Boobies
You know your life has changed when you are sitting outside a hospital and your wife is inside at a lactation support group discussing mamory glands with other women, all of whom have sore nipples. I watched as almost every one of these women was dropped off by tired men in cars. And even though nobody else on the street knew anything about these ladies nipples, I was in on to their little secret. It made me feel sort of guilty that I had this knowledge. But the guilt is currently being overwhelmed by the sleepiness that I feel.
The first week of having a kid, we had a fabulous night system worked out. If it was feeding time, Heather would get up and feed, and I would sleep. If it wasn't feeding time, I would get up and figure out the issue and Heather would sleep. Fortunately for me, Charlie mostly only woke up if it was feeding time, leaving me to enjoy my slumber, while Heather slowly grew more tired and exhausted. It was great. Until this week.
Charlie, you see, has been a very bad boy. We explain to him over and over again the proper way to latch on to Heather's breasts, and yet he seems stubbornly determined to do things his way. And though we have repeatedly lectured him on manners and good behavior, he ignores us completely. Kind of reminds me of my brother (please let that not be true.) So thanks to his shoddy attitude, Heather has had to pump rather than feed, which means I have to feed rather than sleep. Which means I get tired and exhausted and Heather gets some rest. How is that fair?
Last night I got 2 hours sleep. And while getting to feed your kid from a bottle while he stares at you as though you are the king of all yummy milky goodness is a wonderful feeling, the shine has sort of wore off, what with my newfound irrational grumpiness, blackouts, paranoia and brain delirium.
Now I know what you are thinking. "Poor Adam. Heather has it so easy now, and you have it so hard." You are insensitive for thinking that. The truth is, its getting even worse for Heather, because even though she is getting more rest, she is now subjected to the inhuman requirements of a breast pumping machine. They attach to both your boobs and suck for 15 minutes. For that 15 minutes you don't feel sexy. You feel the opposite of sexy, you feel like 1970's vegas Elvis. Heather was used to feeling sexy about 99% of the time, or 1960s Elvis. And now she's having a 4% per day reduction in feeling sexy, all thanks to the little rhythmic noises of a breast pump. But do have pity on me as she gets 4 HOURS OF SLEEP a night, to my 2.
Go to hell, soul & milk sucking machine, go to hell. Nobody messes with my Heather.
Pumping and milking
I'm the expert on this subject. Ask Kombiz for his impersonation of the sound of the pump through my office door!
It will get better. Here is a tip:
Tip up the nipple as if you want to point it up to the sky, and get the baby's mouth open as if he is going to eat a hamburger. (We used to say the word Hamburger out loud for effect.)
It worked for us. Also, Lanisoh, is your (Heather's) friend.
Put little Charlie in bed
Put little Charlie in bed with you and nobody needs to get up.
what?
no pics?
seriously
Bring Charlie to bed with you. It's the only way JJ and I survived the infancies of the girls. He would wake up for diaper duty, and I did the feedings in bed, which meant plopping a nipple in their mouths and going back to sleep. Also there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with a baby. Seriously, I loved it.
co-sleeping
Yep, count me in on the +1 to cosleeping!
A lot easier, get more sleep, and waking up next to your little baby is the best thing in the world.
Another cosleeper
We slept together until she was a little over two. Then we got her a toddler bed and she was really into it.
-3 on Co-Sleeping =/
I kinda skimmed over the article because i really didn't need to hear about the baby accessible privates... i bet your baby's mamma doesn't either?! ;) Anyhow don't co-sleep, because you actually get LESS solid/good straight sleep. Yes there are interruptions but waking up at every coo and air bubble you'll be up. Take this from parents who's kids all were sleeping through the night at 6 weeks! =)
Another Vote against co sleeping
Once they are there they never leave. Also every sound sound like death. At least in a monitor you only hear the really important sounds, like screaming. I hope to god Charlie annoys you twice as much as I did.
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