Mother in Israel

A few years ago, I was told my the head doctor of a PICU to put my baby to sleep on his stomach. He had severe reflux and did choke on his spit up on his back. This doctor said that the studies aren’t reliable because the criteria for what constitutes SIDS changed around the same time that the back-to-sleep study was conducted. I usually put my babies to sleep on their sides, but I’m less nervous about tummy sleeping now than I was before he told me this.

Health- most moms cannot follow books. We do what WE feel is best for the child. Yes, moms do know best.

Well said, smartcookie.

Goldenkint, thanks so much for your offer. Unfortunately, I don’t live in Yerushalayim and there’s not that much help available here. My friends and neighbors are doing their best though.

I think I was a little better today. I slept 3.5 hours straight at night for the first time since the baby was born. That’s because I fell asleep with her in my bed and she sleeps much better with me. I don’t like sleeping that way (it scares me because I’m so sleep deprived that I don’t know what I might do to her in my sleep), but there’s no question that she and I both slept better last night. I also have pretty much stopped wheezing, so hopefully there’s an end in sight to this infection.

Your kid is way too young to be only demanding to have you.

You’ll have to tell her that.

AYC–I am drinking plenty of water. My doctor is really pushing fluids because of my pneumonia.

Health–The hospital is not to blame for the infection. They didn’t do anything to me to cause it. I was just lucky enough to pick it up there.

I’ve been pumping quite a bit since she was born and have a nice stash of milk in the freezer, but my baby hasn’t mastered drinking from a bottle. My husband and my mother have both tried a few times but my stubborn little girl will eat only from me right now. So sleep will have to wait.

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the support. I do know that it’s normal to some extent so I’m not really worried, but I am frustrated with myself and really want it to stop. As I said, I’ve never had it to this extent after my other births. I guess I’ll just have to be patient and hope it goes away somehow.

I did have help right after the birth when I was really sick. I stayed at my mother’s house and she spoiled me rotten while I just lied in bed. I had high fever then and everything hurt and breathing took a lot of effort, so I couldn’t do anything else. I couldn’t stay there too long though because I have other kids at home and it was too hard on everyone. My husband is extremely helpful and supportive and took off quite a few days to man the fort, but I wasn’t calm being away from home and knowing how much he was struggling back here. As soon as my fever broke and I stopped feeling completely lousy, I came home. At this point, I’m still coughing and wheezing and it hurts to breathe deeply, but I don’t have that general feeling of yuckiness that comes along with fever. So I am on the mend and trying to get into some kind of routine to keep my house running somewhat smoothly. I do have some help from friends and neighbors–they’re still sending me meals and I had a chessed girl come over a few times at bedtime to help me out.

I try to sleep when the baby sleeps but I have a 2-year-old at home in the morning and some of my kids finish school at 1:30. I manage to get in some kind of a nap most days when my 2-year-old naps and the other kids aren’t home yet, but it’s usually not enough. I’m hoping the baby will get onto a better schedule eventually and have longer breaks between feeding so that at least my nights will be a little easier.

As far as eating well goes, I have no appetite whatsoever and have to forcefeed myself. I assume it has to do with the pneumonia because I’ve never had an appetite issue before. I know I have to eat to get my strength back and to be able to nurse my baby, so I try to at least have 3 small meals every day. I feel full very quickly though so I can’t do much more than that.

Thanks again for all the advice. I have to run to feed my little princess again–she’s right on schedule.

You haven’t offended me, Mod. I also cry when I get a sentimental greeting card, but at least then I know why. I’ve been crying now for no reason whatsoever. I’m not usually like this.