https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 03 Nov 2026 23:05:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-813330 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:24:45 +0000 erinpye 813330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septemberlove: Listen, there is not such thing as "having it all together" when it comes to having a newborn. From what you've said though, I can tell you are doing great! Just hang in there, keep doing your best, and cut yourself some slack--your body has just done two major things: grown a human, and birthed that human. Any small surgery would have you resting still, and yet your body went through much more trauma in giving birth, and you're expected to act like all is normal. No way! </p> <p>Thinking about these two things helped get me through with my colicky newborn: 1) babies don't realize they're inconveniencing you--meaning they think when they're hungry, so is everyone else, when they're wet, so is everyone else, when they're cold, so is everyone else, and so on. Also 2) babies need to be "parented" to sleep because they don't quite know how it do it themselves yet. That one helped me most when I would get frustrated that my baby wouldn't fall asleep--I kept telling myself she just didn't know how to on her own. In the womb she was rocked to sleep constantly, so she needed a little help on the outside for a while.</p> <p>The feedings will grow farther apart as baby's tummy gets bigger. That 6 week growth spurt can be nuts! xoxo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812074 Tue, 28 May 2013 06:04:27 +0000 lomom 812074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: we were doing skin to skin when he got so worked up. I just tried to snuggle him as best I could (he was flailing like a wild man) and tell him it was okay. It sounds like this fussiness (he pulled the same stunt at the next feed) is just par for the course for the growth spurt. It made sense, he's not been sleeping much so he's grumpy as hell. Thankfully he is ZONKED right now. </p> <p>@erinpye: thanks. I had such a dream baby before he turned 6 weeks, I hope whoever this baby is brings my baby back soon. I really thought I had it together until this week :( unfortunately DH is working so he won't be able to be much help. I have my 6 week pp checkup today, then we are coming home and sleeping all day. Dishes and laundry be damned. </p> <p>@Smurfette: the screaming is the worst part. It's like he's so hungry but he can't/won't calm down enough to eat. I hope he gets some rest and doesn't get so worked up at the next feeding. </p> <p>@Silva: I've been racking my brain trying to think of who I could ask for help but most of my friends work during the week and the two that don't, don't have kids and we aren't that close that I'd ask for help. All my family is 3+ hours away, as is his family. I don't know if a postpartum doula would be what I need. I kinda just feel like I need my mom. :-/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812053 Tue, 28 May 2013 05:07:01 +0000 Silva 812053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry that things are so hard right now. Could you look in to hiring a postpartum doula to come help out for a few hours? They can help around the house and just provide general support. You sound lonely without your mum. I'm glad your husband helped out last night though. Hang in there, you are doing an incredible job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812049 Tue, 28 May 2013 05:01:13 +0000 autumnlove 812049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first few weeks are hard, hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812038 Tue, 28 May 2013 04:00:52 +0000 Smurfette 812038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hang in there! I remember feeling like I was drowning at that time, and I wasn't having to pump for every feed like you. 6 week growth spurt was rough. You are doing great!!!! Glad that DH was able to calm him down and helped you out some. </p> <p>It is so hard when they are screaming and nothing will calm them down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812033 Tue, 28 May 2013 03:20:23 +0000 erinpye 812033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The beginning is so hard, especially when nursing. I remember feeling miserably tired, too, and yes, something about those nightwakings feels worse than daytime feeds. I've talked with other mamas about it too, and there really is just something about having to get up so much in the dead of night that starts to make you feel crazy. I promise, it gets better, and it's a really good thing your DH was able to step in and help out-let him do that a bit more often if you can. If you're throwing up, you're pushing yourself too hard. Try as best as you can to take it a little easy and get some rest- not having enough rest can impact your milk supply too, so really- make it a priority. Sending you hugs and restful thoughts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812032 Tue, 28 May 2013 03:05:28 +0000 Kemma 812032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hang in there Mama, I know it's tough right now but this too shall pass! You are doing a wonderful job with all the pumping, it must be such hard work and I totally admire your perseverance and commitment to provide for your little guy!</p> <p>Can you maybe try some skin to skin when your LO gets worked up? I used to strip my girl down to her diaper, wrap her in a soft muslin and just hold her on my chest or lie in bed with her. Also, is there somebody who can come and give you a hand or a break during the day? Even if somebody could come and cook a meal or two for you so you can reduce the load that might help you get through this.</p> <p>You're doing a wonderful job and you'll get through this :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812028 Tue, 28 May 2013 02:01:56 +0000 lomom 812028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: thanks, I appreciate the support. I just feel like I'm drowning right now. I hope it gets better. I thought I had such a good handle on everything and that I was doing great but these last few days have been so so stressful. I started throwing up yesterday, I think just from being overwhelmed. I wasn't running a fever or showing any other symptoms of anything. I made DH take LO and let me sleep for a few hours and I was fine after that, though my supply took a dip from the exhaustion, vomiting, and not eating :( I so wish my mother could come help but she and my dad are going through a nasty divorce and she's been tied up with all that. I just keep praying this growth spurt ends soon and LO goes back to eating every 4-5 hours rather than every 1-2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812027 Tue, 28 May 2013 01:48:03 +0000 runsyellowlites 812027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septemberlove: You. Are. Doing. Great! I truly admire your perseverance with providing your little mister with breast milk despite all the obstacles in front of you! I promise it DOES get better! Hopefully you'll get some good counsel with this next LC &amp; you'll get to get on track to get the little man to nursing! You &amp; him have been through alot, you should be a proud momma!</p> <p>p.s. I'm glad your DH got up &amp; helped! Nice to get that little break sometimes. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-nights-so-hard#post-812017 Tue, 28 May 2013 01:27:13 +0000 lomom 812017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last night was tremendously stressful and tonight wasn't any better. LO is going through the 6 week growth spurt and he is trying to kill me. He ate nearly every hour during the day (I had to dip into my very meager freezer stash of 14oz to defrost 7oz) and I tried to pump to match his feedings but it just wasn't working. </p> <p>But tonight, he wakes up at 1, I warm his bottle, change his diaper, and sit down to feed him. </p> <p>He goes apeshit. He sucked down half the bottle (which had 4oz) in 5 minutes. He was sucking so furiously he was turning red. I tried to take the bottle from him, but he was seriously latched. He finally popped off a minute later and SCREAMED bloody murder. He'd gagged himself trying to suck it all down so fast. I attempted to burp him, but he wouldn't stop screaming and flailing. I tried to give him the bottle back but he just gagged himself again. </p> <p>He was not starving, he'd eaten 3oz barely two hours before but he was acting like he'd never eaten in his life. I finally just took the bottle away and gave him a paci and rocked him for a little bit, trying to soothe him a little so that he could finish eating without gagging himself. No dice. He screamed and screamed and screamed. </p> <p>I finally put him down and got DH to come finish feeding him. DH made him calm down before giving him the bottle and he was able to finish it without gagging again. </p> <p>Ugh. I hope his growth spurt is almost over. </p>