My darling Miss Clementine sleeps in my bed.
Now, that in itself is not the problem. In fact, if she actually slept, I would have no reason for this post. But the truth is that she semi-sleeps. Meaning, she will get up at least 6 times a night--more on some days--just to suckle herself right back to slumber. And even that isn't necessarily a problem, since it's super easy for her to gain access to my breast whenever she wants. It just seems like she needs to be attached to me all night long...or at least the better part of the night for her to remain comfortable. Even this, however, wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for my aching arm that I am forced to sleep on so I can lay on my side and provide her with dinner throughout the night.
So it seems:
Constant suckling+Tired Mama+Aching arm=Problem
Oops, I forgot one:
Constant suckling+Tired Mama+Aching Arm+Perturbed Daddy sleeping upstairs=Big Problem
Yes, I have been making IH sleep in the guest room so I can get better sleep. This is because the more room I have, the easier it is to move away from Miss C after she lets go of my nipple, thus allowing me to move my arm and get some much-needed rest. See?
I know that's drastic--and it sounds like I am just catering to her every whim. OK, maybe I am--but that is the problem! I don't want to take away all she's ever known (my bed & breast) just so I can be completely comfortable. I can't imagine letting her CIO. It seems so cruel. If I were her, I would feel hurt and completely rejected. That is not what I want for my Preciosa.
And yet...
I am getting pressure from IH to do something. So I told him to bring a mattress into our room, on our floor, and I'll try putting her to bed on that. But really, what would probably happen is that I'll end sleeping on that mattress with her, and IH is alone yet again. Understand this: I love her sleeping next to me, I just worry that I'm doing her a disservice by allowing her to be so dependent on me. And I do miss cuddling with IH...
Ultimately, the way I see it, this stage won't last forever. She's probably my last baby, unless of course I give into the longing of having a sibling close in age to her, so why rush it? Just because millions of other people actually use their cribs to put sleeping babies in, doesn't mean it's the perfect solution. Right? Or wrong?
I'm at a loss. Can you tell?
And I wanna take a nap.
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Post Script: There is nothing more sweet than waking up face to face with an ANgeL. Thus--the dilemma continues...
5 comments:
Came from SITS... We too fell into the bed trap with our babies. Our baby is bottle fed...he still make it into our bed 3 or more nights a week! Ahhh there is nothing like being tired after a good night's rest!?!? Right?
I too had thoughts of keeping the kids home from school yesterday. I think they watched more tv then I did yesterday... guess it was on at school... even during lunch!
Well, my answer may not be the right one either, or what you want to hear...but all of my kiddies have slept with me till about the age of 5. When they had to go to school and grow up, (atleast a little.)
I breast fed forever! (you know this.) I always had those horrible feelings of hurting them and pushing them away!! How could I do that to them?
Now you know my pain...people would always push me to stop breast feeding CB as if they were the ones that had to look into his big brown eyes and say NO!
It was a huge decision to say the least and it will be for you also....
I think it's nice to have that closeness to them for those extended periods of time...and yes, I agree. It won't be this way forever!
she is too cute and yes at times I have this delema also expecially now with coming back from a vacation and having my D sleeping in the same bed now I have to transition her back to the crib.. weee what fun NOT
My ex wanted to breast feed but Heather always wanted to feed so we asked the doctor about it. He said Janine wasn't producing enough milk so Heather was always hungry. Maybe that's an issue for you?
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Hi!
Thanks for the comment on my blog, I am glad to have found yours! :)
I just soooo related to every single word of this post that I could not help respond.
And I am so sorry to say that I have NOTHING to help you except to say that it seems like yesterday that I was enduring this entire thing (identical situation I tell you) loving it, but exhausted and in pain, and with that feeling of you need to stretch and shake yourself in the morning, you know, like a dog from being all cramped up and attached to someone?
It can make you mental, no matter how delicious the other parts are.
ANYWAY all this commiserating to say that I was going through the same thing with my daughter yesterday, oh make that 5-7 years ago since she just turned 7 today!! And literally, it was yesterday. So all I can tell you is what every other person (specially the old ones)do and that is that no matter how long those very long nights seem, this too shall pass and then you will be looking at people's blogs with sweet babies sleeping on them with the just top of their little diapers sticking out of their pants, saying awwwwww...I ALMOST want to go through all that again. I know this does not help you one bit, but I had to share ;)
Hang in there!!
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