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Sunday, September 27, 2009

9 to 5

No, those aren't working hours; around here, those were the hours Norah slept last night: 9 pm to 5 am! That, my friends, is sleeping through the night.

Of course, you'd think I'd be thrilled with this, but the truth is that I actually didn't sleep as well as she did. For one thing, I was up at 2 and at 3 to go in and check on her, and Jerry checked on her at 4. So, it wasn't like either of us slept straight for those 8 hours that she did.

Also, because I'm breastfeeding, 8 hours is a really, really long time to go between feeding her, so by early morning, sleeping was no longer comfortable for me because I had boobs the size of cantaloupes. I do have a breast pump now (my mom's big gift to me while she was here), but I was honestly struggling with the idea of using it: Should I get up and pump? Or will Norah wake up right afterward and be hungry? (Yes, I realize I could obviously have fed her the expressed milk from a bottle if I had decided to pump, but I like to feed her directly from the breast as much as possible.) At about the point when I was resolving to get up and pump, she woke up.

So, yeah, I'm excited that she's sleeping for so long, but it doesn't necessarily mean my sleep is much better. I guess if she's gonna start sleeping for longer periods now, I need to relax and know that she's okay (but good lord, all the stuff you read about SIDS scares the bejesus out of you), and I might resign myself to getting up in the middle of the night anyway to pump.

Aside from baby news, I did get a 2 mile run in yesterday, and I had planned on going for 3 this morning, but it's currently pouring rain, so I guess I'll have to delay it for a bit.

31 comments:

Shannon said...

aaaahhhhh your bringing me back to the good old days....

One time I was "as big as canteloups" when in Target ANOTHER baby started crying. Yep...you know what happened....let down....I wanted to scream and maybe I did -"hey hey-that's not OUR baby"

MN Mom said...

I so get the not sleeping even when they sleep...I did sleep a little last night but still I found myself watching Rylee reality TV a lot!

For piece of mind have you checked into the sids pads you put in the cribs? It might give you some peace to sleep.

Anonymous said...

aw, i hope you can get your sleep schedule worked out soon! i'm sure it can be frustrating. good thing that norah is so cute!

Unknown said...

If that turns out to be a trend, your body will adjust (sleeping and feeding)

SavvyFitChica said...

I have no insight for you on the breast pumping experience. I'm sure you'll figure it out. You're certainly blessed to have a baby that sleeps that much though!

Teacher Pursuits said...

Ahh, 9-5 is awesome!!! And I know exactly what you're talking about with the pumping dilemma!! You TRY to sleep but r too preoccupied with baby's well being and what to do with the ginormous balloons that sleep is impossible. Ugh! I've been pumping pretty much since the start to bank milk for her for when I go back to work and now we give Lilly a bottle once or twice per week to get her accustomed to it.

MCM Mama said...

Congrats on Norah sleeping!

If she starts doing it regularly, your body will adjust. If not, you can always just pump enough for your comfort. There will still be plenty there for her when she wakes up. And it'll start building up a stash of milk for when you are working or want someone else to feed her.

Hope the good sleep continues for you!

Razz said...

Yeah, I remember when KidDoodle1 slept through the night for the first time. Scared the snot out of both of us!

teacherwoman said...

wow. 9-5. that's amazing! But, I am sure I would be up every hour or so checking on her as well.

Unknown said...

6 is my record so far - looking SOOO forward to 8 hrs straight! On pumping, I would suggest just biting the bullet and doing at least enough to relieve the pressure. You'll feel better and even if Norah needs to eat, she's more efficient than the pump and can get way more even if you've pumped some off the top. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

That's a big milestone for her! When I nursed, I found that pumping actually helped me keep my supply up when baby wasn't ready to feed yet - its amazing how our bodies adjust. Hope you get some rest too!

Erin said...

I suggest getting up to pump if you want to keep your supply up and possibly start stockpiling for when you start daycare. Worst case scenario is she wakes up and you tell Jerry there's a nice fresh bottle waiting for him ;)

I know the waking up to check on her feeling. It lessens over time but many nights I think about doing it still. You use your monitor, right? That thing will make anything sound obnoxiously loud.

N.D. said...

That's GREAT about the sleep!! woooo!! I remember feeling the same way about pumping!

Crissy Rae said...

That's great that she slept so well!. I'm sure pretty soon you guys will get used to her sleeping so many hours and the worries will subside. It's got to be stressful at this point. Hope you're sneaking in a nap now and then.

Oz Runner said...

woo-hoo for babies sleeping through the night...she took to that pretty quick, it took my boys 3 long months...

Jess said...

Great to hear that Norah's sleeping through the night. I hope you can get some better sleep too now!

Unknown said...

Yay for sleeping through the night, and ouch to cantaloupe boobies!

Carolina John said...

still, it all settles down from here. that firs time sleeping through the night is the best indicator that your sleep is about to get back to normal. congrats on making it through the toughest part of having a newborn!

Viv said...

Norah is just getting bigger everytime I see her. Well in pics of course. I am glad you are getting to that sleeping through the night portion. Hopefully the worries will calm down and you can sleep more too, but really as parents do our flippin worries ever end ;-)
Glad your Mom came down that most have been nice with the extra help. Also cool you and Jerry got a night out. See things are back to normal with short runs coming on and hello you are rockin out already. LOL! Your hair is just a growin! So happy all is well with the cutie patootie family!!

Anonymous said...

That is great. Sounds like things are going well.

X-Country2 said...

Norah sounds very advanced. :o)

LeahC said...

That's awesome that she's sleeping so much! My parents told me that I was a good sleeper right away and so we are hoping that Little Lucy is her mother's daughter and sleeps a lot. Apparently my husband was really really fussy and *not* a good sleep for a long time.

Wes said...

Check with someone you trust, but I THINK you might want to wake that baby up and feed her :-)

Heather said...

The first time Sophie slept through the night, I woke up and completely panicked when I realized what time it was. I'm surprised I didn't wake up running into her room to make sure she was still breathing . . . it's so nice to get past that point when you freak out about SIDS all the time.

B. Kramer said...

Congrats on the sleepage! Good luck getting in the mileage! Cheers!

Alison said...

Congrats! Liam started sleeping better around 7 weeks too. Now he usually sleeps from 8-3 and then again from 4-7. When are you going back to work?

Krissy said...

I have the same issue with breast feeding except my little guy has only slept just over 4 hrs. When I wake it is so uncomfortable & if he doesn't eat off both sides I HAVE to pump. Last night I was pumping at 3am....ugh! At least I am getting a good stash in the freezer for when I return to work!

Marci said...

I really have so much to learn about motherhood! I say crack out the pump, and sleep well!

Marlene said...

Good news on Norah sleeping through the night, even if it's still not a great sleep for Mom & Dad!

RunnerGirl said...

Yea for sleeping through the night!

Agate Lake Girl said...

Congrats to Norah - sleeping through the night - that's big time!