleep. Probably like 5 hrs a night. It still isn't enough, but better than the 2ish I was getting. I'm hoping once I go back to work in a few weeks we'll have our routine down even better.

This. I probably get about five hours per night on average. When he first came home it was 2-3 hours. Sometimes I nap with him. I don't like taking naps, but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep your marbles all in a row. I felt like I was going mad from exhaustion - mine also wasn't PPD. They monitored me closely for that because I was high-risk. I have PTSD from the fire as well as his premature birth, though.

As for sleeping, I came to terms with the reality that the dishes might not get washed right away and I'd have to get to some messes later. I was drinking a pot of coffee per day. I don't advise it, but that's what happened. DS and I sleep sitting up propped against each other. We both have reflux pretty badly. I've never woken to check his breathing because I have that gosh darn monitor that will wake the dead if he forgets. It's quite a crutch.

In the weeks since we've come home (which were interrupted by another stay at NICU) I've started to recognize his sleep patterns. I'm going to bed during his longest sleep cycle. Maybe it would help if you kept LO within arm's reach? These ladies sold me on the idea of a RNP & I'd say get one if you don't already

HarmsMomma · July 2011

Thanks ladies!

The doctor did say he didn't think I had PPD, but he wants me to take something to sleep. I have to think about that however.

He's reflux is pretty bad, so he's in the RNP. I love that thing, it's nestled right next to the bed so I can keep my hand on him. It seems to help both of us sleep. I haven't been napping during the day when he does because of our daughter. I'm thinking if I give her a movie during his longer nap, maybe I can pull it off without her burning the house down.

Thanks Maybe I should ask for a housekeeper for my birthday, no???

njdcgirl · July 2011

HarmsMomma:

He's reflux is pretty bad, so he's in the RNP. I love that thing, it's nestled right next to the bed so I can keep my hand on him. It seems to help both of us sleep. I haven't been napping during the day when he does because of our daughter. I'm thinking if I give her a movie during his longer nap, maybe I can pull it off without her burning the house down.

Thanks Maybe I should ask for a housekeeper for my birthday, no???

Let the dishes go. Let the house go. Order out.

Anyway you can get someone to come over and help with your daughter for a few hours during the day so you can get to sleep? Or, if DH is home this weekend, leave him in charge, and take a long nap (no monitor!!) I always found that at least one 3 - 4 hour stretch at once was critical in helping me function. Sleep deprivation is no good!

Also, we have an Angelcare monitor, which helped me sleep much better once we transistioned him to his crib. But, that was 6-8 weeks after he got home. Hang in there - it does get better!

Cara03 · July 2011

DH and I ended up taking turns "on duty". We started out with LO in our room and no one got any sleep. LO was also a really terrible sleeper for the first 2 months home and only slept being held, so once we just gave in to that (a few weeks after being home) we started taking shifts. One of us would sleep in bed for half the night, one of us would in whatever room we had LO (and all of his equipment) set up in and try to get some sleep as LO allowed. At least we knew we got half the night uninterrupted with someone else tending the monitor, etc. I was still super exhausted, but this was the best we could come up with. Eventually when he still wasn't sleeping several weeks after being home we had relatives come and take turns holding him during some nights so we could actually get more sleep. That was heaven-sent! Good luck.

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