The last 1.5 months of pregnancy I went on disability due to my increasing severity of a common pregnancy complication called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). It is common for all pregnant women to experience some degree of SPD especially towards the end. However, I started becoming symptomatic at 14 weeks and the pain only escalated as the pregnancy progressed. The gap between my pelvic/pubic bones increased and became so uneven I could actually feel and hear my bones "crunch" with each step. I remember coming home from work at 20 weeks and experiencing intense, gut wrenching, I can't even make the few steps to my bed type of pain. I knew I was in trouble when at 28 weeks the pain started as early as my lunch break versus the end of shift and at 30 weeks it escalated to 24 hr around the clock pain. My doctor wanted me to stop working early on and as he put it "limit your steps throughout the day and remain seated as much as possible." Well, telling a nurse to stay seated is nearly impossible. At 34 weeks I finally saw the light... I remember waking up in pain, crying through my shower, and screaming as soon as I lifted my leg to put my scrub pants on. I somehow managed to make it to my car and and drove to work. When I realized that I wasn't sure if I could make the walk to "my office" it was time to throw in the towel. Luckily I have a very understanding boss and after loads of paper work I went on short term disability.
As soon as my papers were filed my pain became so intense I was by all definitions of the phrase ... bed bound. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my facebook visits did not increase but instead I read a lot. We do not have a TV in our bedroom and still unable to fall asleep until 3 am Cameron graciously retreated to the blow up mattress in the nursery. This bed became my desk and in addition to one over heated pregnant lady and one fat cat, it held all types of magazines and books. One of my main topics of focus became "how to get an infant to sleep through the night." I read up on many if not all of the sleep training philosophies which ultimately lead me to feeding philosophies which I discovered go hand in hand with each other. This is when I learned the principles "On Becoming Baby wise" which is commonly refereed to as the "Babywise method."
Aubrey has absolutely flourished on the Babywise schedule. She has such a sweet and calm disposition. Keeping her on a "feed - waketime - nap" schedule has allowed her to not associated sleep with feeding and vice versa. Parent directed feeding (PDF) has helped to set her internal clock which has given her the ability to self soothe during the later hours. At 5 months she sleeps 10 hours a night, feeds 5 times a day, and takes 4 scheduled naps per day. I believe it gives her s sense of security that she knows "what comes next" and rarely does she have to cry to communicate hunger. Thank Goodness for Babywise!
Her day goes something like this:
up at 7 or 7:30
feeding at 8:00
feeding at 8:00
nap at 9:30
feeding at 11:30
nap at 1:30/1:45
feed at 2:30
cat nap at 4:45
feed at 5:30
nap 7:00/7:30
feed at 8:30
Night Night by 9:15
feeding at 11:30
nap at 1:30/1:45
feed at 2:30
cat nap at 4:45
feed at 5:30
nap 7:00/7:30
feed at 8:30
Night Night by 9:15
Wakes up 10 hours latter
wow, that is amazing! 10 hours! You've got some magic mama! My babies never did this.
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