Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

I was reading in BabyTalk that many new moms experience varying degrees of apprehension towards their newborns because of lack of sleep, etc.

I'll admit that when Alyson doesn't follow her schedule and wakes up 30 min after falling asleep after her bottle....that I find myself VERY frustrated.

Last night I was getting SO mad because I was SO tired and just wanted her to fall asleep so I could get some sleep.....

I feel TERRIBLY guilty about it....

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

I was like that in the begining too when Julia wasnt sleeping and waking up every 2 hrs but It does get better as they get older, I think at like 2 1/2 mths is when she really started to sleep threw the night, maybe getting up like once for some BF.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Dont feel bad. This is perfectly natural. I work with a lot of social wokers. And when I was home on maternity leave I remember a coworker telling me that when she was home she started to understand how people do terrible things to their babies because she was just so frustrated. Not that she would ever do it but the sleep deprivation gets to you. Another friend, a nurse told me that she would just have to put the baby in her crib and close the door to give herself time to calm down. This really helped me. Nothing can happen to a baby from crying too much, so if you need a few minutes to calm down this was a great suggestion.


My point, is that you are comepletely normal and you will find your own coping mechanisms to deal with the frustration. Just reaching out like this is the difference between mommies who can cope and mommies who cant.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Ohhh sweetie, don't feel bad, I went through it all the time. When you're working on weeks and WEEKS AND WEEKS of sleep deprivation and a needy baby, it can get very frustrating. There were many nights at 3am when Alex would wake up and wouldn't go back to sleep and I would just get so frustrated. The key is to recognize when you're getting just a little too impatient. On the days where I noticed I was reaching my breaking point, I would leave Alex in her crib while I took a nice hot shower (I look at it this way - she's not going to get hurt in her crib, and letting her cry for 10-15 minutes isn't going to traumatize her if done once in a while, especially if it helps you maintain your sanity), and if DH is home, work in shifts. Many a time I would start losing it and DH would come in, take her off my hands and let me nap, take a shower, or just take a walk.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

I was the same way too. Jake was colic and would only sleep when we held him. I started thinking why did I become a mommy, this isn't very much fun. The only thing I can tell you is that it does get better, I promise you that. I swore when Jake was born that he was going to be an only child, well now he is 1 and I am starting to get the baby itch again.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

I definetly had times that I would get so frustrated when Hayley would not go back to sleep in the middle of the night.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Posted by 2003fallwedding

I definetly had times that I would get so frustrated when Hayley would not go back to sleep in the middle of the night.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Posted by dee7772

I was the same way too. Jake was colic and would only sleep when we held him. I started thinking why did I become a mommy, this isn't very much fun. The only thing I can tell you is that it does get better, I promise you that. I swore when Jake was born that he was going to be an only child, well now he is 1 and I am starting to get the baby itch again.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Posted by btrflygrl

I was reading in BabyTalk that many new moms experience varying degrees of apprehension towards their newborns because of lack of sleep, etc.

I'll admit that when Alyson doesn't follow her schedule and wakes up 30 min after falling asleep after her bottle....that I find myself VERY frustrated.

Last night I was getting SO mad because I was SO tired and just wanted her to fall asleep so I could get some sleep.....

I feel TERRIBLY guilty about it....

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Don't feel bad, I think we all go through this at some point .

Have you tried swaddling her? Logan is still in his miracle blanket at 5 months and it has worked WONDERS

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

ive had many of those nights where i was fighting to stay awake, and mad shes not asleep yet but i make dh get up and soothe her, why should he get the luxury of sleeping while i have a fussy baby crying. hes been really good about helping. we are getting into a better routine and olivia is sleeping in 3-4 hour clusters and im napping during the day to catch up so im not tired at 2 am.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Don't feel bad it's perfectly normal.

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

I totally know what your saying Shana... the guilt is so bad though.... Hang in there sweetie!

Re: Going out on a limb here....admitting something not so nice

Aww its normal....

What helps me when I get so frustrated besides counting to 1000 I mean to 10 is I repeat to myself "he doesnt know any better he is just doing what he knows"

hang in there you will adjust and it will get easier