August 2014 Moms

Take comfort...

My husband is reading a parenting book - I will make sure I get the title and authors and update this to give credit where credit is due, but he emailed me this passage earlier this morning and it made me feel a lot better:

"Even if your little one keeps crying while you hold her, she feels your arms around her. This is very different from the uncomforted crying that is so stressful to infants. She may be in pain or she may simply be overstimulated and need to release all those pent-up stresses of being newly alive in an overwhelming world. Either way, your presence is doing its job, giving her the safety to express her emotions— and to feel heard. This crying actually releases stress hormones. Think of it this way: She had a hard day, or (even months ago) a hard birth, and she wants to tell you about it. She may be crying, but it’s a good, cleansing cry. She’s releasing all the cortisol, adrenaline, and other pent-up stress hormones from her overstimulating experiences in this crazy new world. Because you’re holding her, her body is responding to her crying by building neural pathways to deliver calming hormones. This is hard work for you, but the good news is that if you can just keep breathing to calm yourself, and keep providing a safe “holding environment” for her, she’ll eventually build the neural connections to soothe herself."


Southern California
Together for six years, married for five
BFP 12/06/13 - EDD 8/11/14 
BABY BOY born 8/14/14!

Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

Re: Take comfort...

  • Loading the player...
  • This is so helpful!

    first son stillborn 7/20/13 at 39 weeks due to Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy
    It's a girl! Baby Anna was born August 3, 2014!

     
  • I needed this!! My LO has been wanting to be held since about 1:30 today. Haven't been able to eat, pump, or clean house. Got to the point I had a crying moment myself and finally put her on the boob and she's finally asleep!
  • Thank you for sharing this. I know I'll be referring back to this during the next witching hour fit!
    Also looking forward to sharing this with my husband. He gets so upset when he can't comfort our daughter immediately. I think this will help him tremendously!
    Can your husband find us a positive quote about lack of sleep and crazy hormones. :)
  • What a great post! Thank you for sharing. Good job DH!
  • Great share, thank you! My hubby needs to see this, as the crying babe has been hard on him. He gets frustrated pretty quickly if the crying doesn't stop. Hopefully this helps!
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • I am loving all the reactions on here, makes me appreciate my husband more! And to think before he sent me that email, I was jealously resenting all the sleep he gets...:)
    Southern California
    Together for six years, married for five
    BFP 12/06/13 - EDD 8/11/14 
    BABY BOY born 8/14/14!

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"