Joining the club
Last night at 11pm we finally thought we had gotten Willa to fall asleep. She had been awake since 4pm- unheard of for a two week old. We tried everything between the hours of 4-11. She ate a ton, we rocked her, we went outside for a walk, we sang to her, we let her suck on our fingers, but nothing worked. She nodded off several times, but within ten minutes her eyes would pop open.
We didn't understand how she could possibly eat so much. My husband even joked that she must have a hollow leg.
By 11pm I was exhausted and worried something was wrong, but she never really cried or got upset, so I had no idea what was going on.
I put her in her bassinet hoping that she would finally fall asleep. I was sitting on my bed (next to the bassinet) when I heard a horrible gurgling sound. Willa was vomiting. A LOT. I picked her up and turned her on her side and for a brief moment she was gasping for air. That one moment was perhaps the scariest of my life. The poor thing was miserable and we were both covered in vomit. She was gagging and crying, so my husband used the bulb syringe to clear the mucus out of her throat.
Withing two minutes she was passed out.
I sat on my bed holding her ,and I burst into tears. I was so tired, and that one moment of her gasping for air scared me so much, and I hated seeing her so miserable.
I spent most of the night awake, watching her breathe.
As I sit here exhausted, pumping breast milk when I'd REALLY rather be sleeping, I realized I will probably have many more nights like last night, but it's all worth it.
I am a mother.
Comments
Yes, yes and yes to that last paragraph.
You have definitely earned your right as a card-carrying member in the Mom Club.
Vomit is a side effect of motherhood that someone needs to do something about. It's much worse at age 3-4 after they've eaten 2 hot dogs though, trust me.
Posted by: jana | May 30, 2007 09:11 AM
My son had the same habit in his first few weeks of life, awake for 5 hour stretches with no explanation. We used to call this "midnight madness" - sometimes it happened in the wee hours, sometimes in the middle of the day. But oh, isn't it satisfying when they finally fall asleep!!
Great blog - just found you this week and read your whole getting pregnant adventures...what a whirlwind!!
Your daughter is beautiful, and there is nothing in the world quite like being a mom! Congradulations!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 30, 2007 09:12 AM
"Joining the club" is indeed a perfect title for this post. Welcome to the Club, Torrie. The membership requirements are often stressful and exhausting, but the benefits are totally worth it.
Love and hugs to you and your wee little one.
Posted by: LadyBug | May 30, 2007 10:01 AM
You're a mother, indeed. And a good one from the sounds of it. Strength and rest to you. :)
Posted by: victoria winters | May 30, 2007 10:26 AM
I hope Willa get well soon.
You're a good mom. More update about Willa, please.. Best regards
Posted by: PrettyInTheCity | May 30, 2007 10:27 AM
That must have been scary, but it was good that she was able to throw up whatever was bothering her. Thank goodness you were right there - I bet that was the scary part. Wondering what could have happened were you not there.
Motherhood has so many scary moments, but is topped with so many amazing moments! You are now officially a mommy!!!
I hope Willa gets better soon!!! And you get some sleep!
Posted by: Snickrsnack Katie | May 30, 2007 10:51 AM
Aw my poor lil pumpkin. She shouldn't drink so much Pabst, even if it does help her sleep.
Posted by: G | May 30, 2007 11:09 AM
Welcome to the club! My babies often had evil gas bubbles... the milk would collect on top of them, & if the bubble burst in the wrong direction, a fountain would erupt or shoot several feet across a room! Work on the burping technique. Feed in small amounts, burp, feed, burp, feed.... i promise it will get easier.
Posted by: Heidela | May 30, 2007 12:10 PM
My daughter is six years old and I still have to make sure she's breathing when she's asleep at night. Welcome mama.
Posted by: kristen | May 30, 2007 01:31 PM
Isn't it the truth!
Posted by: Carrie | May 30, 2007 03:46 PM
Oh my word. You are totally a mom now. :)
Posted by: southernfriedgirl | May 30, 2007 03:56 PM
You are an awesome Mama. I smooch you.
Posted by: Amanda | May 30, 2007 05:17 PM
Oh you poor thing... I remember when my son did something similar, but doesn't sound like my experience was nearly as scary as yours... he just smiled and played in it when he was done.
Hope you're feeling better about it very soon.
Posted by: Tara | May 31, 2007 12:45 AM
deep breaths and hang in there..try to get rest whenever you can (even if you think you can "plow through")...you gotta take care of YOU in order to take good care of your sweet baby... one possible option to ask the pediatrician about : reflux ? they also call it GERD (gastro esophogeal reflux disease)..our little girl had GERD and we had to get her treated for it...she just turned 3 on may 12 and is doing great..i only offer this as a "maybe" or "possible"...but i've read about it in several baby magazines recently so it might be worth a call to the doctors...i hope everything works out and i send you sleep! like i said earlier...hang in there! it gets better and better...take care, stephfunny
Posted by: stephfunny | May 31, 2007 04:50 AM
Thanks for this post. At times, I feel this way too. I have only been a mom for 5 1/2 months but I can totally relate. It will never again be just about me and it is so worth it. The first 2 months are tough but it gets easier everyday and the little one just starts to grow up so fast and your hormones balance and then well..all is good. I am very happy for your family.
Posted by: Rachel | May 31, 2007 11:01 AM
My younger son would eat himself sick sometimes, too. If you think she might be getting too much, there's nothing wrong with trying to distract her for a bit to give what's already in there a chance to settle. She doesn't really know what she's doing yet, and it takes a while for your supply to settle down (incidentally, pumping is going to increase it, which might not be what you wanna do). I felt like I never put my second son down for months, which was a treat with a two-year-old.
Posted by: throwingutah | May 31, 2007 02:19 PM
I had something very similar happen with my daughter a week after she was born. (Audra, born 3/18/07..my first child as well.) It was traumatizing and ever since than I'm always peering into her crib to make sure she's alright. So much for sleep! Best of luck to you. Willa is beautiful.
Posted by: Megan | May 31, 2007 09:24 PM
welcome to the club :)
hang in there, many more challenges ahead!
Posted by: autumn | May 31, 2007 10:24 PM
True love is moving towards someone who is throwing up.
Posted by: Homestead | June 1, 2007 06:09 PM
You never really appreciate the opening scene in "Terms of Endearment" (where Shirley MacLaine pinches the baby to make sure she is still breathing) until you are a mom!
Posted by: NJSue | June 2, 2007 12:39 PM
When a baby has gas they THINK they are hungry and so they want to eat a lot. I doubt that she is sick, she just had too much for her little tummy to hold. ♥
Posted by: Jenn | June 5, 2007 12:51 AM
Welcome to the club, Torrie. I can't wait to hear more about how you're adjusting to motherhood but I understand you're a bit busy right now!
Posted by: platypus | June 5, 2007 03:24 PM
Birth story, birth story, BIRTH STORY!!! ;-) I know - I am a pain in the ass.
Posted by: Snickrsnack Katie | June 6, 2007 04:13 PM
you know, a coworker once told me about how his baby was crying, but the momma was asleep and couldn't be awakened, and "don't you ever tell her I told you this..." and he tried to get the pump on her while she slept. not that i'd advocate that, as you'd probably murder him.
it's unfortunate that i had so many moments like this, and later there was the "aha" moment when we figured out what probably caused the issue (burp, wrong hold, cold, scratchy tag, gas, tooth, whatev) and thought back on all those lost, miserable hours (or when i was insane enough to think that we should maybe have one more and maybe then i'll get it right every time).
hugs
Posted by: mrtl | June 7, 2007 04:09 AM
Oh yes, yes... welcome to the club. I had a similiar night when we first brought our son home. The lack of sleep is so so so hard. You'll learn to read your baby's signs. My son used to over eat, it just happens and they he's throw it up and pass out. And like you I'd sit there watching him to make sure he was ok. They are ok. They are learning to eat and digest and everything else. Now my son is 2.5 months old and I feel like I've finally got it under control.
It gets easier.
Really, it does! :)
Posted by: Aimee | June 8, 2007 02:28 PM